never seen them before

Went to an old strip pond yesterday afternoon, just to wet a line. The pond gets fished hard and most people keep anything they catch so i didnt expect to catch much if anything. I didnt catch a thing. But as I got a texas rigged worm close to the bank I saw something. It was about 3" long had a head shaped like a shovle, the body of a lizard with 4 legs, and a tail that thin and wide that it used to swim. I have heard about things like this in the cumberland river and people call them "waterdogs". But what are they? I have never seen anything like them.

If it was dark brown or black it was a water dog.. I have not seen one in 20 + years.

Also called a "mud puppy". I've seen a few in Elkhorn Creek in Franklin County over the years. They are an awesome creature!

It most likely wasnt a mud puppy if the it was only three inches long. It could have been one of the many different species of salamnders we have here in KY. All salamanders start off as tadpoles and metamorphis into the aduly form just like a frog. Mud puppies are the larval stage of the tiger salamander, the second largest salamander in KY behind the hellbender. However, tiger salamanders can actually mature and breed in larval form and retain their gills and live underwater their entire lives!

It was dark in color. Ive heard that they can get big and agressive. Can they be gotten rid of? Do they help or hurt the fishing?

[QUOTE=smokefan;409127]Went to an old strip pond yesterday afternoon, just to wet a line. The pond gets fished hard and most people keep anything they catch so i didnt expect to catch much if anything. I didnt catch a thing. But as I got a texas rigged worm close to the bank I saw something. It was about 3" long had a head shaped like a shovle, the body of a lizard with 4 legs, and a tail that thin and wide that it used to swim. I have heard about things like this in the cumberland river and people call them "waterdogs". But what are they? I have never seen anything like them.[/QUOTE]

I'm not for sure, but if it is a hellbender you may want to report it to KDFWR. I know they were taking population surveys on these, but not for sure if they are still interested or not. You may want to check into it...

[QUOTE=jcb;409131]Also called a "mud puppy". I've seen a few in Elkhorn Creek in Franklin County over the years. They are an awesome creature![/QUOTE]
I've caught mudd puppys in Green River Lake 20 years ago...but haven't seen one sence.

Pretty sure he meant it was 3 feet long not 3 inches. I dont think anyone would be amazed at a 3inch salamander. :rolleyes:

[URL]http://www.ohioamphibians.com/salamanders/Hellbender.html[/URL]

And if it was 3 ft long or close it would have to be a hellbender. Mudpuppies dont get that big.

[QUOTE=JD7.62;409133]It most likely wasnt a mud puppy if the it was only three inches long. It could have been one of the many different species of salamnders we have here in KY. All salamanders start off as tadpoles and metamorphis into the aduly form just like a frog. Mud puppies are the larval stage of the tiger salamander, the second largest salamander in KY behind the hellbender. However, tiger salamanders can actually mature and breed in larval form and retain their gills and live underwater their entire lives![/QUOTE]

[URL="http://www.ohioamphibians.com/salamanders/Is_it_a_Hellbender_or_Mudpuppy.html"]The one on the right[/URL] (the mud puppy) is the one I've seen in Elkhorn.

It was definetly a mud puppy. I guess there pretty common. I bet the bass love'em. Thanks for the info.

They are pretty common in the Ohio river. During the winter months they are in all the feeder creeks and can get a pretty big hook in there mouth.