Northern Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris)
Angela Auel
Identification: olive
colored; dark mottlings
along the sides, whitish
belly; 6 spines in anal fin
and 12 in the dorsal;
about 10 inches long
(Iowa DNR)
Distribution: northeastern
interior streams; rarely in
the upper part of the Des
Moines and Mississippi
Rivers and large natural
lakes (Iowa DNR)
Minnesota DNR
Habitat: lakes and streams;
generally preferring well-oxygenated, hard water
walleye lakes; with boulder and sand bottoms
Iowa DNR
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
by: Andy Glass
http://www.state.me.us/ifw/fishing/f-smbass.htm
Identification
Color
Bars
Mouth
Eye
Tail
Pyloric caeca
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/smb-card.html
www.ext.vt.edu/.../ 420-010/figure26.html
Distribution
Native NE U.S.
Canada
Introduced Nationwide
Iowa
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/sm-bass.html
www.worldwaters.com/.../ smallmouth-bass.asp
Habitat
Early morning/evening
Clear water
Rivers
Lakes
www.decoyswildlife.com/ wildlife/PAGE_60.HTM
Diet
Forage Fish
Crustaceans
Insects
Copepods
Cladocerans
http://www.watersheds.org/nature/gallery1/pages/bass_crayfish.htm
Reproduction
Time
Temp
Location
Nest
Courtship
Eggs
Parental Care
•www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/ ~ael/ael_feb_00.html
www.venturenorth.com/ tlca/bass.htm
Conservation Status
Good population
Bag limits
Length limits
.
http://www.nyfisherman.net/ralphludwig.html
Economic, Recreational, and
Ecological Importance
Economically
important
Great fishing
Top predator
http://www.nyfisherman.net/lgronpeterson.html
Other
Other names: brown bass,
browny, bronzeback, green
trout, river bass, jumper,
Oswego bass, redeye bass
Max weight: 6-7 lbs
3-4 lb considered trophy
http://www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/Images/fishing/smbcrankjumb.jpg
References
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 1987. IowaDNR Fish and Fishing.
Available at http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/sm-bass.html. September 2004
L.M. Page and B.M. Burr. 1991. Freshwater Fishes.
Houghton Mifflin, New York
Northern Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris)
Diet: aquatic insects,
minnows, other small fish
(Iowa DNR), and crayfish,
other invertebrates
(Minnesota DNR)
Reproduction: spawns in
the spring when water
temperatures range from
60s to 70s; female has
about 5,000 eggs; male
makes nest in sand or
gravel and then guards
the eggs & fry
Conservation status:
Common and Native
Minnesota DNR
Angie Reiter & Eric Sweeney June 4, 2004
Northern Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris)
Economic/recreational
value: Popular game
fish
Ecological importance:
None
Other Common Names:
redeye, goggle eye, black
perch, rock sunfish,
redeye bass
References: Ambloplites rupestris
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 1994. IowaDNR Fish and
Fishing. Available at http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/iafish.html.
November 2004.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 1994. IowaDNR Fish and
Fishing. Available at http://www.iowadnr.com/education/files/nrkbass.pdf.
November 2004.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Fishes of Minnesota.
Available at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fish/bass/rock/index.html.
November 2004.
Vacationer. More photo contest entries. 2 September 2004.
Virtual Aquarium. Available at
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/efish/families/rockbass.html. November 2004.
Pumpkinseed
Lepornis gibbosus
Family Centrarchidae
Eric Giebelstein
Common Names:
sunperch, sunny, common perch, robin, tobacco box,
sand perch, yellow belly, grass perch, round sunfish, common sunfish
Pumpkinseed
Identification
– Deep bodied, small mouth,
small gill flap with red spot,
10-11 dorsal fin spines,
short gill rakers
– Orange to red-orange on
ventral side, brown to olive
on dorsal and on sides.
Speckled with orange,
yellow, blue, and emerald
spots. Blue horizontal
stripes posterior to eye.
http://seagrant.wisc.edu
Pumpkinseed
Distribution
– North-eastern 2/3 of
Iowa
– Found in natural lakes
and Mississippi River.
Less common in manmade lakes and
interior streams and
rivers.
www.iowadnr.org
Pumpkinseed
Habitat
– Clear lakes with:
Aquatic plants
Sandy or silted bottom
Decaying debris
Diet
http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org
– Adults eat insects, snails, small mollusks, and
small fish
– Juveniles eat zooplankton
Pumpkinseed
Reproduction
– Nesting fish like bluegill
Creates nest in littoral zone but nearer to shore than bluegill
under shady areas with sandy bottoms
Male protects nest
If space is available, they are colonial nesters, usually around
4-15 nests in a colony
– Spawning
Begins in May when water temperatures reach 68 degrees
Lasts through July with peak activity in June
– Clutch size
1,500-1,700 eggs
Pumpkinseed
Iowa conservation status:
uncommon/native
Economic importance
– Due to small number, fairly
unimportant.
