Believe it or not, it can be difficult for even the most seasoned angler to tell
the difference between certain fish species, families, etc., and sometimes even
the experts get it wrong! Do you want proof? OK! Did you know there at least
two other species that look almost exactly like a Largemouth bass? The Spotted Bass
and the Guatalaupe Bass look almost identical to the Largemouth in shape and color.
The main differences are that neither grow nearly as large; nor do thier mouths
extend past the eye. At first glance however, most people cannot tell the
difference.
My personal favorite fun fact however is that the Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass,
Spotted Bass, and the Rock Bass are not part of the Bass family
at all! They are actually Sunfish and therefore much more closely related
to the Bluegill. In fact, there have been rare cases where they have interbred
either by accident or with scientific help. The Meanmouth Bass is a cross
between a Smallmouth Bass and a Largemouth Bass and does happen in nature from time
to time.
To assist you in the quest to understand exactly what you have caught, you can use this
site to help identify the differences between the many different types of fish.
Not only will you find the information you need to tell the difference between the
most commonly saught after breeds, but also others that you may enjoy catching or
that you come across accidentally while fishing for something else. I cannot
tell you how many times I was fishing for Bass in the local river; felt a trophy
nail my inline spinner and after a terrific fight, end up landing a 10 lb. Sheephead!
Note: The fish species listed below are general descriptions of the fish found in Ohio (where I live). The descriptions, average length and weight may be slightly to significantly different depending on the state you live in. For example, Largemouth bass are not likely to grow larger than 10 lbs. in Ohio (our state record is 13 lbs.) but in California and other states in the south and southwest, Largemouth Bass can easily grow to 18 - 22 lbs. or more.
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Other Names: Spec, paper mouth, strawberry bass
Family Name: Centrarchidae (Sunfishes)
Length: 5-12 inches, can reach 18 inches
Weight: 1 lb but can occasionally exceed 3 lbs.
Typical Foods: Planktonic crustaceans, aquatic insects, and small fish.
Description: Black crappie closely resemble white crappie, but have deeper bodies. Furthermore, their head, back, and sides are mottled with dusky or black blotches. These blotches do not form vertical bars as on white crappie. The most reliable characteristic, however, is that black crappie have seven or eight dorsal spines compared to the five or six of a white crappie. The dorsal fin is also set further forward on the body of a black crappie than it is on a white crappie.
Habitat: Black crappie are widely distributed throughout Ohio, but are generally not as wide spread as white crappie. Generally, black crappie prefer clearer water and more aquatic vegetation than white crappie. They are also less tolerant of silt and turbidity than are white crappie.
Reproduction: Black crappie spawn during May and June in Ohio. Males construct a nest by fanning out small depressions on the bottom in and around brush, rocks, or vegetation in water between one and five feet deep. Females then lay 5,000 to 30,000 eggs in the nest. After hatching, crappie feed on zooplankton and insect larvae. As they grow, crappie switch primarily to a diet of small fish.
Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
Other Names: Bream
Family Name: Centrachidae (Sunfishes)
Length: 6 to 10 inches. Can Reach 12.
Weight: Less than 1 lb. Can reach 2 lbs.
Typical Foods: Zooplankton, insects, and other invertebrates.
Description: A deep slab-sided fish with a small mouth and a long pointed pectoral fin. They have 5-9 dark bars on their side and an overall dark green body color. When caught in muddy water they can appear more silver in over all coloration. The ear flap (opercle) is always black with out a red tip like redear sunfish. Bluegill sunfish often have a black blotch near the back of the soft dorsal and anal fins. They have blue along the bottom edge of their jaw line and rear bottom edge of their gill covers. They do not have any wavy blue lines on the cheek like pumpkinseed, green, and longear sunfishes. Their belly is white in young, yellow in females, and orange to a rusty red in breeding males.
Habitat: Bluegill sunfish occur throughout the state in nearly every water body. They are most abundant in clear lakes and ponds that have some rooted aquatic vegetation. They are usually not the dominant sunfish species in most streams but do make up a portion of the over all sunfish population in nearly every stream. Both bluegill and green sunfish readily hybridize with other species of sunfish, most often each other. Hybrids between two other sunfish species are relatively rare.
Reproduction: Bluegill sunfish typically build nests in large groups, or colonies. They spawn multiple times between May and August. Peak spawning, in Ohio, usually occurs in June. Males select an area in one to four feet of water and sweep out a saucer shaped nest with their tails. The females then lay between 10,000 to 60,000 eggs in the nest which is guarded by the male. The eggs usually hatch in about five days. Young bluegills eat primarily zooplankton or microscopic animals.
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
Other Names: Brook char, speckled trout
Family Name: Salmonidae (Trout, Salmon, Char, and Whitefish)
Length: 6-12 inches.
Weight: 1-3 lbs.
Typical Foods: Insects, other aquatic invertebrates, and some small fish.
Description: Brook trout have a typical trout-shaped body with an adipose fin between the dorsal and tail fin. One of its distinguishing characteristics is the white leading edge on the pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins. The rest of the fins are yellowish or reddish. Additionally, the back is heavily covered with vermiculation or "wormy" marks. There are no black or brown spots on the head, back or caudal fin.
