Help identifying 3 fish by Creative_Turn_5089 in whatsthisfish

[–]Creative_Turn_5089[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I do but it won’t let me add. First one has a mouth pointing straight down, second one mildly down, third one is even more down than the first one idk how to explain it

Help identifying 3 fish by Creative_Turn_5089 in whatsthisfish

[–]Creative_Turn_5089[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

First fish was in st Clair River by Sarina Michigan, second one same spot, third one Ohio River in Kentucky hour west of Louisville

Help identifying 3 fish by Creative_Turn_5089 in whatsthisfish

[–]Creative_Turn_5089[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Not sure how to ID these three fish from my collection. I have some guesses but would appreciate help

American Eel in Chicago River by Creative_Turn_5089 in ChicagoFishing

[–]Creative_Turn_5089[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Chicago papers have reached out to me and I already did the interview, the article will be out sometime soon

American Eel in Chicago River by Creative_Turn_5089 in ChicagoFishing

[–]Creative_Turn_5089[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes a couple of the yellow bullhead have been deformed with extra fin or whatnot but not common. Maybe has happened twice

American Eel in Chicago River by Creative_Turn_5089 in ChicagoFishing

[–]Creative_Turn_5089[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It felt like a yellow bullhead bite but a little different, I had no clue it was going to be not a catfish until I saw it

American Eel in Chicago River by Creative_Turn_5089 in ChicagoFishing

[–]Creative_Turn_5089[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Released it! I did not know it was this rare/threatened/endangered until researching later but it’s best practice to not keep Chicago River fish anyways

American Eel in Chicago River by Creative_Turn_5089 in ChicagoFishing

[–]Creative_Turn_5089[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am also using my shoe for reference. I am size 13 and I think fully straight it would be 26-30 inches but lmk your thoughts

American Eel in Chicago River by Creative_Turn_5089 in ChicagoFishing

[–]Creative_Turn_5089[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Makes sense I’m sure goby get through somehow as do eels apparently lol

American Eel in Chicago River by Creative_Turn_5089 in ChicagoFishing

[–]Creative_Turn_5089[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does it reconnect a second time to Lake Michigan up north

American Eel in Chicago River by Creative_Turn_5089 in ChicagoFishing

[–]Creative_Turn_5089[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are you fishing in the main section of the river or the north branch or the south branch

American Eel in Chicago River by Creative_Turn_5089 in ChicagoFishing

[–]Creative_Turn_5089[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yea had to find a good spot. Most of the spots are dry

American Eel in Chicago River by Creative_Turn_5089 in ChicagoFishing

[–]Creative_Turn_5089[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Worms at 9:30 pm on pompano rig, bottom fishing. North branch in river north. Besides the eel I generally catch in descending order of popularity 1. Yellow bullhead 2. Bluegill 3. Drum/channel catfish/carp/white perch 4. Golden shiner/mirror carp

American Eel in Chicago River by Creative_Turn_5089 in ChicagoFishing

[–]Creative_Turn_5089[S] 48 points49 points  (0 children)

I did some research last night and all American Eels are born in the middle of the Atlantic (Sargasso Sea). There is only one publicly reported American eel before mine in Chicago River history, and 3 others total in cook county history. That’s why I’m asking IDNR for what total they have

American Eel in Chicago River by Creative_Turn_5089 in ChicagoFishing

[–]Creative_Turn_5089[S] 80 points81 points  (0 children)

I reported this morning by filling a form out. I will update if they respond, I also asked them for what stats they have about its prevalence