So early in the morning, I was fishing in about 10 feet of water, about 30 yards south of a small rock island. I was about 60 yards south of the nearest Peninsula. As I drifted south, I looked down to see if I could still see bottom. The water was clear and calm enough to see down several feet.

About a foot below the surface, there appeared to be a very small black snake swimming North, away from my drift. I couldn't watch it very long, because I was drifting in the opposite direction. It's hard to say how long it was, because it was swimming in typical snake like fashion, with the "S" pattern, but i'd say it was approximately 10 inches in length. It was about the diameter of a number 2 pencil, at most, maybe slightly skinnier. It appeared to have a uniform diameter. I didn't get a good look at the head. But it definitely didn't have a head any bigger than the body. It was a black in color. i didn't see any markings.

I was thinking at first it might be some sort of leech. But it didn't appear to be flat like one. And I've never seen a leech 10 inches in length. Snakes wouldn't normally swim UNDER water, and I haven't seen any snakes in Minnesota that size or color.

Any idea what i might have been looking at?

I saw that same thing last year! Don’t know what it was...hopefully someone knows.

It’s movement was unusual/unique/interesting.

Lamprey http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/education_safety/education/minnaqua/lampreyrochure.pdf

adam: " Lamprey http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/education_safety/education/minnaqua/lampreyrochure.pdf "

Apparently that must have been a silver lamprey. 48 years, and that's the first one I've seen.

Thanks Adam.

That's just crazy. Before reading this thread I would have called you a liar if you told me there were native Minnesota lampreys.
The natural world is so amazing!

Tom

That’s cool. What I saw was as slender as a pencil. It looked like a piece of string.Could this be a juvenile?

Portage99: "That’s cool. What I saw was as slender as a pencil. It looked like a piece of string.Could this be a juvenile?"

That sounds like what I saw.

I've seen Medicine Leeches/Jelly Belly's 8 inches + long, could have been one of them.

Jelly Belly/blood suckers "Quote from link Biggest one I ever saw was while night fishing on Mille Lacs some years back must have been 10-12in or more."

I don't think that was it. I had to keep checking because it literally looked like a string, thinner than a piece of yarn....but every time I focused on it, it was moving intentionally. I would guess it was about 8 inches long. The movement it made was really fascinating.

So, I googled "creature that looks like a string in water" and a rabbit came up. Thanks, Google. : )

Eventually, the horsehair worm came up. Horrifyingly enough, it is a parasite that invades a cricket and makes it go to water. Zombie worm. I think this might be it. Even if not, it is a fascinating creature. I just wish I wasn't eating my cereal when I read about it.

Horsehair worm

Video of it swimming

Wormie

adam: " Lamprey http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/education_safety/education/minnaqua/lampreyrochure.pdf "

I have seen silver lamprey attached to northern pike in lakes in Quetico. Usually about 6 inches or so long. I do not think they would ever kill the fish like the sea lamprey would.

Yes they are native. The dreaded sea lamprey is the nonnative one in Lake superior. I believe there are a total of three native lamprey in Minnesota and they don't range over the entire state.

I have seen Horse leeches in the BWCA they get pretty big.

I have seen horsehair worms in water near shore, but have never seen the (relatively much larger diameter) native lamprey.

Agnes Lake 2008

I’ve seen leeches about as that long before. When they swim they stretch out.

I was definitely talking about horsehair worms, now that I’ve watched the videos. I’m not sure what the original poster observed. Will be interesting.

chestnut lamprey will do the same thing, I know they are like around Bemidji.

This thread makes me not want to go swimming anymore.

Portage99: "I was definitely talking about horsehair worms, now that I’ve watched the videos. I’m not sure what the original poster observed. Will be interesting.


"

They are quite common in the state.

Portage99: "I was definitely talking about horsehair worms, now that I’ve watched the videos. I’m not sure what the original poster observed. Will be interesting.


"

Well, I've now watched videos of silver lampreys, sea lampreys, and horsehair worms, and I have to lean horsehair worm. the lampreys wiggle to fast for what I was watching, and the lampreys do not have enough exaggeration to the "s" curves.

Portage99. I'm not sure where you came up with horsehair worm, but having looked at the videos, that looks alot closer to what I saw.

I watched that "wormie" video Portage posted. That's definitely it. Thank you.

Note, I'm glad you didn't stop at Rabbit. I'm certain it wasn't a rabbit. lol.

analyzer: "I watched that "wormie" video Portage posted. That's definitely it. Thank you.


Note, I'm glad you didn't stop at Rabbit. I'm certain it wasn't a rabbit. lol."

the diameter is very small, I have seen thousands of the horse hair worms. Like the name says their diameter is about the same as a hair. Seen them on nylon thread type nets and you , they are very thin at times.

I saw one of these worms up on Saganaga lake. I no longer dip water from the lake because of these nasty things.

Great info on all creatures discussed. They’re interesting. I don’t think we have these where I live or I’ve never seen them. Nature’s never boring-that’s for sure!

I had horsehair worms in my birdbath last year.