Age Your Atlantic Salmon!

Each year, hatchery employees and volunteers clip the same fin on the entire soon-to-be-released year class of fish. This fin-clipping process allows anglers to age an Atlantic Salmon when it is caught, as well as when the Salmon are captured at our annual fall broodstock collection.

  • Year Stocked
  • 2017
  • 2018
  • 2019
  • 2020
  • 2021
  • 2022
  • 2023
  • 2024
  • 2025
  • Fin Clip
  • Left-pelvic
  • Left-ventral
  • Right-pelvic
  • Right-ventral
  • Left-pelvic
  • Left-ventral
  • Right-pelvic
  • Right-ventral
  • Left-pelvic
  • Age
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • N/A
  • N/A

Special Notes

  • Fish are held at the CFRE Fish Hatchery for approximately 1 year prior to release.
  • When looking at which fin is clipped, hold the fish as if you are saddling it to ride it. This will help you determine the fish’s right vs left sides.
ATS Fin-Clips

Pictured: Atlantic Salmon caught with right-pectoral fin clips

Thank you to LSSU student anglers for providing example pictures of Atlantic Salmon fin clips. Discover more at our Great Lakes Discovery Center, located at 100 Salmon Run Way in Sault Ste. Marie, MI.