Funny story

[Chappy]

While fishing for smallies with a good friend of mine on the Westfield a crazy event took place. I was fishing 30 or so yards down from my pal who was standing on a boulder in the middle of the river when I hear a huge splash the a few choice curse words. Knee jerk reaction: to die laughing then turn around and check to make sure my buddy isn't half way to the Connecticutt. I asked what happened and he said he was watching this smallmouth when a lamprey came out of nowhere and nailed it. They way he described it being similar to a burmese python attacking a mouse. After the lamprey latched on to it, it tangled around the smallmouth and jetted down river with it. Have you ever seen anything like it? I've seen huge lampreys in the river all the time and so hasn't he so I know what he saw was a lamprey but grab a smallie like that? Do you guys get 'em down on the Farm or Housey?

[spike]

While they may be on the Farmington, I, fortunately, have never seen one or caught a fish with any such marks. I do know they they shed their teeth at mating time. There are gobs of them up in the Salmon River. I have brought in a couple of salmon with these still attached. A truly gross creation. They just suck the life out of whatever they attach to.

[Farmy Joe]

I've seen the occasional lamprey below the lower dam in Collinsville on the Farmy.

[cirrus]

lamprey below the lower dam in Collinsville on the Farmy.

Many years back my bro and me were fishing down behind that dam...and these guys were also there...when one of them yells...."Holy sh*t I have a monster on the line!!". He battled it for so long I went back to fishing. His buddies are telling him he has something heavy snagged but it wasnt a fish...and to just haul it in. So the guy really hauls off on the pole and yells..."its coming up...get ready guys".

Now the part I wont ever forget...LOL....out of the water comes flying this huge eel....it comes shooting right back into them at about the height of their faces. I've never heard grown men scream like that and run like hell. The kid with the pole drops it and everyone scatters. I was buckled over laughing so hard...what sounds and what a sight! My bro and I still have a good laugh about that story when we drive by there.