There is an incredible variety of unusual fish in the Great Lakes ecosystem, including sturgeon and freshwater drum, the only known freshwater species of this family in North America. https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?SpeciesID=946
Freshwater drum is really common down here in Texas. We've caught them all over the state except in the Panhandle. I haven't fished up there. We always called them drum, croakers or gaspergou. They make a croaking sound as you handle them. As a gamefish, they are spirited fighters. They fry up nicely too though the smaller fish are best. Bring a filet knife, a scaling tool and some pliers, some Crisco and cornmeal and your cast iron skillet and enjoy them right there on the bank. A small sack of potatoes that you can cube and fry also works great as a side dish. If you have a cooler, bring butter.
We also have red drum and black drum down here though they are saltwater species. The black drum can be caught in the transition zone brackish water where fresh/saltwater mixes in the bays.
The only eelpout I’ve ever seen have been frozen ones laying on the ice that were discarded by ice fisherman on Lake Mille Lacs, I haven’t caught one myself despite ice fishing with live bait at night.
Regarding other uncommon fish, my family cabin is on a lake that has bowfin/dogfish in it, I’ve seen one swimming in the weedy shallows but have never caught one of those either. It’s an interesting fish, air breathing and a ‘living fossil’.
It's likely the method of trapping it was not conducive to its continued existence. For example, if the fish got caught in a gillnet, it was probably already dead by the time they got to it.
Did they? I got the impression from the article that it's still alive and actually being taken care of.
> "While processing the fish, United States Geological Survey (USGS) fisheries biologists familiar with the species observed that it was emaciated and appeared to be in poor health. Because of the fish’s condition and the unexplained factors contributing to the continued suppression of its population, it was sent to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine for a health analysis."
Usually the word "processing" involves killing the animal, but I agree it's a little unclear.
It's also possible the method of trapping it was not conducive to its continued existence. For example, if the fish got caught in a gillnet, it was probably already dead by the time they got to it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forgotten_Winchester
We also have red drum and black drum down here though they are saltwater species. The black drum can be caught in the transition zone brackish water where fresh/saltwater mixes in the bays.
I’d like to try eating one sometime, I’ve heard they’re delicious! It’s a member of the cod family (Gadiformes) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadiformes
Regarding other uncommon fish, my family cabin is on a lake that has bowfin/dogfish in it, I’ve seen one swimming in the weedy shallows but have never caught one of those either. It’s an interesting fish, air breathing and a ‘living fossil’.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowfin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus_(tree)
It's likely the method of trapping it was not conducive to its continued existence. For example, if the fish got caught in a gillnet, it was probably already dead by the time they got to it.
> "While processing the fish, United States Geological Survey (USGS) fisheries biologists familiar with the species observed that it was emaciated and appeared to be in poor health. Because of the fish’s condition and the unexplained factors contributing to the continued suppression of its population, it was sent to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine for a health analysis."
It's also possible the method of trapping it was not conducive to its continued existence. For example, if the fish got caught in a gillnet, it was probably already dead by the time they got to it.