Misclipped Steelhead

This weekend brought up an important issue hopefully all Steelhead anglers encounter.  It is more and more common to catch fish with a partially or “Misclipped” Adipose fin.  We usually end up with 4-5 misclipped fish every year.  Not a huge number but I would say around 1 percent are misclipped.  I have noticed an increase now that the automatic clipping process is being used.   When the fish were clipped by hand there were very few, and any misclipped were still very obviously clipped. 

Misclipped Adipose Fin

I can usually tell pretty quickly as soon as I can see the fish for the first time - even eight feet under water - if it is a keeper or not.  Just one of those things that comes with experience and looking for it.  In this instance, I called it as a non-clipped well before it was netted, and the client was a little disappointed to hear he had to let it go.  When it was finally time to net the fish I could then tell it was worth a closer look.  The client commented that he could now see the fin, and he also believed it should go back.  I got a closer look after the hook was removed.   The fin had an obvious flat top and was more of a line from the back to the back edge.  The Adipose fin is normally rounded across the top, and the arch starts right at the back line. 

Wild Fish

I told the client he had his first keeper of the day and hoisted it in the boat.  There was a lot of concern from the clients, and I finally told him it was 100% my responsibility.  My accepting the responsibility seemed to settle his nerves a little, so I introduced the fish to the love stick.  Now I will admit only a very few people would have kept the fish because of the noticeable fin.   I will also tell anyone if you have any doubt at all turn the fish loose.  Do not ever keep a fish you are not sure is a clipped fish.  We have a mandatory keep fishery.  The more clipped fish we remove the higher probability of the fishery remaining open in the future.     

We ended the day with 9 boated and several keepers.  We headed in and the WDFW Creel Checking staff was at the dock waiting.  The client with the misclipped fish started getting nervous again.  It didn’t help with his buddy telling him he was going to jail because it was on his card not mine.  We saved the misclipped fish for last, and the checkers initially caught their breath.  As soon as the checker got a closer look though, the checker said it was a hatchery fish.  In addition to the misclipped fin, the checker could see another marking on the fish that indicated it was from the Wenatchee area.  The magic wand beeped (collecting the PIT tag number identifying the fish), and the head went in the bag.  Another great day Steelhead fishing and educating other anglers about is what it’s all about.

 

Ron  


Editors note: Please remember we were 100% sure of the misclip through our experience. If you are not sure let the fish go. We are not responsible if you keep a wild fish thinking it is a misclip.

A Weekend of Steelheading

I have not been out much lately for Steelhead.  With the closure it seems to have turned off client interest.   They closed the Methow River and Columbia River near the mouth of the Methow.  Every thing else has remained open.   Unfortunately when people hear the Methow is closed they think Easter Washington Steelhead is closed.   The other waters in our area are still open including the Columbia and Okanogan River.  Sure I would love to be out every day with clients, but having some time off to get other things done has its benefits.

One of my buddies called Wednesday to “chat”.  He says he has weekends off for a month, and tentatively asks when I might have an open day to fish.  Normally all my buddies have to wait or schedule a ways out.  I instantly reply Friday is out, but how about Saturday and Sunday?  A brief pause and then he replied back “I’ll see you Friday night!”.  He tells me I have all my own gear now, so you don’t have to bring me anything.  Ok…sure I’m still bringing two BIG EYE rods, two stock spinning rods and a troller.  

Saturday morning he doesn’t ask anything other then what color I’m going to use.   I tell him and he replies back with what he will use.   I’m thinking…well ok if you say so, but I am going to kick your butt today.  Yes, FISHING IS A CONTEST and it is not EVERYBODY GETS A RIBBON DAY.   The first two areas were blanks.  We move around some and I miss a bite or two.  Finally around 10am I hook and land the first fish.   I hook and lose one, and then hook and land a keeper.   That would be every bite and fish for Ron with buddy zippo.   Oh yeah I am reminding him, and he has tried probably 5 different set ups.   My buddy gets his one fish for the day, and we end with 3 boated, 2 keepers and 2 lost.   For me lost means it’s hooked, you get to see it, and it comes undone before it’s in the net.  Swing and a miss doesn’t count for lost. 

Sunday we start where we caught fish the day before and skip the blank holes.   My friend finally asks as we are getting ready for the first drift “What do you think I should use”.   I point it out to him telling him “That is a fish catcher for sure”.  He rigs up and BANG not 20 yards later he has a nice fish on.   Fights it all the way to the boat and it is an un-clipped so it goes back.  I get ready to net it and as he lifts to bring it to the top…BINK…there goes about a 7lb hen.  BAHAHAHAAA…he lost his fish to a line break with the best lure he had.   Yes, I am laughing out loud at him and telling him how he is an idiot.   I look at the line ask him what it is…and then tell him to cut the crap off and tie up like I was.   He re-rigs up and we have a decent day ending with 5 boated, 1 keeper, and 3 lost.  Oh..Yes I out fished him again 3 to 2, so he bought the Fireball and Apple Juice.   

-Ron Oules           


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