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Freshwater Fish Species

Freshwater fish inhabit the lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds that stretch across North America. From the bass-heavy reservoirs of the South to the cold trout streams of the Rockies, freshwater fishing draws more anglers than any other discipline. Species in this category range from fast-growing panfish to trophy largemouth that can top 20 pounds. Knowing the habitat preferences, seasonal patterns, and feeding habits of each species is the difference between a slow afternoon and a memorable day on the water.

116 species in this category

Gar

Alligator Gar

Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula) inhabits large rivers, reservoirs. Popular …

Other

American Eel

American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) inhabits rivers, streams, lakes. Popular techni…

Trout

Apache Trout

Apache Trout (Oncorhynchus apache) inhabits white mountains streams, az. Popular…

Trout

Arctic Char

Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) inhabits arctic lakes and rivers. Popular techn…

Whitefish

Arctic Grayling

Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) inhabits cold arctic rivers. Popular techni…

Panfish

Bantam Sunfish

Bantam Sunfish (Lepomis symmetricus) inhabits cypress swamps. Popular technique:…

Carp

Bighead Carp

Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) inhabits large rivers, reservoirs. Pop…

Buffalo

Bigmouth Buffalo

Bigmouth Buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus) inhabits warm shallow lakes. Popular tec…

Minnow

Bigmouth Shiner

Bigmouth Shiner (Notropis dorsalis) inhabits clear sandy streams. Popular techni…

Buffalo

Black Buffalo

Black Buffalo (Ictiobus niger) inhabits large rivers. Popular technique: bowfish…

Catfish

Black Bullhead

Black Bullhead (Ameiurus melas) inhabits muddy ponds, turbid lakes. Popular tech…

Panfish

Black Crappie

Schooling panfish prized by anglers for excellent table fare. Spring spawn is pr…

Minnow

Blacktail Shiner

Blacktail Shiner (Cyprinella venusta) inhabits rocky streams, se. Popular techni…

Catfish

Blue Catfish

Giant freshwater predator. Largest North American catfish species.

Sucker

Blue Sucker

Blue Sucker (Cycleptus elongatus) inhabits large fast rivers. Popular technique:…

Panfish

Bluegill

America's favorite panfish. Kids' first catch and dependable eating size.

Other

Bowfin

Bowfin (Amia calva) inhabits swamps, weedy lakes. Popular technique: heavy tackl…

Trout

Brook Trout

America's native char. Small but beautiful fish of high-elevation streams.

Catfish

Brown Bullhead

Brown Bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) inhabits lakes, slow rivers. Popular techniq…

Trout

Brown Trout

European import that grew into a legendary American gamefish. Wary and large.

Trout

Bull Trout

Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) inhabits cold mountain streams, pnw. Popular…

Other

Burbot

Burbot (Lota lota) inhabits cold deep lakes. Popular technique: ice fishing usin…

Pike

Chain Pickerel

Chain Pickerel (Esox niger) inhabits weedy lakes, slow streams. Popular techniqu…

Catfish

Channel Catfish

Most popular US catfish. Whiskered bottom-feeder available in rivers and lakes e…

Whitefish

Cisco

Cisco (Coregonus artedi) inhabits cold deep lakes. Popular technique: trolling u…

Carp

Common Carp

European import and world's most pursued fish. Powerful fighter on light tackle.

Minnow

Creek Chub

Creek Chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) inhabits rocky streams. Popular technique: …

Panfish

Dollar Sunfish

Dollar Sunfish (Lepomis marginatus) inhabits se coastal plains streams. Popular …

Trout

Dolly Varden

Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) inhabits cold mountain streams, alaska. Popular …

Minnow

Emerald Shiner

Emerald Shiner (Notropis atherinoides) inhabits large lakes, rivers. Popular tec…

Sucker

Flannelmouth Sucker

Flannelmouth Sucker (Catostomus latipinnis) inhabits colorado river system. Popu…

Catfish

Flathead Catfish

Solitary ambush predator. Only eats live bait — trophy catches come from snags a…

Panfish

Flier

Flier (Centrarchus macropterus) inhabits swamps, cypress ponds. Popular techniqu…

Gar

Florida Gar

Florida Gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus) inhabits florida lakes, swamps. Popular t…

Drum

Freshwater Drum

Freshwater Drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) inhabits large rivers, lakes. Popular te…

Trout

Gila Trout

Gila Trout (Oncorhynchus gilae) inhabits gila wilderness streams. Popular techni…

Forage

Gizzard Shad

Gizzard Shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) inhabits lakes, rivers. Popular technique: us…

