North Woods Fish

Northern Pike ~ Largemouth Bass ~ Smallmouth Bass ~ Yellow Perch ~ Walleye ~ Black Bullhead ~ Carp ~ Pumpkinseed ~ Blue Gill ~ Crappie ~ Rock Bass ~ Rainbow Trout ~ Brook Trout ~ Brown Trout ~ Lake Trout ~ Landlocked Salmon ~ Muskellunge ~ Tiger Muskellunge ~ Pickerel

Northern Pike ~ Their body is dark green to olive green in color with white spots showing on the
adult fish. Darker spots are present on the fins. Entire cheek and gill cover area scaled. They prefer
still to slow moving, weedy waters with temperatures from 65 to 70 degrees F. Foods consists mostly
of other fish but may also eat amphibians, crustaceans, small mammals and young waterfowl. They
may live to an age of 25 years.

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Largemouth Bass ~ A Largemouth's body is black to greenish with usually a dark horizontal band on
it's side from head to tail. They prefer shallow, still or slow moving waters with an abundance of cover
such as logs, weeds or stumps with temperatures from 68 to 78 degrees F. Their food consists of
aquatic insects, crustaceans, amphibians and other fish. They may live up to 16 years of age.
World record - 22 pounds, 4 ounces (1932).

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Smallmouth Bass ~ Also referred to as Black Bas s . A Smallmouth's body is brownish or bronze
in color with vertical olive colored bars. They also have the ability to change their skin colors to blend
with their surroundings. Smallmouths prefer clear water with little or no current and water temperatures
around 70 degrees F. Food consists of aquatic insects, amphibians and other fish. They may live
up to 18 years of age. World record -11 pounds, 15 ounces.

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Yellow Perch ~ Their body has yellow sides with 6 to 9 dark vertical bars present. Prefers clean, slow to non moving waters 65 to 75 degrees F. with rocky bottoms and some vegetation. Food consists
of aquatic insects, crustaceans and smaller fish. They may live to an age of 10 years. World record 4
pounds, 3 ounces (1865).

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Walleye ~ The largest member of the Perch family. Their body is dark olive in color with dark blotches and a pinkish colored belly. Their eyes are large and glossy and will shine in the light of night. Found in lakes and slow moving rivers they prefer water temperatures from 65 degrees to 75 degrees F. Their food consists of other fish, amphibians, aquatic insects and crustaceans. They may live up to an age of 25 years. World record - 25 pounds (1960).

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Black Bullhead ~ Mostly a stillwater fish, Bullhead prefer murky waters with muddy bottoms and water temperatures of 70 to 85 degrees F. Easily identified through their chin barbels, Bullheads feed on anything from fish eggs, crustaceans, small fish, aquatic insects to plant material. They may live up to an age of 10 years. World record - 8 pounds (1951).

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Carp ~ A member of the Minnow family, Carp are found in shallow, s i l t y, muddy waters. Their body has a dark back with brownish to golden sides. Carp have 4 barbels near their mouth. Their food consists of bottom dwelling aquatic insects, mollusks, crustaceans, smaller fish and aquatic plants. They may live to 50 years in age. World record - 74 pounds, (1963).

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Pumpkinseed ~ Known as Sunnies. Avery colorful fish brilliant green to olive colored spotted sides w/ an orangish belly. Look for a black spot at the end of the gill cover w/ a red to orange spot at the tip. Prefer shallow, weedy, rocky waters of lakes & ponds w/ warm waters. May live up to 10 years of age. World record - 1 lb, 6 oz (1985).

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Blue Gill ~ Body yellow/green to dark blue with 6 to 8 vertical irregularly shaped dark colored bars on sides. Adults have a black flap at rear of their gill cover and a black blotch at the base of the dorsal fin. Prefer clear, shallow, weedy waters w/ little current & warm waters. Food consists of aquatic insects, small fish, crustaceans & plankton. May live up to 10 years of age. World record - 4 lbs, 2 oz (1950).

