Tail Rays on Fresh Fish

[chrome/22]

I always thought these rays were specific to fresh Steelhead transitioning from saltwater to freshwater. This past October (late in the month) they were pointed out to me for the 1st time on ocean fresh Coho. I was huh......

Been fishing for coastal salmon the last 40 years and in the saltwater about the same amount of time. Apparently I'm not overly observant

One other observation, there were what I consider an very unusual amount of late Sockeye milling below Lake creek. I hadn't seen that before as well

Thoughts?


c/22

 

[2MANY]

Our state's management will screw it up was the first thought I had.

 

[chrome/22]

Anyone else?

 

[Matt B]

Atlantic Salmon

 

[G_Smolt]

Freshwater char with anadromy in its very recent life history -


Resident and landlocked rainbow with no lake access -


The "silvering" of the caudal rays is most usually associated with anadromous and lake/adfluvial salmonids, but as you can see from the RBT above, that's not always the case. I think there may be ontogenetic and/or ecotypic pressures at work as well.

Keep making observations, that's where all the fun is!

 

[M_D]

Freshwater char with anadromy in its very recent life history -
View attachment 172640

Resident and landlocked rainbow with no lake access -
View attachment 172642

The "silvering" of the caudal rays is most usually associated with anadromous and lake/adfluvial salmonids, but as you can see from the RBT above, that's not always the case. I think there may be ontogenetic and/or ecotypic pressures at work as well.

Keep making observations, that's where all the fun is!

So then this little guy I got Tuesday, 60+ road miles upstream, had been in the salt not too long ago?



How awesome is that!!