Forums36
Topics40,962
Posts557,967
Members18,502
|
Most Online3,612 Jan 10th, 2023
|
|
9 members (Sunil, Rick O, canyoncreek, catscratch, Shorthose, Theo Gallus, KenHorton, liquidsquid, rjackson),
1,021
guests, and
264
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,381 Likes: 46
|
OP
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,381 Likes: 46 |
I have always heard these things called water dogs, but I am 99.9% sure they are Tiger Salamanders. We have TONS of these guys in our lake. I am thinking they should help to grow monster trout some day. If we can ever get the trout big enough to eat them!! I could be wrong, but a 2.5lb rainbow doesn't seem anywhere close to eating this guy!
Last edited by wbuffetjr; 02/05/17 06:32 PM.
Keep This Forum Viable, Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,795 Likes: 71
Hall of Fame 2014
|
Hall of Fame 2014
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,795 Likes: 71 |
I wish I had a bunch of those to put in my pond. They don't come cheap. http://www.backwaterreptiles.com/salamanders-for-sale.htmlA few years ago I'd sometimes see Water-Dawgs in bait shops around East Texas.
Fishing has never been about the fish....
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 534 Likes: 76
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 534 Likes: 76 |
You are correct in calling them water dogs or tiger salamanders. Common name is water dog here in the west; they are actually the "larval" form of the tiger salamander, the only salamander in fact that we have here in sw Colorado.
We have found some of the terrestrial form, the yellow and black adult tigers, around our property. Most likely these are walking in from somewhere else as the larvae generally wouldn't survive in a pond with LMB, as we have in ours.
Some individuals don't metamorphosize into the adult terrestrial form, but remain their whole lives in the aquatic stage. Possibly up at the elevation of your pond, few would leave the water for the short growing season as terrestrials.
A mid elevation lake in western Wyoming is loaded with these water dogs right along side arctic grayling. I've float tubed around that BOW watching water dogs swim in the clear water while I hauled in the grayling.
Last edited by 4CornersPuddle; 02/05/17 09:27 PM.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,381 Likes: 46
|
OP
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,381 Likes: 46 |
Very interesting critters for sure. I have never seen one on land up there. They are all in the lake, but they do not have their gills for some reason. You can paddle around in the canoe and they come up gulping air all around you. If they never leave the water I thought they kept their gills.
Thanks fellas! I had no idea I had such a cash crop! I can see my retirement now.... selling waterdogs and frozen leeches by the pallet! haha
Last edited by wbuffetjr; 02/06/17 08:35 AM.
Keep This Forum Viable, Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,898 Likes: 146
|
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,898 Likes: 146 |
I was looking at one of the links above where they sell live bait. can someone help me with the ID of the pictures? Bait options... The first one is a 'waterdog' The second say salty. What is that? It looks like the drab goldfish that I catch in my pond. Maybe they are good bait because they are hardy? the third picture down says 'minnow' is that a GSH? The others are obvious. Thanks
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,795 Likes: 71
Hall of Fame 2014
|
Hall of Fame 2014
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,795 Likes: 71 |
I was looking at one of the links above where they sell live bait. can someone help me with the ID of the pictures? The second say salty. What is that? It looks like the drab goldfish that I catch in my pond. Maybe they are good bait because they are hardy? Salties Black Salty Info
Fishing has never been about the fish....
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,534 Likes: 842
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,534 Likes: 842 |
Salty IS a drab goldfish. Yes, that other fish is a Golden Shiner.
|
|
|
Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
|
|