Freshwater fish species

Micropterus salmoides

Close the mouth: the upper jaw extends past the rear edge of the eye. On a smallmouth it stops at or before the eye.

Micropterus dolomieu

Upper jaw ends at or before the rear edge of the eye.

Micropterus punctulatus

Rows of small dark spots below the lateral line — neither of the other black bass has these.

Lepomis macrochirus

Ear flap solid black with no red, orange or pale edge.

Lepomis gibbosus

Red or orange crescent on the trailing edge of the ear flap.

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Seven or eight dorsal spines. Count the stiff spines at the front of the dorsal fin.

Pomoxis annularis

Five or six dorsal spines.

Sander vitreus

White tip on the lower lobe of the tail. Sauger lacks this.

Sander canadensis

Rows of distinct black spots across the spiny dorsal fin membrane.

Perca flavescens

Six to eight bold dark vertical bars on a yellow-gold body.

Esox lucius

Light spots on a darker body — the reverse of a muskie's pattern.

Esox masquinongy

Dark markings on a light body — the reverse of a pike.

Ictalurus punctatus

Deeply forked tail. Bullheads and flatheads have square or rounded tails.

Ictalurus furcatus

Anal fin edge is straight, like a comb, with 30 to 36 rays.

Pylodictis olivaris

Lower jaw projects beyond the upper. Every other North American catfish is the reverse.

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Black spots covering the entire tail, top to bottom.

Salmo trutta

Red or orange spots with pale halos on the flank.

Salvelinus fontinalis

Pale worm-like vermiculations across a dark back — light markings on dark, the reverse of trout.

Cyprinus carpio

Two pairs of barbels at the corners of the mouth. Suckers and buffalo have none.