fish of the great lakes

Common Name	Scientific Name	Description	Picture
Walleye, Pickerel, Wall-eyed Pike	Sander vitreus	Adults average 2 to 4 pounds and 15 to 23 inches, but they can grow to over 32 inches and weigh 10 to 15 pounds. They spawn in spring and feed mainly on small fishes.They are numerous in the Great Lakes, especially Lake Erie, Saginaw Bay, and Green Bay.
Smallmouth Bass	Micropterus dolomieu	Adults average 1 to 2 pounds and 10 to 15 inches, but can grow to over 20 inches and nearly 10 pounds. They prefer rocky or gravel bottoms and feed on insects, crayfish and small fishes. They spawn in late spring.
Largemouth Bass	Micropterus salmoides	Adults average 1 to 2 pounds and 10 to 15 inches, but can grow to over 25 inches and weigh 13 or more pounds. They spawn in late spring, and eat insects, crayfish, frogs and other fish.
King Salmon	Oncorhynchus tschawytscha
Coho Salmon	Oncorhynchus kisutch
Atlantic Salmon	Salmo salar
Steelhead, Rainbow Trout	Oncorhynchus mykiss	Steelhead are rainbow trout that live in the lake. They are usually larger than those living in streams. Adults average 20 to 24 inches but can be up to 36 inches or more and weigh 20 pounds or more. Most are stocked by the various states/provences surrounding the Lakes.
Brown Trout	Salmo trutta	Brown trout prefer cold water and boulders or cobble. They average 10 to 15 inches, but often are much larger in the Lakes. They eat aquatic insects, crayfish and other fishes.
Lake Trout	Salvelinus namaycush	Lake trout prefer deep cold water. they feed on insects, crustaceans and fishes. Adults average 20 to 24 inches and 3 to 6 pounds, but can grow o 50 pounds or more
Northern Pike	Esox lucius	Northern Pike are long and slender. They spawn as soon as the ice leaves February or March. They prefer shallower water with vegitation. They eat mostly fish, but also will eat frogs and small mammals and birds. Most are 5 pounds or less but they can be well over 20 pounds.
Muskie	Esox masquinongy	Muskie prefer heavily vegetated areas. They average 20 to 40 inches and 3 to 40 pounds, but can be over 50 inches and 55 pounds. They primarily eat fish such as suckers and shad.
Yellow Perch	Perca flavescens
White Crappie
Black Crappie	Pomoxis nigromaculatus	Black crappie average 8 to 12 inches, but can b as big as 18 inches and over 4 pounds. They prefer clear water with vegetation.
Bluegill	Lepomis macrochirus
White Bass	Morone chrysops
Pink Salmon	Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
Channel catfish	Ictalurus punctatus

Common Name	Scientific Name	Description	Picture
Carp	Cyprinus carpio
White sucker	Catostomus commersonii
Freshwater drum	Aplodinotus grunniens rafinesque
Quillback
Longnose Gar
Bowfin
Burbot
American eel	Anquilla rostrata	Female eels can be over 50 inches long. They eat mostly fish and crayfish. They live in freshwater for up to 20 years and return to the ocean to spawn and die. The young eventually migrate to fresh water to begin a new cycle.

Golden Shiner	Notemigonus crysoleucas
Emerald Shiner	Notropis atherinoides
Fat Head Minnow
Gizzard Shad