Do all hatchery rainbows have clipped adipose fins? I caught a couple rainbows in Lucky Peak last week and both had full adipose fins.
Answer:
We don't clip the adipose fin on hatchery produced rainbow trout unless they are part of a research project.
We do clip the adipose fin on hatchery produced anadromous (ocean-going) salmon and steelhead raised in our hatchery system. This is so anglers can distinguish them from wild chinook and steelhead. Hatchery salmon and steelhead are not ESA listed and are availble for harvest in the sport fishery. Wild salmon and steelhead are listed under ESA and federally protected.
F08
Answered on:
Sunday, February 23, 2014 - 5:58 PM MST