Fish Extra Facts
Largemouth Bass • Scientific Name- Micropterus salmoides • Other names- Black Bass, Florida bass, green bass, bigmouth, bucketmouth Family- Sunfish • Diet- Crayfish, frogs, large insects, and other fish. • Habitat- Prefer ponds, lakes and slow, sluggish streams. • Mating- Polyandrous
Rock Bass •Scientific Name- Ambloplites rupestris •Other names- Goggle-eye, green sunfish, branch perch •Family- Sunfish •Diet- primarily aquatic insects, but larger fish will prey on crayfish and minnows when the opportunity arises •Habitat- Prefer clear streams of moderate size with medium levels of flow. Bottom substrates with large boulders and coarse gravel are favored, or bed rock with drop-offs. In Lake Erie they are frequently located on submerged reefs and large boulders around the island areas and docks. •Mating-
Smallmouth bass • Scientific Name- Micropterus dolomieu • Other names- Bronzeback, brown bass, black bass, Oswego bass, green trout and redeye bronzeback. • Family-Sunfish • Diet- Aquatic insects, crayfish, and small fish. • Habitat- This species thrives in streams with gravel or rock bottoms with a visible current. Smallmouth also do well in the reef areas and rocky shorelines of Lake Erie, especially in the islands area near Sandusky Bay. They are also abundant in the Ohio River. • Mating- Polygynandrous
Spotted Bass •Scientific Name- Micropterus punctulatus •Other names- Kentucky bass, Kentucky spotted bass, northern spotted bass, Alabama spotted bass •Family- Sunfish •Diet- microscopic animals, insects, crayfish, and fishes depending on their size and availability of forage. •Habitat- Native to Ohio, but occur only in the low gradient streams in southern Ohio, particularly the tributaries of the Ohio River. •Mating-
White Bass •Scientific Name- Morone chrysops •Other names- stripe, silver bass, striper, sand bass, barfish Family- Temperate Basses •Diet- small fishes, including their own young, and larger insects •Habitat- They prefer large open clear water with a firm bottom and water depths of less than 30 feet. •Mating- Polyandrous
Bluegill • Scientific Name- Lepomis macrochirus • Other names- bream, blue bream, sun perch, blue sunfish, copperhead, copperbelly, roach • Family- Sunfish • Diet- Zooplankton, insects, and other invertebrates. • Habitat- Occur throughout the state in nearly every water body. They are most abundant in clear lakes and ponds that have some rooted aquatic vegetation. • Mating- Polygynandrous
Bowfin • • • •
Scientific Name- Amia calva Other names- Dogfish, mudfish, grindel, choupique Family- Amiidae (Bowfin) Diet- Feed primarily on crayfish and dead or injured fish but will eat anything they can get a hold of if given the chance. • Habitat- native to Ohio, and is found primarily in large natural lakes, rivers, oxbows, embayments or other systems where clear water and abundant rooted aquatic vegetation is present. Bowfin can withstand turbidity from algal blooms, but not from clay silts. • Mating- Polygynandrous
Buffalofish •Scientific Name- Ictiobus bubalus •Other names•Family- Catostomidae •Diet- Bottom feeder, consuming mostly insect larvae and algae. •Habitat- Prefers deep, clearer waters with moderate current. •Mating-
Brown Bullhead •Scientific Name- Ameiurus nebulosu •Other names- creek cat, mud cat, horned pout, red cat, speckled cat •Family- Ictaluridae (Catfish) •Diet- consume algae, plants, mollusks, insects, fish eggs and fish, although they probably do not prey heavily on fish eggs. They do, of course, compete for food with other bottom-feeding fish. •Habitat- ive in shallow bays, on or near a soft bottom with lots of vegetation. They are found as deep as 40 feet. They thrive in warm water, and can tolerate higher pollution and carbon dioxide levels, and lower oxygen levels than most other fish species. •Mating-
Yellow bullhead Scientific Name- Ameiurus natalis