Habitat: The brook trout is the only trout native to the inland waters of Ohio. In the mid 1800's it was found in the northeastern portion of the state in the Chagrin River and in a small creek in Ashtabula County. It was thought that the native populations had all died out until 1972 when they were found in two small streams. These two populations were then proven to be native stock by genetic testing in 1993. Then in 1997 a reintroduction program was began which resulted in the establishment of 10 reproducing populations in northeast Ohio. Brook trout require very cold, clear water to become successfully established. In Ohio this habitat is only available in very small spring fed streams that are completely forested.
Reproduction: Brook trout usually spawn between September and December. Females lay several thousand eggs in the gravel of cold water streams. After hatching, brook trout feed on insect larvae and other aquatic invertebrates. Brook trout become sexually mature at age one and generally do not live past age four.
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
Other Names: German trout
Family Name: Salmonidae (Trout, Salmon, Char, and Whitefish)
Length: 12-18 inches, occasionally reaches 29 inches.
Weight: 1-2 lbs., can reach 15 lbs..
Typical Foods: Insects, small fish, aquatic invertebrates, and occasionally frogs or small rodents.
Description: Brown trout are brown to gold on their back with a cream to slate-colored belly. Most fish have black, gray, yellow, and occasionally red spots all surrounded by a white halo. This species has a prominent spotted adipose fin between the dorsal and caudal fin. There are no spots on the squarish tail or vermiculation on the back.
Habitat: Brown trout are native to Europe, but were introduced to North America before the turn of the century. They prefer cold water with temperatures ranging up to 79 F°. Preferred habitat includes areas of boulders, cobble, logs, rootwads and overhead cover. Brown trout will feed in riffles containing rock as small as gravel.
Reproduction: Brown trout generally do not reproduce successfully in Ohio, but in nature they spawn over gravel or cobble substrates in moving water from late September to early November. Division of Wildlife hatcheries rear brown trout for one year (six to seven inches) before stocking them.
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
Other Names: Spotted cat, silver cat, squeaker cat
Family Name: Ictaluridae (North American Catfishes)
Length: 15-25 inches, can reach over 40 inches.
Weight: 2-10 lbs., can reach 37 lbs.
Typical Foods: They are omnivorous and will eat a wide variety of items including insect larvae, crayfish, mollusks, fish (dead or alive), and even some types of fruits and berries.
Description: The channel catfish, like other catfish, has no scales, a single bony spine in each pectoral fin and the dorsal fin, and 8 barbels around the mouth. They have a deeply forked tail and the upper jaw is longer than the lower jaw. The dorsal and pectoral spines are sharp and deeply serrated, and the anal fin is curved and has between 24 and 30 rays. The body can be blue, gray, silver, or almost black. Their belly is usually white or cream colored. Small individuals are usually more silver in color and often have many black spots on their sides. Some anglers mistakenly call large channel catfish with few or no spots blue catfish, but the blue catfish has an anal fin with a straight edge and greater than 30 rays.
Habitat: Channel catfish are native to Ohio and are found throughout Ohio in large streams, rivers, and lakes. They are also stocked in many farm ponds where they do well but rarely reproduce. Channel catfish prefer areas with deep water, clean gravel or boulder substrates and low to moderate current. However, they are tolerant of a wide range of conditions.
Reproduction: Channel catfish begin spawning when water temperatures reach 70 °F. They use natural cavities, undercut banks and muskrat burrows as nests. The female lays a gelatinous mass containing between 8,000 to 15,000 eggs. The parents remain over the nest to fan the eggs and guard the young after hatching.
Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
Other Names: Mirror carp, leather carp, koi
Family Name: Cyprinidae (Minnows and Carps)
Length: 15-30 inches, can reach over 40 inches.
Weight: 5-10 lbs., can reach 50-60 lbs.
Typical Foods: Will eat a wide variety of items including, insect larvae, crustaceans, mollusks, some aquatic plants, fish eggs, and even small fish.
Description: The common carp can be easily identified by several features. First, there are two barbels on each side of the mouth. No other species that closely resembles the carp has these barbels. Second, the dorsal and anal fins have spines at the front edge of the fins that are serrated. Most carp are bronze-gold to golden yellow on the sides and yellowish white on the belly. Partially scaled or scaleless individuals are frequently caught by fishermen: these are known as "half-scaled," "mirror" or "leather" carp. Also brightly colored common carp are known as "koi" and are often sold as ornamental fish for garden ponds. Common carp differ from goldfish by having the two sets of barbels and by having a dark spot at the base of each scale.
Habitat: Carp prefer warm lakes, streams, ponds and sloughs with a lot of organic matter. They do not multiply readily in clear, cold water. They are tolerant of very poor water quality. They root around on the bottom while feeding often uprooting vegetation and making the water very turbid (muddy).
