Sparky -
Had another tought on the peduncle length.

It has been known for sometime that the various meristic charcteristic (counts of various body parts) of trout/salmon can be influenced by the temperature at which the eggs are incubated. The first published work that I can remember was from the mid-1920s that showed that rainbow trout eggs (domestic stock) from the same parents incubated at different temperatures resulted in a difference in the number of vertebrae in the spine - more vertebrae might result in a longer appearing peduncle. Believe the work was published by a Dr. Hubbs (first name Carl?) from either the Mid-west or East Coast. For the life of me I can't remember whether cooler water resulted in more or less vertebrae - the more than 35 years since college has been just too long.

Based on the above it may be that there may geographic differences in the number of vertebrae. Inland fish (summer fish) might have different counts than coastal fish (mostly winters). A search by some young student with a little time might be able find more details than I could dredge from my foggy mind.

Tight lines
Smalma