 STAR
LAKE FISH SPOTTER’S GUIDE
On the following
pages, we have included an expanded identification guide for fish commonly
found in Star Lake. It is not meant to be all-inclusive. Pictures are not
to scale. Visual characteristics have been included that will help to
differentiate between similar fish. Below is a quick reference to fish
anatomy to help identify descriptive characteristics and terms that are used
in the fish spotter’s guide.
|
 |
|
 |
Rock Bass
|
|
 |
Pumpkinseed
-
4-8” long; flat, deep body
-
Golden brown w/ red-orange belly and blue/green lines
-
Edge of gill flap has pale border around bright red
spot
-
3 spines on anal fin
-
No dark coloring at back of dorsal fin
|
 |
Bluegill
-
4-10” long, flat, deep body
-
Green/brown sides w/orange or pink vertical bars
-
Metallic blue/green shades on sides of head
-
Large, square-shaped gill flap
-
Dark blotch at back of dorsal fin
-
3 spines on anal fin
|
 |
Yellow Perch
|
 |
Brown Bullhead
-
4-14” long
-
Broad, flat head w/dark barbells (whiskers) around
face
-
3 sharp spines: 2 on pectoral fins; 1 on dorsal
fin—be careful handling them!
|
 |
 |
Largemouth Bass
-
10 scale rows eye to gill
-
7 scale rows stripe to top
-
Deep notch, 12-13 rays on rounded dorsal fin
-
Dark stripe on side
-
Upper jaw behind eye
|
 |
Smallmouth Bass
-
17 scale rows eye to gill
-
11 scale rows stripe to top
-
Shallow notch, 13-15 rays on rounded dorsal fin
-
Dark vertical stripes/bars
-
Upper jaw in front of eye
|
|
 |
White Sucker
|
|
 |
Great Northern Pike
-
Can be 25-36”; over 40 lbs.
-
Dark green/brown with light bean-shaped spots
-
No scales on lower half of gill covers
-
8-12 pores under lower jaw
-
Gold markings both sides of head
|
 |
 |
Lake Trout
-
15-34”, up to 30 lbs.
-
Light spots on darker olive, green, or almost black
back
-
Deeply forked tail with white spots on tail, sides,
dorsal fins
-
Red-orange fins/tail
-
Bronze/white belly
-
Teeth on both jaws
|
 |
Brown Trout
-
8-20”, up to 30 lbs.
-
Yellow/red-orange spots with halos on brown/olive
body/fins
-
Spots are modified x’s when fish are large
-
No markings on square tail
-
10-12 rays on anal fin
-
Large spots on side
-
White mouth
|
 |
Rainbow Trout
-
8-20”, up to 25 lbs.
-
Silvery/olive back w/dark spots on head, back,
dorsal/adipose fin, tail
-
Pink line on sides w/large spots
-
Forked, spotted tail
-
9-12 rays on anal fin
-
White mouth
|
 |
Atlantic Salmon
-
12-30” long
-
Dark back, dorsal/adipose fins, tail
-
Silvery with few dark spots on sides/often x-shaped
-
Slightly forked, pointed tail w/no spots
-
Fewer than 13 rays on anal fin
|
