Great Lakes Steelhead Fin Clip Information

This information is from the Michigan DNR, reguarding the fin clips of steelhead stocked between 1999 and 2008. Remember different strains of steehead take from 3 to 5 years to spawn and will spawn more than 1 year. Finding a fin clip and comparing it to fish stocked 3-5 years prior to your catch can help to identify the strain and stocking location of your fish.

This key shows abbreviations of fins for use as a reference to the chart below.

FIN CLIP YEAR AGENCY # STOCKED STRAIN

AD 2008 MIDNR 39,818 MICHIGAN

ADLM 2000 WIDNR 64,000 CHAMBERS CREEK

ADLM 2005 WIDNR 64,873 CHAMBERS CREEK

ADLM 2007 WIDNR 8,060 CHAMBERS CREEK

ADLM 2008 WIDNR 53,380 CHAMBERS CREEK

ADLP 2000 WIDNR 72,000 ARLEE

ADLP 2002 WIDNR 60,000 ARLEE

ADLP 2005 WIDNR 53,035 ARLEE

ADLP 2007 WIDNR 65,871 ARLEE

ADLV 2000 WIDNR 58,000 GANARASKA

ADLV 2003 WIDNR 66,989 GANARASKA

ADLV 2004 WIDNR 63,762 GANARASKA

ADLV 2007 WIDNR 29,624 KAMLOOPS

ADRM 2000 WIDNR 75,000 SKAMANIA

ADRM 2005 WIDNR 75,939 SKAMANIA

ADRM 2008 WIDNR 68,742 SKAMANIA

ADRP 2002 ILDNR 76,000 SKAMANIA

ADRP 2002 WIDNR 62,000 KAMLOOPS

ADRP 2003 ILDNR 75,968 SKAMANIA

ADRP 2004 ILDNR 50,000 SKAMANIA

ADRP 2006 ILDNR 55,201 SKAMANIA

ADRP 2007 ILDNR 57,732 SKAMANIA

ADRP 2008 ILDNR 56,040 SKAMANIA

ADRV 2001 WIDNR 186,000 GANARASKA

ADRV 2005 WIDNR 56,208 GANARASKA

ADRV 2007 WIDNR 68,356 GANARASKA

ADRV 2008 WIDNR 66,299 GANARASKA

BV 1999 WIDNR 66,000 GANARASKA

BV 2002 WIDNR 65,000 GANARASKA

BV 2006 WIDNR 61,533 GANARASKA

DLV 2000 MIDNR 30,253 SKAMANIA

LM 2001 WIDNR 134,000 CHAMBERS CREEK

LM 2003 WIDNR 71,863 CHAMBERS CREEK

LM 2004 WIDNR 71,863 CHAMBERS CREEK

LM 2007 WIDNR 14,830 CHAMBERS CREEK

LM 2007 WIDNR 24,193 SKAMANIA

LMLV 1999 WIDNR 61,000 CHAMBERS CREEK

LMLV 2002 WIDNR 93,000 CHAMBERS CREEK

LMLV 2006 WIDNR 61,828 CHAMBERS CREEK

LP 2001 WIDNR 15,000 ARLEE

LP 2003 WIDNR 29,992 ARLEE

LP 2004 WIDNR 29,992 ARLEE

LP 2006 WIDNR 61,285 ARLEE

LP 2008 WIDNR 59,987 ARLEE

LPRV 1999 MIDNR 17,484 SKAMANIA

LPRV 2007 ILDNR 46,943 ARLEE

LPRV 2008 ILDNR 51,003 ARLEE

LV 2000 ILDNR 88,000 ARLEE

LV 2001 ILDNR 60,000 SKAMANIA

LV 2005 WIDNR 42,363 KAMLOOPS

LV 2006 MIDNR 34,821 MICHIGAN

LV 2007 MIDNR 20,525 MICHIGAN

LV 2008 MIDNR 20,296 MICHIGAN

RM 2001 WIDNR 120,000 SKAMANIA

RM 2003 WIDNR 68,735 SKAMANIA

RM 2004 WIDNR 68,735 SKAMANIA

RM 2007 WIDNR 60,455 SKAMANIA

RMRV 1999 WIDNR 95,000 SKAMANIA

RMRV 2002 WIDNR 171,500 SKAMANIA

RMRV 2006 WIDNR 65,183 SKAMANIA

RP 1999 MIDNR 521,628 MICHIGAN

RP 2000 INDNR 40,021 MICHIGAN

RP 2000 MIDNR 517,917 MICHIGAN

RP 2001 INDNR 40,000 MICHIGAN

RP 2001 MIDNR 567,695 MICHIGAN

RP 2001 MIDNR 36,478 SKAMANIA

RP 2002 INDNR 40,000 MICHIGAN

RP 2002 MIDNR 567,271 MICHIGAN

RP 2002 MIDNR 33,260 SKAMANIA

RP 2003 INDNR 40,000 MICHIGAN

RP 2003 MIDNR 536,706 MICHIGAN

RP 2003 MIDNR 37,415 SKAMANIA

RP 2004 MIDNR 536,704 MICHIGAN

RP 2004 MIDNR 37,415 SKAMANIA

RP 2005 MIDNR 484,196 MICHIGAN

RP 2005 MIDNR 32,358 SKAMANIA

RP 2006 INDNR 40,001 MICHIGAN

RP 2006 MIDNR 29,702 MICHIGAN

RP 2007 INDNR 40,792 MICHIGAN

RP 2007 MIDNR 19,562 MICHIGAN

RP 2007 MIDNR 33,772 SKAMANIA

RP 2008 MIDNR 19,417 MICHIGAN

RPLV 1999 ILDNR 100,000 ARLEE

RPLV 2005 MIDNR 32,776 MICHIGAN

RV 2001 ILDNR 46,000 ARLEE

RV 2003 WIDNR 60,397 KAMLOOPS

RV 2004 WIDNR 60,397 KAMLOOPS

RV 2006 WIDNR 58,570 KAMLOOPS

RV 2007 WIDNR 31,344 KAMLOOPS

In addition to the information in my last blog post, I have come across this "Michigan" strain of steelhead. Having never angled the waters of Michigan for steelhead I havn't run across this strain (yet). Here is the information I have to share with you.

Michigan : "winter-run" steelhead : This strain arrose from introductions of anadromous steelhead which occured sometime between 1876-1914. Original plants were likely from gametes collected from natural runs of steelhead in the State of California. These early stocked fish naturalized and maintain significant runs in the Little Manistee River. Gamete collection for hatchery rearing was initiated by the State of Michigan in the mid-1960s. These fish return to rivers in late-fall or early spring and typically spawn from March through May.