What is YOUR favorite fish? Characteristics for the popular fresh water game fish of North America are summarized in the following chart.
 Largemouth Bass Size: 1-1/2 to 3 lbs. (max 22-1/4 lbs.) Identification: Light greenish to brownish sides, dark lateral band. Jaw extends beyond rear of eye. Habitat: Most common in shallow lakes, ponds, and slow rivers. Usually found on hard sand or silt bottoms with weeds. Preferred summertime temperature - 68 to 78 degrees. Spawn in spring in water from 63 to 68 degrees, usually along shallow shorelines with firm bottoms. Best nesting sites are near weeds or logs. Behavior: Sensitive to light, but will remain in the shallows if they can find cover like dense weeds. Edibility: Fair to Good. |
 Smallmouth Bass Size: 1-1/2 to 2 lbs. (max 11 lbs.) Identification: Light yellow-green to dark olive-brown sides with dark vertical bars and mottings. Jaw extends to middle of eye. Habitat: Most numerous in cool, clear lakes and rivers. Normally found on bottoms of rock, gravel, or sand. Preferred summertime temperature 67 to 71 degrees. Spawn in spring in water from 60 to 65 degrees, generally along protected shorelines with firm bottoms. Nesting sites are often near boulders. Behavior: Spookier than large-mouth, usually found in slightly deeper water around large objects. Edibility: Good to Excellent. |
 Striped Bass Size: 5 to 10 lbs. (max 59 lbs.) Identification: Silver sides, dark back, 7 or 8 dark stripes extending from gills to tail. Habitat: Native to Atlantic and Pacific coastal areas; has been successfully stocked in many large reservoirs, mainly in southern states. Preferred summertime temperature 65 to 75 degrees. Spawn in spring at water temperature of 55 to 60 degrees. They migrate upstream, usually to the tailwaters of a dam, to deposit their eggs. Behavior: Hard-fighting, schooling fish that usually feed in packs, herding large schools of baitfish to the surface. Edibility: Excellent |
 White Bass Size: 1/2 to 1-1/2 lbs. (max 6-3/4 lbs.) Identification: Silvery sides with 5 to 7 dark stripes. Deeper body than striped bass. Habitat: Most common in reservoirs and large river systems with fairly clear water. Preferred summertime temperature 65 to 75 degrees. Spawn in spring at water temperature of 58 to 64 degrees. They swim upriver to spawn, depositing their eggs on gravel shoals. Spawning concentrations often contain thousands of fish. Behavior: Spooky fish, feeding on the surface in big schools. Slight disturbances will spook the school, but it will surface again later in a different area. Edibility: Fair to Good. |
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 Blue Catfish Size: 4 to 6 lbs. (max 111 lbs.) Identification: One of the largest North American catfish, has deeply forked tail, same pale silvery blue color as the white catfish, distinguished only by its longer anal fin. Habitat: Common in deep, large rivers or pools with swift currents. Spawn in warmer, shallower water up to only 12 inches deep. Behavior: Opportunistic nature, predator of other wounded fish, crayfish, muscles, and frogs, respond to dead fish bait, live herring or shad. Edibility: Excellent, delicate flavor. |
 Channel Catfish Size: 2 to 4 lbs. (max 58 lbs.) Identification: Bluish to greyish sides, often with sparse black spots; tail deeply forked. Habitat: Common in large rivers and in lakes connected to rivers. Will tolerate very murky water, but are most numerous in water that is fairly clear. Preferred summertime temperature 75 to 80 degrees. Spawn in spring in water from 70 to 75 degrees. Often use enclosed areas like muskrat runs, sunken barrels, or hollow logs. Behavior: Excellent sense of smell; able to find food at night or in murky water. Prefer dead bait. Edibility: Excellent, as all catfish. |
 Flathead Catfish Size: 5 to 10 lbs. (max 91-1/4 lbs.) Identification: Mottled brownish sides; rounded tail with slight notch; broad, flattened head. Habitat: Common in large, slow rivers. Found in deep, quiet holes and tailrace areas. Preferred summertime temperature 78 to 82 degrees. Spawn Spawn in spring in water from 70 to 75 degrees. Build nests under logs, stumps, and brush piles. Behavior: Sedentary, spending most of the time in heavy cover. Become more active after dark, using their highly developed sense of smell to find food. They prefer live fish. Edibility: Excellent. |
