Weird fish; any ideas?

[Prairieschooner]

Fishing for bluegills in an urban lake in south central Kansas yesterday. I was bank fishing and a fish rose to near the surface at my feet. I thought it was a stick at first; only saw it from the top. It was 10-12" long, straight, flat sided and very narrow (maybe 1 to 1-1/2" wide) and appeared to have a sort of t-shaped head. Here's a sketch from memory; not at all sure about the fins, etc. as I only saw it for a few seconds. I cast around for it for a while but it didn't take; I'd never seen anything like it that I know of. I don't think it was an eel; it sure looked like a fish. Any ideas what it was? I assure you I didn't dream it !

[jay92]

could be a hammerhead, but from Kansas, that would involve high winds and a dog named TOTO

[DaleW]

Never seen anything that resembled the likes of that, not even in salt water!

The sketch kinda looks like maybe discarded drug paraphernalia ... that maybe took on a life form of it's own? (LOL)

[sagefisher]

Looks like a great reason to make a long study of the area in question, naturally that would require many hours of observing the water, like while you are fishing

If I lived near you I would volunteer to help out in the study.

Larry ---sagefisher---

[Ed_D]

I suspect that even newly born hammerhead shark pups are larger than 10-12" long. I wonder if it might have been a bullhead of some species.

Ed

[James Smith]

The fins and body shape look like a pickerel, but that T shaped head doesn't fit any freshwater fish I've ever heard of. Any chance that the T shape was from something crosswise in the mouth like a smaller fish it grabbed? Also, could you see any colors on this fish?

Jim Smith

[Prairieschooner]

Pickerel was what flashed through my mind; although I haven't seen any around here I guess they do exist. I suppose it could have been something in its mouth; as I said, I only saw it briefly. I thought maybe I was looking at buggy eyes sticking out, but in my memory they were more square than rounded. Happened too fast to note any colors, and the water wasn't real clear; as I remember it was an even color - no spots or stripes etc..

[sagefisher]

I suspect it could be a member of the Waterdog or Mudpuppy family of amphibian salamanders. Just a thought.

Larry ---sagefisher---

http://animals.nationalgeographic.co...ians/mudpuppy/

[WarrenP]

Maybe this link to the Northern Hog Sucker will work: http://www.roughfish.com/northern-hogsucker

[gordo7]

Lost or wandering "Gar Fish".