Reproduction: Spawning begins in late April and continues into June. Large females lay between 100,000 and 500,000 eggs in vegetation with water depths between one and four feet. Young carp remain in these vegetated areas until they are three to four inches in length and eat primarily small crustaceans.
Flathead Catfish
Pylodictis olivaris
Other Names: Shovelhead, mudcat, yellow catfish
Family Name: Ictaluridae (North American Catfishes)
Length: 20-40 inches, can reach nearly 60 inches.
Weight: 10-40 lbs., occasionally reaches 60-80 lbs.
Typical Foods: Feeds almost entirely on live fish.
Description: The flathead catfish is the only North American catfish species whose lower jaw is longer than the upper jaw. Their head is flattened between the eyes and they have a very large mouth. This is also the only large catfish with a square tail. Their body color is usually yellow-olive or a brown with dark brown blotches. Their belly is yellow or yellowish white.
Habitat: Adults prefer deep pools with slow current and cover, such as submerged logs and brush piles. They are found in large rivers in Ohio and are most abundant in the Maumee, Muskingum, Scioto, and Ohio Rivers. They can also be found in most of the larger reservoirs in the state.
Reproduction: Flathead catfish spawn when water temperatures reach 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They build nests in dark secluded shelters such as natural cavities, undercut banks, or near large submerged objects. The eggs are laid in a compact golden-yellow mass which is fanned continuously. The egg mass may contain as many as 100,000 eggs. After hatching, the young remain near the nest for several days in a large compact school.
Freshwater Drum
Aplodinotus grunniens
Other Names: Sheephead, grunter, silver bass, gray bass, silver perch
Family Name: Sciaenidae (Drum Family)
Length: 12-30 inches, can reach 37 inches.
Weight: 2-10 lbs., can reach 36 lbs.
Typical Foods: Snails and other mollusks, also crayfish, fish, and aquatic insects.
Description: Freshwater drum are silver-gray in color with a sub-terminal (down facing) mouth. They have a round tail and are very deep bodied. There are no other species of drum found in Ohio.
Habitat: The freshwater drum is found in Lake Erie and the Ohio River. They can also be found in most of the larger tributary rivers to both of these bodies of water. They are tolerant of turbid (muddy water) but do prefer clear water and clean sand and gravel substrates.
Reproduction: Freshwater drum spawn from spring to late summer. They broadcast eggs in shallow water where they float on the surface and hatch in about one day. They provide no parental care.
Hybrid Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis x M. chrysops
Other Names: Wiper, sunshine bass, palmetto bass
Family Name: Moronidae (Temperate Basses)
Length: 12-22 inches, can reach over 30 inches.
Weight: 1-5 lbs., can reach 18 lbs.
Typical Foods: Adults feed primarily on fish often gizzard shad in reservoirs. Young feed on larval insects, worms, and larval fish.
Description: Hybrid striped bass are a silver deep-bodied fish, similar to white bass. Stripes along the sides and back are distinct, usually broken, with several extending to the tail. Teeth on the base of the tongue are arranged in two parallel patches.
Habitat: Hybrid striped bass usually occupy open water and prey on gizzard shad. They can often be found by watching gulls circling and feeding on the water. This happens when schools of hybrid striped bass herd gizzard shad to the water’s surface where the shad are easier to catch. They are stocked in the Ohio River and several reservoirs within the state. They are more tolerant to warm water than are striped bass and grow very rapidly.
Reproduction: This species does not occur naturally; those found in Ohio waters are stocked by the Ohio Division of Wildlife on an annual basis to maintain sport fisheries. The hybrid striped bass is created by crossing a female striped bass with a male white bass.
Lake Trout
Salvelinus namaycush
Other Names: Laker, speckled trout
Family Name: Salmonidae (Trout, Salmon, Char, and Whitefish)
Length: 15-30 inches, can reach 48 inches.
Weight: 2-10 lbs., can reach over 45 lbs.
Typical Foods: Aquatic insects, crustaceans, and small fish.
Description: Lake trout are a medium to dark gray or olive color with white worm-like wavy marks on their backs and on top of the head. They have light colored spots along the sides that can be tinged with red. Lake trout also are the only trout in Ohio with a deeply forked tail.
Habitat: Lake trout are native to the Great Lakes and prefer deep, coldwater lakes throughout the northern part of North America. They are usually found offshore in deep, well oxygenated water. Lake Erie is on the southern edge of their range and they likely never were abundant in the lake, but historically were more common than they are today.
Reproduction: Lake trout spawn on offshore shoals and reefs in the fall. Eggs hatch in the spring and young lake trout usually move to deeper water after a short time. The lake trout is a slow growing, long lived species that does not become sexually mature until age seven or eight. Lake trout populations have been greatly reduced over much of their range due to their susceptibility to parasitism by the sea lamprey.
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides salmoides
Other Names: Black bass, bigmouth bass, bucket mouth
Family Name: Centrachidae (Sunfishes)
Length: 15-18 inches. Can reach 26 inches.
Weight: 1-5 lbs. Can reach 13 lbs. or more.
Typical Foods: Crayfish, frogs, large insects, and other fish.
