Hey ya’ll,

 

Happy New Years! I hope you are not a fellow Michigan fan watching the game right now taking a break at half time ?. 
 

Myself and family were out at a pond today, will post catch pictures later, and my Dad somehow hooked a lizard that just wouldn’t let go of his senko. He took a long look at the lizard, remembered the shape of it, and after getting done some research, concluded that it must be a waterdog. We are wondering what they mean for the health of the pond and how they affect bass fishing. He also said that it seems we are outside the region where waterdogs are normally found. What are y’all’s thoughts? This is a small, shallow two acre pond that I have done quite a bit of fishing on. 

I don't know what they do as far as effecting other species populations or what their main forage is, but I've heard multiple stories from my father and other elders on how they used to catch MONSTER bass with them back when it was legal to sell them (maybe it still is?) as live bait in Texas. so... there's that... ?‍♂️

 

If you find the TackleTalk podcast (Audible, Apple podcast app, etc), the dude does a series called "The bait breakdown"... episode 4 is on amphibians and reptiles. I bet he talks about them in there somewhere, I just haven't gotten to that one yet. But judging by the amount of detail that the host went into with the baitfish and crawdad episodes, i'd be shocked if he didn't at least touch on the waterdog in episode 4.

I have caught a lot of smallmouth in Tennessee streams using water dogs, salamanders, or spring lizards (and crawfish). But it takes a few hours to catch enough for a fishing trip in the small woodland streams, where they hide in the leaves. Glad I can use small slider worms now, and don't have to catch bait!

 

We call them mud puppies.  There are several different species that have different ranges, but they're all threatened, so they're becoming more and more rare.  Probably means the water is very clean, as they don't tolerate pollutants well.  So it's probably an indication of a healthy ecosystem.  They'll eat the same things bass will, eggs, fry, bugs, whatever meat they can fit in their mouths, but they're not as prolific as bass, so no need to worry about them.  Just enjoy them and leave them be.  I've heard of people fishing with them, and they claim they're the best live bait you can use.  But I don't know if they're still legal.  Even if they are, I wouldn't due to their increasing scarcity.  

Water Dogs are Warrior Salamanders now outlawed in California . Caught the Havasu lake record LM Bass 11 lbs on a water dog off the Roads End dock back in 1955. 1st time I ever saw a Water Dog and dock man gave it to me because being so curious. He wasn’t too happy I caught his pet bass. He weighed it and released the bass.

Tom