Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus)
Identifying characteristics: Red or orange border around the "ear" flap. The body coloration is
light olive-green to gold, with red or orange flecks on the breast. The breast of a mature redear is
typically a rather bright yellow. The body is heavily spotted and they have long, pointed pectoral
fins. Five to 10 vertical bars are more or less evident on the sides, depending on the size of the
fish.
Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins with spinous and soft-rayed portions united, large
mouth, six anal spines, red eye, rows of dark dots on sides.
Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins with spinous and soft-rayed portions united, body
longer than deep, upper jaw doesn’t extend past eye, bronze streaks in cheek.
Smelt (Osmerus mordax)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins including one adipose fin, long thin body with purple,
pink and blue iridescent sides.
Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins including one adipose fin, mouth and gums are light,
small spots along rays on entire tail, 10-12 rays in anal fin.
Female
Male
Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis)
Identifying characteristics: Seven or eight prominent black uninterrupted horizontal stripes along
the sides. The stripes are often interrupted or broken and are usually absent on young fish of
less than six inches.
Sucker (Catostomus catostomus)
Identifying characteristics: Single dorsal fin, sucking mouth with no barbels, long cylindrical body.
The white sucker has coarser scales, the longnose has fine scales, but visually, with only one in
hand, they are difficult to distinguish.
Walleye (Sander vitreus)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins separated into a spiny and a soft-rayed portion, cloudy
eye, white tips on anal and lower caudal fins, canine teeth.
Copyright© 2006 - 2009 BobberStop.com
Identifying characteristics: Red or orange border around the "ear" flap. The body coloration is
light olive-green to gold, with red or orange flecks on the breast. The breast of a mature redear is
typically a rather bright yellow. The body is heavily spotted and they have long, pointed pectoral
fins. Five to 10 vertical bars are more or less evident on the sides, depending on the size of the
fish.
Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins with spinous and soft-rayed portions united, large
mouth, six anal spines, red eye, rows of dark dots on sides.
Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins with spinous and soft-rayed portions united, body
longer than deep, upper jaw doesn’t extend past eye, bronze streaks in cheek.
Smelt (Osmerus mordax)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins including one adipose fin, long thin body with purple,
pink and blue iridescent sides.
Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins including one adipose fin, mouth and gums are light,
small spots along rays on entire tail, 10-12 rays in anal fin.
Female
Male
Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis)
Identifying characteristics: Seven or eight prominent black uninterrupted horizontal stripes along
the sides. The stripes are often interrupted or broken and are usually absent on young fish of
less than six inches.
Sucker (Catostomus catostomus)
Identifying characteristics: Single dorsal fin, sucking mouth with no barbels, long cylindrical body.
The white sucker has coarser scales, the longnose has fine scales, but visually, with only one in
hand, they are difficult to distinguish.
Walleye (Sander vitreus)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins separated into a spiny and a soft-rayed portion, cloudy
eye, white tips on anal and lower caudal fins, canine teeth.
Copyright© 2006 - 2009 BobberStop.com
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| Freshwater Fish Identification - 4 |
