Any ideas what type of fish I saw last night?

[CDMTJager]

Was bass fishing a lake from shore walking distance from my home last night in northwest Indiana. Saw some minnows leaping out of the water about 30-40 yards away to my right in some pretty heavy lily pads close to shore in 2-3 feet of water when I saw about the last 30-40% of the side and belly of a very large fish for this lake at least, I would estimate was at least 3 feet long likely longer come partially out of the water in it's pursuit of bait fish. The portion of its belly I could see was white but with a wide vibrant red section on its very bottom area of its belly surrounded by bright white definitely not a dingy shade of white but brighter shade of white. but so bright was this shade of red it was almost orange. Bare in mind I caught only a glimpse of this fish talking at most a glimpse that lasted less than two seconds.

 

When I saw it, it was laying almost flat on its right side and I didn't get a good look at the side of the fish due to the extremely brief glimpse I got of it and my sight mostly focussed on the red color of its belly but the color of its side while not light it was more dark than lite. One thing I am certain of is the fish was very similar in shape to a tiger musky or northen pike which both a common fish in this lake. If not for the vibrant red color of this fish's belly I would just have assumed it was a big pike or tiger musky. 

 

I have caught a great many northern pike during past trips to other states known for northern pike and I catch 2 or 3 pike every year from this lake while bass fishing and just caught and released a 30-33" pike, but in all the many dozens and dozens of pike I have caught and seen caught I do not recall ever seeing one with a red belly. My PB northern I caught during a canadian fly in trip was 45" long. I have never caught a musky or tiger musky, but they do stock tigers in this lake. I Googled pictures of tiger musky and none of the pictures that came up showed muskys with a red belly.

 

My best guess is it was a large tiger musky or northern pike as that's the only predatory fish in this lake that most closely resembles the general description of the fish I saw, but the bright red belly has me baffled and hesitant to positively ID the fish as a tiger musky or northern pike. And I am not exaggerating in saying it was a very bright radiant shade of red. Reminded me a great deal of the shade of red pacific salmon exhibit during their spawning phase when they spawn in Alaskan rivers.

 

Ideas?

[JackstrawIII]

Are there any trout species in that particular lake? While they wouldn't normally be up shallow like that this time of year, it's not impossible. 

[WRB]

Koi fish from your discription.

Tom

[fin]

Koi is probably right.

 

I've seen several aquarium fish dumped in the lake I fish. Someone dumped a bunch of goldfish once, and I guess they didn't know what to do in the wild, so they just hung around the same area like they were still in an aquarium. I was surprised that they survived there for over a week without being eaten.

[Tackleholic]

7 hours ago, CDMTJager said:

Was bass fishing a lake from shore walking distance from my home last night in northwest Indiana. Saw some minnows leaping out of the water about 30-40 yards away to my right in some pretty heavy lily pads close to shore in 2-3 feet of water when I saw about the last 30-40% of the side and belly of a very large fish for this lake at least, I would estimate was at least 3 feet long likely longer come partially out of the water in it's pursuit of bait fish. The portion of its belly I could see was white but with a wide vibrant red section on its very bottom area of its belly surrounded by bright white definitely not a dingy shade of white but brighter shade of white. but so bright was this shade of red it was almost orange. Bare in mind I caught only a glimpse of this fish talking at most a glimpse that lasted less than two seconds.

 

When I saw it, it was laying almost flat on its right side and I didn't get a good look at the side of the fish due to the extremely brief glimpse I got of it and my sight mostly focussed on the red color of its belly but the color of its side while not light it was more dark than lite. One thing I am certain of is the fish was very similar in shape to a tiger musky or northen pike which both a common fish in this lake. If not for the vibrant red color of this fish's belly I would just have assumed it was a big pike or tiger musky. 

 

I have caught a great many northern pike during past trips to other states known for northern pike and I catch 2 or 3 pike every year from this lake while bass fishing and just caught and released a 30-33" pike, but in all the many dozens and dozens of pike I have caught and seen caught I do not recall ever seeing one with a red belly. My PB northern I caught during a canadian fly in trip was 45" long. I have never caught a musky or tiger musky, but they do stock tigers in this lake. I Googled pictures of tiger musky and none of the pictures that came up showed muskys with a red belly.

 

My best guess is it was a large tiger musky or northern pike as that's the only predatory fish in this lake that most closely resembles the general description of the fish I saw, but the bright red belly has me baffled and hesitant to positively ID the fish as a tiger musky or northern pike. And I am not exaggerating in saying it was a very bright radiant shade of red. Reminded me a great deal of the shade of red pacific salmon exhibit during their spawning phase when they spawn in Alaskan rivers.

 

Ideas?

Any Brook Trout in your area?

[CDMTJager]

The DNR does do a farm trout release each spring of rainbow trout, but they can not grow anywhere near this big and there aren't any other species of salmon or trout in this lake. 

Koi is a possibility as there are a ton carp in this lake and carp 2' long and longer cruising within feet of shore are a common sight. When I was much younger and fishing with nightcrawlers for bass I caught carp purely by accident that were at least 24" long. Fought like mad.

 

I see carp every time I fish this lake some are average sized some are absolutely huge 3'+ specimens but never seen a koi.

 

Back when I still had access to a great smallmouth spot on lake Michigan I use to fish using soft shell crayfish and about 1 in 4 or 5 outings I would catch a carp. Several were absolute monsters over 30" long. Heck of a fight on 8lb mono and a 7' medium fast spinning setup.

 

Thanks for the feedback.