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Fish Identification

Sunfish

Bluegill

Illustration of a bluegill sunfish showing its deep body shape, dark ear flap, spiny dorsal fin, and orange breast coloring.
Bluegill sunfish are a popular Indiana freshwater species known for their deep body, dark ear flap, and bright orange breast. Bluegill are common in lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams.

5 to 9 vertical bars on sides, black opercular flap (ear) with no margin, dark spot at rear of dorsal fin.

Redear Sunfish

Illustration of a redear sunfish showing its deep body, olive-green coloring, and distinctive red or orange ear flap.
Redear sunfish, often called shellcrackers, are freshwater fish found in Indiana lakes and ponds. They are recognized by their deep body shape and red or orange ear flap.

Opercular flap (ear) is tipped with red or orange margin.

Black Crappie

Illustration of a black crappie showing its silver-green body with dark speckled pattern and spiny dorsal fin.
Black crappie are popular Indiana panfish recognized by their mottled black spots and tall dorsal fin. They are commonly found in lakes, reservoirs, and slow-moving rivers.

7 to 8 dorsal spines, random blotches on sides.

White Crappie

Illustration of a white crappie showing its light silver-green body with vertical bars and spiny dorsal fin.
White crappie are a popular Indiana freshwater panfish identified by their vertical dark bars and silvery body. They are commonly found in lakes, reservoirs, and large rivers.

6 dorsal spines, black side markings form vertical bars rather than random spots.

Black Bass

Largemouth Bass

Illustration of a largemouth bass showing its green body, dark horizontal stripe, large mouth, and spiny dorsal fin.
Largemouth bass are one of Indiana’s most popular sport fish, recognized by their large mouth and dark lateral stripe. They are commonly found in lakes, ponds, and slow-moving rivers.

Upper jaw extends beyond back of eye.

Smallmouth Bass

Illustration of a smallmouth bass showing its bronze body, vertical bars, and connected spiny dorsal fin.
Smallmouth bass are a prized Indiana sport fish known for their bronze coloring and vertical bars. They are commonly found in clear lakes and rocky rivers with moving water.

Upper jaw does not extend beyond back of eye.

Spotted Bass

Illustration of a spotted bass showing its green body, dark broken lateral stripe, and rows of small spots below the stripe.
Spotted bass are Indiana freshwater sport fish identified by a broken lateral stripe and rows of small dark spots along the lower sides. They are typically found in rivers and reservoirs with moderate current.

Red eye, horizontal lines of dark spots on lower sides, upper jaw does not extend beyond back of eye.

True Bass

Hybrid Striped Bass

Illustration of a hybrid striped bass showing its silver body, broken horizontal stripes, and two-part dorsal fin.
Hybrid striped bass are popular Indiana sport fish recognized by their silvery body and broken horizontal stripes. They are often stocked in reservoirs and provide strong, fast action for anglers.

Two tooth patches on back of tongue are joined, first stripe below lateral line complete to tail, stripes above lateral line usually broken.

White Bass

Illustration of a white bass showing its silver body with distinct horizontal stripes and spiny dorsal fin.
White bass are popular Indiana freshwater sport fish recognized by their bright silver body and bold horizontal stripes. They are commonly found in lakes and rivers, especially during spring spawning runs.

Single tooth patch on back of tongue, first stripe below lateral line not complete to tail.

Striped Bass

Illustration of a striped bass showing its long silver body with bold, continuous horizontal dark stripes and forked tail.
Striped bass are large, powerful sport fish known for their long silver bodies and bold horizontal stripes. In Indiana, they are stocked in select reservoirs and prized for their size and strength.

Tooth patches on back of tongue in two parallel patches, first stripe below lateral line complete to tail, stripes above lateral line are unbroken.

Catfish

Blue Catfish

Illustration of a blue catfish showing its bluish-gray body, forked tail, smooth skin, and long whisker-like barbels.
Blue catfish are large Indiana freshwater fish recognized by their smooth bluish-gray body, forked tail, and long barbels. They are commonly found in large rivers and reservoirs and are popular with catfish anglers.

30 to 35 anal fin rays, anal fin margin is straight, caudal fin is deeply forked.

Channel Catfish

Illustration of a channel catfish showing its slender body, forked tail, smooth skin, and whisker-like barbels.
Channel catfish are a popular Indiana freshwater species recognized by their forked tail and long barbels. They are commonly found in lakes, ponds, and rivers and are prized by anglers for their fight and flavor.

24 to 29 rays in rounded anal fin, caudal fin is deeply forked, dark spots on sides when young.

Flathead Catfish

Illustration of a flathead catfish showing its broad, flattened head, mottled brown body, and whisker-like barbels.
Flathead catfish are large Indiana freshwater predators recognized by their wide, flattened head and mottled brown coloring. They are commonly found in rivers and reservoirs and are popular among trophy catfish anglers.

