Open sores on trout

I've been noticing open sores on planted trout lately and caught one myself yesterday.  Anybody know what causes this and if they are safe to eat?

I call em "frankentrout" and pretty sure I picked that term up on this board from someone else.  Caught one of those lesion fish and it was oozing slime, which was pretty dam nasty.  Happily shook that sucker off the lure.

Not quite sure what it is but I usually assume three things, it's bacterial, found on planters and I won't eat em.  I've luckily never gut hooked any of thems fish and have been able to release them, and promptly wash my hands off with some purell (which i carry along with tp, on every trip  ).

If they're not cute n purty, I don't eat em.

Which lake did you catch them from?  Many of the warmer water foothill lakes subject to agricultural runoff produce trout w/ bacterial and fungal lesions.

Which lake did you catch them from?  Many of the warmer water foothill lakes subject to agricultural runoff produce trout w/ bacterial and fungal lesions.

Quarry Lakes in Fremont, most likely a holdover from last year.  See Pic. 2

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=42309.0

Which lake did you catch them from?  Many of the warmer water foothill lakes subject to agricultural runoff produce trout w/ bacterial and fungal lesions.

I got one out of nm last year looked just like the parasite rainbows at Beardsley I heard only rainbows get them that's why they were only stocking brooks at Beardsley for awhile

look like copepods to me.

I usually eat them but the one you caught I would use for crab bait.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=37547.msg404046#msg404046

Very informative reply, especially:  Fish that carry these parasites are safe to eat if the fish is thoroughly cooked.
Scott - You're still alive after eating one!!

Your email was forwarded to me for comment.
First, thank you for taking the time to share your observations with us. We appreciate hearing from fishermen when something outside the norm is observed.
Unfortunately, in this case it is impossible to provide you with an answer without seeing the fish or at least seeing some detailed digital photographs. There are dozens if not hundreds of things that could cause the kind "growths' that you describe. Information that can help us in determining the condition that you describe includes the size of the fish, the location(s) of the lesions on the fish, the size, shape and color(s) of the lesions on the fish, etc. We recommend that if you see something like this in the future that you take photos of what you observe or better yet put the fish in a plastic bag, put the bag on wet ice (do not freeze the fish) in an ice chest and bring it by our Fish Health Lab for an examination.
That said, and based on your comments, there are a couple of potential causes of the growths that you observed. First are the Digenean trematodes, also know as flukes or grubs. These are parasites with complex life cycles. Fish act as the final host for these parasites and the symptoms include 'growths' or bumps that can be seen in/on the fish's skin and can occur in many colors from black to yellow to white. There may be only one or two or may number in the hundreds on a given fish.
The second group of parasites that may account for the 'growths' are copepods, also know as sea louse, fish maggots or anchor worms. The copepod parasites are endemic in many of our lakes. However, their populations can vary based on many different environmental conditions including the water temperature and population densities of warm water and cold water fish. The increased numbers of these organisms being seen can be due the warming of the water over the summer (although they do well in cooler waters too) and the high number of fish planted into the lakes. This increased planting provides more hosts for the copepods and can lead to a temporary increase in copepod numbers. As fish numbers decrease the copepods will decrease as well.

The copepods found in these waters are commonly found in waters throughout the Western United States. These organisms usually do not affect fish health, though their appearance on fish can be unattractive. These are not internal parasites, but rather infect the gills, fins and flanks of susceptible species of fish. Unfortunately, there are no practical treatment options available for fish in lakes and reservoirs.

Again, both of these parasite types are common in Northern California waters and their numbers can vary depending on fish numbers and environmental conditions.
You should be able to find photos of these parasites on the internet.
Fish that carry these parasites are safe to eat if the fish is thoroughly cooked.
Finally, let me assure you that the California Department of Fish and Game does not plant diseased or parasitized fish such as those you caught in Lake Berryessa. The Department has a comprehensive fish health program in place at all of our hatcheries to assure that our fish are healthy.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.
Best regards,
Mark A. Adkison, Ph.D.
Senior Fish Pathologist
Statewide Fish Health Coordinator
California Dept. of Fish and Game
Fish Health Laboratory
2111 Nimbus Road
Rancho Cordova, CA

Trout herpes?
All of my pure koi died a few yrs ago when they contracted a similar flesh-eating disease. It didn't affect the hybrids or goldfish, but it looked like Ich and my koi died. I invited a "professional" to come over and diagnose the problem. She said my koi had herpes lol!

So maybe it's some sort of disease.
Or maybe they're Zombie Trout?!

look like copepods to me.

This is what they usually are and they are safe to eat from what I have been told by a lot of people that have eaten them.


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The number one reason planted trout have those nasty things is they get a bit beat up in the fish farm...alot of them are raised in concrete pools. They just get a wound on them and occasionally it gets a little infected and gross looking. They should be safe to eat but when i catch any fish that looks gross i always throw them back. Even if they are safe to eat; if they just don't look appealing then it's hard to get yourself to eat them...

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OK I filled him and the meat was clean no sores or anything unusual.
Deep fried and ate him several days ago. So far my tummy is still good. 

I save them for BigJim.