Hole in the Head

[just_jon]

I caught this guy this morning on Beaver Creek in the Shenandoah valley. Because of the heavy tree canopy, I’m thinking injury may have been caused by a blue heron. He was a bit thinner than his buddies I caught, but otherwise seemed healthy and put up a good fight.

 

[just_jon]

Close up.

 

[rrt]

I have also caught fish with holes like the one on your trout. I, too, believe they are caused by herons stabbing them.

 

[Dave_W]

Agree with rrt - likely a heron, although other predators -think mink or snapping turtle - could inflict something like this. Perhaps the wound may also have expanded due to infection(?). Older wild trout with healed over scars from this sort of thing are common and I usually assume, if the scar is near the dorsal, that it's an old heron wound.

just-jon:
I like your dog photos but that avatar pic is just gorgeous.

 

[wbranch]

I've caught in Montana with very deep holes in their backs from heron stabs. It's amazing the fish can survive.

 

[bdfish]

Yet we still argue over taking a fish out of the water to take a picture...

 

[Lkyboots]

I see Herons about every time out. I know they're tough on frogs.

 

[wildtrout2]

I caught a big native a number of years ago that had a chunk taken out almost identical to yours. They are survivors.

 

[turkey]

Heron related,

I have a large semi-mowed field near my house. I've seen heron in the field presumably stalking small rodents. A YouTube search on the matter confirms that heron do indeed eat mammals.

That's all I got. Carry on.

 

[larkmark]

I saw a Great Blue Heron catch and swallow a chipmunk once.