 White Catfish Size: 1/2 to 2 lbs. (max 18-3/4 lbs.) Identification: One of the smallest North American catfish, has and no scales, a deeply forked tail, and the same pale silvery blue color as do the blue catfish, with dark spots and a shorter anal fin. Habitat: Common in sluggish mud bottom pools and backwaters of rivers and streams. Spawn April through July at 65 to 75 degrees along cavities created by hollow logs or undercut banks. Behavior: Feed dusk to dawn, on bottom-dwelling insects, worms, and amphipods, and respond to live bait. Edibility: Excellent, as all catfish. |
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 Bluegill Size: 7 to 10 in. (max 4-3/4 lbs.) Identification: Bluish gill covers, black ear flap, black spot at rear of dorsal. Habitat: Common in clear vegetated lakes, ponds, and slow rivers. Spawn in spring in water of about 69 degrees, usually on sand-gravel bottom. Behavior: Willing biters that are found in schools. Edibility: Excellent. |
 Burbot Size: 5 lbs. (max 14 lbs.) Identification: Sleek and slimy, eel-like appearance with yellow or tan body with dark splotches, dorsal fins running the length of the body, they have a chin wisker and rounded, paddle-like pectoral fins and tail. Habitat: Common in deep, clean, cold, northern streams and lakes above 40 degrees Lat. and below 55 degrees F, frequent the Great Lakes. Spawn in midwinter under the ice. Behavior: Appear sluggish, but voracious predators, feeding mostly at night, and are most active from late fall through early spring. Edibility: Similar to lobster. Good source of fish liver oil, vitamin A & D. |
 Black Crappie Size: 1/2 to 1 lb. (max 4-1/2 lbs.) Identification: Silvery sides with black or dark green markings with irregular mottling. Habitat: Thrive in shallow to mid-depth northern lakes and slow-moving streams, commonly found in clear water with submerged vegetation, at 70 to 75 degrees. Spawn in spring at 62 to 65 degrees, usually on firm-bottomed sand or gravel areas. Behavior: Sensitive to light, feeding heaviest at dawn, dusk, or night. Usually found in tight schools. Edibility: Good. |
 White Crappie Size: 1/2 to 1 lb. (max 5 lbs.) Identification: Silvery sides with black or dark green markings with vertical bars. Habitat: Thrive in shallow to mid-depth southern lakes and slow-moving streams, commonly found in clear to murky water with submerged vegetation, at 70 to 75 degrees. Spawn in spring at 62 to 65 degrees, usually on firm-bottomed sand or gravel areas. Behavior: Sensitive to light, feeding heaviest at dawn, dusk, or night. Usually found in schools. Edibility: Good. |
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 Yellow Perch Size: 6 to 9 in. (max 4 lbs.) Identification: Yellow sides, 6 to 9 dark vertical bars, forked tail. Habitat: Common in clear, cool lakes and reservoirs with sandy bottoms and some vegetation. Spawn in spring in water from 43 to 48 degrees, normally around weeds and brush. Behavior: Most active in bright conditions; cannot see well in dim light. Edibility: Excellent. |
 White Perch Size: 20 inches (max 4-3/4 lbs.) Identification: Like a bass without stripes, with hard scales and sharp fins, with silver-green sides and silver-white belly. Habitat: Brackish waters of the Atlantic, and St. Lawrence River and Chesapeake Bay. Spawn prolifically, 140,000 eggs per session. Behavior: Eat fish eggs and small minows. Use bloodworms for bait. They put up a fight when caught. Edibility: Excellent. |
 Chain Pickerel Size: 0-3 lbs. (max 9-1/3 lbs.) Identification: Have scaly cheeks and gill cover, and distinguished for their dark, chain-like black pattern against a greenish background. Habitat: East and Southeast coast, southern Canada to Florida, and west to Texas. Spawn in early spring in 50-degree water. Behavior: Feeds on small fish and will jump out of the water for flying insects or dangling lures. Energetic fighter when hooked; use live minnows, spinning baits, spoons, and lures with a feather or bucktail. Edibility: Lean meat with mild flavor, but lots of little bones. |
 Northern Pike Size: 2 to 6 lbs. (max 55 lbs.) Identification: Bluish-green to brown sides with light, oval-shaped markings. Habitat: Common in northern lakes and rivers with shallow, weedy bays. Preferred summertime temperature about 50 to 55 degrees for northerns over 7 lbs; 65 to 70 degrees for smaller ones. Spawn in spring in water from 40 to 45 degrees, in tributary creeks and along marshy lake edges. Best spawning areas have ample flooded vegetation. Behavior: Very aggressive, striking at almost any flashy bait. Feed by sight and amush prey from cover. Usually not found in schools. Edibility: Good. |
