What happened here?

[td566]

Hi everyone.
Last month when fishing Neshannock Creek, I landed 1 rainbow late in the day to avoid the skunk.
When it rolled over in the net, I noticed a gash near its head (see pic). It looked worse than your typical heron scrape down the side. Any ideas on what caused it? I can’t believe it was still swimming around in the stream and readily struck and fought in a normal manner.

TD

 

[jifigz]

It looks like its head it halfway severed....

 

[wildtrout2]

Very strange. With that gash, it is surprising it was feeding. Should have been on it's way to urgent care.

 

[td566]

Is it too ridiculous to think that an otter caught it, took a bite, and the fish escaped?
Anyone ever see otters in this watershed? It’s only my second year fishing here but I haven’t seen any.

 

[dudemanspecial]

Any chance your leader did that?

 

[td566]

Any chance your leader did that?

It wasn’t a fresh wound.

 

[Solitariolupo]

They can be pretty amazing in some of the ones I caught, can be pretty beat up sometimes. Must got away from a bird or something trying to snack on it.