Fish scales falling off

[garrymny]

I noticed yesterday, 7/31, most of the fish we caught, Steelheads and one coho, all had lost some of their scales. And scales were coming off them as we handled them. I noticed the same thing last year. They look kind of ratty. Is this a disease, or do they molt like my chickens?

 

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[Smoke-N-Finn]

Usually happens when fish are or have been hanging around, out of temp, in warmer water. Is what I was told.

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[garrymny]

a guy at work said the ailwifes have some kind of enzyme that affects the steelhead.

 

[Paul Czarnecki]

Usually happens when fish are or have been hanging around, out of temp, in warmer water. Is what I was told.

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No. Scales fall off summer steelhead and cohos because the scales are not mature. No different than pin feathers on a bird, they only mature when the fish is nearing maturity or its spawning cycle. Cohos spawn later than kings so their scales don't mature until late August or even September. Steelhead are late winter/spring spawners so their scales mature even later than that.
You will also see scales falling off immature 1 and 2 year old kings at any time of the year.


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[Paul Czarnecki]

Usually happens when fish are or have been hanging around, out of temp, in warmer water. Is what I was told.

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No. Scales fall off summer steelhead and cohos because the scales are not mature. No different than pin feathers on a bird, they only mature when the fish is nearing maturity or its spawning cycle. Cohos spawn later than kings so their scales don't mature until late August or even September. Steelhead are late winter/spring spawners so their scales mature even later than that.
You will also see scales falling off immature 1 and 2 year old kings at any time of the year.


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[Smoke-N-Finn]

That makes more sense that what I was told. I had Never looked into it, mostly cause I could care less but have caught many Superior Coho in spring and scales are shedding like crazy, and there is no warm water.

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[brucehookedup]

I agree with paul, but i also see more scales coming off the longer they are in the warmer water which they have been in.