Description: Largemouth bass have a very large mouth that extends beyond the rear edge of the eye when it is closed. This characteristic distinguishes it from the smallmouth and spotted bass where the back of the mouth does not extend past the eye. Young largemouth bass do not have an orange tail like juvenile smallmouth and spotted bass. The largemouth also has a black stripe that extends down the side of the body. Spotted bass also have a dark lateral stripe but differ from the largemouth in having rows of dark spots below the lateral stripe and a tooth patch on their tongue.
Habitat: Largemouth bass can adapt to many environments but prefer relatively clear non-flowing waters with some aquatic vegetation. They are found in nearly every lake, reservoir, and pond in Ohio. However, in flowing streams and rivers largemouth bass are typically out numbered by smallmouth bass and in southern Ohio spotted bass.
Reproduction: Largemouth bass usually spawn between mid-April and mid-June. Nests are constructed by the male in one to six feet of water. The female lays between 2,000 and 20,000 eggs in several different nests; one nest can contain eggs from several females. The male guards the eggs until they have hatched. Young largemouth feed on microscopic animals until they reach one inch in length. At this time, they begin eating freshwater shrimp, midge larvae, and other small animals.
Longear Sunfish
Lepomis megalotis
Other Names: Sunfish, central longear, northern longear
Family Name: Centrachidae (Sunfishes)
Length: 4-7 inches, can reach 9 inches.
Weight: less than 1 lb.
Typical Foods: Terrestrial and aquatic insects, crustaceans, and other small invertebrates.
Description: Longear sunfish are deep, slab-sided fish with a small mouth. They get their name from their long ear flap, or opercle. There are two subspecies found in Ohio, the northern longear sunfish and the central longear sunfish. The opercle is nearly all black with a white margin. The opercle of the central longear usually runs parallel to the fishes' body and may have several small red spots in the white margin. The opercle of the northern longear is smaller and often points backward at an upward angle rather than being parallel. Northern longears also have a large red spot at the back edge of the opercle. Longear sunfish have emerald blue wavy lines running from the mouth to the rear edge of the gill cover. The back is olive-green with blue-green specks on the side, and the belly is orange, red or yellow. Breeding males are brilliantly colored with the red and blue coloration on their face and body becoming more intense during this period. Females are less intensely colored and do not have as long of an opercle as males. The pumpkinseed sunfish has a similar body shape and coloration but never has a long opercle flap and are typically found in lakes rather than streams like the longear sunfish.
Habitat: They favor slow to moderate flow in clear streams of moderate size with clean gravel substrate. They spend most of their time in pools near beds of aquatic vegetation, or other forms of cover such as roots, brush piles, and undercut banks. Central longear are found primarily in the South West portion of the state and are common in the Scioto, Little Miami, and Great Miami River systems. Northern longear sunfish are only found in the Lake Erie drainage and are found in parts of the Maumee, Sandusky, and Grand River systems.
Reproduction: Longear sunfish spawn in groups but do not form large colonies like bluegill. Males select a spawning site in shallow water and build a nest on gravel substrate usually near cover. Longear sunfish spawn multiple times once the water temperature reaches the low 70's between mid-May and mid-August. A single large female can lay over 22,000 eggs. Males aggressively guard the nest and eggs until shortly after hatching. Longear sunfish take 2-3 years to mature.
Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy
Other Names: Muskie
Family Name: Esocidae (Pikes)
Length: 22-50 inches.
Weight: 3-40 lbs.
Typical Foods: Primarily soft-rayed fish such as suckers and gizzard shad.
Description: Muskellunge are long, slender fish with a large duckbill shaped mouth and needle sharp teeth. The dorsal fin is soft and located near the tail. In contrast to Northern pike and both species of pickerel, only the upper half of the cheek and ear flap, or opercle, have scales. They have dark spots or wavy lines on their sides on a light background. Northern pike are the opposite with a dark background color and lighter colored spots. Both Northern pike and muskellunge have spots on their fins in contrast to both species of pickerel which have no markings on their fins. Muskellunge from the great lakes drainage are considered to be a separate subspecies from those found in the Ohio River drainage. The Great Lakes Muskellunge tends to have more distinct spots that extend further up their body from their tail. Ohio Muskellunge have less spots and scales extending further down the sides of their cheeks and gill covers.
Habitat: Prime muskellunge habitat is found in heavily vegetated lakes with lots of tree stumps and bays. Prime stream muskellunge habitat is generally considered to be long pools (at least 0.2 miles in length) with a minimum depth of at least three to four feet and an abundance of submerged woody structure. The muskellunge is native to Ohio and is found in both the Ohio River and Lake Erie drainage basins.
Reproduction: Muskellunge usually spawn in April and early May when water temperatures are in the low to mid-50s. Females will lay as many as 200,000 eggs on soft shallow substrate where they adhere to vegetation and other objects. After hatching, young muskellunge feed on microscopic animals until they are large enough to switch over to feeding on fish. Limited natural reproduction occurs in Lake Erie and the Ohio River and their tributaries. This limited reproduction maintains a few local natural populations.
