The use of fin clipping is a management tool widely used throughout the Great Lakes, and clips are used extensively in Minnesota's rainbow trout management program. Each unique combination of clips help fisheries technicians as well as anglers to determine whether a fish is stocked or wild, the strain of rainbow trout stocked, the stocking location, potentially the age, and whether or not an angler can legally harvest the fish. In Minnesota's portion of Lake Superior and its tributaries below the posted upstream boundary , only rainbow trout over 16 inches with a healed adipose clip may be harvested. The adipose fin is that big fleshy fin located on the back of the fish between the dorsal fin and tail. It is worth noting that while clipped fins do sometimes partially regrow, the adipose fin does not. If you are in doubt, CPR. Other programs such as Wisconsin's continue to code fin clips using a letter designation from the ...
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