Dorosoma cepedianum
gizzard shad
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Dorosoma_cepedianum.html
Natasha Schuchmann
Dorosoma cepedianum
• Identification:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Herring body
Long, last dorsal fin ray
Large, dark spot on shoulder in younger fish
Silvery blue with shiny white belly
No lateral line
52-70 lateral scales, 10-13 dorsal rays
Dorosoma cepedianum
• Distribution:
– Most of Iowa
Dorosoma cepedianum
• Habitat:
– Deep, open rivers and lakes with soft bottom
• Diet:
– Omnivorous filter feeder
• Phytoplankton and zooplankton
• Reproduction:
– 400,000 eggs
– Prefer sandy and rocky substrate for spawning
– No care of young
Dorosoma cepedianum
• Importance:
– Competition for sport
fish
– Little food or
commercial value
– Used as bait
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/gzs-card.html
• Conservation Status:
– Abundant, stable numbers
Dorosoma cepedianum
• References:
– Berra, Tim M., Freshwater Fish Distribution. San
Diego: Academic Press, 2001.
– Morris, Christina. “Dorosoma cepedianum.”
Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan
Museum of Zoology. 28 Sept. 2004 <http://
animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/
information/Dorosoma_cepedianum.html>.
– Page, Lawrence M., and Brooks M. Burr. Peterson
Field Guides: Freshwater Fishes. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Company, 1991.
Goldeye (Hiodon alosoides)
Chris Gelner
• Identification: dark-blue to
blue-green sides, silver belly
with sharp keel, large scales
• Similar Species: Mooneye,
origin of dorsal fin is in front
of origin of anal fin
• Distribution: inhabits larger
streams in western southern
and southeastern Iowa where
it is considered rare; rarely
found in Mississippi river
Iowa DNR
Goldeye (Hiodon alosoides)
• Habitat: quiet slow moving
waters of large rivers and
muddy shallows of large lakes
• Diet: nocturnal opportunistic
carnivore, aquatic insect
larvae, fish, worms, snails,
waterfleas, sideswimmers,
terrestrial insects, frogs,
mice, shrews
Mississippi River Resource Page
Goldeye (Hiodon alosoides)
• Reproduction: male and
female spawn at 3 years old
when water reaches 10
degrees C. Females can
release 5,000-25,000 semifloating eggs
• Conservation status:
although uncommon not
listed as threatened because
of its wide distibution
Charting Nature
Breck P. Kent
Goldeye (Hiodon alosoides)
• Economic value: low, few
anglers target goldeye,
important as a sport fish and
commercially in Canada
• Ecological value: probably
unimportant due to its low
numbers
Goldeye (Hiodon alosoides)
• Common names: goldeye,
slicker, webechee, norhtern
mooneye, toothed herring,
shad mooneye, mooneye,
yellow herring…
• State Record: 2 pounds, 4
ounces, Des Moines River,
June 1992
Roughfish.com
Frank Bosemeyer
References: Hiodon alosoides
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Iowa DNR Fish and
Fishing. Available at http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/gdecard.html. September 2004.
Mayhew, J. 1987. Iowa Fish and Fishing. Iowa Department of
Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Fishes of Minnesota.
Available at
http://www.gen.umn.edu/research/fish/fishes/goldeye.html.
September 2004.
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr. 1991. Freshwater Fishes of North
America North of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
Mooneye (Hiodon tergisus)
Kate Walker
• Identification: large eye;
dorsal fin origin located in
front of anal fin origin;
teeth prominent on both
jaws, tongue and roof of
mouth; cycloid scales
• Distribution: large river
drainages across IowaMississippi, Missouri and
Des Moines Rivers
Pictures from:
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/mooneye.html
Hiodon tergisus
• Habitat: prefer swift, clean
water; non-silted
conditions
• Diet: young-plankton;
adult-insects, mollusks,
crayfish, and small fish
• Reproduction: spawning is
random in April and May
(in shallow waters);
females produce 10,00020,000 eggs; eggs covered
www.nanfa.org/meetings/ 1999/Wabash/mooneye.jp
in a gelatinous material
Hiodon tergisus
• Conservation status: neither
endangered or threatened
• Economical/Recreational
Importance: neither valued for
food or sport
• Ecological Importance:
contribute to forage fish
populations
• Other: state record; spirited
catch; appearance similar to
herrings; other names
http://www.thejump.net/id/mooneye.htm
References
• Natural Resources. 1994. IowaDNR
Fish and Fishing. Available
at Iowa Department of http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/iafish.html.
