I think I found one of the biggest mudpuppy ever!

[lawnboy]

I think I found one of the biggest mudpuppy ever! Or is it, I would have to say that it was at least a good 16”. It was dead but still in good shape for as many birds around. Any ideas as to what the record is for one of these things? Man I which I had my camera….
:(

[andy capp]

There endangered i dont think thee is a record for one of those.

[ESOX]

The season on Mudpuppies in May31- Nov. 15.
I could not find any records on amphibians or reptiles, but that doesn't mean they do not exist. To be honest, 16" is not at all unusual in Lake St Clair.

[Mantas]

Here are a few links, the first one says the largest one on record is a 19.13 incher. Most of the info on these links is repetitive.


http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10364_18958-35084--,00.html

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_12201-61141--,00.html

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_12201-61165--,00.html

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10371_10402-28956--M_2002_1,00.html

[Zofchak]

I never really did understand why you hear so much about how endangered the Mudpuppy's are in the winter and then come summer you can keep ten of them a day. Does anyone know how you would go about cleaning or eating one, do people even eat them?

[trout]

They are used as bait as far as I know.

[BilgeRat]

We called them water dogs in when i used to live in colorado. Used them for pike bait there. Worked pretty good there.

are we allowed to use them for bait here in michigan?

[kingfisher2]

I caught one on a tip-up on Big Manistee Lake in the UP that went 17 3/4". We had a bet that the guy that brought in the smallest fish had to do the dishes that night...My mudpuppy came in 2nd so I didn't have to get my hands soapy....lol....little did they know that a mudpuppy is not a fish.....shhhhhh...

As Paul has said, LSC has a good population of them...I've caught at least a dozen in the last 10 years.

I do think they are one of the most prehistoric looking creatures in the state...

Marc

[Hamilton Reef]

CO Reports for 02/13/2005, DISTRICT 10
CO Todd Szyska investigated a complaint he received from an angler on Lake St. Clair of another angler illegally spearing mudpuppies. CO Szyska responded to the complaint and was able to locate the subject in question. As CO Szyska approached the angler he observed a freshly speared mudpuppy lying on the ice. CO Szyska questioned the angler who admitted to spearing the mudpuppy. CO Szyska explained the legal season dates for taking mudpuppies and then issued him a ticket for taking the mudpuppy out of season.

[fishing addict]

I've seen them in Florida,that went well over 24".