Anyone else catch Sky Steelies with missing pectoral & adipose fins? A couple years ago I got a couple and got another one today. Anyone know a story?

The adipose fin clip of course is a mark used to identify hatchery fish. The pectoral "clip" typically is rearing mark. When the young fish are reared in concrete ponds/raceways it is not uncommon for the fish to rub their pectoral fins down on the concrete sides. Back in the day when much of the steelhead smolt production occurred in those concrete ponds seeing returning adults with missing pectoral fins was common. Less so today because much of the smolt rearing takes place in larger more natural ponds those the first few months of rearing still takes place in those smaller concrete containers and occasionally the pectoral fin damage is severe enough the fish become "permanently" marked when they return as adults.

Curt

Now I know, always thought they were from a different hatchery.