Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu)
a.k.a. Smallmouth; Smallie; bronzeback; brown bass; redeye; mountain trout
Identification: Bronze to dark olive
dorsally; pale yellow to white ventrally;
black mottling on back with vertical
bars on side. Can reach a length of
69cm. Young can be identified by their
tri-colored tail (yellow, black, white).
Distribution: Occurs throughout most of
Iowa. Absent from SW 1/3 of the
state, and most abundant NE portion
of the state.
Fishbase Pictures
Iowa DNR
Distinguishing from Similar Species:
Smallmouth bass – mouth doesn’t extend
past eye; tooth patch on tongue; no
mid-lateral stripe; has vertical bars on
side; YOY have tri-colored tail.
Fishbase Pictures
Largemouth bass – mouth extends well
past the eye; no tooth patch on
tongue; broad black mid-lateral stripe;
no vertical bars on side; found statewide.
Google Images
Spotted Bass – mouth doesn’t extend past
eye; has tooth patch on tongue; black
mid-lateral stripe; no vertical bars on
side; YOY have tri-colored tail; in IA it
is only found in Lake Macbride.
Fishbase Pictures
Habitat: Clear to slightly turbid streams
and rivers, over gravel or boulder
laden substrate; shallow rocky areas
of lakes and reservoirs (reefs,
windblown points, etc.).
Greg Gelwicks
Diet: Young of year (YOY) start on
microcrustaceans, as growth proceeds
diet mainly consists of aquatic insects,
and finally graduates to
macroinvertabrates and fishes.
Insectivorous as larvae, and mainly
piscivorous as adults.
Google Images
Google Images
Google Images
Fishbase Pictures
Reproduction: Spawning occurs at
temperatures between 16-21°C in
waters ranging in depth from 1-6m
depending upon clarity. Male fans a
bed for female to lay eggs. Female
may lay eggs in several different nests;
number of eggs varies between 2,00010,000. Male stays on bed to guard
eggs and young.
Conservation Status: Common in IA.
Gamefish status. Length and bag
limits exist in IA to conserve sport
fishery.
Economic/Recreational Value: Important
gamefish, and provides an additional
sport fishery in IA.
Google Images
Ecological Importance: Important
predator; quite often the top carnivore
in many of Iowa’s small interior
streams.
Google Images
References
Becker, G.C. 1983. Fishes of Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin Press. Madison, Wisconsin. p801-808.
Fishbase, A Global Information System on Fishes. Available at http://www.fishbase.se/home.htm Nov. 2004.
Gilbert, C.R. and J.D. Williams. 2002. National Audubon Society Field Guide to Fishes, Revised Ed., North America.
Knopf, New York. p349-352.
Google Images. Available at http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi&q= Oct. 2004.
Harlan, J.R., E.B. Speaker, and J. Mayhew. 1987. Iowa Fish and Fishing. Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Des
Moines, Iowa. P146-147.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Iowa DNR Fish and Fishing. available at
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/index.html Oct. 2004.
McClane, A.J. 1978. McClane’s Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes of North America. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, New
York. P136-149.
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr. 1991. Petersen Field Guides, Freshwater Fishes. Houghton Mifflin, Boston.
Blackie Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Family: Centrarchidae
Natural History of Fishes
Black Crappie
 Identification:
Extremely compressed body
, sharp dip over nose, 7-8 dorsal spines,
large mouth extending under eye, graygreen on dorsal, silver sides with black
mottling, 8-12 inches in length
Black Crappie
 Range:
east to mid-west United States,
with exception of the NE and southern
Florida
 Distribution: spread through the entire
state of Iowa
Black Crappie
 Diet:
small fish, aquatic insects and their
larvae
 Habitat:
lakes, ponds, backwaters; living
among aquatic vegetation in clear waters.
Black Crappie
 Reproduction:
spawn May-June; male
constructs nest by fanning out sand in
medium depth areas with lots of
vegetation; female lays 5,000 to 30,000
eggs.
 Economic importance: huge game fish,
good to eat.
 Not considered threatened or endangered
Black Crappie
References
Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
2004. http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/bccard.html
Ohio Department of Natural Resources. 2004.
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Wildlife/Fishing
Page, L.M., and B.M. Burr. 1991. pp. 259.
Freshwater Fishes of North America North
of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company,
Boston.
annularis)
By
Curt Kemmerer
http://www.landbigfish.com/fish/fish.cfm?ID=13
Identification





