Not sure whats up with the fish your catching. I checked a few sources and didn't find anything like what you described.

The put and takes i mentioned don't have spawning either, fish do try and move up ditches and drains during the spring though (instinctively) and may damage themselves. I checked a few other sources to no avail. The scales may just be really small in rapidly developing fish, that would be my only guesse. Good luck finding your answer.