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I've noticed a high incidence of brook trout that are missing one or both gill covers. the gills are fully exposed. some appear to have vestigial gill covers. Others appear to be the result of trauma. Is this caused by predators or fishermen?
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Tom
Where are you seeing this at? On those limited facts, sounds more like poor water quality than predation or trauma.
I see these fish in spring creeks of NW Wisconsin. These are all wild trout. No stacking. The DNR monitors these streams closely. Apparently very healthy ecosystem with excellent macroinvertebrates.
The DNR has harvested these fish to use in feral stocking program. These fish are captured and returned to the stream after obtaining roe and milt. The feral offsring are then stocked in other streams.
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Tom
Tom, I've seen this in Brookies, just as you have described, but always in stocked trout, never in wild ones.
Maybe your creek which has wild trout also got a dose of farmed trout, maybe? -Yaf
Check with the DNR most biologist would be interested in hearing about the fish.
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Bill
Interesting, I've seen that in stocked brookies in Stoney Creek River in SW Pa, too....