CTFishTalk.com: Snakehead - Connecticut Lake Reports ( CT Lake Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

Jschin26 · Joined: 11 Apr 2011 Posts: 3

I'm originally from MD and the snakeheads are getting out of control here. The first was caught in a pond 10 mins from my home, and was put there when it out grew the fish tank some idiot had it in. Little did that guy know snakeheads are good eats. Now they've travelled their way into one of the major bass fishing rivers, the Potomac. They're crazy fish especially right after their eggs hatch, they will protect their lil babies at all costs so thats the best time to catch them. Top water action for sure. I'll be moving to CT on sunday, i hope these critters haven't disrupted your waters yet.

The MD DNR instructs all fisherman to cut their heads off and dispose of em. But most people down here are having fish frys instead.

PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

Welcome to CT!

The CT DEP (i.e., Department of Environmental Protection) hasn't ordered anglers to destroy any snakeheads they catch. I think that might be because they haven't been found here, yet. I've heard reports of some being caught, but they always turn out to be bowfin, instead.
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damage inc · Joined: 12 Feb 2011 Posts: 267 Location: New Fairfield

I live on the New York border on the CT side and one of my friends told me that someone caught a Snakehead in White Pond. If you are familiar with the Putnam Dutchess area and you fish then you know that White Pond is one of the best Bass/Walleye lakes around. Hope this "intruder" didn't spawn cause if it did they lay some ridiculous number of eggs at a time.
-soto

damage inc · Joined: 12 Feb 2011 Posts: 267 Location: New Fairfield

I live on the New York border on the CT side and one of my friends told me that someone caught a Snakehead in White Pond. If you are familiar with the Putnam Dutchess area and you fish then you know that White Pond is one of the best Bass/Walleye lakes around. Hope this "intruder" didn't spawn cause if it did they lay some ridiculous number of eggs at a time.
-soto

atkins · Joined: 13 Apr 2010 Posts: 220 Location: Manchester

Your friend probaly caugt a bowfin,
All these reports really show why scientists use latin names when talking about species,
my friends call Smooth Dogfish, Mustelus canis , sandsharks which are Carcharias taurus
According to the dep pictorial guide to freshwater fish of ct, bulletin 42, bowfin are in the ct river and the scoville reservoir,

Bowfin:

Snakehead

Bowfin are invasive, just as any introduced species, such as the brown trout, large and small mouth bass, walleye, northern pike, and the bluegill.
All of these fish have impacted and changed the way the connecticut freshwater ecosytem behaves. Bluegills wipe out native pumpkinseeds, and eat perch and pickerel fry, the bass and pike compete for the same prey as the native chain pickerel. Browntrout displaced the native brook trout(which isnt a trout) The rainbow trout is a failed attempt, pretty much the ones you catch are aquarium fish anyhow, just isnt the right envioment for rainbows.

Their presence is probably here for good, [/img]

Flipper · Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 347 Location: Enfield

Actually the browns and brookies are true trout - the rainbow is a member of the salmon family. Keep in mind people that the Northern Snakehead looks a lot like a bowfin. The snakehead in the pic above is a Giant Snakehead and could not tolerate the cool waters of this region. The Northern snakehead, however can handle these temps just fine and has the same brown coloration as a bowfin. When in doubt, just remember the snakehead has 1 continueous bottom fin on the rear of the body (like an eel) and the bowfin has seperate fins (like any standard fish).
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PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

Yeah, what Flipper said!

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Flipper · Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 347 Location: Enfield

Now if I can learn to spell, people might actually believe that I'm smart Rolling Eyes

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Annagyijjk · Joined: 20 Apr 2011 Posts: 3

They are in the CT River. A friend caught a lot online ct. Boston DEP came and took it. I do not see the talking head is a big problem to pass through the dam Enfield, whether they are in the river at Mass, they are here in CT .. A shame .....
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setterman · Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 28

Out of curiosty taled to Fisheries Biologist today at the State DEP he confirmed what others ahave said that bowfin were a non native species and that they were an "ancestral fish". Interesting guy tto talk to and then he told me "you have to realize bass are a non native species also" hmmm..

Flipper · Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 347 Location: Enfield

Pretty much the only native fish species to this area are pumpkinseed, pickeral, and brook trout. Not sure about the catfish species, and I am not including migratory fish. I can't spell andromadous. Smile

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atkins · Joined: 13 Apr 2010 Posts: 220 Location: Manchester

bullheads, yellow perch, banded and redbreast sunfish, are also native

Fishing Addict · Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Posts: 20 Location: Hartford

pikePERSUADER1 · Joined: 07 Dec 2010 Posts: 521

they are all bowfin you people are seeing caught in the CT river, saw 4 caught already this year on shiners and spinnerbaits, there not snakeheads, before i hear this stupid argument again post a picture of your supposed ''snakehead'' lol Wink

PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

Fishing Addict - Thanks for the report. You should be aware that bowfin actually change color and pattern when they're spawning. I've heard stories of bright turquois colors on some. You should take a photo and call the DEEP if you spot the fish, again. I'm sure that they'd want to check it out.
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