Again I have another interesting woozer for someone to enlighten me on. & again I have not camera yet to take a picture to show you (although the process of getting pictures on this website is arduous to say the least)

Today I was looking for a shoal of grayling and found myself hooking a lovely 15" Sea Trout that had been in the river for some time, on a fly my friend gave me, (little green head tungsten bead PTNish fly).

After a fair fight of about 4-5mins (I play my fish out old school) I noticed two strange things:
1 The caudal fin was deformed, almost stunted. No complete structure to it look squashed almost, shame.

2 The fish had a little red worm like parasite on the left flank anal fin. (description below)

After taking this off for a specimen I returned the fish unharmed and swimming remarkably well although caudal fin was misshaped.

Description of the hobrillosious woozer:
1.5cm -3cm (extended)

Not long mouthparts like a spagetti worm but one big sucker for a head that is the same width of the worm’s body. The body is segmented by white lines as the body is a red colour; the tail is grey-white. The tip of the tail has small frilly hooks perhaps on it.
As I mentioned when I move my specimen the worm can outstretch and elongate itself and twist and turn its body.

Any ideas? Fishtales, this one must be easy.

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'The French value the umber or grayling so highly that they say he feeds on gold.' - Izaak Walton: The Compleat Angler

leech or anchor worm .....LEECH BEING THE MORE OBVIOUS , usualy picked up because the fish has been lying pretty dormant on or near the bottom most likely because of low water rather than cold weather yet

more than likely this leech(PISCICOLA GEOMETRA)









a pike infested with them




Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guides

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WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

I was going to say Juvenile Lamprey?

But that beastie Bruce has posted looks like the thing.

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www.tintotroutfishery.co.uk
www.anglersholidaycottages.co.uk

Tha's reet,Yorkie. Excellent pictures, I envy you your skill. Jada

i wish they were mine ,but unfortunately not ...shhhh ive borrowed them

__________________
WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

On the spot bruce1, its a anchor worm. Was removed without any damage to the fin. That picture of a pike is quiet shocking Bruce. Yes, too, summer low level when I caught the fish. Does anyone know of any definative pieces of literature that documents the various parasites found on salmonids?

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'The French value the umber or grayling so highly that they say he feeds on gold.' - Izaak Walton: The Compleat Angler

The Handbook of Trout and Salmon Diseases

them above are not anchor worms that is a leech the anchor worm is totally different as below

Pond Life - Anchor Worm (Lernaea) - Sturgeon and Koi Parasites - Fish Health


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i still say its the leech (PISCICOLA GEOMETRA) with the banding you described as above in the pictures first posted

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WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

Never heard of anchor worms seen on salmonids, usually in closed systems like tropical fish tanks and garden ponds so i would suspect a leech like Bruce has mentioned.

think he may of got confused Mark when i put "leech or anchor worm" he maybe thinks its two names for the same specie not realising they are individual

__________________
WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!