Lake Herring (Coregonus artedi)
Identifying characteristics: To dorsal fins including one adipose fin, pointed snout with long lower
jaw, long cylindrical body.
Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)
Identifying Characteristics: Most notable characteristic is the 5 rows of bony plates (scutes) that
become less distinguishable in adults. Lake sturgeons have a large protrusible, suctorial mouth on
the bottom side of the head with 4 barbels in front of the mouth and beneath the snout. Lake
sturgeons have a single dorsal fin located far back near the caudal (tail) fin. The tail is
heterocercal with the upper lobe much larger than the rounded lower lobe. Lake sturgeon have no
simple scales, the body is covered by dermal denticles on tough skin. Juvenile lake sturgeon are a
sandy brown color with black blotches, while adults are olive-brown to grey with white underneath
and lacking black blotches.
Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins including one adipose fin, light spots on darker gray
background, lower fins edged with white, tail forked, 11 rays in anal fin.
Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins including one adipose fin, blunt nose, fins clear or
nearly so, greenish brown back, silver sides.
Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins with a deep notch between spinous and soft-rayed
portions, body longer than deep, upper jaw extends beyond rear of eye, dark lateral streak.
Longnose Gar (Lepisosteus osseus)
They are olive-brown or deep green along the back and upper sides, with silver-white bellies.
There are a few irregular, large dark spots on the body. The young display scattered spots over
both sides, the upper and lower jaws and on their ventral fins. The longnose is generally
distinguished from other gars by its longer, more slender body, and especially by its longer,
narrower snout. The snout is twice the length of the rest of the head.
Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy)
Identifying characteristics: Single dorsal fin, upper half of cheek and gill cover has scales, body
and dorsal fin have dark spots on lighter backgrounds.
Northern Pike (Esox lucius)
Identifying characteristics: Single dorsal fin, light colored spots on darker body, upper half of gill
cover and entire cheek has scales.
Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins including one adipose fin, dark mouth and gums, large
oval black spots on tail and back (lake-run mostly silver), 13-17 rays in anal fins.
Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Identifying characteristics: Typical trout-shape with an adipose fin, and a squarish tail that has
black spots throughout. The rainbow trout has 10-12 anal rays and a white mouth and gills.
Copyright© 2006 BobberStop.com
Identifying characteristics: To dorsal fins including one adipose fin, pointed snout with long lower
jaw, long cylindrical body.
Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)
Identifying Characteristics: Most notable characteristic is the 5 rows of bony plates (scutes) that
become less distinguishable in adults. Lake sturgeons have a large protrusible, suctorial mouth on
the bottom side of the head with 4 barbels in front of the mouth and beneath the snout. Lake
sturgeons have a single dorsal fin located far back near the caudal (tail) fin. The tail is
heterocercal with the upper lobe much larger than the rounded lower lobe. Lake sturgeon have no
simple scales, the body is covered by dermal denticles on tough skin. Juvenile lake sturgeon are a
sandy brown color with black blotches, while adults are olive-brown to grey with white underneath
and lacking black blotches.
Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins including one adipose fin, light spots on darker gray
background, lower fins edged with white, tail forked, 11 rays in anal fin.
Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins including one adipose fin, blunt nose, fins clear or
nearly so, greenish brown back, silver sides.
Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins with a deep notch between spinous and soft-rayed
portions, body longer than deep, upper jaw extends beyond rear of eye, dark lateral streak.
Longnose Gar (Lepisosteus osseus)
They are olive-brown or deep green along the back and upper sides, with silver-white bellies.
There are a few irregular, large dark spots on the body. The young display scattered spots over
both sides, the upper and lower jaws and on their ventral fins. The longnose is generally
distinguished from other gars by its longer, more slender body, and especially by its longer,
narrower snout. The snout is twice the length of the rest of the head.
Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy)
Identifying characteristics: Single dorsal fin, upper half of cheek and gill cover has scales, body
and dorsal fin have dark spots on lighter backgrounds.
Northern Pike (Esox lucius)
Identifying characteristics: Single dorsal fin, light colored spots on darker body, upper half of gill
cover and entire cheek has scales.
Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins including one adipose fin, dark mouth and gums, large
oval black spots on tail and back (lake-run mostly silver), 13-17 rays in anal fins.
Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Identifying characteristics: Typical trout-shape with an adipose fin, and a squarish tail that has
black spots throughout. The rainbow trout has 10-12 anal rays and a white mouth and gills.
Copyright© 2006 BobberStop.com
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| Freshwater Fish Identification - 3 |