Sucker

Golden Redhorse

Golden Redhorse (Moxostoma erythrurum) inhabits clear gravel rivers. Popular tec…

Minnow

Golden Shiner

Golden Shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) inhabits weedy lakes, ponds. Popular tec…

Trout

Golden Trout

Golden Trout (Oncorhynchus aguabonita) inhabits high sierra streams, lakes. Popu…

Other

Goldeye

Goldeye (Hiodon alosoides) inhabits northern rivers. Popular technique: light ta…

Carp

Grass Carp

Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) inhabits lakes, rivers, canals. Popular tec…

Pike

Grass Pickerel

Grass Pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus) inhabits weedy streams, ponds. Pop…

Sucker

Greater Redhorse

Greater Redhorse (Moxostoma valenciennesi) inhabits large clean rivers. Popular …

Panfish

Green Sunfish

Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) inhabits streams, ponds. Popular technique: li…

Bass

Guadalupe Bass

Guadalupe Bass (Micropterus treculii) inhabits clear streams, texas. Popular tec…

Catfish

Headwater Catfish

Headwater Catfish (Ictalurus lupus) inhabits spring-fed streams, tx/nm. Popular …

Carp

Koi

Koi (Cyprinus rubrofuscus) inhabits ponds, park lakes. Popular technique: bottom…

Trout

Lahontan Cutthroat Trout

Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi) inhabits nevada high de…

Sturgeon

Lake Sturgeon

Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) inhabits large lakes, rivers. Popular techn…

Trout

Lake Trout

Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) inhabits deep cold lakes. Popular technique: t…

Whitefish

Lake Whitefish

Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) inhabits deep cold lakes. Popular techni…

Bass

Largemouth Bass

North America's most popular gamefish. Found in lakes, ponds, and slow rivers ac…

Panfish

Longear Sunfish

Longear Sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) inhabits clear rocky streams. Popular techni…

Minnow

Longnose Dace

Longnose Dace (Rhinichthys cataractae) inhabits fast rocky streams. Popular tech…

Gar

Longnose Gar

Longnose Gar (Lepisosteus osseus) inhabits warm slow rivers, lakes. Popular tech…

Sucker

Longnose Sucker

Longnose Sucker (Catostomus catostomus) inhabits cold mountain streams. Popular …

Carp

Mirror Carp

Mirror Carp (Cyprinus carpio haematopterus) inhabits lakes, ponds. Popular techn…

Other

Mooneye

Mooneye (Hiodon tergisus) inhabits clear rivers. Popular technique: light tackle…

Whitefish

Mountain Whitefish

Mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) inhabits cold mountain rivers. Popula…

Pike

Muskellunge

The fish of 10,000 casts. Largest freshwater predator in North America.

Sucker

Northern Hogsucker

Northern Hogsucker (Hypentelium nigricans) inhabits rocky riffles, streams. Popu…

Pike

Northern Pike

Aggressive apex predator of cold lakes. Strikes big lures and ambushes prey.

Panfish

Orangespotted Sunfish

Orangespotted Sunfish (Lepomis humilis) inhabits muddy streams, small lakes. Pop…

Bass

Ozark Bass

Ozark Bass (Ambloplites constellatus) inhabits ozark plateau streams. Popular te…

Other

Paddlefish

Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) inhabits large rivers. Popular technique: snaggin…

Sturgeon

Pallid Sturgeon

Pallid Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) inhabits missouri/mississippi rivers. Pop…

Bass

Peacock Bass

Peacock Bass (Cichla ocellaris) inhabits florida canals, tropical lakes. Popular…

Panfish

Pumpkinseed

Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) inhabits weedy lakes, ponds. Popular technique: b…

Sucker

Quillback

Quillback (Carpiodes cyprinus) inhabits clear lakes, rivers. Popular technique: …

Trout

Rainbow Trout

Stocked and wild rainbow trout. Aggressive striker and acrobatic fighter when ho…

Panfish

Redbreast Sunfish

Redbreast Sunfish (Lepomis auritus) inhabits clear streams. Popular technique: f…

Panfish

Redear Sunfish

Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) inhabits weedy lakes, ponds. Popular techni…

Bass

Redeye Bass

Redeye Bass (Micropterus coosae) inhabits mountain streams, se. Popular techniqu…

Pike

Redfin Pickerel

Redfin Pickerel (Esox americanus americanus) inhabits coastal plain streams. Pop…

Sucker

Redhorse Sucker

Redhorse Sucker (Moxostoma anisurum) inhabits large clean rivers. Popular techni…

Other

Rio Grande Cichlid

Rio Grande Cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) inhabits tx/nm streams, ponds. Pop…