• • Other names- butter cat, yellow cat, creek cat, white-whiskered bullhead, greaser, polliwog Family- Ictaluridae (Catfish) • Diet- Are opportunistic feeders. Yellow bullheads feed at night. They have been known to eat minnows, crayfish, insects and insect larvae, aquatic invertebrates, and worms. Compared to the other two bullheads, the yellow bullheads consume more aquatic vegetation. The young will feed on aquatic invertebrates. • Habitat- prefer backwaters with slow current in rivers and streams. They can be found in the shallow parts of streams, lakes, ponds, or large bays. Habitat varies from a slow current with poorly oxygenated, highly silted, and highly polluted water to a more swift current with clean and clear water that has aquatic vegetation. Yellow bullhead are bottom dwellers, living in areas with muck, rock, sand, or clay substrates. • Mating- Monogamous
Carp •Scientific Name- Cyprinus carpio •Other names- European carp •Family- Minnow •Diet- selective benthic omnivores that specialize on invertebrates that live in the sediments initially feed on zooplankton; specifically rotifers, copepods, and algae. Young of year carp feed on a variety of macroinvertebrates including chironomids, caddis flies, mollusks, ostracods, and crustaceans Adult carp are known to eat a wide variety of organisms including, insects, crustaceans, annelids, mollusks, fish eggs, fish remains, and plant tubers and seeds •Habitat- Exploit large and small man made and natural reservoirs, and pools in slow or fast moving streams. They prefer larger, slower-moving bodies of water with soft sediments but they are tolerant and hardy fish that thrive in a wide variety of aquatic habitats. •Mating-
Channel catfish • • • •
Scientific Name- Ictalurus punctatus Other names- Spotted cat, silver cat, squeaker cat Family- Ictaluridae (Catfish) Diet- They are omnivorous and will eat a wide variety of items including insect larvae, crayfish, mollusks, fish (dead or alive), and even some types of fruits and berries. • Habitat- native to Ohio and are found throughout Ohio in large streams, rivers, and lakes. They are also stocked in many farm ponds where they do well but rarely reproduce. Channel catfish prefer areas with deep water, clean gravel or boulder substrates and low to moderate current. However, they are tolerant of a wide range of conditions. • Mating- Monogamous
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Flathead catfish Scientific Name- Pylodictis olivaris
Other names- Shovelhead, Mudcat, Yellow Catfish Family- Ictaluridae (Catfish) Diet- Live fish Habitat- Adults prefer deep pools with slow current and cover, such as submerged logs and drift piles. • Mating-
Black Crappie • Scientific Name- Pomoxis nigromaculatus • Other names- Spec, paper mouth, strawberry bass • Family- Sunfish • Diet- Planktonic crustaceans, aquatic insects, and small fish. • Habitat- Prefer clearer water and more aquatic vegetation • Mating-
Creek Chub •Scientific Name- Semotilus atromaculatus •Other names•Family- Minnow •Diet- aquatic and terrestrial insect larvae. Large male creek chubs may consume small crayfish or fish. •Habitat- prefer areas with scoured bottoms of sand, gravel, and bedrock with well defined riffles and pools. •Mating-
Freshwater Drum •Scientific Name- Aplodinotus grunniens •Other names- Sheephead, Grunter, Silver Bass, Gray Bass •Family- Sciaenidae (Drum Family) •Diet- mollusks, crayfish, fish, and aquatic insects •Habitat- native to Ohio. They inhabit deeper pools of rivers and prefer large lakes that are less than 60 feet deep. •Mating-Polygynandrous
American Eel •Scientific Name- Anguilla rostrata •Other names- Eel, freshwater eel •Family- Anguillidae (Freshwater Eels) •Diet- Fish or crayfish, but will feed upon anything they find. •Habitat- found at times in any stream in Ohio and in Lake Erie. They occur most often in moderate or large rivers with continuous flow and moderately clear water. While in fresh water, eels are secretive and hide in deep pools around cover •Mating•Threatened Species
