Test Your Fish ID Skills

How well do you know your game fish? Being able to properly identify the fish you catch will help you know follow Iowa fishing regulations. Test your fish identifying skills with this simple quiz.

Which is the White Crappie? 

The easiest way to identify a black and white crappie is the pattern of spots on the side. White crappie have spots arranged in vertical bars; spots on a black crappie have no distinct pattern. Identifying fish solely by color is not always reliable so double check by counting the number of dorsal fin spines. Black crappie have 7-8 dorsal spines while white crappie have 6. 

Can you identify the Smallmouth Bass?

A smallmouth bass has a smaller mouth than the largemouth bass. Hence their common names. Look at the location of the upper jaw and eye. A smallmouth’s upper jaw does NOT extend past the eye. The upper jaw of a largemouth bass extends past the eye. 

Which fish is the Bluegill? 

Bluegill have an olive green back with sides that are yellow or reddish brown and often have dark vertical bars. A bluegill’s chin and gill cover is blue with a black, flexible tip at the rear of the gill cover. A green sunfish is mostly green with a yellow belly. Its ear flap is black with a white or yellow margin. 

Which one is a Walleye?

A walleye has a white tip on the lower lobe of the caudal fin and no distinct dark bars or mottling on the side.  A sauger has 3-4 dark saddles extending down the side with 2-3 rows of dark circles on the first dorsal fin. 

Can you pick out the Rainbow Trout?

Rainbow trout have a pink horizontal stripe along the side with dark spots. Brook trout have light colored “worm-like” markings on the back and a white line on the front edge of the lower fins. Brown trout have dark brown backs and a greenish yellow belly. The spots on the side of a brown trout are surrounded by a yellow “halo”. 

Which is the Muskellunge?

Muskellunge (or muskie) have an olive to dark gray back with light colored sides. Dark markings on the sides are arranged in vertical bars. Northern pike have irregular rows of light colored spots which are arranged in a horizontal pattern.

Find more information on fish identification and waters where these species are located on our Iowa Fish Species website.