Need ID on a strange fish caught on Lake Michigan

Ripley · Post by **Ripley** » Mon Jun 21, 2021 9:26 am

Hello Everyone,
Recently I was on a charter on Lake Michigan with a YouTuber, and he caught a really strange fish that he caught on video. Even the 35 year veteran captain said he's never seen anything like it before. It's not a lake trout, nor is it a splake. We are trying to ID it. Can you help?

Thanks-

[url=https://youtu.be/_6iq0TI6zEk]Watch Video Here[/url]

Post by **Dirty** » Mon Jun 21, 2021 11:56 am

Very interesting. Ben?

Jums · Post by **Jums** » Sun Jul 04, 2021 3:59 am

Northern Pike with lake trout?

BNature · Post by **BNature** » Sun Jul 04, 2021 8:27 am

My best guess is it's just a strangely spotted lake trout.

One of the clues is that it's a stocked fish. Stocked fish are not subjected to the "Darwin's Principles" nearly so much as wild fish. That's why you frequently catch stocked fish with hump backs, weird fin shapes, cock-eyed mouths, etc. Most of those would not survive in the wild and live to pass on those genes. Protected for several months to a year or more in the hatchery, they live, grow and get caught as they mature.

I think it's just a laker with large spots - sometimes the simplest answer is the right answer.

Start Paddling · Post by **Start Paddling** » Sun Jul 04, 2021 9:26 am

I agree with BN. Superior Angling on Youtube concentrates on lakers in Lake Superior, and they get a big variety of patterns/colors/shapes of fish just within the same species. I feel like this one happens to be a little more unique than 99.9%.

Trent · Post by **Trent** » Sun Jul 04, 2021 9:44 pm

This is a Humper lake trout. Their spots and be round or oblong and cover the belly as well.

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