Longnose Gar • • • • •
Scientific Name- Lepisosteus osseus Other names- gar, garfish Family- Lepisosteidae Diet- fish, minnows, and gizzard shad. Habitat- Found in Lake Erie and the Ohio River, and their larger, slower tributary rivers and streams. Prefers the clearest water of slow-flowing streams, backwaters, and harbors and bays of Lake Erie. • Mating-
Gizzard Shad •Scientific Name- Dorsoma cepadianum •Other names•Family- Clupeidae •Diet- filter feeders that remove microscopic animals and algae by passing water through their gill rakers. •Habitat- Are found throughout Ohio in Lake Erie tributaries with low gradients. •Mating-
Golden Shiner •Scientific Name- Notemigonus crysoleucas •Other names•Family- Cyprinidae (Minnows and Carps) •Diet- plant matter, insects, snails, and crustaceans •Habitat- common in medium to large bodies of slow moving or standing water. This species requires good water quality and aquatic vegetation to thrive. Golden shiners prefer quiet, clear water over sand, gravel or organic debris covered bottoms. •Mating- Polygynandrous
Lamprey •Scientific Name- Petromyzontiformes •Other names- lake lamprey, lamprey, lamprey eel •Family•Diet- saliva keeps the wound open for hours or weeks, until the lamprey is satiated or the host fish dies. •Habitat- Found in lakes •Mating-
Bluntnose Minnow •Scientific Name- Pimephales notatus •Other names•Family- Cyprinidae (Minnows and Carps) •Diet- Algae, aquatic insects larvae, diatoms, small crustaceans and other invertebrates. •Habitat- found throughout Ohio. It occupies a broad range of habitats including lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. They prefer shallow areas of clear water with sand and gravel bottoms. •Mating-
Fathead Minnow •Scientific Name- Pimephales promelas •Other names•Family- Cyprinidae (Minnow and Carp) •Diet- organic debris, aquatic insects, and zooplankton. •Habitat- prefer muddy brooks and creeks, as well as ponds and small lakes. However, fatheads can tolerate a wide range of water conditions. •Mating-
Muskellunge •Scientific Name- Esox masquinongy •Other names- muskellunge, lunge, maskinonge, great pike •Family- Esocidae (Pike) •Diet- soft-rayed fish such as suckers and gizzard shad •Habitat- is found in heavily vegetated lakes with lots of tree stumps and bays. Prime stream muskellunge habitat is generally considered to be long pools (at least 0.2 miles in length) with a minimum depth of at least three to four feet and an abundance of submerged woody structure. •Mating-
Yellow Perch •Scientific Name- Perca flavescens •Other names- Lake perch, ringed perch •Family- Percidae (Perch) •Diet- aquatic insects, larger invertebrates, and fishes. •Habitat- It prefers clear water with moderate vegetation and lots of sand or gravel bottoms. •Mating-
Chain Pickerel •Scientific Name- Esox niger •Other names- Pike, river pike, grass pike, jack, jackfish, eastern pickerel, chainsides, mud pickerel •Family- Esocidae (Pike) •Diet- primarily fish, but also some aquatic insects. •Habitat- Found in river and lakes •Mating-
Grass Pickerel Scientific Name- Esox americanus vermiculatus •Other names- Little pickerel, barred pickerel, mud pickerel, slough pike, pickerel •Family- Esocidae (Pike) •Diet- primarily fish, but also some aquatic insects. •Habitat- prefers clear waters, particularly areas that have not been ditched, dredged or channelized. They avoid turbid or muddy water with silt bottoms. •Mating-
Northern Pike • • • •
Scientific Name- Esox lucius Other names- Northern, pike, hammer handles Family- Esocidae (Pike) Diet- primarily fish but will take nearly anything they can fit in their mouth, including frogs, muskrats, and small ducks • Habitat- prefer marshes, bays and pools of slow moving water in clear streams where aquatic vegetation is abundant. • Mating-
RedHorse Sucker • • • • •
