Fish disease on Clinch rainbows?

[waterwolf]

Originally Posted by MadisonBoats

Thanks Sir for you time and advice! I try my best most of the time to keep the fish's health in my best interest. However, I do make mistakes when I get excited or when I am struggling to get the fish in...

Anytime, and I understand that sometimes things happen, and spending alot of times in boats like I do some fish get dropped etc. It happens, and all we can do is try our best to release them unharmed.

[ajh10567]

Sorry, I don't know if this is very on topic. I was wondering if this fish I caught was a wild fish? I was not sure if there were any wild fish in this river system or not. Are the fish reproducing in the Clinch?

[MadisonBoats]

ajh10567

Not sure bud, have to see the pectoral fins to get an idea and I would not be completely sure!

BTW, is that an automatic reel you are using?
SM

[ajh10567]

It's an orvis clearwater with a disc drag system. I am not quite sure if it is automatic or not. It was one of the cheapest reals I could find, and it actually broke that day which was very frustrating to fish with a broken reel. I only had for one season, but I went out and bought an orvis battenkill because of its durability.

[truchin]

I landed 3 bows with black colorings on top 2 weeks ago on the clinch. it looked like fungal dz due to poor handling [hand markings] curious thing all where caught in am in 1 stretch never landed another with markings rest of day.
jose

[waterwolf]

Having fished the Clinch the past few weeks, I have gotten a chance to see the black stuff on the fish as reported here. It is not a fungus, it is below the slime layer and is something going on with their pigment.

It also does not appear to be from electroshocking either.

I really am at a loss for what might be causing the black streaks, but the fish appear healthy, so it is probably nothing to worry with at the momment.

[Wilson10]

Something in their diet perhaps?

[waterwolf]

Originally Posted by Wilson10

Something in their diet perhaps?

Could be, who knows, as long as they stay healthy I am not going to worry too much about it.

[MadisonBoats]

Thanks for the followup waterwolf. Lets try and follow this and see what we can find out and what we can learn...

[waterwolf]

Upon a little more inspection today, there is no doubt the black marks I am seeing are from poor handling by fisherman. I wish I had a camera with me so I could show the clear finger marks where some idiot dry handed a fish.

To all, please wet your hands before grabbing a fish, it is a simple and easy thing to do.