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1. Channel Catfish(Ictalurus punctatus) www.lmrcc.org By Josh Otten

2. Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) Also known as spotted cat, blue cat, river catfish, fiddler, willow cat Identification: • skin instead of scales • upper jaw longer than the lower jaw • whiskers around mouth • dorsal and pectoral spines are sharp and deeply serrated • slender body/deeply forked tail • anal fin curved/24-30 rays (blue has 30+) • body is bluish silver on the sides and generally has dark spots • shading to silvery white on belly www.sportfishworld.com

3. Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) www.aqua.ucdavis.edu

4. Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) Channel Flathead anal fin has 24-29 soft rays tail not deeply forked Blue 30 or more rays in the anal fin All photos http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us

5. Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) • can live as long as 25 years • state record 36 pounds 8 ounces • max 60 pounds (world record 58 pounds) • Typical Adult • Length: about 24 inches • Weight: about 20 pounds • Life span: about 11 years

6. Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) Habitat: • found in most large streams, lakes, and many farm ponds • prefer areas with deep water, clean gravel boulder substrates and low to moderate current • tolerant of a wide range of conditions • during the day found in deep holes with protection of logs and rock • most movement occurs during feeding, around sunrise and sunset

7. Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) Distribution www.roughfish.com catfish www.iowadnr.com www.dlia.org

8. Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) Diet: • use taste buds in the sensitive barbels and throughout the skin to locate prey • primarily but not excessively bottom feeders • omnivorous feeder/prefer smellier foods • less than 14” primarily eat aquatic insect larvae and other invertebrates found on bottom • over 14” primarily eat dead or alive fish • also eat aquatic and terrestrial worms, frogs, crayfish, mollusks, mulberries, elm seeds and algae

9. Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) Reproduction: • sexual maturity comes at five to eight years of age • begin spawning when water temperatures reach 70 °F • male channel cat builds a nest in underwater holes, logs or among submerged rocks • use natural cavities, undercut banks and muskrat burrows as nests • female lays a gelatinous mass containing between 8,000 to 15,000 eggs • parents remain over the nest to fan the eggs and guard the young after hatching

10. Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) Conservation: • none but raised in hatcheries and fish farms and distributed commercially Economic Importance: • commonly in supermarkets and on restaurant menus • heavily stocked in any water that will hold them • important commercial fish • considered one of the best-eating freshwater fish • most familiar and popular catfish in North America Ecological Importance • forages bottom, cleans up carrion • eats smaller fish www.catfishbaitshop.com

11. Refrences Becker, G. C.  1983.  Fishes of Wisconsin. Univ. Wis. Press, Madison. Carlander, K. D.  1969.  Handbook of freshwater fishery biology. Vol. 1. Life history data on freshwater fishes of the United States and Canada, exclusive of the Perciformes. Iowa St. Univ. Press, Ames. Jenkins, R.E and N.M. Burkhead. 1993. Freshwater Fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. Robinson, E.H., M.H. Li, and B.B. Manning. 2001. A Practical Guide to Nutrition, Feeds, and Feeding of Catfish (Second Revision). Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Bulletin 1113. Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi. Scott, W. B. and E. J. Crossman.  1973.  Freshwater fishes of Canada. Fish. Res. Bd. Can. Bull. 184:1-966.

12. Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis Family Ictaluridae

13. Ictaluridae • Depressed body shape • Flat head • 4 sets of barbels • Dark olive/brown with yellow sides and belly • Small eyes • Adipose fin present • Lighter color barbels than Black Bullhead

14. Ictaluridae • Up to 4 lbs. max • W.R. 4.4 lbs • Slightly mottled • Black margin evident on anal and caudal fin

15. Ictaluridae Iowa DNR • Range: • Southeastern Ontario West to Southern North Dakota and south throughout the Central and Eastern United States. • Statewide IA: except N.W. corner http://www.dlia.org

16. Ictaluridae • Habitat: • Ideal Temperature 72-80 F. • Highly Vegetated • Rivers, Streams, Lakes, etc. with slow moving water • Bottom Dwellers Photo by: Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves

17. Ictaluridae • Diet: • Minnows, • Snails • Larvae • Crustaceans • Aquatic Insects • Benthic Foragers • Forage mainly at night

18. Ictaluridae • Reproduction: • Spawn from May to Early June • Male Constructs Nest • Usually under structure (Stump) • 2,000 – 5,000 eggs • Eggs Hatch in 5 – 10 days • Both parents guard young until late summer Photo by: E.R. Degginger

19. Conservation Status: Exotic Species Proliferates well Hardy Main factor in lake degradation Sediment mixing Considered from Rough to Game fish No Federal or State protection status Survive extreme poor water conditions Ictaluridae

20. References • http://www.floridagame.com/freshfish/yellbullc.asp • http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordLandingES/Ecology/mpages/yellow_bullhead.htm • http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/ylb-card.html • http://www.dlia.org.

