What the heck is a mud puppy?

So it's been awhile. Sorry about that, but I have been so busy trying to finish my basement at home that when I do get a chance to go fishing, I either forget to write about it, or just don't have enough time (then I forget again).
Two weeks ago Nick and I decided to try some late night fishing on the Chippewa River. We were across and downstream from the city shops trying to get that Friday night bite, but it didn't happen. We only fished for about an hour when we decided to pack it in.
Last Saturday night, Nick, Jeremy and I all went to Chippewa Falls and fished in our normal spot on the river. The water was very high and besides Jeremy getting his stuff tangled up in the dark, I tried to fish with a spinnerbait that I had rigged with a glow-in-the-dark blade, but again- not a bite. We left after about an hour and went home to drink some beer and relax in front of some WFN.
Then the coolest trip so far this year took place. Nick, Jeremy, Andy and I all took the long two and a half hour trip to Cabela's in Owatonna, MN. Boy we had a great time. We all got rigged up with some cool gear and we got our waders for the trip we are taking to Andy's place on fishing opener. We bummed around Cabela's for about 4 hours looking at their fish tanks, eating in their restaurant, and just making a wish list of all the cool gear we could find. Of course on the way back we had to stop at White Castle for some sliders. (It was Andy's first time!!!).

And now we come to the question at hand; what is a mud puppy? I have heard of these elusive creatures living at the bottom of lakes and rivers, big lizard looking like things just waiting for food to munch on.
So Nick, Nik, Jeremy, Nick's girlfriend Nicole, my wife's brother Steven, and I all went to the Chippewa to fish across from the city shops. It was the first day thisyear above 60 degrees, nd it was really nice outside. On the city shops side there were at least 30 people fishing, with one Lund boat and a canoe all in this one place. So we set up camp on the opposite side of the shops and started fishing with some small minnows. After 10 minutes, I reeled in my line and found that something was on the end. At first I thought it was a clam, but clams don't have legs. It was a mud puppy, and a big one! The ugliest thing I have ever seen on the end of my line. It was slimy, slippery, and down right gross. But I took it off the line, threw it back, and kept on fishing.
Bit unfortunately that was the only thing any of us caught that day. We fished for about 4 hours using mostly minnows and spinnerbaits.

Just a mud puppy. Google image one, I dare you. You will be having dreams of giant slimy salamanders invading your fisheries. Not a pleasant site.

Till next time
Good fishin'

Joe