Scientific Name- Genus Moxostoma Other namesFamilyDietHabitat- live in slow areas of big rivers, in the fast waters of small creeks, or lakes, according to their species. Most are typically fish of clear, small to medium-sized rivers. • Mating-
Chinook Salmon •Scientific Name- Oncorhynchus tshawytscha •Other names- king salmon, spring salmon, tyee, quinnant, blackmouth •Family- Salmonidae (Trout, Salmon, Char, and Whitefish) Diet- fry and smolts feed on plankton and then terrestrial and aquatic insects, amphipods and crustaceans. •Habitat- Freshwater streams are relatively deep with course gravel. •Mating- Semelparous
Coho Salmon •Scientific Name- Oncorhynchus kisutch •Other names- silver salmon, blueback •Family- Salmonidae (Trout, Salmon, Char, and Whitefish) Diet- Eat insects and smaller fish. •Habitat- Like relatively slow moving water with fine gravel. •Mating-
Sauger •Scientific Name- Sander canadense •Other names- Jack Salmon •Family- Percidae (Perch) •Diet- aquatic insects, crayfish, and small fishes •Habitat- prefer large, turbid slow moving rivers, and large, cool shallow lakes. •Mating-
Brown Trout • • • •
Scientific Name- Salmo trutta Other names- German trout Family-Salmonidae (Trout, Salmon, Char, and Whitefish) Diet- Insects, small fish, aquatic invertebrates, and occasionally frogs or small rodents. • Habitat- They prefer cold water with temperatures ranging up to 79 F°. Preferred habitat includes areas of boulders, c obble, logs, rootwads and overhead cover. Brown trout will feed in riffles containing rock as small as gravel. • Mating- Polygynandrous
Lake Trout •Scientific Name- Salvelinus namaycush •Other names- Laker, Mackinaw, gray trout, togue •Family- Family-Salmonidae (Trout, Salmon, Char, and Whitefish) •Diet- aquatic insects, crustaceans, and a range of fish species, including small lake trout •Habitat- native to the Great Lakes and prefer deep, coldwater lakes throughout North America. They are usually found offshore in deep, well oxygenated water. •Mating-
Rainbow Trout • Scientific Name- Oncorhynchus mykiss • Other names- Steelhead (large trout) • Family- Family-Salmonidae (Trout, Salmon, Char, and Whitefish) • Diet- small fish and aquatic insects • Habitat- prefer cold water streams with cobble, boulders, deep pools, and overhead cover. • Mating- Polyandrous
Lake Sturgeon •Scientific Name- Acipenser fulvescens •Other names- Great Lakes Sturgeon, Rock Sturgeon •Family- Acipenseridae (Sturgeon) •Diet- wide range of invertebrates, some fish, and plant material found on clay, sand, and gravel substrates. •Habitat- Native to Lake Erie and the Ohio River drainage, although it is now probably extinct in the Ohio River area. Requires large rivers and lakes. •Mating-
Green Sunfish •Scientific Name- Lepomis cyanellus •Other names- Sunfish •Family- Centrachidae (Sunfish) •Diet- insects, mollusks, and small fishes •Habitat- native to Ohio and are present in most lakes and reservoirs and all streams. They are tolerant of turbid water unlike most other sunfish species. Green sunfish appear to have no preference for a particular bottom type, but they are usually associated with some type of structure such as brush, vegetation, or rocks. •Mating-
Redear Sunfish •Scientific Name- Lepomis microlophus •Other names- Shellcracker, Stumpknocker •Family- Centrachidae (Sunfish) •Diet- preferred diet is snails •Habitat- thrives in clear, warm impoundments with rooted vegetation. Redear sunfish are attracted to submerged vegetation and trees, hence the name "stumpknocker." Following spawning, redear tend to move offshore to deeper water. •Mating-
Walleye •Scientific Name- Sander vitreus •Other names- Pickerel, yellow pike, walleyed pike •Family- Percidae (Perch) •Diet- emerald shiners, gizzard shad, alewives, and rainbow smelt •Habitat- prefer clear to slightly turbid waters. They usually occur in greatest abundance over reefs, shoals of gravel, bedrock, and other firm bottoms •Mating-