Northern Pike
Esox lucius
Other Names: Northern, pike, hammer handles
Family Name: Esocidae (Pikes)
Length: 20-30 inches, can reach 48 inches.
Weight: 2-10 lbs., can reach 25 lbs.
Typical Foods: Primarily fish but will take nearly anything they can fit in their mouth, including frogs, muskrats, and small ducks.
Description: The Northern pike is a long and slender fish with a duckbill shaped mouth and lots of needle sharp teeth. The dorsal fin is soft and located near the tail fin. In contrast to the muskellunge, the lower half of the opercle (gill cover) does not have scales while the cheek is fully scaled. Northern pike also have numerous white or yellow spots on their sides with a dark green or olive background body coloration. They also have dark spots or wavy lines on their fins. Muskellunge have dark colored markings on a lighter background. Pickerel do not have any dark markings on their fins.
Habitat: Northern pike prefer clear water with dense cover in the form of aquatic vegetation or logs and tree limbs. Historically, Northern pike were more abundant than they are today but they are still found in the western basin of Lake Erie including Sandusky Bay, Maumee Bay, and the remaining marshlands. Northern pike can also be found in tributaries to Lake Erie in late winter or early spring during their spawning migration. There are also small populations in many of Ohio's larger river systems. Some good streams to fish for pike include the Cuyahoga River, upper Scioto River, St. Joseph River, Tiffin River, and Killbuck Creek.
Reproduction: Northern pike spawn in Lake Erie tributaries as soon as the ice breaks, usually in late February or early March. They often migrate into very small streams and can be found spawning in flooded drainage ditches in NW Ohio. Females spread between 15,000 to 75,000 eggs freely into vegetated areas. As the eggs settle they adhere to vegetation, rocks, sticks and other debris until they hatch in about two weeks. Young Northern pike feed on zooplankton for about two weeks and then begin switching to a diet of fish. After spawning, females return to the bays, marshes and Lake Erie. Smaller males can often be found in tributary streams year round.
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Other Names: Steelhead
Family Name: Salmonidae (Trout, Salmon, Char, and Whitefish)
Length: 20-23 inches, can reach 36 inches.
Weight: 2-8 lbs., can reach 19 lbs.
Typical Foods: Small fish and aquatic insects.
Description: Rainbow trout have the typical trout-shape with an adipose fin, and a squarish tail that has black spots throughout. The rainbow trout has 10-12 anal rays and a white mouth and gums (coho and Chinook salmon, occasionally found in Lake Erie, have gray or black gums, more anal rays, and forked tails). Lake Erie rainbow trout or steelhead are generally bright silver with a bright pink band. Males develop a hooked jaw known as a "kype" during the spawning season.
Habitat: Rainbow trout prefer cold water streams with cobble, boulders, deep pools, and overhead cover.
Reproduction: Rainbow trout are a cold water species that in nature spawn in moving water over gravel or cobble substrate. In Ohio, there is little or no natural reproduction, so the Ohio Division of Wildlife raises and stocks rainbow (steelhead) trout in Lake Erie tributaries. The young trout live in these streams for one or two years before migrating out to Lake Erie. They remain in the lake for several years before they return to the tributaries to run upstream and attempt to spawn.
Rock Bass
Ambloplites rupestris
Other Names: Goggle-eye, red-eye
Family Name: Centrachidae (Sunfishes)
Length: 7-10 inches, can reach 15 inches.
Weight: less than 1 lb., can reach 2 lbs.
Typical Foods: Primarily aquatic insects, but larger individuals will prey on crayfish and minnows when the opportunity arises.
Description: Rock bass are not as deep bodied as bluegill or redear sunfishes but are deeper bodied than largemouth or smallmouth bass. Rockbass can change from light to dark colored very quickly to blend in with their surroundings. They can range from a light silver color with rows of dark spots along their body to being very dark colored with large dark blotches over much of their body. They also have a very large mouth and red eyes. They are most similar to the warmouth sunfish which have 3 anal spines compared to the 6 that a rock bass has. Rock bass have a dark teardrop under the eye and a black margin to the fins. Warmouth do not have a teardrop and have a light colored margin to the fins that can be white, orange, yellow, or red.
Habitat: Rock bass prefer clear streams and rivers with a rocky bottom. They often hide near large boulders, rock piles, or tree roots. Also look for them near steep drop offs at the edge of deep pools. They are rarely found in Ohio reservoirs, and when they are present only small populations are found along steep rocky shorelines in some of the largest reservoirs. The warmouth sunfish can be found more frequently in smaller lakes and reservoirs, usually associated with brush piles or dense rooted aquatic vegetation. Rock bass are also common in Lake Erie, especially around the islands and other rocky areas of the western basin.
Reproduction: Male rock bass build nests over gravel substrate in a slight current often next to a large boulder. Females then deposit up to 10,000 eggs in a nest, often with more than one female using the same nest. Males remain over the nest to fan the eggs and maintain water flow over the eggs until they hatch in three to four days. Rock bass typically reach maturity in 3 years.