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 Atlantic Salmon Size: 8 to 12 lbs. (max 79 lbs.) Identification: Looks like a brown trout, silvery with black spots. Habitat: Native to the northern Atlantic, from Connecticut to Quebec, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Portugal. Spawn Unlike Pacific salmon, will not dye after spawning. Behavior: Most aggressive salmon. May school. Feed on caddisflies, blackflies, mayflies, and stoneflies. Edibility: Excellent. |
 Chinook Salmon Size: 10 to 15 lbs. (max 97-1/4 lbs.) Identification: Silver sides, tail covered with spots, black gums. Habitat: Native to the Pacific ocean, the chinook has been successfully stocked in large inland waters such as the Great Lakes and Missouri River reservoirs in the Dakotas. Preferred summertime temperature 53 to 57 degrees. Spawn in fall at water temperature of 45 to 55 degrees, in tributary streams with gravel riffles. Behavior: Very migratory, schools often swim hundreds of miles to find the right conditions. May go as deep as 100 feet to avoid bright light and find suitable temperatures. Edibility: Excellent. |
 Coho Salmon Size: 4 to 8 lbs. (max 33-1/4 lbs.) Identification: Silver sides, few spots on upper lobe of tail or no spots, white gums. Habitat: Found in open waters of Pacific ocean and in coastal rivers int he Pacific Northwest. Has been stocked in the Great Lakes and Missouri River reservoirs. Preferred summertime temperature 53 to 57 degrees. Spawn in fall at water temperature of 47 to 57 degrees, in tributary streams with gravel riffles. Behavior: Like chinooks, cohos are very migratory. They travel in large schools and can often be seen porpoising on the surface. Edibility: Excellent. |
 Pink Salmon Size: 3 to 5 lbs. (max 13 lbs.) Identification: Bright silver, with large, black, oval spots on back, tail, and adipose fin.. Habitat: Native to Arctic coastal waters and Pacific areas such as Mackenzie River in Canada and Sacramento River in California, and introduced to the Great Lakes, such as Superior. Spawn in gravel of a stream bed in the fall, late June to mid October. Behavior: Males get a hump-backed appearance at breeding time. Edibility: Good. |
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 Sockeye Salmon Size: 5 to 8 lbs. (max 15 lbs.) Identification: Red body with small black speckling. Habitat: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Spawn mostly in streams having lakes in their watershed. Behavior: Feed on plankton. Can be caught on a small hook baited with salmon eggs, piece of worm, maggot, or small, flashy metal troll. Edibility: Rich. Considered the best quality salmon. |
 Sauger Size: 1 to 1-1/2 lbs. (max 8-3/4 lbs.) Identification: Grey to brown sides with dark blotches, rows of black dots on dorsal fin, black mark at base of pectoral fin. Habitat: Most common in large river systems and big lakes with murky water. Prefer bottoms of hard sand or gravel; usually found deeper than walleye. Preferred summertime temperature 62 to 72 degrees. Spawn in spring at water temperature of 47 to 52 degrees, on rocky shorelines or reefs similar to those used by walleye. Behavior: Even more light-sensitive than walleye. Excellent vision and lateral-line sense enable them to feed in deep, murky water. Edibility: Excellent. |
 Sturgeon Size: 7 to 12 ft. (max 500 lbs.) Identification: Primitive looking, bony fish, with elongated body and lack of scales. Habitat: Native to Wisconsin and other subtropical, temperate, and sub-Arctic rivers, lakes and coastlines. Spawn from mid April to early May, upstream, at temperatures of 52 to 58 degrees. Behavior: Feed in river deltas and estuaries. Live up to 100 years old. Edibility: Roe is harvested for caviar. |
 Walleye Size: 1-1/2 to 2 lbs. (max 25 lbs.) Identification: Golden sides, white lower tip on tail, black blotch at rear of dorsal fin. Habitat: Common in large, shallow, windswept lakes and in big rivers. Usually found on bottoms of sand, gravel, or rock. Preferred summertime temperature 65 to 75 degrees. Spawn in spring at water temperature of 45 to 50 degrees, normally along rocky shorelines or on reefs, in waters exposed to wind or with moderate current. Behavior: Very sensitive to light, going deep under bright conditions. Intolerant of noise and surface commotion. Usually found in schools. Edibility: Excellent. |
