Whats with the Beat-Up Fish at Devils Lake?

[CantThinkOfAName]

Been fishing Devils Lake by Onoway lately, and starting to get a little grossed out by the fish the girlfriend and I are catching. I’ve noticed that about 1/3 of the fish we’ve caught had some type of sore on them.
Finding sores on a fish is not really that uncommon, but the shear amount of fish I’ve caught from this little lake with some kind of sore on them getting bizarre.
Some sores look like other animals caused them. One little guy was practically oozing blood-slime, and had a chunk hanging out of his gill. The walleye growth was pretty damn nasty.
Thought I’d throw it on the board and get your guys opinions. Do I just have some great luck at catching the ugly beasts or has anybody else noticed this? Any thoughts on the causes?







Bear with me if the pics don’t show up, this is my first time trying to post pics.

[newfierefugee]

Strange, I've caught lots of fish in Devil's this year and haven't seen any with sores or cuts at all... Where in the lake are you fishing? i've been staying along the weeds on both sides of the boat launch in the float tube.

[dave99]

I looks to me like those pike likely got attacked by some sort of raptor from above, and that those could be talon marks. Are there ospreys/bald eagles in the area? Otherwise I suppose a larger pike could have taken a swipe at them and left the cuts.
As for the walleye, it looks like some sort of infection to me. Anyone else have ideas? I caught a pike in the NSR this spring that had a similar raised infection on its belly. Thx for posting.

Dave99

[Cal]

Cant say for your fish but I've caught quite a few fish over the years that had sores on them from rolling on the line while being caught and then reliesed. Was up at beaver lake in the territories and I caught one pike 4x that had a distinctive cut on him from being caught by sombody befor I got there. To me the third picture and possibly the first picture look like they could have been from rolling on someones line.

[CantThinkOfAName]

I totally thought of a bird and/or fishing line causing the wounds. But it’s just the total amount of fish that got me wondering. I’ve caught more fish at other lakes and its rare to see any sores, but every time I go to Devils Lake I can guarantee I’ll catch a fish that’s been beat up. Like I said before at least a 1/3 of fish I catch there have some sort of sore.
And, newfierefugee, now that I’m thinking about it I believe all the fish with sores were caught across the lake from the launch. Fairly close to the cabins, so maybe that has something to do with it.