Not the same lake. The bass was caught some time ago in a NJ town lake (Brick). The crappie was caught a few days ago in a town lake in Gloucester, Va. Since the parasites were similar, I'm beginning to think the parasites are common in fresh water fish. Haven't heard of anyone getting sick so they must be harmless. I didn't want to start anything, I was just curious and wanted to know if anyone else had noticed and wanted them to be aware. Try examining the fresh water fish caught next time for conformation.

When I clean fish I usually examine the entire body for anything that doesn't look right. It could be a color, growth, etc. I just returned from lake fishing after catching a few crappie. While cleaning and doing my usual examination I noticed little red worms in the intestine. They were bright red, about two or more inches long, the diameter of a pin, and barely moved, and were coiled up in a tight coil. Some time ago, I found these same worms embedded in the skin of large mouth bass. They appeared as a dark spot in the fillet. I found the same type worm in that spot. I inquired about that and was advised that they were parasites and were harmless if eaten by humans. Has any other fisherman had this experience? I'm very interested to know the opinion of others.

I would remove the motor for safety and security. It only takes minutes to install and remove. I have the same setup.

I have a dexter fillet knife and love it. It's used a lot for larger fish. Lately, I have been pan fishing. For the pan fish I use a common sharpened dinner kitchen knife. It's small, has a rounded tip, and you don't have to worry about it being borrowed. If you have a nice sharp edge including the rounded tip you have an outstanding knife for cleaning pan fish. Try it, you will like it. Give use a follow-up report if you do.

I am 86 this month and I'm still fishing. When I was in my 20's a Jon boat was my first boat. Since that time I owned several boats which increased in size. From jon boat to a 22 ft. cabin cruiser back down to a jon boat. I don't go alone, I always invite a younger person to join me. I feel my age but I am determined to do as much as I can. Go fishing in a jon boat, in quiet lakes, with someone younger.

Would love to catch some catfish. I live in the area of the Rappahannock River where it empties into the Chesapeake Bay. If the pier is public could you guide me to it's location. Be safe.

I am not a bass fisherman. My specialty is pan fishing in lakes in the North and South US. In NJ for an example, I could only catch pan fish on worms, in Virginia, some lakes fish only bit on crickets and others on worms. In Alabama I could only use crickets Can't explain why this happens but I know if you don't use baits they want they won't bit. I often wander how do the know the difference, it's all food. Why crickets when their aren't any crickets in any abundance in that particular area. Have any other fisherman experienced this?

I live in Cobbs Creek, Va. I would like to know where is a good place in the area to catch Catfish. I'm willing to travel within 50 miles or so from home. Rather new to the area.

Yes, I snagged a seagull, pelican and a friend. The seagull and pelican picked up the bait and got hooked which was unavoidable, but the friend was hooked because I wasn't paying attention. I learned from my mistakes and I'm aware and very careful. So far it has worked.

I like to take a can of soda and a couple of packs of peanut butter and cheese crackers, however, my wife insists that I take some kind of a sandwich.

I would like to talk about a non-fishing subject regarding boat preventive maintenance. Purchased a old wooden boat in good condition, but needed some tender loving care. During the winter months I went over everything, and by the time fishing season started the boat was good to go. Secured it in a slip and returned home (75 miles one way). When I returned the following weekend I discovered the boat was under water. It was recovered when I investigated to determine how this could have happened. My findings: The area had a severe wind and rain storm which caused the boat to take on water. Ordinarily the bilge pump would have taken care of that but I found that a wire had broken. The water level increased to the level of the toilet. Discovered the flap in the toilet had broken which allowed the water to flow freely through the toilet into the boat which caused it to sink. If I had checked the wiring and the flap in the toilet this would have been prevented. Cleaned, dried, sold it. End of story

I appreciate you sharing your project. When we share, we give others creative ideas, inspires use to design helpful projects that are meaningful and useful. Keep up to good work and looking forward to viewing other projects from you or others from our great group.

My prayers are with you. Fishing is the best medicine, it will clear your mind. When I'm fishing I cannot remember anything but fishing, it seems to wipe everything away. Does anyone know what they were thinking about in the outside world while fishing? Enjoy!

That was extremely interesting. What I observed while cleaning my spot fillets was new to me, I never experienced that before. I have two other stories regarding worms in fish. (1) While cleaning large mouth bass fillets I notice some dark spots in the fillets when held up to the light. Being curious, I cut into the dark spot and found a thread like worm curled up within in that cutout. It was a fairly large worm, in length. As I laid the worm out on a board I observed it uncurl and move around. I called the NJ fish and game and they said they knew about them as this was normal in some freshwater fish and were harmless if eaten. I might add that, that only occurred in fish taken from that particular lake. (2) Caught some butterfish, filleted, washed and placed them on a plate. I took notice that the fillets were moving. I looked closer and saw white worms throughout the body of the fillet. I was advised that this was normal in butterfish. Needless to say I haven't eaten any butterfish since. Perhaps this saying applies: "What you don't know won't hurt you".

The guy who gave me the spots is a neighbor who was a waterman from Long Island, NY He uses the spots for bait only. I don't plan on telling him what happened.