14 to 17 anal fin rays, caudal fin slightly rounded or slightly notched.

Perch

Sauger

Illustration of a sauger showing its slender body, dark saddle-like markings, and spiny dorsal fin with spots.
Sauger are Indiana freshwater fish similar to walleye, identified by their dark saddle markings and spotted dorsal fin. They are commonly found in large rivers and reservoirs.

3 or 4 saddle shaped blotches on back and sides, spotted dorsal fin.

Walleye

Illustration of a walleye showing its olive-gold body, white-tipped lower tail fin, and spiny dorsal fin.
Walleye are a popular Indiana sport fish known for their olive-gold color and white-tipped tail fin. They are commonly found in lakes, reservoirs, and large rivers and are prized for their flavor and night-feeding habits.

No spots on dorsal fin, dusky spot at rear of spiny dorsal fin, lower tip of tail and anal fin are white.

Yellow Perch

Illustration of a yellow perch showing its golden body with dark vertical bars and orange lower fins.
Yellow perch are popular Indiana freshwater panfish recognized by their golden-yellow color, dark vertical bars, and bright orange fins. They are commonly found in lakes and reservoirs and are prized for their mild flavor.

Green back, yellow-green sides marked by 6 to 8 darker vertical bars, white belly, pale orange fins.

Salmon

Chinook Salmon or King Salmon

Illustration of a Chinook salmon showing its silver body, black spots on the back and tail, and slightly forked tail fin.
Chinook salmon, also known as king salmon, are large sport fish stocked in Indiana’s Lake Michigan waters. They are recognized by their silver body and black spotting on the back and tail.

Teeth are set in dark gums, black spots on back and both lobes of square caudal fin, 15 to 17 anal fin rays.

Coho Salmon

Illustration of a coho salmon showing its silver body, small black spots on the back, and slightly forked tail.
Coho salmon are popular sport fish in Indiana’s Lake Michigan waters, recognized by their bright silver body and small black spots along the back and upper tail.

Teeth are set in light color gums, black spots on upper lobe of slightly forked caudal fin, 12 to 15 anal fin rays.

Trout

Brown Trout

Illustration of a brown trout showing its golden-brown body with black and red spots and square-shaped tail.
Brown trout are popular Indiana coldwater sport fish recognized by their golden-brown color and black and red spots. They are commonly found in streams and stocked lakes with cool, clear water.

White mouth, teeth and gums; caudal fin margin square with no spots on upper or lower lobe; stream dwelling browns possess some orange/red spots on sides; resident brown trout in Lake Michigan possess black X-shaped markings on sides.

Rainbow Trout or Steelhead

Illustration of a rainbow trout showing its silver body with a pink lateral stripe and black spots on the back and tail.
Rainbow trout are popular Indiana coldwater sport fish recognized by their pink lateral stripe and scattered black spots. They are commonly stocked in lakes and streams for seasonal trout fishing opportunities.

White mouth, teeth and gums; small black spots on back, sides, caudal and dorsal fins, caudal fin margin is square; 9 to 12 anal fin rays.

Lake Trout

Illustration of a lake trout showing its gray body with light worm-like markings and deeply forked tail.
Lake trout are large coldwater fish found in Indiana’s Lake Michigan waters, recognized by their light, worm-like markings and deeply forked tail. They are prized by anglers targeting deep, cold waters.

White mouth, teeth and gums; caudal fin deeply forked, body color light to dark gray with light spots.

Northern Pike & Muskellunge

Northern Pike

Illustration of a northern pike showing its long, torpedo-shaped body with light oval spots and duckbill-shaped snout.
Northern pike are aggressive Indiana freshwater predators recognized by their long body, duckbill-shaped snout, and light oval spots. They are commonly found in lakes and slow-moving rivers and are popular with anglers seeking trophy fish.

Elongated body and head with tooth-filled mouth shaped like a duck bill; white belly with green to yellow sides featuring rows of lighter horizontal spots or streaks. Coloration can vary depending on habitat — light green from lake to dark green from river.

Muskellunge

Illustration of a muskellunge showing its long, streamlined body, light vertical markings, and pointed snout.
Muskellunge, often called musky, are large Indiana freshwater predators known for their long bodies and powerful strikes. They are found in select lakes and rivers and are prized as trophy sport fish.

Elongated body and head with tooth-filled mouth shaped like a duck bill; coloration varies but typically dark vertical bar markings on green or brown background.

Indiana DNR Fish Identification Form graphic directing anglers to email fishid@dnr.IN.gov or visit on.IN.gov/fish-id for help identifying a fish species.
Need help identifying a fish you caught? Contact Indiana DNR fish identification assistance and species information.

Unless noted, all illustrations by Rick Hill, Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife.

Illustrations of coho salmon, northern pike courtesy of © Tim Knepp/ USFWS.

Illustrations of chinook salmon and lake trout by © Virgil Beck, courtesy of Wisconsin DNR.

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