Sauger
Sander canadense
Other Names: Jack salmon
Family Name: Percidae (Perches and darters)
Length: 9-15 inches, can reach 24 inches.
Weight: 1 lb., can reach 7 lbs.
Typical Foods: Primarily small fish, but will also eat crayfish and large insect larvae such as mayflys.
Description: The sauger is similar in appearance to the walleye or the hybrid between the two known as the saugeye. They have many dark spots on their dorsal fin often forming rows. The first dorsal fin is usually relatively clear in unspotted areas, and there is not a large dusky area at the rear base of the fin as in walleye. The over all body coloration of a sauger is a bronze or brown color compared to the usual gray or more silver color of a walleye. The sauger has large dark oblong blotches on the sides of their body which are more visible when the fish are sitting still. Sauger do not have large white edges to the lower part of their tail and anal fin like a walleye, at best they have a very thin lighter colored edge that is often more yellow in color.
Habitat: Sauger were historically abundant in Lake Erie, the Ohio River and their larger tributaries. Today the sauger is still very common in the Ohio River and its larger tributaries upstream to the first dam. In Lake Erie and its tributaries they have become a rather rare catch but small numbers are still present. Saugers prefer large murky rivers or large shallow lakes. They tend to prefer water that is less clear than what walleye do as well as shallower depths.
Reproduction: Sauger spawn in the spring when water temperatures reach the upper 40s. Females lay between 10,000 to 50,000 eggs. The eggs are adhesive and stick to vegetation, sticks, and stones until they hatch in about 10 days. Saugers are migratory and large upstream spawning runs occur in early spring. No parental care is given to the young.
Saugeye
Sander vitreus x Sander canadense
Other Names: None
Family Name: Percidae (Perches and darters)
Length: 12-18 inches, can reach 30 inches.
Weight: 1-2 lbs., can reach 14 lbs.
Typical Foods: Primarily young gizzard shad and other small fish.
Description: Saugeye are intermediate in appearance between their two parent species, the sauger and walleye. The best character to look at for identifying this hybrid is the dark bars or oblong vertical spots between the spines of the first dorsal fin. The membrane of this fin in the unmarked areas is often a dusky color and not as clear as that of a sauger. A large dusky spot at the rear base of the first dorsal fin is usually visible on a saugeye but not as clearly defined as it is on a walleye. Saugeye have dark laterally oblong blotches on their sides but they tend to be smaller than those of a sauger. Saugeye also have white tips on the lower part of the tail and anal fins. These are more defined than the very thin light colored margin of a sauger but less defined than the large white tips found on a walleye. The over all body color of a saugeye is also intermediate between the gray to silver color of a walleye and the bronze or brown color of a sauger.
Habitat: Saugeye are highly adaptable to most lake and river environments and are tolerant of turbid (muddy) waters. They are stocked in many reservoirs in Ohio but often go through or over dams making it possible to catch them in the tail waters of those reservoirs. Also, they occasionally can be caught well down stream of reservoirs they were stocked into.
Reproduction: Saugeye are created by crossing walleye eggs with sperm from a sauger. The result is a fast growing fish that has excellent survival abilities. This also makes it ideal for stocking into Ohio reservoirs. Occasionally this hybrid naturally occurs where both parent species are found but it is rare. A small percentage of saugeye can reproduce and will do so with one another or either parent species if they are present in the same water body. Walleye, sauger and saugeye scatter their eggs over a hard bottom and provide no parental care for the young.
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
Other Names: Bronzeback, brown bass, brownie, smallie, black bass
Family Name: Centrachidae (Sunfishes)
Length: 12-15 inches, can reach 24 inches.
Weight: 1-2 lbs., can reach 10 lbs.
Typical Foods: Feed primarily on crayfish and other large aquatic invertebrates. Will also feed on small fish and flying insects that fall on the waters surface.
Description: Smallmouth bass have a fairly large mouth that extends to they eye but not beyond the rear edge when the mouth is closed. This characteristic distinguishes it from the largemouth bass where the back of the mouth does extend past the eye. Young smallmouth and spotted bass have an orange color in the center of their tail, juvenile largemouth bass do not. The smallmouth bass has dark vertical bars along its side with a brown or bronze colored background. Largemouth and spotted bass differ by having a black stripe that extends laterally down the side of the body and are usually lighter colored with more of a green or silvery background color.
Habitat: Smallmouth bass thrive in streams with gravel or rock bottoms with a visible current. Smallmouth bass out number largemouth bass in most streams and rivers in Ohio. In southern Ohio smallmouth are out numbered by spotted bass in some of the largest rivers such as the Muskingum, Scioto, and Ohio Rivers. Smallmouth bass are common in Lake Erie, especially around the islands and reefs of the western basin and along rocky shorelines. They are also present in the Ohio River, and are most common in tail water areas of the lock and dams where there is swift flow and rocky shorelines. They can also be found in some of Ohio's reservoirs, especially those with steep drop offs and rocky shorelines. Smallmouth bass do poorly in smaller lakes and reservoirs that are shallow, have soft substrates, and abundant aquatic vegetation.