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 Brook Trout Size: 6 to 12 in. (max 14-1/2 lbs.) Identification: Olive sides with light spots and red spots surrounded by blue halos. White leading edges on lower fins. Habitat: Most common in spring-fed streams and headwaters of cold, clean rivers. Favorite spots are shaded areas under overhanging cover. Preferred summertime temperature 52 to 56 degrees. Spawn in fall at water temperature of 40 to 49 degrees, normally in small headwater brooks. Best spawning areas are clean gravel riffles with a slight current. Behavior: Easiest to catch of all trout species. Feed heavily on insects in morning and evening. Edibility: Excellent.'; |  Brown Trout Size: 1 to 2 lbs. (max 40-1/4 lbs.) Identification: Brownish to yellowish sides with black spots and a few orange spots with light halos. Tail has a few spots on upper lobe or no spots at all. Habitat: Found in streams or lakes with water too warm for other trout. They prefer water of about 65 degrees, but will tolerate water up to 75 degrees. Spawn in fall at water temperature of 44 to 48 degrees, normally in shallow streams with clean gravel bottoms. Behavior: Wariest of all trout species, spending most of the day hiding under logs and undercut banks. Become more active after dark, often feeding on the surface. Edibility: Good.'; |  Lake Trout Size: 3 to 8 lbs. (max 72 lbs.) Identification: Silvery grey, green, or brown sides with light spots; forked tail; lower fins may have white leading edges. Habitat: Found in clear, cold lakes with deep, well-oxygenated water. They inhabit clean rock or gravel bottoms. Preferred summertime temperature 48 to 52 degrees. Spawn in fall at water temperature of 48 to 55 degrees, normally on rocky reefs from 5 to 20 feet deep. Behavior: Often go as deep as 100 feet in summer, but may be found at depths of 20 feet or less in spring and fall. Feed on ciscoes and other baitfish, normally in daylight hours. Edibility: Excellent.'; |  Rainbow Trout Size: 1 to 2 lbs. (max 42 lbs.) Identification: Silvery sides, pinkish stripe along midline, black spots on flanks and tail. Habitat: Most common in deep, clear lakes and swift rivers. Usually found around current edges or at depths where water is cool and highly oxygenated. Preferred summertime temperature - 55 to 60 degrees. Spawn mostly in spring in water from 50 to 60 degrees. They move up tributary streams and spawn on gravel riffles. Behavior: Very quick, acrobatic fish that usually jump when hooked. Steelhead, the sea-run form, are highly migratory, even when found in inland lakes. Edibility: Excellent.'; | |||
 Muskellunge Size: 8 to 15 lbs. (max 67-1/2 lbs.) Identification: Silvery to light-brown sides with dark bars or spots. Habitat: Most common in large, shallow, windswept lakes and in big rivers. Usually found around weeds, brush, or rocks. Preferred summertime temperature 67 to 72 degrees. Spawn in spring at water temperature of 49 to 59 degrees, normally in shallow bays. Pairs can often be seen swimming together during spawing period. Behavior: A bold predator, with a moody, unpredictable nature, will follow a lure to the boat then turn away at the last minute. Edibility: Good. |
 Green Sunfish Size: < 1 lb. (max 2 lbs.) Identification: Brownish olive green, roundish body, a yellow or white belly, and emerald blue spots on the head, with compressed black ear lobes with red-pink edges. Habitat: Prefers vegetated areas in sluggish backwaters, lakes, and ponds, native west of the Appalachians and east of the Rockies. Spawn in early June in shallow water approaching 70 degrees. Behavior: Eats insects, zooplankton, and small invertebrates. They are usually acquired by accident while fishing for other game, using worms, minnows, and insects, and are preferred by hobbyists for use in a pond or aquarium. Edibility: Tiny but tasty. |
 Redbreast Sunfish Size: <1 lb. (max 1-3/4 lbs.) Identification: Yellow to red, roundish body, with long, narrow ear lobe. Habitat: Prefers vegetated and rocky pools and lake margins, occurring east of the Appalachians. Its diet includes insects, snails, and other small invertebrates. Spawn in the spring in nests in soft mud, silt, or sand, in 68 to 75 degree water. Behavior: A scrappy fighter, but usually acquired by accident while fishing for other game, using nightcrawlers, crickets, grasshoppers, waxworms, mealworms, or flies, and are preferred by hobbyists for use in a pond or aquarium. Edibility: Tiny but tasty. |
 Redear Sunfish Size: 7 to 10 in. (max 4 lbs.) Identification: Gold to greenish sides, roundish body, red margin on ear flap. Habitat: Common in clear lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and slow rivers. Spawn in spring at water temperature of about 68 degrees, often on soft bottoms in lily pads. Behavior: Prefer deeper, shadier water than other sunfish. Edibility: Excellent. |