On Apr 22, 5:51 pm, rw wrote:
[snip]
In Idaho (at least in my parts) the apipose fins of all stocked rainbow
trout are clipped -- not just steelhead. If the fish is a multi-year
holdover its fin is still clipped. They don't grow back. Wild rainbows
(i.e., those with intact apipose fins) must be released.

Hi rw,

I checked with Idaho F&G and I hate to tell you that you've been
releasing stockers.

Just keeping it real, however ineloquently.

Please see entire email chain below my .sig and let me know any
questions.

Your pal,

Halfordian Golfer
It is impossible to catch and release wild trout.

---------- email thread below -------------

Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:55 AM
To: IDFGINFO
Subject: Identification of stream born versus stocked trout

Idaho does not clip all the trout that we stock. We occasionally clip
some trout when conducting research projects to evaluate the success
of
our stocking programs but the majority of stocked catchable size and
fingerling size trout are not clipped.

We do clip most of the hatchery steelhead and Chinook salmon that are
released into the Clearwater and Salmon River drainages to go to the
ocean so anglers can harvest these hatchery fish when they return to
Idaho. Anglers are required to release wild fish along with the
unmarked hatchery fish destined for recovery populations.

Fred E. Partridge

-----Original Message-----
From: ]
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 3:48 PM
To: IDFGINFO
Subject: Identification of stream born versus stocked trout

This message was sent from the IDFG website.

Hello,

I understand that Idaho clips the adipose fins of all stocked trout in
the state to identify them from stream born fish of the same species.
Is
this universally true in the state and do you also clip the fin of
trout
fry and subcatchables when they are stocked, or just the catchables?

Thanks very much,

Tim