– Does provide some
recreational value
Ecological importance
– Provide food for all
piscivorous fish and some
shallow feeding birds
– Populations can become
stunted if predation is
reduced
http://data2.itc.nps.gov
References
Fishes of the Great Lakes: Pumpkinseed. 2004. Available at
http://www .seagrant.wisc.edu/greatlakesfishes. November 2004.
Fishes of Ohio. 2004. Available at http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org
November 2004.
Iowa DNR Fish and Fishing: Pumpkinseed. 2004 Available at:
http://www .iowadnr.com/fish/iafish. November 2004.
National Battlefield Park: Wildlife. 2004. Available at:
www.nps.gov/rich/ pphtml/subanimals4.html. November 2004.
Orange-Spotted Sunfish
Lepomis humilis
Jason Palmer
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/osptcard.html
Identification
Large mouth that
extends to front of
eye
Spiny dorsal fin with
10 spines
Males have vivid
orange spots on sides
Females spots are
red/brown
Large black ear flap
http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/
Habitat and Range
Prefer slow moving,
heavily vegetated
streams and rivers with
gravel and sand
substrates
Live in every thing from
large rivers to small
streams
Range is the entire
Mississippi river
watershed
http://floridafisheries.com/Fishes/panfish.html#spott
ed
Reproduction
Solitary nest builders
Males build and protect the nest
Males guard over eggs until hatched
Spawning is between May and November
http://campus.murraystate.edu
Feeding Habits and Importance
Generally feeds on the bottom
Very ferocious and will eat any thing it can
get a hold of
Diet includes: Insects, crustaceans and
occasionally small fish
Important as a member of the food web
Some commercial importance as an
aquarium species
Citations
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Iowa DNR Fish and Fishing.
Available at http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/osptcard.html. Oct.
2004
Florida Fish and Wildlife. Fishes. Available at
http://floridafisheries.com/Fishes/panfish.html#spotted . Oct 2004
Lawrence, M. Page. and B. M.. Burr. 1991. A Field Guide to
Freshwater Fishes. Houghton Miffin Company, New York.
Orange-Spotted Sunfish
Lepomis humilis
Jason Palmer
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/osptcard.html
Identification
Large mouth that
extends to front of
eye
Spiny dorsal fin with
10 spines
Males have vivid
orange spots on sides
Females spots are
red/brown
Large black ear flap
http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/
Habitat and Range
Prefer slow moving,
heavily vegetated
streams and rivers with
gravel and sand
substrates
Live in every thing from
large rivers to small
streams
Range is the entire
Mississippi river
watershed
http://floridafisheries.com/Fishes/panfish.html#spott
ed
Reproduction
Solitary nest builders
Males build and protect the nest
Males guard over eggs until hatched
Spawning is between May and November
http://campus.murraystate.edu
Feeding Habits and Importance
Generally feeds on the bottom
Very ferocious and will eat any thing it can
get a hold of
Diet includes: Insects, crustaceans and
occasionally small fish
Important as a member of the food web
Some commercial importance as an
aquarium species
Citations
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Iowa DNR Fish and Fishing.
Available at http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/osptcard.html. Oct.
2004
Florida Fish and Wildlife. Fishes. Available at
http://floridafisheries.com/Fishes/panfish.html#spotted . Oct 2004
Lawrence, M. Page. and B. M.. Burr. 1991. A Field Guide to
Freshwater Fishes. Houghton Miffin Company, New York.
White Crappie
Pomoxis annularis
By: Brad Froeschle
Characteristics
White crappies have six spines
on the dorsal fin with a banded
body.
Black crappies have seven to
nine spines with a spotted
body.
Length: 6-13 inches
Weight: Rarely exceed 2lbs.
Silvery body with shades of
green and black on the anterior
side.
Epiterminal mouth.
Pomoxis is Greek for “opercle
sharp”
Reproduction/Habitat/Diet
They spawn in spring in shallow
water over sand and gravel
substrates and are easily
caught at that time. After
spawning, crappies move
offshore into deeper, cooler
areas.
They feed largely on aquatic
insects and small fishes.
Males guard the nest, and
young after the eggs hatch.
Generally mature in second or
third year of life, rarely live
more than 6 to 7 years.
Ecological/Economic
Economic value: White
crappie are mainly a game fish
in Iowa.