Deep, laterally compressed body; “hump-backed”
Sharp dip over eye
Dark vertical bands or mottling over silver body
Six dorsal spines, beginning at midpoint of body
Average 10-12 inches, seldom exceed two pounds
http://www.landbigfish.com/fish/fish.cfm?ID=13
Similar Species
White Crappie (Pomoxis annularis)
Black Crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
Distribution
 Very
common, native species
 Found statewide in lakes and larger rivers
Habitat

Found in creeks,
rivers, ponds, and
lakes
 Found around
submerged objects
 May be found at
varying depths up to
15 feet
Diet
Zooplankton (1st
year)
 Insects
 Small fish
 Crustaceans

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/fishing/aquanotesfishid/wcrappie.htm
Reproduction






Reaches maturity at two to three years
Spawning occurs in Spring (April-June) at
approximately 560 F water temp.
Male builds nest in substrate of shallow water
Female lays up to 20,000 eggs in nest
Male guards eggs; hatch in three to seven days
Species average life-span of seven to eight
years
Conservation Status


Abundant in Iowa
No current threats to existence
Economic/Recreational Importance


Very popular sport fish
Popular food fish (very tasty!!)
Ecological Importance



Preys upon small fish and invertebrates
Prey to larger fish
Can tolerate turbid waters; not an important indicator or
“key” ecological species
References

Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
IowaDNR Fish and Fishing. Available at
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/whc-card.html.
 White Crappie Fish Identification. Available at
http://www.landbigfish.com/fish/fish.cfm?ID=13.
 Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Life
History Notes: White Crappie. Available at
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/fishing/aquanot
es-fishid/wcrappie.htm.
Rock Bass
(Ambloplites rupestris)
by: Kristin Burdorf
Ambloplites rupestris

Characteristics




Olive colored with
brassy reflections and
dark molting along the
sides
It has a whitish belly
and breast
There are 6 spines in
the anal fin and 12 in
the dorsal
Seldom exceeds 10
inches
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/nrb-card.html
Ambloplites rupestris

Distribution



Generally found in the
interior streams of
Northeast Iowa
Is rarely found in the upper
Des Moines and
Mississippi rivers and large
natural lakes
Habitat


Vegetated and brushy
stream margins or rocky
and vegetated margins of
lakes
Most common in clear, siltfree rocky streams
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/rockbass.html
Ambloplites rupestris
 Diet

Aquatic insects, minnows, and other small fish
 Reproduction



Nest building begins by the male when water
temperature reaches 65-75 F, usually
between May and June
Female deposits ~5000 eggs in the nest
After hatching, young are found in quiet water
areas protected from waves and strong
currents
Ambloplites rupestris
 Conservation

Common and native to Iowa
 Economic


and Recreational Importance
Important in recreational fishing
 Ecological

Status
Importance
Provides a stable prey base for larger fish
Helps to keep its food base in ecological
check
Ambloplites rupestris
 References
 Eddy, S. and J.C. Underhill. 1978. How to Know
the Freshwater Fishes. 3rd Edition. McGraw-Hill,
Boston.


Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
1994. IowaDNR Fish and Fishing.
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/iafish.html.
August 2004.
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr. 1991. Freshwater
Fishes of North America North of Mexico.
Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
Warmouth Bass
Lepomis gulosus
Identification:
-Warmouth have a thick, oblong
body.
Large mouth with the upper jaw
extending to or beyond the
middle of the eye.
-dark olive-brown color, mottled
with dark brown blotches over
the body.
-dark colored stripes extending
from the eye to the opercle
-Warmouth have only three anal
fin spines (rock bass have six).
Florida Fisheries
Warmouth Bass

Distribution:


Warmouth are found
from the Atlantic to
Texas, excluding the
Canadian shield and
the Appalachians.
Habitat:

They prefer weedy
lakes, sluggish
streams, oxbows,
marshes and ponds.
Iowa DNR
Ohio DNR
Warmouth Bass
 Diet:

Crayfish, shrimp, insects and small fishes
 Reproduction:




Warmouths are solitary nesters
Nests are found over a wide range of water
depths. adjacent to submerged objects.
They spawn between April and August.
Females may produce 3,000 to 23,000
eggs.
Warmouth Bass
 Conservation

Not in any danger, open all year
 Recreational

Value:
The warmouth is one of the more easily
caught sunfish. They strike hard,
frequently breaking the surface of the
water.
 Ecological

status:
Importance:
Widely stocked
Warmouth Bass

Other:


