Members of the region’s FFI clubs Spokane Fly Fishers and your
Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club volunteered at the Spokane Hatchery for a fin clipping extravaganza on September 27 and 28. Clipped adipose fins mark fish as hatchery raised, thus helping anglers and researchers identify hatchery raised fish for harvest and survey reasons.
Fresh fingerlings are put in the center trough. Each clipper has a net,
and grabs a few of the fish, transferring them to the outer troughs,
which contain an anesthetic. Once the fish settle down, the clipper
grabs one of the little fish, and clips off the adipose with a scissor.
Once clipped, the fish is put into fresh water in the small outside
trough, where flow transports the fish into a large hatchery pond.
They revive quickly.
The table style of the processing area promotes a great deal of story-
telling and sharing of experiences, along with sage angling ad-
vice…..most of it good!
All that, coffee, donuts, and pizza for lunch. Beautiful weather, good
work, and great companions.
IEFFC Volunteers for this years’ effort are: Bill Papesh, Jim Athearn,
Skip Cavanaugh, Bob Schmitt, Guy Gregory, Dan Lobb, Phil Beck,
Tim Davis, and Steve Boharski.
Jim and Skip win the Silver Snipper award for volunteering for 2 days! 2!
The Flyleaf October 2022
Bayley Lake Spawning Channel Restoration 2022
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