Sucker

Rio Grande Sucker

Rio Grande Sucker (Catostomus plebeius) inhabits rio grande headwaters. Popular …

Sucker

River Redhorse

River Redhorse (Moxostoma carinatum) inhabits large clean rivers. Popular techni…

Bass

Roanoke Bass

Roanoke Bass (Ambloplites cavifrons) inhabits roanoke river drainage. Popular te…

Bass

Rock Bass

Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris) inhabits rocky streams, lakes. Popular techniq…

Whitefish

Round Whitefish

Round Whitefish (Prosopium cylindraceum) inhabits cold lakes, rivers. Popular te…

Panfish

Sacramento Perch

Sacramento Perch (Archoplites interruptus) inhabits central valley lakes, ca. Po…

Perch

Sauger

Sauger (Sander canadensis) inhabits large rivers, reservoirs. Popular technique:…

Perch

Saugeye

Saugeye (Sander vitreus x canadensis) inhabits reservoirs, lakes. Popular techni…

Bass

Shadow Bass

Shadow Bass (Ambloplites ariommus) inhabits ozark streams. Popular technique: dr…

Bass

Shoal Bass

Shoal Bass (Micropterus cataractae) inhabits shoal areas, se rivers. Popular tec…

Sucker

Shorthead Redhorse

Shorthead Redhorse (Moxostoma macrolepidotum) inhabits clear rivers. Popular tec…

Gar

Shortnose Gar

Shortnose Gar (Lepisosteus platostomus) inhabits backwaters, slow rivers. Popula…

Sturgeon

Shovelnose Sturgeon

Shovelnose Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) inhabits large rivers. Popular…

Carp

Silver Carp

Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) inhabits large rivers. Popular techniq…

Minnow

Silvery Minnow

Silvery Minnow (Hybognathus nuchalis) inhabits large muddy rivers. Popular techn…

Other

Skipjack Herring

Skipjack Herring (Alosa chrysochloris) inhabits large rivers, tailwaters. Popula…

Bass

Smallmouth Bass

Bronze warrior of northern rivers and clear lakes. Pound-for-pound fights harder…

Buffalo

Smallmouth Buffalo

Smallmouth Buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus) inhabits rivers, reservoirs. Popular techn…

Trout

Splake

Splake (Salvelinus fontinalis x namaycush) inhabits cold deep lakes. Popular tec…

Bass

Spotted Bass

Spotted Bass (Micropterus punctulatus) inhabits lakes, reservoirs, rivers. Popul…

Gar

Spotted Gar

Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) inhabits swamps, warm sloughs. Popular techni…

Sucker

Spotted Sucker

Spotted Sucker (Minytrema melanops) inhabits sandy streams, rivers. Popular tech…

Panfish

Spotted Sunfish

Spotted Sunfish (Lepomis punctatus) inhabits swampy streams. Popular technique: …

Catfish

Stonecat

Stonecat (Noturus flavus) inhabits rocky streams, riffles. Popular technique: bo…

Bass

Suwannee Bass

Suwannee Bass (Micropterus notius) inhabits suwannee river system. Popular techn…

Sucker

Tahoe Sucker

Tahoe Sucker (Catostomus tahoensis) inhabits lake tahoe basin. Popular technique…

Pike

Tiger Muskie

Tiger Muskie (Esox masquinongy x lucius) inhabits lakes, reservoirs. Popular tec…

Perch

Walleye

Great Lakes and northern prize with exceptional eating quality. Low-light feeder…

Panfish

Warmouth

Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus) inhabits swamps, weedy lakes. Popular technique: stil…

Trout

Westslope Cutthroat Trout

Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) inhabits clear mountain …

Bass

White Bass

White Bass (Morone chrysops) inhabits rivers, reservoirs. Popular technique: jig…

Catfish

White Catfish

White Catfish (Ameiurus catus) inhabits tidal rivers, estuaries. Popular techniq…

Panfish

White Crappie

White Crappie (Pomoxis annularis) inhabits lakes, slow rivers. Popular technique…

Perch

White Perch

White Perch (Morone americana) inhabits tidal rivers, coastal lakes. Popular tec…

Sucker

White Sucker

White Sucker (Catostomus commersonii) inhabits streams, lakes. Popular technique…

Bass

Yellow Bass

Yellow Bass (Morone mississippiensis) inhabits rivers, lakes. Popular technique:…

Catfish

Yellow Bullhead

Yellow Bullhead (Ameiurus natalis) inhabits muddy ponds, slow streams. Popular t…

Perch

Yellow Perch

Gold-and-green striped panfish. Great Lakes favorite and year-round catch.

Trout

Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout

Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri) inhabits yellowstone…

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