skin disease

[mitch4570]

I caught a walleye that had a large white patch of skin. Anybody know what this was . Sorry we took a picture but it turned out poorly. the skin was milk white and starting from the belly and running half way up its side.

[wakina]

Most likely caused by an injury during the spawn. Reddish to pinkish around the edges of these spots and other scale damage is not uncommon from the spawn. Usually by this time of year they are mostly healed but frequently leave a scare such as the description that you related to.

[Eriecaster44]

I caught a walleye that had a large white patch of skin. Anybody know what this was . Sorry we took a picture but it turned out poorly. the skin was milk white and starting from the belly and running half way up its side.

If it was shaped like somewhat of circle this could be caused by a lamprey, while small mouth fishing we caught a bass with the lamprey still attached, when pulled off it had a red bloody sore this was the fist time actually seeing one, throughout the years we have seen old scares from them on bass this years more common then most! I would assume they would go for walleye as well!

[wakina]

Yes the invasive sea lamprey will target walleyes if given the chance. They target the bottom dwellers more often because they are easier to catch and attach themselves to. Notably lake trout and small mouths as they spend a large portion of their time on the bottom. Lampreys' were a contributing factor to the decline of lake trout in the great lakes. They prefer fish that are notably more bloody than other species but are opportunistic in what is available. They suck the fishes body fluid out for consumption and can and do cause the death of the host fish. So the theory it is a lamprey scar is a very good possibility.