September 28
• Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Iowa’s threatened and
endangered species. Available at
http://www.state.ia.us/dnr/organiza/ppd/tespecies.htm.
September 26
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. 2003.
Mooneye Fact Sheet. Available at
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/endspec/m
ooneye.html. September 26
• Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr. 1991. Freshwater Fishes. Houghton Mifflin
Company, Boston.
Esocidae
Northern Pike (Esox Lucius)
Becky Olerich
Identification: elongated fish with long head depress forward into
pair duck billed jaws; canine teeth usually bluish-green with
irregular yellow or gold spots on sides; cheek fully scaled lower
half opercle scales; 10 plus pounds and 3 to 4 ft.
Iowa DNR
Distribution: Found world wide; upper 2/3 of Iowa larger lakes and
rivers
Habitat: sluggish heavily vegetated areas
Northern Pike (Esox Lucius)
Diet: young insects, larvae
adults perch, drum,
small suckers, sunfish,
smaller pike
predatory fish
large pike eat anything
Reproduction: mid-march;
random spawners;
63,000 to 500,000 eggs
laid depending on size;
take female until 3rd year
Canada Outfitters
in life to reach sexual
maturity
Conservation status: abundant in right lake
Iowa is maintaining the population
population biggest ever been in spirit lake
Northern Pike (Esox Lucius)
Economic and recreational importance:
big game fish
Stocked in some lakes 5 2inch
fingerlings per acre
Canada Outfitters
Ecological importance: species is a
predator does not effect the population that much; tolerant
to pollution very sensitive to warm water take fairly low
oxygen
Other: names common pike, northern jack fish, pickerel
State record 25 pounds 5 ounces west Okoboji
there is close season on fishing pike in west and east
Okoboji and spirit lake from Feb.15 to May 2 daily bag limit
is 3 with a possession of 6 Boundy rivers open year round
bag limit 5 possession 10 except Big Sioux bag 6
possession 12
References: Esox Lucius
Canada Outfitters. Available at
http://www.canadaoutfitters.com/photopages/canadaoutfitters/recentphotos/
Iowa Department of Natural Resources.1194. IowaDNR Fish and Fishing
Available at http://www.state.ia.us/dnr/organiza/ppd/tespecies.htm.
Mayhew, J. 1987. Iowa Fish and Fishing. Iowa Department of Natural Resources,
Des Moines, Iowa. 323 pp.
Miller, Lannie. Fisheries Biologist. Iowa Department of Natural Resources,
Lake View, Iowa personal communication. September 28, 2004.
Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy )
Identification: olive to dark
gray above, sides lighter
with dark spots or bars;
upper 1/2 of cheeks and
opercle lightly scaled, lower
1/2 of both scaleless; Six or
more pores on underside of
jaw
By Chris Nickell
Picture from Iowa DNR
Habitat: Muskellunge normally live
in lakes and slow-moving rivers
with clear water and numerous
underwater weed beds.. Muskies
most often reside in water less
than 4.5 m (15 ft) deep.
Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy )
Diet: Fish, Ducks,
Muskrats for adults, Larval
Muskies eat waterfleas and
copepods but add fish at
around 2 inches.
Reproduction: 10,000 to
225,000 eggs depending
on size and health, Hatch
in 8 to 14 days. Attach to
vegetation using adhesive
organ on head. Develop
mouth and fins over 1-2
weeks, then swim free.
Picture from Minnesota DNR
Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy )
Distribution: has been
stocked regularly into
Brushy Creek, Hawthorn
Lake, Pleasant Creek,
Big Creek, Three Mile,
Clear Lake, West
Okoboji, and Big Spirit.
Muskies can also be
found in East Okoboji,
Upper Gar, Lower Gar,
and Lake Minnewashta.
Muskies were also
stocked in Lake
Macbride in 1993, and
some individuals are still
being caught there.
Picture from Ohio DNR
Conservation: Unlisted but Stocked
annually into certain lakes.
Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy )
Economic/
recreational value:
Important as game fish
Ecological
importance: Important
as a predator fish in
keeping numbers
down in smaller prey
fish
Picture from University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy )
Other: Are solely
carnivorous, ambush
predators
AKA: Musky, Muskie,
Wisconsin Musky,
Purebred Musky, Fish of
10,000 casts
•State Record – 52” @
50 pounds, 6 ounces
Picture from Minnesota DNR
References: Esox masquinongy
Iowa department of natural resources. 1994. Iowa DNR Fish and fishing.
available at http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/muk-card.html
September 2004
Mayhew, J. 1987. Iowa Fish and Fishing. Iowa Department of Natural Resources,
Des Moines, Iowa.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Fishes of Minnesota.
Available at:
http://www.gen.umn.edu/research/fish/fishes/muskellunge.html ,
September 2004.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Wildlife Division. Fishing.
Available at
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/Fishing/aquanotes-fishid/muskie.htm
September 2004.
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr. 1991. Freshwater Fishes of North America North
Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
of
University of Michigan Museum of Zoology . Lepisosteus osseus. Available at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Esox_masquinongy .
html September 2004
The Tiger Musky
By Nathan Wilhelm
Other Names: Normie, Silver Northern
www.pikemasters.com
Esox masquinongy
(Male Muskellunge)
Hybrid =
X
Esox lucius
(Female Northern Pike)
Identification
Long Cylindrical Body
Olive to Dark Grey
Tiger Markings on Side
www.pikemasters.com
Jaws Shape Like Duckbill
Many, Prominent Teeth
Dorsal Fin Located Far Back
Cheek/Gill Characteristics of a Northern Pike
Body Characteristics of a Musky
Distinguishing From Northern Pike
www.lindenhurst.org
www.pikemasters.com
Easily Differentiated
Northern Pikes Have Light Bean-Shaped Spots
Tiger Muskies Have Dark Verticle Stripes and Spots
Muskies, Not So Easy!
Distinguishing From Musky
Fin Ray Counts Not Helpful
Tiger Musky: Darker Brown Markings
Rounded Fins
Cheek and Upper Half of Gill Scaled
Similar to Barred Musky Strain
Musky: Lighter Brown Markings
Pointed Fins
Only Upper Half of Cheek and Gill Scaled
Multiple Strains
www.kneedeepclub.org
Distribution
34 Stocked Lakes in 1984
www.iowadnr.com
Over 800,000 Fish Stocked
No longer Regularly Stocked
Habitat
Large,Clean Lakes and Rivers with Shallow Feeding Areas and
Deeper Cool Areas
Prefer Weeds, Logs for Cover When Feeding
www.gen.umn.edu
Carnivorous Diet
Fish Hatchery: Prepared Foods or Zooplankton as Fry, Then Fish
In the Wild: Mainly Fish - Frogs – Small Mammals – Water Fowl
Reproduction
Can Occur Naturally From Northern Pike and Muskellunge, but
Need Stocking to be Sustained
Usually Created in Hatcheries by Fertilization of Northern Pike
Eggs By Muskellunge
Tiger Muskies Are Sterile, Except for Females Occasionally
History and Conservation Status
1965 First Hybrid at Spirit Lake Hatchery Created
1978 Released Into 9 Southern Iowa Lakes
1983 Occupying 27 Lakes
1984 34 Iowa Lakes
State Record at 27 lbs. and 2 ounce, From West Okoboji Lake
No Regular DNR Stocking in Iowa
Season open all year except in West Okoboji Lake, East Okoboji
Lake, Spirit Lake(closed February 15 to May 20)
The daily bag limit is 1 fish
 The possession limit is 1 fish
 Fish must be at least 40 in.
Recreation
Important Game Fish Where They Are Found
Grow Faster Than Northern Pike and Muskellunge
More Apt to Strike Than a Muskellunge
Grows Larger Than a Northern Pike
Aggressive Fighters
Ecological Significance
Most are Sterile so Population Easily Managed
At the Top of Food Chain When Adults
Piscivore: Can Help Keep Populations of Smaller Fish in Check
References
Burr, Brooks M. and Lawerence M. Page. 1991. Peterson field
guides. Freshwater Fishes. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Pp. 61,62.
Discover the outdoors. Species locater: Tiger musky. Found at
http://www.dto.com/fwfishing/species/generalprofile.jsp
speciesid=337
Mayhew, J. (editor). 1987. Iowa Fish and Fishing. Iowa
Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa. 323
pp. Found at www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/tigmusky.html
Minnesota muskie farm. Fish species. 1998-2004. Found at
http://www.minnesotamuskiefarm.com/fish.html