21. Black Bullhead (Ameiurus melas)Chris Steffen Other Local Names: Mudcat Iowa DNR Distribution: Statewide Identification: dark olive to black, belly white to bright yellow, tail fin slightly notched with light band at base Habitat: quiet river backwaters, impoundments, ponds, lakes, and slow moving streams typically over soft bottoms; tolerates muddy water, warm temps, and low oxygen concentrations www.biology.ucok.org

22. Barbed Pectoral Spines? Identification: Tail Shape Chin Barbel Color Distinct Feature Black Bullhead Light band at base of tail fin Slightly Notched Gray to Black No Brown Bullhead Mottled Sides and Back Gray to Black Yes Square Yellow Bullhead White, not pigmented Yes Round Dark Spots on Sides Channel Catfish Deeply Notched White to Dusky Yes

23. Black Bullhead (Ameiurus melas) Diet: insects, small fish, crayfish, frogs, plant material (live or dead); basically anything it can get in its mouth. Reproduction: female excavates a saucer-shaped nest in early summer and lays on average 2,000-6,000 eggs; one or both parents protect young until one to two inches long Conservation Status: common, sometimes considered an undesirable species Ouachita National Forest

24. Black Bullhead (Ameiurus melas) Size: • Commonly 6-10 inches • World Record 8lbs. • State Record 5lbs. 8oz. Murray State University Gary Cole

25. Black Bullhead (Ameiurus melas) Economic/Recreational value: popular species with Iowa’s anglers; in 1981 50,000 harvested in Mississippi river worth ~ $10,000 Ecological Importance: serves as prey species for piscivores when small; one of a few species able to survive under poor lake conditions Los Vegas Wash Coordination Committee

26. Eddy, S. and J.C. Underhill. 1978. How to Know the Freshwater Fishes. 3rd Edition. McGraw-Hill, Boston. 215 pp. Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Iowa’s threatened and endangered species. Available athttp://www. iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/blb-card.html. October 2004. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Minnesota Fish. Available at http://www.pca.state.mn.us/kids/fish/bull- head.html. October 2004. Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Fish and Wildlife. Available at http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/Fish- ing/aquanotesfishid/chancat.htm. October 2004. Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr. 1991. Freshwater Fishes of North America North of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 pp. Pflieger, W. L. 1997. The Fishes of Missouri, Revised Edition. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City Missouri. References: Ameiurus melas

27. Brown Bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus, LeSueur) Chris Lee Iowa DNR Other common names: Bullhead, horned pout, red cat, creek cat, mud cat, speckled bullhead, and common bullhead. Other scientific names:Ictalurus nebulosus (Armstrong 1962).

28. Brown Bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) • Identification: Olive to brown with dark mottlings on sidesfading to cream/white underneath. Fleshy whiskers (barbels) dusty to black. Relatively short anal fin with 22-23 rays. Rear of caudal fin slightly notched. • May be confused with Black bullhead, (Ameiurus melas). • However, A. nebulosus has 5-8 large sawlike teeth on rear of pectoral spine whereas A. melas has none. • Also, A. nebulosus does not have black membranes contrasting with pale rays on caudal and anal fins. Brown bullhead www.landbigfish.com/fish/fish.cfm?ID=22 Black bullhead http://www.landbigfish.com/fish/fish.cfm?ID=20

29. Brown Bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) Distribution: Not common anywhere in IA, but is widely distributed in the northern part of the state. Very few found in interior waters. Most taken from the upper Mississippi backwater sloughs. A. Nebulosus is native and common to the Atlantic and Gulf slope drainages. Habitat: Slow moving or stagnant parts of rivers, and streams, also ponds, lakes, and pools that offer a soft bottom. Iowa DNR Diet: Brown Bullheads are schooling bottom feeders that feed primarily on crustaceans, insect larvae, worms, snails, crayfish, and small fish, though they will eat virtually anything available, either alive or dead. A large part of their diet is midgefly larvae, or “bloodworms” which they pick up off of the soft bottom ooze. Teeth in pads on both top and bottom jaws; used for tearing food. They seem to have ravenous appetites and will eat day or night.

