Fish Fin Information
Largemouth Bass • 14-15 pectoral fin rays; dorsal fin deeply dived, almost separate, middle spines longest, with 10 spines. • 12-14 anal fin with 3 spines • Lateral line complete, with 55-77 scales; 77-9 rows of scales above lateral line, 1417 rows below.
Rock Bass •13-15 pectoral fin rays •Dorsal fin with 10-13 spines, 10-11 rays •Anal Fin with 5-7 spines, 9-10 rays •Lateral line complete, with 36-46 scales.
Smallmouth bass • • • • •
16-18 pectoral fin rays Dorsal fin with 10 spines, 13-14 rays Anal fin with 3 spines, 11 rays. 29-31 rows of scales on caudal peduncle. Lateral line complete, with 68-81 scales; 11-13 rows of scales above the lateral line, 20-23 rows below.
Spotted Bass •15-16 pectoral fin rays •Dorsal fin with 10 spines, 12-13 rays •Anal fin with 3 spines , 10 rays. •23-28 rows of scales on caudal peduncle. •Lateral line complete, with 60-75 scales; 8-9 rows above the lateral line, 15-18 rows below.
White Bass •Dorsal fins separate •Anal fin with second spine about half length of third 11-13 rays. •Scales extend onto head. •Lateral line with 50-60 scales.
Bluegill • Pectoral fin long, pointed • Anal fin base about half length of dorsal fin base. • Lateral line complete, with 49-45 scales.
Bowfin • • • • •
Pelvic and pectoral fins small, rounded Dorsal fin long, with 42-53 rays Anal fin 9-12 rays Caudal fin rounded. Lateral line complete.
Buffalofish •24-31 dorsal fin rays •Anterior rays nearly half as long as fin base •8-9 anal fin rays. •Lateral line straight, with 35-39 scales.
Brown Bullhead •12-15 gill rakers •Pectoral fin spine with strong serrations on rear edge •20-24 anal fin rays •Adipose fin present •Caudal fin emarginate.
Yellow Bullhead • Posterior edge of pectoral fin spine with serrations. • 24-28 anal fin rays Adipose fin present. • Caudal fin truncate to rounded.
Carp •Dorsal and anal fins each with 1 stout serrate spine •Dorsal fin long, with 17-21 rays. •5-6 anal fin rays. •Lateral line complete, with 32-39 scales.
Channel catfish • Anal fin with 24-31 rays, outer edge rounded • Adipose fin present • Caudal fin deeply forked.
Flathead catfish • Pectoral fin spine serrate on anterior and posterior edges • Dorsal fin spin weak • 14-17 anal fin rays • Adipose fin large • Caudal fin truncate, weakly notched.
Black Crappie • 27-32 long slender gill rakers. • Length of dorsal fin base about equal to distance from dorsal fin origin to middle of eye • Dorsal fin with 7-8 spines, no notch between spiny an soft segments • Anal fin large, with 6-7 spines • Lateral line complete, with 35-44 scales.
Creek Chub •Dorsal fin with 8 rays, origin behind pelvic fin insertion. •Scales on anterior portion of body crowded. •Later al complete, with 52-69 scales.
Freshwater Drum •Outer ray of pelvic fin an elongate filament •Dorsal fin deeply notched, with 10 spines, 26-32 rays •Anal fin with 22 spines, second spine enlarged, 7 rays •Caudal fin pointed in young, moderately pointed to rounded in adults. •Scaly sheath at dorsal fin base. •Lateral line extends to tip of caudal fin.
American Eel •Pectoral fin well developed •Dorsal fin origin far behind pectoral fin •Anal fin origin behind dorsal fin origin •Dorsal and anal fins continuous with caudal fin. •Scale small, elliptical, deeply embedded in skin.
Longnose Gar • Caudal fin short, rounded. • Scales thick, diamond-shaped • Lateral line with 60-64 scales.
Gizzard Shad •Pelvic fin almost directly under dorsal fin origin. •Last dorsal fin ray elongate, filamentous •Anal fins long, with 25-37 rays. •Ventral scutes from distinct kneel.
Golden Shiner •Dorsal fin slightly falcate. •Lateral line decurved, complete, with 44-55 scales.
Lamprey •Seven gill openings on either side of its mouth, and does not have any paired fins.
Bluntnose Minnow •First dorsal fin ray short, stout, separated by membrane •7 anal fin rays •Scales crowded on back behind head. •Lateral line complete, with 39-45 scales.
Fathead Minnow •Fins low, rounded •First dorsal fin ray short, stout. Separated by membrane. •7 anal fin rays. •Scale behind head crowded •42-48 scales in lateral series. •Lateral line incomplete.
Muskellunge •Lateral line complete, with 132-167 scales. •Lacks a spiny dorsal fin, but do have a soft rayed ventral fin, both just in front of the tail.
Yellow Perch •Anal fin with 2 spines, 6-8 rays. •Cheek and opercle scaled. •Lateral Line complete, with 53-59 scales.
Chain Pickerel •Caudal fin deeply forked •Lateral line complete, with 110-138 scales.
Grass Pickerel •Caudal fin deeply forked •Lateral line complete, with 110-138 scales. •Same as Chain Pickerel
Northern Pike • Lateral Line complete, with 105-248 scales. • 7 sensory pores underside of each side of the lower jaw
RedHorse Sucker • 12-13 dorsal fin rays • Anal fin long, pointed, with 7-9 rays • Lateral line complete, with 41-47 scales.
Chinook Salmon •Adipose fin present •Caudal fin with smooth striations on rays.
Coho Salmon •Adipose fin present •Caudal fin with rough striations on rays.
Sauger •First dorsal fin with 2-3 rows of small black spots, narrow dusky border •Second dorsal fin with 2 light marrow bands. •Caudal fin moderately forked. •Lateral line complete, with 85-89 scales.
Brown Trout • Pectoral fin insertion well below axis of body • Dorsal fin short based, about midway between snout and caudal din base. • Adipose fin present • Caudal fin truncate.
Lake Trout •Adipose fin present •Caudal fin deeply forked. Caudal peduncle slender. •Scales small •175-200 in lateral series.
Rainbow Trout • 8-12 anal fin rays • Adipose fin present, usually black-edged.
Lake Sturgeon •Caudal fin heterocercal. Caudal peduncle short, roundish, incomplete armored. •Has no scales and skin is very coarse.
Green Sunfish •Pectoral fin short, rounded. •Lateral line complete, with 40-52 scales •Anal fin has 3 hard spines.
Redear Sunfish •Pectoral fin long, pointed, extending to near middle of anal fin base. •3 anal fin spines. •Lateral line complete, with 35-44 scales.
Walleye •Caudal fin moderately forked. •Lateral line complete, with 82-92 scales. •3 spines of the first dorsal fin.