Wisconsin Game Fish Identification

1. Wisconsin Game Fish Identification

2. Caudal Fin Dorsal Fin Operculum Pectoral Fin Anal Fin Pelvic Fin

3. Bluegill

4. 1/2 as deep as long under 1” thick blue color on lower portion of both the jaw and operculum Color is NOT a good way to identify Dark round spot on the rear dorsal fin 5-9 dark vertical bands running down their sides. Bluegill

5. Pumpkinseed

6. Lateral facial markings Scarlet spot on opercle flap 7-8 dark vertical bands Very similar to bluegill Very colorful, but color is a poor ID indicator. Pumpkinseed

7. Red Eared Sunfish

8. Produced from a Bluegill and Pumpkinseed crossbreeds. Looks very similar to Bluegill or Pumpkinseed, but slight differences. Red Eared Sunfish

9. Crappie

10. Both Black and White (black = 7-8 dorsal spines, white = 6 dorsal spines.) Mottled Markings Color is not a good identification indicator Very thin, perhaps the thinnest of all sunfish 8-10 inches is common Crappie

11. Yellow Perch

12. Golden Yellow Coloration on their sides. (may vary) 6-8 dark vertical bands along their sides have two dorsal fins, membrane between the two is black caudal fin is slightly rounded and forked 3.5 times as long as deep unlike walleyes, they do not have canines Yellow Perch

13. Largemouth Bass

14. Largemouth Bass • Upper jaw extends beyond the eye • Deep notch in dorsal fin • Caudal fin is forked and rounded • Golden-brown eye • Dark, irregular horizontal stripe along lateral line

15. Smallmouth Bass

16. Smallmouth Bass • Upper jaw does not extends beyond the eye • Slight notch in dorsal fin • Caudal fin is not forked and not rounded • Red eye • Dark, vertical stripe along sides

17. White Bass

18. White Bass • Brown eye • Silver color • many dark, horizontal lines along the sides

19. Rock Bass

20. Rock Bass • Brown eye • Brown coloration, with light vertical stripes along the sides

21. Walleye

22. Walleye • Canines along the lower jaw • irregularly-shaped vertical blotches along sides • Upper half of body has mottled vertical stripes • Dark blotch on back of anterior dorsal fin, no spots on dorsal fin • Silvery, opaque marble eyes that glow in the dark • White tip on lower edge of caudal fin

23. Sauger

24. Sauger • Very similar to a walleye • spots on the anterior dorsal fin, no black blotch at the back of anterior dorsal • no white tip on low caudal fin

25. Northern Pike

26. Northern Pike • Hard-muscled, tube-shaped fish with elongated body and a flat, duckbill snout • light, bean-shaped markings that run the length of the body in horizontal rows • Tiger-striped fins • Rounded caudal, pelvic and pectoral fins • Scales cover the cheek and upper half of the operculum • 5-7 pores on each side of lower jaw

27. Muskellunge

28. Muskellunge • Hard-muscled, tube-shaped fish with elongated body and a flat, duckbill snout • vertical stripes along each side of the fish • Tiger-striped fins • Pointed caudal, pelvic and pectoral fins • No scales on the cheek and upper half of the operculum • 6-9 pores on each side of lower jaw

29. Brook Trout

30. Brook Trout • Has an elongated and compressed body • squared-tail • wormlike markings on back and head • red spots along the side of their bodies with blue halos. • Lower fins have a white leading edge, followed by a black border

31. Brown Trout

32. Brown Trout • “X” shaped markings on back and upper half of their body • squared tail • numerous small spots on the head • inside of the mouth is white • 10-12 anal rays

33. Rainbow Trout

34. Rainbow Trout • Many small spots on the body • Distinctive pink horizontal stripe down each side of the body • squared tail with spots • 10-12 anal rays

35. Lake Trout

36. Lake Trout • Silvery color with irregular wormlike markings on back and dorsal fin • Light spots in body and tail • deeply forked tail with spots on edge leading to the body • 10-11 rays in their anal fin • inside of mouth is white

37. Chinook Salmon

38. Chinook Salmon • Some black spots on upper half of body • grey-black mouth, with teeth set in black gums • squared tail with spots on both halves • 15-19 anal rays

39. Coho Salmon

40. Coho Salmon • Small black spots on backs, sides above the lateral line, base of dorsal fin, and upper half of caudal fin. • Inside of mouth is grey or black, with teeth set in white gums • Slightly forked tail • 12-15 anal rays

41. Lake Sturgeon

42. Lake Sturgeon • Torpedo-shaped body, turned up tail • Resembles a shark • Five rows of shell-shaped plates along back • notochord instead of backbone • Mouth is on underside of body with barbels

43. Channel Catfish

44. Channel Catfish • Scaleless, tough skin • 8 barbels • Three sharp spines, (1 dorsal, 2 pectoral) • Black spots on lower side of body • Deeply forked caudal fin

45. Flathead Catfish

46. Flathead Catfish • Scaleless, tough skin • 8 barbels • Three sharp spines, (1 dorsal, 2 pectoral) • No spots on lower side of body • squared caudal fin • flattened head • lower lip protrudes past upper lip

47. Yellow Bullhead

48. Yellow Bullhead • Black, Brown or Yellow species • Scaleless, tough skin • 6 barbels • Sharp spines (1 dorsal, 2 pectoral) • Caudal fin is slightly notched and squared

49. Carp

50. Carp • Rough fish • Very scaly • Barbels • Much like a sucker