Reproduction: Smallmouth bass spawn in May and early June when water temperatures range from 55 to 65°F. Nests are built in gravel or hard bottom substrates in 2 to 20 feet of water. The female lays between 2,000 to 15,000 eggs. The male guards the nest and the fry for a short time. Young smallmouth feed on zooplankton and midge larvae.
Spotted Bass
Micropterus punctulatus
Other Names: Kentucky bass, spot, black bass
Family Name: Centrachidae (Sunfishes)
Length: -15 inches, can reach 21 inches.
Weight: 1 lb. or less can reach just over 5 lbs.
Typical Foods: Feed primarily on crayfish and other large aquatic invertebrates. They also feed on small fish and flying insects that fall on the waters surface.
Description: Spotted bass have a fairly large mouth that extends to the eye but not beyond the rear edge when the mouth is closed. This characteristic distinguishes it from the largemouth bass where the back of the mouth does extend past the eye. Spotted bass also have a rough patch of small teeth on the center of their tongue largemouth bass do not have this. Young spotted and smallmouth bass have an orange color in the center of their tail, juvenile largemouth bass do not. Spotted bass have a similar coloration compared to a largemouth bass. Both have a black stripe that extends laterally down the side of the body instead of the vertical bars of a smallmouth bass. Spotted and largemouth bass are also lighter colored than smallmouth bass with more of a green or silvery background color instead of the bronze or brown color of a smallmouth bass. Spotted bass have rows of spots on their lower sides below the dark lateral stripe, these are faint or absent on largemouth bass.
Habitat: Spotted bass are native to the Ohio River drainage but not the Lake Erie drainage in Ohio. Their preferred habitat is long deep pools of medium to large streams and rivers. They avoid both shallow, heavily vegetated, still, waters preferred by largemouth bass, and the swift flowing rocky waters preferred by smallmouth bass. They are most common in the Ohio River and some of its larger tributaries such as the Scioto, Muskingum, and Hocking Rivers. They are also found in some of the larger southern Ohio Reservoirs such as East Fork and Caesar Creek. In Reservoirs they are typically found near steep drop offs along main lake shorelines.
Reproduction: Spotted bass spawn between mid-April and mid-June. The males construct nests over rocky or gravely substrate near cover. They will spawn in deeper water than the other two species of black bass found in Ohio, sometimes at depths of up to 40 feet. Females lay between 1,100 and 47,000 eggs. Males guard the eggs and fry for a short time after they hatch.
Walleye
Sander vitreus
Other Names: Pickerel, yellow pike, walleyed pike, white salmon
Family Name: Percidae (Perches and darters)
Length: 14-22 inches, can reach 36 inches.
Weight: 2-4 lbs., can reach 16 lbs.
Typical Foods: Gizzard shad and other small fishes.
Description: Walleye are a large predatory fish that have many sharp teeth in their mouth. The first dorsal fin has no spots and the membrane between the spines is opaque not clear like a sauger. Also, there is a large dark blotch at the rear base of the first dorsal fin. The body color of a walleye is typically olive, gray or silver color compared to the definite bronze or brown of a sauger. Walleye have a series of dark saddles over their back which can be seen on the upper part of their sides as thin vertical bars. Walleye also have large bright white areas at the edge of the lower part of their tail and anal fins.
Habitat: Walleye prefer clear to slightly turbid waters of large lakes and rivers. They usually occur in greatest abundance over reefs, shoals of gravel, bedrock, and other firm bottoms. Historically walleye were abundant in Lake Erie, the Ohio River and many of their larger tributaries. They are still abundant in Lake Erie an can be found upstream to the first dam in several of the larger tributaries to the lake. They are also still found in the Ohio River but are far out numbered by the sauger. The further up-stream toward Pittsburgh Pennsylvania you go the more common of a catch walleye become. Walleye are also stocked in several of Ohio's reservoirs.
Reproduction: Walleye spawn throughout the month of April when water temperatures are between 40 and 55° F. Walleye deposit their eggs in the riffle areas of tributary streams or over gravel to boulder-sized rocks in reef areas of Lake Erie. The eggs hatch in about 10 days. Females can lay as many as 400,000 eggs. Young walleye feed on zooplankton and insect larvae for several months before shifting over to a diet of small fish. No parental care is given by the adults.
White Bass
Morone chrysops
Other Names: Silver bass
Family Name: Moronidae (Temperate Basses)
Length: 10-14 inches, can reach 21 inches.
Weight: 1 lb., can reach 4 lbs.
Typical Foods: Small fishes and larger insect larvae.
Description: White bass are silvery in color and have a milky white belly. In addition, they have six or more dark lateral stripes on the sides and back. Usually only a single stripe reaches the tail compared to multiple stripes reaching the tail of striped bass or hybrids between the two. White perch have no stripes.
Habitat: White bass are found in open water often feeding near the surface. They are found in Lake Erie, the Ohio River and their larger tributaries. They are also found in many of Ohio's reservoirs.
