Northern Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris)

Angela Auel

Identification: olive
colored; dark mottlings
along the sides, whitish
belly; 6 spines in anal fin
and 12 in the dorsal;
about 10 inches long
(Iowa DNR)
Distribution: northeastern
interior streams; rarely in
the upper part of the Des
Moines and Mississippi
Rivers and large natural
lakes (Iowa DNR)

Minnesota DNR

Habitat: lakes and streams;

generally preferring well-oxygenated, hard water
walleye lakes; with boulder and sand bottoms

Iowa DNR

Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
by: Andy Glass

http://www.state.me.us/ifw/fishing/f-smbass.htm

Identification
Color
Bars
Mouth
Eye
Tail
Pyloric caeca

http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/smb-card.html

www.ext.vt.edu/.../ 420-010/figure26.html

Distribution
Native NE U.S.
Canada
Introduced Nationwide
Iowa

http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/sm-bass.html

www.worldwaters.com/.../ smallmouth-bass.asp

Habitat
Early morning/evening
Clear water
Rivers
Lakes

www.decoyswildlife.com/ wildlife/PAGE_60.HTM

Diet
Forage Fish
Crustaceans
Insects
Copepods
Cladocerans

http://www.watersheds.org/nature/gallery1/pages/bass_crayfish.htm

Reproduction
Time
Temp
Location
Nest
Courtship
Eggs
Parental Care

www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/ ~ael/ael_feb_00.html

www.venturenorth.com/ tlca/bass.htm

Conservation Status
Good population
Bag limits
Length limits

.
http://www.nyfisherman.net/ralphludwig.html

Economic, Recreational, and

Ecological Importance
Economically
important
Great fishing
Top predator

http://www.nyfisherman.net/lgronpeterson.html

Other
Other names: brown bass,
browny, bronzeback, green
trout, river bass, jumper,
Oswego bass, redeye bass
Max weight: 6-7 lbs
3-4 lb considered trophy

http://www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/Images/fishing/smbcrankjumb.jpg

References
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 1987. IowaDNR Fish and Fishing.
Available at http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/sm-bass.html. September 2004
L.M. Page and B.M. Burr. 1991. Freshwater Fishes.
Houghton Mifflin, New York

Northern Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris)

Diet: aquatic insects,
minnows, other small fish
(Iowa DNR), and crayfish,
other invertebrates
(Minnesota DNR)
Reproduction: spawns in
the spring when water
temperatures range from
60s to 70s; female has
about 5,000 eggs; male
makes nest in sand or
gravel and then guards
the eggs & fry
Conservation status:
Common and Native

Minnesota DNR

Angie Reiter & Eric Sweeney June 4, 2004

Northern Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris)

Economic/recreational
value: Popular game
fish

Ecological importance:
None

Other Common Names:

redeye, goggle eye,
black perch, rock sunfish,
redeye bass

References: Ambloplites rupestris

Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 1994. IowaDNR Fish and
Fishing. Available at http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/iafish.html.
November 2004.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 1994. IowaDNR Fish and
Fishing. Available at http://www.iowadnr.com/education/files/nrkbass.pdf.
November 2004.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Fishes of Minnesota.
Available at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fish/bass/rock/index.html.
November 2004.
Vacationer. More photo contest entries. 2 September 2004.
Virtual Aquarium. Available at
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/efish/families/rockbass.html. November 2004.

Pumpkinseed
Lepornis gibbosus
Family Centrarchidae
Eric Giebelstein

Common Names:
sunperch, sunny, common perch, robin, tobacco box,
sand perch, yellow belly, grass perch, round sunfish, common

Pumpkinseed
Identification
Deep bodied, small mouth,
small gill flap with red spot,
10-11 dorsal fin spines,
short gill rakers
Orange to red-orange on
ventral side, brown to olive
on dorsal and on sides.
Speckled with orange,
yellow, blue, and emerald
spots. Blue horizontal
stripes posterior to eye.

http://seagrant.wisc.edu

Pumpkinseed
Distribution
North-eastern 2/3 of
Iowa
Found in natural lakes
and Mississippi River.
Less common in manmade lakes and
interior streams and
www.iowadnr.org
rivers.

