CPW cuts the top corner of the tails off during the walleye spawn for ID purposes. Also started chipping them this year, or maybe last I forget. I cut a lot of walleye fins this year though
So, does the tail fin regenerate during the warm water period? If not, is an additional amount of tail removed each year if/when the fish is netted during subsequent spawning operations? They should remove 1 spiney ray each year. Don't need our 'eyes looking like eels.
Or, considering that it came from the Crack, the tail might have been in the process of dissolving.
On the other hand, it seems to be entirely possible that, despite the release, Mike may have been involved in some surreptitious gnoshing. His grudge against the fishes just may run that deep.
