Chain Lake by Athabasca parasites on Trout

[Rod]

Was out to Chain Lakes yesterday, the fishing was slow but the ones we did catch were infected with black parasites. I stopped fishing this lake years ago for this very reason. Has anyone else experienced this?

[RavYak]

Originally Posted by Rod

Was out to Chain Lakes yesterday, the fishing was slow but the ones we did catch were infected with black parasites. I stopped fishing this lake years ago for this very reason. Has anyone else experienced this?

It is one of the lakes that seems to always have this black spot parasite.

[The Spank]

No pic so can't see what you are referring to as "blackspot" but I am guessing small round black dots on the skin? Never seen it on a trout before, only on perch, northern pike and rock bass. If it is true blackspot it is completely harmless to humans but it's probably best to remove the skin to consume the fish. It is a parasite that only develops into a worm if the fish is consumed by a bird I am told by a biologist friend I shoot skeet with. It is also mostly prevalent in warmer waters and warm water fish species. Funny I have seen lots of the above mentioned species with it and yet walleye, whitefish, herring, burbot, black crappie, sunfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass and musky from the same waters not a single one with it?

[RavYak]

Originally Posted by The Spank

No pic so can't see what you are referring to as "blackspot" but I am guessing small round black dots on the skin? Never seen it on a trout before, only on perch, northern pike and rock bass. If it is true blackspot it is completely harmless to humans but it's probably best to remove the skin to consume the fish. It is a parasite that only develops into a worm if the fish is consumed by a bird I am told by a biologist friend I shoot skeet with. It is also mostly prevalent in warmer waters and warm water fish species. Funny I have seen lots of the above mentioned species with it and yet walleye, whitefish, herring, burbot, black crappie, sunfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass and musky from the same waters not a single one with it?

Trout get it too, some lakes in AB regularly have it. Lower Chain and Spring are 2 lakes that seem to very commonly have it.

Also seen it on pike and perch but don't remember seeing it on other species.

You can eat it but speaking from experience it is like chewing a little piece of gravel. Removing the skin gets rid of most of them but check meat carefully because there are a number of them that occur just below skin that you may miss.

[brown trout]

The trout in this lake have parasites 12 months a year. June, December, April. Ice fishing season or open water, it doesn't make much difference. In the summer the rainbows display open lesions on the skin, and even without the obvious external clues, are ridden with sub-skin parasites on the flesh. Been this way for the 25 years I've been fishing there with the fish I've kept only because I've gill hooked them or they've went belly up. Anyone else I've ever talked to has reported the same.

Even if you peel the skin off as some have suggested, you'll find black parasites all over the flesh. It doesn't cause human harm, but the parasites are the same as those which cause swimmers itch. Would you lick rashy skin just because it won't actually make you sick? Pretty gross.

To make it worse, the lakes weed often has a sulphur smell to it... Less than appetizing when you consider trout absorb that sort of flavour through their lateral lines and into the flesh.

Chain in a great sport fishery, but horrible table fare fishery. There are far better lakes to keep fish out of. I actually can't believe people who've fished there and have eaten fish from there continue to do so, with so many good hammer handle pike and perch lakes around Athabasca with liberal/no size limits.

[Ennyindabenny]

Is this parasite situation still happening at Lower Chain?

[goose]

Birch lake by Caroline has the black spots too.
Goose