Reproduction: White bass spawn in late April and May. Adults migrate up tributary streams of Lake Erie and in larger impoundments they seek wind swept points. Females broadcast their eggs into the water where they are fertilized by the males and then settle to the bottom and adhere to hard surfaces. The eggs will hatch in approximately two weeks. No parental care is provided.
White Crappie
Pomoxis annularis
Other Names: Spec, papermouth, strawberry bass
Family Name: Centrarchidae (Sunfishes)
Length: 9-12 inches, can reach 18 inches.
Weight: 1 lb or less, can reach over 3 lbs.
Typical Foods: Primarily small fish such as various species of minnows and young gizzard shad.
Description: White crappie are laterally compressed and very similar in appearance to the black crappie. White crappie have 5-10 vertical bars rather than randomly scattered spots like the black crappie. The dorsal fin of a white crappie starts further back on the body than that of a black crappie. White crappie are also slightly more elongate than black crappie.
Habitat: White crappie can be found in large rivers, reservoirs and lakes throughout Ohio. They are also found in Lake Erie and the Ohio River. White crappie are more tolerant of turbid (muddy) waters than black crappie. White crappie usually outnumber black crappie in turbid waters and where there is very little rooted aquatic vegetation.
Reproduction: White crappie spawn in May and June. Males construct nests by fanning out small depressions on the bottom in and around brush, rocks, and logs in water between one and five feet deep. Females lay 5,000 to 30,000 eggs and males guard the eggs till they hatch. Young crappie feed on zooplankton and insect larvae during their first year of life.
White Perch
Morone americana
Other Names: Silver perch, gray perch, blue nose perch
Family Name: Moronidae (Temperate Basses)
Length: 7-12 inches, can reach 15 inches.
Weight: less than 1 lb., can reach 2 lbs.
Typical Foods: Aquatic insects, invertebrates, small fish, and eggs of other fish species.
Description: The white perch has a similar body shape as the closely related white bass but has no dark stripes along its sides. They have a completely silver body with a darker back and lighter colored belly.
Habitat: White perch are not native to Ohio and have been introduced from the Atlantic coast. They are found in brackish water and in the lower portion of rivers along the coast. In Ohio they have become well established in Lake Erie and the lower portion of its tributaries. They have also become established in a few inland reservoirs such as LaDue, East Fork, and Sippo Lake. These fish tend to become stunted and overpopulate smaller bodies of water. Additionally they can harm native fish populations by consuming the eggs of these species. It is illegal to transport these fish and release them in a different location. Please do your part to prevent them from spreading to more of our lakes, reservoirs, and streams.
Reproduction: White perch spawn in tributaries of larger water bodies in April and May. They release their adhesive eggs randomly into shallow water.
Yellow Bullhead
Ameiurus natalis
Other Names: Bullhead, mudcat, yellow cat
Family Name: Ictaluridae (North American Catfishes)
Length: 6-15 inches, can reach 18 inches.
Weight: 0.5-1.5 lbs., can reach 3.5 lbs.
Typical Foods: Will eat a wide variety of items including fish, crayfish, and aquatic insects. They will often scavenge for dead fish and other animals.
Description: The yellow bullhead has a moderately serrated back edge to the pectoral spines and a rounded tail. They have a solid colored body that can be a dark brown to an almost golden yellow color with a white or yellow colored belly. They have the longest anal fin of the three Ohio bullhead species which has 25-28 rays. The base of their four chin barbels are white or yellow and are often entirely white.
Habitat: The yellow bullhead in most common in small streams or shallow ponds and lakes with clear water and dense aquatic vegetation. They are most common in the Western part of Ohio but are, and always have been, found throughout the state. They rarely hybridize with black and brown bullheads and it is not difficult to find pure yellow bullheads.
Reproduction: Bullheads build nests in natural cavities or make saucer shaped depressions near submerged cover, such as tree roots or sunken logs. Females usually deposit between 300 to 10,000 eggs in the nest. At least one of the parents remains to continually fan and guard the nest. After hatching, the young swim around in a dense ball and are guarded by the male for several weeks.
Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens
Other Names: Lake perch, ringed perch
Family Name: Percidae (Perches and darters)
Length: 5-12 inches, can reach 16 inches.
Weight: 0.25-1 lb., can reach a little over 2 lbs.
Typical Foods: Aquatic insects, larger invertebrates, and small fishes.
Description: Yellow perch are golden yellow to brassy green with six to eight dark vertical bars and a white to yellow belly. Yellow perch do not have large canine teeth like the closely related walleye or sauger. Their pelvic and anal fins usually have some orange coloration and the first dorsal fin has a dark blotch near the rear of the fin. All other fins are relatively clear with no distinct markings.
Habitat: The yellow perch is found primarily in lakes, reservoirs, and occasionally in slow moving streams. They are most common in Lake Erie and in some of Ohio's larger reservoirs. They prefer relatively clear water and are often associated with rooted aquatic vegetation.
Reproduction: Yellow perch spawn from mid-April to early May by depositing their eggs over vegetation or submerged brush and give no parental care. The eggs are laid in strands that bunch up and swell after being laid to form a large gelatinous mass.