Common names:
warmouth sunfish,
goggle eye
Most of its feeding is
done in the morning,
as it seems to sleep at
night.
The Virtual Aquarium
References
 Iowa
DNR http://www.iowadnr.com
 Fish and Fishing Maynard Reece,
Meredith press, NY 1963
 Ohio DNR http://www.dnr.state.oh.us
Bluegill (Lepomis machrochirus)
Other names - sunperch, blue sunfish, copperbelly, copperhead, bream, coppernose
bream, redbreasted sunfish, yellowbelly, bluemouth sunfish, baldface, plumb granny,
pumpkinseed, pond perch, roach
Bluegill (Lepomis machrochirus)
Identification
• Deep, slab-sided with small mouth
• Dark, olive colored back and sides, yellow to reddish underneath
• Usually has dark vertical bars on sides and blueish gill cover and chin
• No radiating lines from eye like Warmouth
• Black, flexible tip at rear of gill cover, no red spot on it like Redear sunfish
• Breast usually yellow to reddish
• Upper jaw does not reach as far back as eye
• 10 spines in un-notched dorsal fin.
Iowa DNR
Bluegill (Lepomis machrochirus)
Distribution
• Most abundant of all sunfish in IA
• Found in virtually all waters
• Most abundant in ponds and lakes
• Not commonly found in western
streams
• Found in most interior rivers, very
abundant in backwaters of the
Mississippi.
Iowa DNR
Bluegill (Lepomis machrochirus)
Diet
• Zooplankton when young
• Aquatic insects as adults
• Will also supplement algae and other aquatic life in the scarcity of insects
• Argulus, or Fish Lice have been found in stomach contents indicating that
bluegill may perform a cleaning function on heavily parasitized fish
Reproduction
•Late May to early August, esp. around the first of June
• Water temp usually 21 – 27 degrees C
• Males build saucer-shaped nests in 30 – 130cm of water, guard them heavily
• Nest in colonies: up to 50 nests in 25 m radius
• Females lay eggs in several nests
• Finer substrates yield more fry: average 64,000 in fine sand and gravel
• Usually reproduce in their second year
Bluegill (Lepomis machrochirus)
Conservation Status:
Very abundant, not threatened in this state
Economic/recreational value:
Popular panfish, easy to catch, hard fighters, good eating
Ecological Importance:
• Very important forage for larger fish.
• High reproduction rates allow them to take over ponds, stunting
growth
Bluegill (Lepomis machrochirus)
Other Info:
• Usually average around 20cm (8”)
• Can reach 30 cm and weigh up to 1 kg.
• Iowa record is 32.7cm (12-7/8 in.) and 1.42 kg (3 lb, 2 oz.)
• Size varies greatly with population density
• World Record: 2.01kg (4 lbs, 7 oz.) AL
LandBigFish.com
IL DNR
References: Lepomis machrochirus
Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Illinois Fishes. Available at:
http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/kids/KIDSCONS/Fall1999/ILfish.htm.
November 2004.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. IowaDNR Fish and Fishing: Bluegill.
Available at: http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/blg-card.html. November
2004.
LandBigFish.com. 2004. Bluegill. Available at:
http://www.landbigfish.com/fish/fish.cfm?ID=14. November 2004.
Mayhew, J. 1987. Iowa Fish and Fishing. Iowa Department of Natural Resources,
Des Moines Iowa. Available at:
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/bluegill.html. November 2004.
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr. 1991. Freshwater Fishes of North America North of
Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.
Largemouth Bass (Micropterus
salmoides)
Identification:
Chris Steffen
body green-shaded with a broad,
continuous dark stripe along each side;
belly white to yellowish; dorsal fin
almost completely separated between
spiny and soft portion and lower jaw
extends past the gold-colored eye;
commonly 12-16 inches; state record
10lb. 12oz.
Iowa DNR
Distribution:
statewide; nearly Global
Habitat:
lakes, ponds, quiet rivers; usually
found around structure
Pennsylvania FBC
Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Diet:
insects, fish, crayfish, frogs;
occasionally ducks, snakes, mice
Reproduction:
the male creates a nest; female
lays 2,000-43,000 eggs; male
protects nest and young for
several days after hatching
Auburn FIsheries
Conservation Status:
very common
USDA
Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Economic/Recreational value:
one of the most popular
game fish in Iowa and the US;
generates millions through
tackle sales, fishing trips,
tournaments
Abtlures.com
Ecological Importance:
top piscivore in most
Iowa ponds and lakes
Ohio History Central
ESPN
References: Micropterus salmoides
Eddy, S. and J.C. Underhill. 1978. How to Know the
Freshwater Fishes. 3rd Edition. McGraw-Hill,
Boston. 215 pp.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Fishes of Iowa.
Available at http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/lmbcard.html. November 2004.
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr. 1991. Freshwater Fishes of
North America North of Mexico. Houghton
Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 pp.
Pflieger, W. L. 1997. The Fishes of Missouri, Revised
Edition. Missouri Department of Conservation,
Jefferson City Missouri.
Texas Parks and Wildlife. Texas Freshwater Fishing.
Available at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/
species/lmb/lmb.htm
Ohio History Central. Fish. Largemouth Bass. Available at
http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/ohc/nature/animals
Green Sunfish (Lepomis
cyanellus)
Identification: Large mouth, body laterally compressed,
By Kelly Andersen
short, rounded pectoral fins, yellow to white margin on the
ear flap, 10 spines in dorsal fin.
(Green Sunfish) Virginia Fish and Wildlife (Bluegill)
Color: Blue-green back and sides, white to yellow belly, black
spot on posterior base of dorsal and anal fin, yellow-orange
margins on dorsal, caudal, and anal fin, emerald and
yellow streaks on head.
Green Sunfish (Lepomis
cyanellus)
Distribution: Native to the Central and Eastern
U.S., but have been introduced over much of the
U.S.
Iowa DNR
Most wide-ranging sunfish in Iowa
Green Sunfish (Lepomis
cyanellus)
Habitat: Quiet and backwaters of streams, lakes
and ponds.
Iowa DNR
Diet: YOY- zooplankton, aquatic insects
Adults - young fish or minnows, insects, crayfish
Green Sunfish (Lepomis
cyanellus)
Reproduction: Sexually mature at about 2 years, males build
nest when water reaches 70 degrees F, usually in June.
Nest in colonies near shore, prefer sand or gravel bottom, if
limited space nests will be very close together, females lay
2,000-10,000 eggs per year, males stay with the nest until fry
are free swimming (usually 6-7 days)
www.thejump.net/id/green-sunfish.htm
Conservation: N/A considered common to abundant in their
habitat.
Green Sunfish (Lepomis
cyanellus)
Economic/recreational: sport fish, easily caught on many types of baits,
rarely exceed 6-7 in. State Record: 2 lbs 1oz. from a farm pond.
Ecological important: important food source for other larger sport fish.
Other Common Names: Shade perch, black perch, slicks, ricefield slick,
mud bass, rubber-tail, bluespotted sunfish, pond perch, green perch,
floridafisheries.com
sand bass, sunfish
References: Lepomis cyanellus
Eddy, S. and J.C. Underhill. 1978 How to Know the
Freshwater Fishes. 3rd Edition. McGraw-Hill, Boston.
Page, L. M. and B. M. Burr. 1991. Freshwater Fishes of
North America North of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin
Company, Boston.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources.1994.IowaDNR
Fish and Fishing. Available at
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/sunfish.html October
2004
Orange Spotted Sunfish
(Lepomis humilis)
by: Kristin Burdorf
http://campus.murraystate.edu/academic/faculty/howard.whiteman/field/fish/fishgallery/fishgallery.htm
Lepomis humilis

