ML, I'm glad you brought up fin-clipping. We clipped the caudal fin on bass from different suppliers (top from one place, bottom from another place, and no clipping at all from a third hatchery). We have caught disproportionately more of the LMB with no clipping than with either top or bottom clipping. I'm beginning to think it's more than just coincidence. Do you think the clipped fin increases the chance of infection? Could having a clipped fin give that bass a disadvantage in mobility, resulting in less forage caught? Could clipping lead to morts in other ways?
