Walleye Parasites in Sylvan lake AB?

[Steene84]

Hello all!

We were out fishing today catching numerous walleye; probably caught over 30 in just under 3 hours. At the Marina Bay in Sylvan Lake Alberta
However we noticed that the walleye appeared to have red and grey worms covering most sections of them. Almost every walleye we pulled up appeared to have this sort of parasite on them.
Has anybody ever seen this before? Any idea what this actually is?

Image should be attached

[Steene84]

https://imgur.com/a/W6YbX0F

[Steene84]

https://imgur.com/a/W6YbX0F

https://imgur.com/a/W6YbX0F

[PerchBuster]

Believe those are just “Bloodworms”. Walleye feed on them right from the time they are small fry. Walleye gorge on them wherever/whenever plentiful even as adults and especially in lakes that have had other forage species like minnows thinned out. Explains I think why I catch them on mealworms too while fishing for Perch in some lakes. Nothing to be concerned about there I don’t think. Suspect if you were to get a look inside their stomach they’d be full of those little bloodworms. Good protein source for them when others may be scarce.

[Zip-in-Z]

I've seen those on Walleyes & Whites in both Sylvan & Gull during open/hard water fishin.

Believe they're called "Piscicola" leeches, the link provides further details, there are no human health concerns associated with them.


https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/species/disease/pdfs/fishdiseases/piscicola.pdf



D.



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[Steene84]

Thank you both VERY MUCH this was a concern that I never noticed before. Makes sense and it's not like I plan on eating these. Just glad they're not actually a problematic parasite.

[happyfisher]

can i still eat them?

[bwackwabbit]

can i still eat them?[emoji850]

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[happyfisher]

sooooo no? like can i tell if rhe fish has it?

[Steene84]

Yes they are visible right on the fish... However I'm not sure how you were going to eat them as there is a zero keep limit on walleye in most lakes... including Sylvan in Alberta.
Regardless of the fact I would avoid home made Pickeral sushi or sashimi haha.

Take a look at the pictures I posted. I think it makes most people's stomach turn

[mikebossy]

you want to help the walleye? pull them off before you release them

[happyfisher]

i want to keep the white fish....and in ur pick i cant see anything...boooooo

ill be out thursday at 12 to 4 if anyone want to join.....

(bwack or zip included)