Pumpkinseed

Habitat
Clear lakes with:
Aquatic plants
Sandy or silted bottom
Decaying debris

Diet

http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org

Adults eat insects, snails, small mollusks, and

small fish
Juveniles eat zooplankton

Pumpkinseed
Reproduction
Nesting fish like bluegill
Creates nest in littoral zone but nearer to shore than bluegill
under shady areas with sandy bottoms
Male protects nest
If space is available, they are colonial nesters, usually
around 4-15 nests in a colony
Spawning
Begins in May when water temperatures reach 68 degrees
Lasts through July with peak activity in June
Clutch size
1,500-1,700 eggs

Pumpkinseed
Iowa conservation status:
uncommon/native
Economic importance
Due to small number, fairly
unimportant.
Does provide some
recreational value

Ecological importance
Provide food for all
piscivorous fish and some
shallow feeding birds
http://data2.itc.nps.gov
Populations can become
stunted if predation is
reduced

References
Fishes of the Great Lakes: Pumpkinseed. 2004. Available at
http://www .seagrant.wisc.edu/greatlakesfishes. November 2004.
Fishes of Ohio. 2004. Available at http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org
November 2004.
Iowa DNR Fish and Fishing: Pumpkinseed. 2004 Available at:
http://www .iowadnr.com/fish/iafish. November 2004.
National Battlefield Park: Wildlife. 2004. Available at:
www.nps.gov/rich/ pphtml/subanimals4.html. November 2004.

Orange-Spotted Sunfish
Lepomis humilis
Jason Palmer
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/osptcard.html

Identification
Large mouth that
extends to front of
eye
Spiny dorsal fin with
10 spines
Males have vivid
orange spots on sides
Females spots are
red/brown
Large black ear flap

http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/

Habitat and Range

Prefer slow moving,
heavily vegetated
streams and rivers with
gravel and sand
substrates
Live in every thing from
large rivers to small
streams
Range is the entire
Mississippi river
watershed
http://floridafisheries.com/Fishes/panfish.html#spott
ed

Reproduction
Solitary nest builders
Males build and protect the nest
Males guard over eggs until hatched
Spawning is between May and November

http://campus.murraystate.edu

Feeding Habits and Importance

Generally feeds on the bottom
Very ferocious and will eat any thing it can
get a hold of
Diet includes: Insects, crustaceans and
occasionally small fish
Important as a member of the food web
Some commercial importance as an
aquarium species

Citations
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Iowa DNR Fish and
Fishing. Available at
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/osptcard.html. Oct. 2004
Florida Fish and Wildlife. Fishes. Available at
http://floridafisheries.com/Fishes/panfish.html#spotted . Oct 2004
Lawrence, M. Page. and B. M.. Burr. 1991. A Field Guide to
Freshwater Fishes. Houghton Miffin Company, New York.

Orange-Spotted Sunfish
Lepomis humilis
Jason Palmer
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/osptcard.html

Identification
Large mouth that
extends to front of
eye
Spiny dorsal fin with
10 spines
Males have vivid
orange spots on sides
Females spots are
red/brown
Large black ear flap

http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/

Habitat and Range

Prefer slow moving,
heavily vegetated
streams and rivers with
gravel and sand
substrates
Live in every thing from
large rivers to small
streams
Range is the entire
Mississippi river
watershed
http://floridafisheries.com/Fishes/panfish.html#spott
ed

Reproduction
Solitary nest builders
Males build and protect the nest
Males guard over eggs until hatched
Spawning is between May and November

http://campus.murraystate.edu

Feeding Habits and Importance

Generally feeds on the bottom
Very ferocious and will eat any thing it can
get a hold of
Diet includes: Insects, crustaceans and
occasionally small fish
Important as a member of the food web
Some commercial importance as an
aquarium species

Citations
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Iowa DNR Fish and
Fishing. Available at
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/osptcard.html. Oct. 2004
Florida Fish and Wildlife. Fishes. Available at
http://floridafisheries.com/Fishes/panfish.html#spotted . Oct 2004
Lawrence, M. Page. and B. M.. Burr. 1991. A Field Guide to
Freshwater Fishes. Houghton Miffin Company, New York.

White Crappie
Pomoxis annularis
By: Brad Froeschle

Characteristics
White crappies have six spines
on the dorsal fin with a banded
body.
Black crappies have seven to
nine spines with a spotted
body.
Length: 6-13 inches
Weight: Rarely exceed 2lbs.
Silvery body with shades of
green and black on the
anterior side.
Epiterminal mouth.
Pomoxis is Greek for opercle
sharp

Reproduction/Habitat/Diet
They spawn in spring in
shallow water over sand and
gravel substrates and are easily
caught at that time. After
spawning, crappies move
offshore into deeper, cooler
areas.
They feed largely on aquatic
insects and small fishes.

Males guard the nest, and

young after the eggs
hatch. Generally mature in
second or third year of life,
rarely live more than 6 to 7
years.

Ecological/Economic
Economic value: White
crappie are mainly a game fish
in Iowa.
Ecological value: Middle of the
food web feeder.
Helps maintain population of
lower fish on the food chain.
Top water feeder.