30. Brown Bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) Reproduction: Spawn in late April or May. Males fan out a saucer-shaped nest where females lay 2,000 to 10,000+ eggs that hatch in 5-8. Both parents guard the eggs during incubation and herd young around for several weeks after hatching. Young reach 2-1/2 – 4 inches in first year and mature in 3 years. Can reach two pounds. (IA Record: 2-1/2 pounds, no specific species given though. World Record: 6 lbs, 1oz., NY) Economic/Recreational Importance: Popular game species where they exist. Ecological Importance:Not much due to their lack of distribution and non-predacious lifestyle. Conservation Status: Abundant. Limit is same as catfish (?): DBL = 8 lake, 15 stream, PL = 30. No limit in Mississippi River. Other: Can reach 2+ pounds under ideal conditions, but most commonly range from 8-10 inches and less than a pound Konrad Schmidt, University of Minnesota

31. References: Ameiurus nebulosus Armstrong, P.B., and J.S. Child (Illus.) 1962. Stages in the development of Ictalurus nebulosus. Syracuse University Press, NY. Iowa Department of Natural Resources. IowaDNR Fish and Fishing: Brown Bullhead. Available at: http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/brb-card.html. October 2004. LandBigFish.com. 2004. Brown Bullhead. http://www.landbigfish.com/fish/fish.cfm?ID=22. October 2004. ___. 2004. Black Bullhead. http://www.landbigfish.com/fish/fish.cfm?ID=20. October 2004. Mayhew, J. 1987. Iowa fish and fishing. Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa. http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/browbull.html Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr. 1991. Freshwater Fishes of North America North of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.

32. FlatheadCatfish Pylodictis olivaris • Dark to olive-brown with dark brownish mottlings on the sides • Tan to yellow colors on their ventral sides from swimming on sand and light bottoms • The anal fin is very short with 15-17 rays • The head is broad and flat • The lower mandible is longer than the upper unlike channels or blues Iowa DNR

33. Distribution/Habitat Where Can I find Flatheads: • Submerged Brushpiles • Logjams • Slack Water just off main Channel • Sandy Areas Distribution: Most of Iowa and its mid to large size rivers. Common in many other areas of the US also.

34. Diet/Reproduction • Spawning occurs in June and July Flatheads are nest builders • Grow 2-6 inches in the first year • Sexually mature in their 3 or 4 year • Adult diet consists usually of small to mid size fish • Smaller fish eat crayfish and minnows

35. Conservation status • Flathead Catfish are not protected in any way • Are a popular recreational fish that are healthy in population numbers

36. Economic/Recreational importance • Commercial fishermen along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers bring in $32,500 yearly from the Mississippi • Flatheads are a highly sought after fish by Iowa Fisherman. Flatheadcat.com

37. Other Noodling- The art of sticking your arm in a hole hoping a catfish latches down on it so you can pull it out. Some think its crazy, some think it’s the best thing in the world. Flatheads are the oldest fish behind Armorplated sturgeon

38. References Mayhew, J. (editor). 1987. Iowa Fish and Fishing. Iowa Department. Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa. 323 pp. Department of Natural Resources. 2004. Iowa DNR Fish and Fishing http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/catfishf.html CatfishnFlatheads. 2003. http://www.flatheadcat.com/

39. Blackstripe Topminnow Fundulus notatus By Emily Mae Hoffman Ohio DNR

40. Identification • Prominent black stripe from snout to caudal fin • Flattened head and nape • Silver-white spot on top of head • Incomplete lateral line • Epiterminal mouth with small teeth on both jaws • Dorsal fin begins behind anal fin • Adults are 1.5-2.5 inches long, max. is 3 inches Illinois DNR

41. Habitat • Small streams in Eastern Iowa • Low current • Travel in pairs • Swim near water surface Iowa DNR

42. Diet • Feed on water surface • Aquatic and terrestrial insects • Crustaceans • Snails • Algae • Feed in morning, late afternoon, and evening

43. Reproduction • Summer spawning season • Male and female lay side by side on aquatic vegetation • Female deposits eggs singly on aquatic vegetation • 20-30 eggs are deposited at one time, and is usually repeated after several days • No further care is provided

44. Conservation Status • Common in Eastern Iowa • Population doubling rate of less than 15 months • Can survive harsh environmental conditions due to breathing oxygen-rich surface water • Is threatened in some states due to water pollution and habitat destruction University of Michigan

45. Ecological Importance • Preyed upon by larger fish • Known to jump out of the water to avoid predators • Hide motionless in aquatic vegetation • When feeding, their image reflects on the water surface. When a predator approaches, they dart one way and their image goes another way, which confuses the predator.

46. References Fundulus notatus. August 2004. Available at http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=3197. October 2004. Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2003. Illinois Fishes Families/Species. Available at http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/fish/topmin.htm. October 2004. Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 1987. IowaDNR Fish and Fishing. Available at http://www.iowadnr.net/fish/iafish/blackstr.html. October 2004.

47. Brook SticklebackCulaea inconstans By Shannon Lydic Natural History Fishes

48. Brook Stickleback

49. Culaea inconstans • Identification: Deeply compressed; 4-7 short dorsal spines; olive green dorsally with yellow spots or wavy lines • Distribution: Streams and lakes in northern half Iowa

50. Brook Stickleback • Habitat: Prefers moderate current; sand to gravel bottom; clean to slightly turbid waters • Diet: aquatic insects, terrestrial insects, worms, snails, and sometimes fish eggs; occasionally algae • What eats them: Brook Trout, Walleye, Basses, and fish-eating birds

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