Characteristics
 Large mouth that
extends to eye when
closed
 Spiny dorsal fin with 10
spines that is directly
connected to the soft
part of the fin
 Long gill flaps with vivid
orange spots on the
sides
 Sides are olive colored
with fine golden or
emerald dots
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/osptcard.html
Lepomis humilis

Distribution
 Statewide
 Commonly found in
man-made lakes, natural
lakes and interior
streams
 Occasionally in
Mississippi and Missouri
rivers
 Habitat
 Quite pools of creeks
and small to large, often
turbid, rivers
 Usually near brush
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/orangesp.html
Lepomis humilis

Diet


Aquatic insects, crustaceans, and occasionally other small fish
Reproduction



Spawns in colonies with the male constructing the nest
Spawning last from May to August
Male stays with the nest for five days or until the eggs hatch
Lepomis humilis
 Conservation

Common and native to Iowa
 Economical


and Recreational Importance
Important in recreational fishing
 Ecological

Status
Importance
Provides a stable prey base for larger fish
Helps keep its food base in ecological check
Lepomis humilis
 References
 Eddy, S. and J.C. Underhill. 1978. How to Know
the Freshwater Fishes. 3rd Edition. McGraw-Hill,
Boston.
 Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 1994.
IowaDNR Fish and Fishing.
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/iafish.html.
August 2004.
 Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr. 1991. Freshwater
Fishes of North America North of Mexico.
Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
Pumpkinseed
Lepomis gibbosus
By Emily Mae Hoffman
Ohio DNR
Identification of Lepomis gibbosus

Bright red half moon
shaped spot on opercle
 Olive colored with
purplish bars
 Orange breast and belly
 Wavy green and gold
bars on cheeks
 Small mouth does not
reach front of eye
 10 – 11 spines in dorsal
fin
 Adults are 20-25 cm
Iowa DNR
Habitat



Iowa DNR

Prefer clear water,
aquatic vegetation, and a
substrate of organic
matter
Not common in rivers
Tolerant of high turbidity
and little or no water flow
Have a home range
Diet




University of Wisconsin
Aquatic insects and
larvae
Snails
Small crustaceans
Adults will eat small fish
Reproduction






Late spring to early summer
Males build colonies of nests in shallow water
Male and female swim in a circle in the nest, touching
bellies, while the female deposits her eggs
Females lay 1,500 eggs
Males guard eggs until they hatch and guard young for
5 – 11 days
Often hybridizes with bluegill
Conservation Status

No state record
 Not abundant in Iowa
 Found in natural lakes
more than man-made
lakes
Illinois DNR
Ecological/Economic Importance

Preyed upon by larger  Fun to catch, good to
fish
eat
 Also preyed upon by
water birds, such as
herons
 Eat mosquito larvae
References
Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2003. Illinois Fishes
Families/Species. Available at
http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/fish/sunfish.htm.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 1987. IowaDNR Fish and Fishing.
Available at http://www.iowadnr.net/fish/iafish/pumpkins.html.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources. 2004. Division of Wildlife. Available
at http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/Fishing/aquanotes-fishid/pumpkin.htm.
University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute. 2002. Available at
http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/greatlakesfish/fpumpkinseed.html.