Conservation/Distribution

Statewide in lakes and large

rivers.
Conservation: White Crappies
are abundant statewide.

Misc.
Pomoxis is Greek for opercle
sharp
State Record - "crappie"
record 4 pounds, 9 ounces Green Castle Lake, Marshall
County, May 1981 - Ted
Trowbridge, Marshalltown.
Other names - silver crappie,
bachelor, white perch, sac-alait, newlight, strawberry bass,
goggle eye, papermouth, tin
mouth, bachelor perch, slab

References
National Battlefield Park: Wildlife. 2004. Available at:
www.nps.gov/rich/ pphtml/subanimals4.html. November 2004.
Iowa DNR Fish: White Crappie. 2004. Available at:
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/whc-card.html. November 2004.
Texas Freshwater Fishing: White Crappie. 2004. Available at:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/species/wcp/wcp.htm.
November 2004.
Colorado Division of Wildlife. White Crappie. 2004. Available at:
http://waterknowledge.colostate.edu/whitecra.htm. November 2004.

Citations
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Iowa DNR Fish and
Fishing. Available at
http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/osptcard.html. Oct. 2004
Florida Fish and Wildlife. Fishes. Available at
http://floridafisheries.com/Fishes/panfish.html#spotted . Oct 2004
Lawrence, M. Page. and B. M.. Burr. 1991. A Field Guide to
Freshwater Fishes. Houghton Miffin Company, New York.

Centrarchidae
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides

Texas Parks and Wildlife

Other names: Black bass, green trout, bigmouth

bass, lineside bass

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Identification:
Green in color
Continuous dark stripe
Belly white to yellowish
Spines on dorsal fin
Location of lower jaw
Eye color
Minnesota DNR

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Distribution:
Statewide
Prefers ponds and lakes
Found in some streams in back waters

Habitat:
Like vegetated areas
Under logs or hanging trees

Diet:
Fish
Frogs
Crayfish
Insects
Jump.Net

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Reproduction:
Early May to June
63-68 degrees F
Nest of roots or rocky mud bottoms
1-3 feet deep
2,000-26,000 eggs in a nest
Hatch in 3-6 days

Economic and Recreational

Importance:
Big game fish
Stocked in all lakes and ponds
Needed in life cycle

Ohio DNR

References
Iowa Department of Natural Resources.1994.IowaDNR Fish and Fishing.
Available at http:// www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/iafish.html
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.2004 Fish
Available at http:// www.dnr.state.mn.us/fish/bass/largemouth/index.html
Ohio Department of Natural Resources.2004.Division of Wildlife.
Available at http:// www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/fishing/aquanotesfishid/largbass.htm
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 2004. Fresh Water Fishing.
Available at http://tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/species/lmb/lmb.htm
The Jump.Net.Gamefish Profiles
Available at http://www.thejump.net/fishing/fishing.html

Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
by: Andy Glass

http://www.state.me.us/ifw/fishing/f-smbass.htm

Identification
Color
Bars
Mouth
Eye
Tail
Pyloric caeca

http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/smb-card.html

www.ext.vt.edu/.../ 420-010/figure26.html

Distribution
Native NE U.S.
Canada
Introduced Nationwide
Iowa

http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/sm-bass.html

www.worldwaters.com/.../ smallmouth-bass.asp

Habitat
Early morning/evening
Clear water
Rivers
Lakes

www.decoyswildlife.com/ wildlife/PAGE_60.HTM

Diet
Forage Fish
Crustaceans
Insects
Copepods
Cladocerans

http://www.watersheds.org/nature/gallery1/pages/bass_crayfish.htm

Reproduction
Time
Temp
Location
Nest
Courtship
Eggs
Parental Care

www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/ ~ael/ael_feb_00.html

www.venturenorth.com/ tlca/bass.htm

Conservation Status
Good population
Bag limits
Length limits

.
http://www.nyfisherman.net/ralphludwig.html

Economic, Recreational, and

Ecological Importance
Economically
important
Great fishing
Top predator

http://www.nyfisherman.net/lgronpeterson.html

Other
Other names: brown bass,
browny, bronzeback, green
trout, river bass, jumper,
Oswego bass, redeye bass
Max weight: 6-7 lbs
3-4 lb considered trophy

http://www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/Images/fishing/smbcrankjumb.jpg

References
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 1987. IowaDNR Fish and Fishing.
Available at http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/sm-bass.html. September 2004
L.M. Page and B.M. Burr. 1991. Freshwater Fishes.
Houghton Mifflin, New York