Is This A Brown Trout?

[fishinwrench]

I see trout with clipped pectorals all the time. If MDC isn't doing it then who the heck is?

[Phil Lilley]

They lose them in the hatcheries. Rub against the concrete walled raceways.

[fishinwrench]

I'm not sure I buy that, but it isn't worth arguing about

[Phil Lilley]

There are a lot of rainbows without their pectoral fins in Taney. I've always assumed that's what happened to them. No one has told me that- got it on my own. Makes sense. I know they don't clip rainbow fins- no reason.

Browns- they clipped (or still do) them to tell what year they were stocked. Alternate fins- every 3 years. Right, left pelvic and then adipose. I very rarely see a brown without a pectoral fin.

I can ask. I'm curious myself.

[bfishn]

It can happen at growout facilities that use sinking feed (most do). The fish spend a lot of time graziing the bottom in search of stray pellets, and roll a bit (flash) to pick them up.

When I raised trout, I spent the extra buck fifty for floating feed and never had that problem. I didn't do it for that reason though, I just really enjoyed watching the surface frenzy at feeding time.

[fishinwrench]

If you raise 19 kids in a 14' wide trailer will their fingers and hands start falling off?

I never see one with 1/2 a pectoral.....it's always snipped right at the nub. And during a season it's always the same side.

Yeah, they snip'em. I'd lay a bet on it.

[Jerry Rapp]

If you raise 19 kids in a 14' wide trailer will their fingers and hands start falling off?

I never see one with 1/2 a pectoral.....it's always snipped right at the nub. And during a season it's always the same side.

Yeah, they snip'em. I'd lay a bet on it.

I just can't go to an entire fishing world where people are discussing the effects of hatchery raised fish. I can hear it now in 50 years, "I caught a 5lb smallie in the Black River and it had its' fins wore off from the hatchery, plus it had a yellow tag hanging off of it. But boy, it put up a hell of a fight when it nailed that lazer eyed, sound enhancing, color changing pre Buffet wiggle wart.

[bfishn]

Yeah, if they're just missing one side I'd have to wonder. Occasionally I'd run short of catchers in peak season and had to buy from other farms. One farm in particular had fair numbers missing both sides as well as an eroded bottom of the tail fin. Knowing the guy that raised them, I'm sure he didn't do any snipping. He kept his raceways pretty crowded, and didn't ever grade for size. That always results in a fair number that can't compete and have to get what they can the hard way. As I recall, it was usually those runts that had damaged/missing fins.

[bfishn]

Side note.

I've been guilty of snipping a single pect on small bluegill I used for bait. Makes them continuosly swim. You can only cut about half of it off without killing them though, cut it clear off and they'll bleed out in a short time.

[laker67]

The head of that fish says "german" and not "sheepcreek". Is mdc raising or buying the triploids?