Ecological value: Middle of the
food web feeder.
Helps maintain population of
lower fish on the food chain.
Top water feeder.
Conservation/Distribution
Statewide in lakes and large
rivers.
Conservation: White Crappies
are abundant statewide.
Misc.
Pomoxis is Greek for “opercle
sharp”
State Record - "crappie"
record 4 pounds, 9 ounces Green Castle Lake, Marshall
County, May 1981 - Ted
Trowbridge, Marshalltown.
Other names - silver crappie,
bachelor, white perch, sac-alait, newlight, strawberry bass,
goggle eye, papermouth, tin
mouth, bachelor perch, slab
References
National Battlefield Park: Wildlife. 2004. Available at:
www.nps.gov/rich/ pphtml/subanimals4.html. November 2004.
Iowa DNR Fish: White Crappie. 2004. Available at:
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/whc-card.html. November 2004.
Texas Freshwater Fishing: White Crappie. 2004. Available at:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/species/wcp/wcp.htm.
November 2004.
Colorado Division of Wildlife. White Crappie. 2004. Available at:
http://waterknowledge.colostate.edu/whitecra.htm. November 2004.
Citations
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Iowa DNR Fish and Fishing.
Available at http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/osptcard.html. Oct.
2004
Florida Fish and Wildlife. Fishes. Available at
http://floridafisheries.com/Fishes/panfish.html#spotted . Oct 2004
Lawrence, M. Page. and B. M.. Burr. 1991. A Field Guide to
Freshwater Fishes. Houghton Miffin Company, New York.
Centrarchidae
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Other names: Black bass, green trout, bigmouth
bass, lineside bass
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
Identification:
Green in color
Continuous dark stripe
Belly white to yellowish
Spines on dorsal fin
Location of lower jaw
Eye color
Minnesota DNR
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
Distribution:
Statewide
Prefers ponds and lakes
Found in some streams in back waters
Habitat:
Like vegetated areas
Under logs or hanging trees
Diet:
Fish
Frogs
Crayfish
Insects
Jump.Net
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
Reproduction:
Early May to June
63-68 degrees F
Nest of roots or rocky mud bottoms
1-3 feet deep
2,000-26,000 eggs in a nest
Hatch in 3-6 days
Economic and Recreational
Importance:
Big game fish
Stocked in all lakes and ponds
Needed in life cycle
Ohio DNR
References
Iowa Department of Natural Resources.1994.IowaDNR Fish and Fishing.
Available at http:// www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/iafish.html
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.2004 Fish
Available at http:// www.dnr.state.mn.us/fish/bass/largemouth/index.html
Ohio Department of Natural Resources.2004.Division of Wildlife.
Available at http:// www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/fishing/aquanotesfishid/largbass.htm
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 2004. Fresh Water Fishing.
Available at http://tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/species/lmb/lmb.htm
The Jump.Net.Gamefish Profiles
Available at http://www.thejump.net/fishing/fishing.html
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
by: Andy Glass
http://www.state.me.us/ifw/fishing/f-smbass.htm
Identification
Color
Bars
Mouth
Eye
Tail
Pyloric caeca
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/smb-card.html
www.ext.vt.edu/.../ 420-010/figure26.html
Distribution
Native NE U.S.
Canada
Introduced Nationwide
Iowa
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/sm-bass.html
www.worldwaters.com/.../ smallmouth-bass.asp
Habitat
Early morning/evening
Clear water
Rivers
Lakes
www.decoyswildlife.com/ wildlife/PAGE_60.HTM
Diet
Forage Fish
Crustaceans
Insects
Copepods
Cladocerans
http://www.watersheds.org/nature/gallery1/pages/bass_crayfish.htm
Reproduction
Time
Temp
Location
Nest
Courtship
Eggs
Parental Care
•www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/ ~ael/ael_feb_00.html
www.venturenorth.com/ tlca/bass.htm
Conservation Status
Good population
Bag limits
Length limits
.
http://www.nyfisherman.net/ralphludwig.html
Economic, Recreational, and
Ecological Importance
Economically
important
Great fishing
Top predator
http://www.nyfisherman.net/lgronpeterson.html
Other
Other names: brown bass,
browny, bronzeback, green
trout, river bass, jumper,
Oswego bass, redeye bass
Max weight: 6-7 lbs
3-4 lb considered trophy
http://www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/Images/fishing/smbcrankjumb.jpg
References
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 1987. IowaDNR Fish and Fishing.
Available at http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/sm-bass.html. September 2004
L.M. Page and B.M. Burr. 1991. Freshwater Fishes.
Houghton Mifflin, New York