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Crappie ~ White & Black Crappie may inhabit the same waters. The White being the hardier of the 2 can survive in siltier, warmer water. The White Crappie is lighter in appearance & has 6 dorsal fin spines compared to 7 - 8 dorsal fin spines on the Black. Food consists of aquatic insects, small fish & plankton. They may live up to 10 years of age. World record - 4lbs, 8 oz (1981).

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Rock Bass ~ Identified by it's red eye. Rock Bass have dark olive colored sides w/ brownish/yellowish blotches present. May change their colors to blend with their surroundings. They prefer clear, rocky bottomed, weedy water w/ little or no current, w/ water temperatures in the 70's. Food consists of small fish, aquatic insects & crustaceans. May live up to 12 years of age. World record - 3 lbs (1974).

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Rainbow Trout ~ Easily identified by the broad pink/red side band. Prefer cold clear water to 60 degrees F. Food consists of aquatic insects, small fish, crustaceans and plankton. Rainbows may live up to 11 years of age. World record - 31 pounds, 6 ounces (1993).

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Brook Trout ~ Also known as Brookies, Speckled Trout and Squaretails, they prefer water temperatures of around 50 to 56 degrees F. Not confined only to streams, they may be found in cold clear water lakes and ponds. They may live up to 15 years of age. Food consists of aquatic insects, crustaceans, amphibians and smaller f i sh. World record - 14 pounds, 8 ounces (1916).

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Brown Trout ~Yellow/Brown body with black, red or orange spots outlined with white or blue colors. Brown's are the hardiest of the trout withstanding much higher water temperatures and water clarity than it's cousins. Food consists of other fish, crustaceans, amphibians and aquatic insects. Brown Trout may live up to 10 years of age. World record - 40 pounds, 4 ounces (1992).

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Lake Trout ~ A deep freshwater dwelling fish. Found at depths of up to 100 feet during warmer months. May be found in shallower water during spring, winter and fall. Prefer cold clear water at temperatures below 52 degrees F. Food consists of small fish such as smelt, aquatic insects, crustaceans and plankton. Lake trout may live up to 40 years of age. World record - 66 pounds, 8 ounces (1991).

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Landlocked Salmon ~ Body has small black or brown spots on silvery/bluish to yellowish/brown colored sides. They prefer deep water lakes with water temperatures in the 50's. Food consists of aquatic insects, crustaceans and other smaller fish. They may reach an age of up to 10 years. World record - 22 pounds, 11 ounces (1982).

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Muskellunge ~ Their body is olive to dark gray in color with dark spots or bars present. Lower half of the cheek & gill covers scaleless. Their tail is also more pointed than the Northern Pike that much resembles it. Muskie's prefer shallow weedy water with little or no current with temperatures into the 70's. Food consists of primarily other fish but will also eat amphibians & small mammals. They may live to an age of 30 years. World record -69 pounds, 11 ounces (1949).

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Tiger Muskellunge ~ A hybrid between the Muskellunge & Northern Pike. Tiger Muskies bodies are lighter in color with irregular, narrow vertical bars & spots on their sides resembling a tigers skin. They prefer much the same environment as Pike and Muskellunge do. Food consists of other fish, crustaceans, amphibians and small mammals. World record recognized as the same for Muskellunge at 69 pounds, 11 ounces (1949).

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Pickerel ~ Body green to olive brown to bronze above. Their long body has black worm or chain like markings on it's sides. When viewed from above it's snout resembles that of a ducks bill. Their cheek and gill covers are entirely scaled unlike that of the Northern Pike. They prefer waters with little or no current with an abundance of weed cover and temperatures ranging from 75 to 80 degrees F. Food consists of other fish, amphibians, crustaceans and small mammals such as mice, ducks and muskrats. They may live up to 10 years. World record - 9 pounds, 6 ounces (1961).

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