Identification Tips
It is important to correctly identify your catch so you can abide by the seasons, daily limits, length limits and other regulations. When in doubt about the identity or legal length, play it safe and return the fish to the water unharmed immediately.
- Bass ID
- Largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, striped, white and hybrid bass
- Carp ID
- Common, grass, bighead and silver carp
- Catfish ID
- Blue, channel, flathead and black bullhead catfish
- Sturgeon ID
- Shovelnose, pallid and lake sturgeon
- Sunfish/Crappie ID
- Green and longear sunfish, bluegill, rock bass and white crappie
- Trout ID
- Brown and rainbow trout
- Other fish ID
- Muskellunge, northern hogsucker and walleye
How to measure a fish
Total length is measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail, with the fish laid flat on the ruler, with the mouth closed and the tail lobes pressed together.
