Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)
Identifying characteristics: Brook trout have a long, streamlined body with a large mouth that
extends past the eye. Color variations include olive, blue-gray, or black above with a silvery white
belly and wormlike markings (vermiculations) along the back. They have red spots sometimes
surrounded by bluish halos on their sides. The lower fins have a white front edge with black and
the remainder being reddish orange. The tail fin is square or rarely slightly forked. During
breeding time in the fall male brook trout can become very bright orange-red along the sides.
Brown Bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus)
Identifying characteristics: The chin barbels on browns are pigmented, not whitish as with yellow
bullheads. The sides of brown bullheads have a distinct, irregular brownish mottling over a light
background. The belly is creamy white. They have square tails and 20 to 24 anal ray fins.
Chain Pickerel (Esox niger)
Identifying characteristics: Olive green blotches are present within distinct black chain-like or
interwoven markings on the sides. There is a distinct dark, vertical bar below the eye. The cheek
and gill covers are completely covered by scales. The underside of the lower jaw has 14-17
branchiostegal rays.
Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins including one adipose fin, forked tail, barbels
(whiskerlike sensory organ) around the mouth, slender body with speckled sides.
Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins including one adipose fin, inside the mouth and gums,
black, small spots on upper back and tail, 15 – 17 rays in anal fin.
Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins including one adipose fin, inside of mouth black and
gums between teeth gray, small spots on upper tail, 13-15 rays in anal fin.
Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)
Identifying characteristics: Small triangular head tapering to blunt snout; first ray of the dorsal and
anal fins stout, serrated spine; small, subterminal and protrusible mouth contains no teeth; two
pair of barbels on the upper jaw; body color brassy green on top grading to bronze or gold on
sides with yellowish white belly; typically covered with large, round scales.
Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris)
Identifying characteristics: A flattened head, tiny eyes, squarish tail and protruding lower jaw
distinguish the flathead from other catfish and contribute to it being placed in a genus of its own.
They are yellow-brown and usually mottled above, with a creamy-white or yellow belly.
Golden Shiner (Notemigonus chrysoleucas)
Identifying characteristics: Reddish fins is typical of this species that has a small soft-rayed dorsal
fin and like other shiners has a lateral line that dips downward.
Copyright© 2006 BobberStop.com
Identifying characteristics: Brook trout have a long, streamlined body with a large mouth that
extends past the eye. Color variations include olive, blue-gray, or black above with a silvery white
belly and wormlike markings (vermiculations) along the back. They have red spots sometimes
surrounded by bluish halos on their sides. The lower fins have a white front edge with black and
the remainder being reddish orange. The tail fin is square or rarely slightly forked. During
breeding time in the fall male brook trout can become very bright orange-red along the sides.
Brown Bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus)
Identifying characteristics: The chin barbels on browns are pigmented, not whitish as with yellow
bullheads. The sides of brown bullheads have a distinct, irregular brownish mottling over a light
background. The belly is creamy white. They have square tails and 20 to 24 anal ray fins.
Chain Pickerel (Esox niger)
Identifying characteristics: Olive green blotches are present within distinct black chain-like or
interwoven markings on the sides. There is a distinct dark, vertical bar below the eye. The cheek
and gill covers are completely covered by scales. The underside of the lower jaw has 14-17
branchiostegal rays.
Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins including one adipose fin, forked tail, barbels
(whiskerlike sensory organ) around the mouth, slender body with speckled sides.
Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins including one adipose fin, inside the mouth and gums,
black, small spots on upper back and tail, 15 – 17 rays in anal fin.
Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins including one adipose fin, inside of mouth black and
gums between teeth gray, small spots on upper tail, 13-15 rays in anal fin.
Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)
Identifying characteristics: Small triangular head tapering to blunt snout; first ray of the dorsal and
anal fins stout, serrated spine; small, subterminal and protrusible mouth contains no teeth; two
pair of barbels on the upper jaw; body color brassy green on top grading to bronze or gold on
sides with yellowish white belly; typically covered with large, round scales.
Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris)
Identifying characteristics: A flattened head, tiny eyes, squarish tail and protruding lower jaw
distinguish the flathead from other catfish and contribute to it being placed in a genus of its own.
They are yellow-brown and usually mottled above, with a creamy-white or yellow belly.
Golden Shiner (Notemigonus chrysoleucas)
Identifying characteristics: Reddish fins is typical of this species that has a small soft-rayed dorsal
fin and like other shiners has a lateral line that dips downward.
Copyright© 2006 BobberStop.com
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| Freshwater Fish Identification - 2 |
