Fishing Forum

I got to thinking, last year when I was dieing for some smoked steelie steaks, I got one fish in. It did not have a full adipose fin, but it definitely looked deformed, yet it was a bit more than just a nubbins- so I realeased it, not wanting to take any chances of poaching.

But I've been second guessing myself ever since. For a fish to be legal, does the adipose area have to be pretty much flush with the body of the fish, or just visibly munched and healed over, but still sticking out a bit?
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Unfortunately you will catch fish with one or both front fins missing and tags that have full adipose fins and yes even partial adipose fins. All came from a hatchery but . . . when in doubt release it. It's always a judgment call but the law says adipose fin should not be present. It isn't worth the fine, loss of license and then their are the beautiful spring weekends spent picking up trash along the Salmon River.
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if the adipose fin has signs of scarring your ok to keep them. if they dont get cut flush with the back they grow a bit but they still have that flat scar on top. but like he said when in doubt release the fish. i have had my share that i just couldnt be possative, but if i had to bet i would have bet they were hatchery but like he said its just not worth the fine.
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The whole fin clipping thing worries me a bit. I have never caught steelhead or salmon here in idaho. I don't know if I would know a hatchery fish or not[:/]. Ron
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you will know. a good sized steelhead has a adipose fin about the size of a fingernail. if it isnt there you will know. go back to some of the old posts and look at the fish and study them a bit and it will become familar. if your unsure ask the other fisherman i am sre there will be plenty around this year.
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I have 2 very good friends that aren't fishing for 2 more years because they caught and kept 2 mis-clipped fish. The adipose fin was half missing and had a flat top, but the F&G officer decided in both cases to press the charge. One was cited in Riggins, the other in Salmon. It is not worth losing your fishing privileges and/or being fined for one fish.

It is unfortunate that some F&G folks can't exercise common sense and recognize a fin that was clipped half off indeed belongs to a hatchery fish. Congrats on releasing the fish. Don't second guess your actions, you did the smart thing.[font "Calibri"] [/font]
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Good point about the F&G exercising common sense. If the fin was in any way clipped and had healed the judge should have found this a no brainer. I would have contested the ticket in court and made the F&G produce the evidence. As was said it's much easier to not have to go that route.
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i have had fish & game officers tell me they only right the ticket its not there job to dispute weather you have broken the law or not. they say thats the judges job. but i think we all know its your word against a paid employe. i heard from a friend who was fishing with a guy who had a simalr thing happen that the fish had what he thought was a visable scar but the officer didnt agree. he was ticketed and the guy asked him to wand the fish and bang the fish was tagged. it sure saved his but.
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Thanks for the adbvice- sounds like better safe than sorry. Now, If I can just get lucky enough to catch another one!
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