Knowing What Fish Live Where
By Eric Knudsen
Have you ever come across an unfamiliar body of water and asked yourself, “Hey, I wonder what kind of fish live there ...”
Is it possible to determine what kind of fish you'll catch, just by glancing at the body of water, and the area immediately surrounding it?
Actually, you can get a pretty good idea about the types of species that inhabit a given lake, reservoir, river, or stream simply by taking a closer look around.
Pay attention to the way the land lies around the water. For example, if you're looking at a natural lake, ask yourself questions like these: are there any distinguishing land fea¬tures in the immediate area, like sheer cliff walls or rocky outcroppings that run vertically into the water? The depth of the water can lend clues, as to the species of fish that live there. (See more on this subject later in the article.)
Some other considerations; is the lake surrounded by flat, low-lying farmland? Are there any hills nearby? Is the immediate area surrounding the water mountainous? Is the lake nestled into a valley.... or, is it more like rolling countryside?
Are there any creeks or streams feeding the main lake, pond, or reservoir? And, what about the vegetation in the water? What kind of weeds are there? How about other forms of cover? Are there any “deadfalls” (dead trees that have tipped over, and fallen into the water)..... and what about “stick-ups”, stumps, or standing timber in the water itself? And, what kind of trees are there? Pines? Hardwoods? (Or, a mixture of both?)
Take a look at the water itself ---how deep is the water? Does it have dramatically-varied depths? (And how could you tell, if it did?) Or, is it a fairly shallow lake, without marked changes in depth?
Well, that seems like a lot of information. But, chances are, if you can distinguish even a few of that lake’s characteristics, you'll be able to make a fairly successful guess as to the types of species that live there.
Let's take a look at some of the common freshwater gamefish, along with the features of the waters they usually inhabit.
In the majority of man-made reservoirs throughout the country, certain (pairs of) species perform well together, from a fisheries management standpoint. For example, many such reservoirs are stocked annually with fingerling-sized gamefish. Typically, walleyes and crappies are often found together in these reservoirs ---the walleyes are usually stocked each year, but the crappies are not. These reservoirs will feature hilly surroundings ---the reservoir is basically a flooded river valley, dammed-up at one end. Also, you usually find a lot of deadfalls, “stick-ups” (which are dead, submerged tree-tops) and generally a lot of brushy cover.
In these same reservoirs, the crappies will take care of their own reproduction quite well. Crappies love brushy cover, submerged trees, and anything with wood around it.
You'll find both species of crappie in these waters; the Black Crappie and the White Crappie. Hybrid Striped Bass also fare quite well in these man-made reservoirs, doing best in the largest impoundments. This species of bass requires large expanses of water, to roam and run. Such waters often contain an abundance of baitfish like shad ---especially “Gizzard Shad”, and the stripers consume these shad in great numbers. These man-made reservoirs will also hold the occasional Muskellunge, and Northern Pike, depending on which area of the country you live. One thing is for sure, bass love cover ---especially Largemouths.
Natural lakes can take a number of different forms. “Two-story” lakes, for ex¬ample, contain both shallow, weedy sections and large expenses of deeper water. These lakes will often be located in areas with (gradual) hilly slopes and valleys, and will be fed by several creeks and at least one main outlet river. Two-story fisheries will contain the largest number of different species ---such lakes can hold a combination of cold-water species like trout, walleye, and Land-locked Salmon. Other warm-water species include Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappies, Bluegills, and Yellow Perch.
Big freshwater Drum (a.k.a. “Sheepshead”), which grow to massive sizes (over 40 pounds), will be taken infrequently, as well as the seldom-seen Spotted Gar.
“Pothole” lakes are bowl-shaped lakes; usually smaller in acreage than large, two-story lakes, but can be quite deep. Pothole lakes, which were formed by glacial movements and deposits, will usually be found within wooded areas and rolling farmland.
These waters can contain any of the usual warm water species, but may also contain trout, depending on the overall size and depth of the lake.
The vast numbers of small farm ponds that dot the countryside will most often contain Largemouth Bass and Bluegills. These two species coexist very well together in small ponds ---the bass keep the Bluegill populations in check by eating a lot of the small fry, and the Bluegills eat the swarms of aquatic insects.
Other farm ponds will hold catfish, too ---sometimes along with the bass, but may also share the water with Bluegills exclusively. You may also find a few other assorted sunfish species, like Pumpkinseeds and Redear Sunfish.
If there happens to be any small creeks nearby, you may also find a mixture of minnows and suckers ---in both the creeks and in the pond. The fish could have migrated into the pond through tiny feeder creeks or springs. Also, various species of birds and ducks carry eggs from one location to another. The birds pick up fish eggs in their feet and feathers --¬or, they simply ingest them ---and the eggs end up being deposited wherever the birds land. This method of transport explains why folks will occasionally find wild rainbow trout in their ponds, and in places like livestock watering troughs and rain barrels.
Though you'll find fish like Black Crappies in small ponds (like an acre or less), these fish generally don't do very well in waters this size. Crappies need plenty of space to roam, and prefer impoundments that contain deeper water. They also prefer to feed on baitfish like shad, which will also be found in larger and deeper bodies of water.
Smallmouth Bass are another species that, like Crappies, prefers larger, deeper waters. Largemouth Bass, on the other hand, will be found in wide-ranging sized lakes and ponds ---from lakes the size of Lake Ontario, to the smallest, ¼ acre farm pond.
Catfish species, especially Channel Catfish, can also be found in lakes and ponds, both large and small, but unlike the Largemouth Bass, catfish ranges are a bit more restricted. They live in large lakes ---but not too large ---and ponds larger than about an acre. Cats need room to roam, too, but are much more adaptive to their surroundings than other gamefish.
Besides lakes and ponds, big catfish, like Flatheads, Blue Catfish, and Channel Cats, are mainstays of the majority of large rivers throughout the mid-western region of the U.S.
Our biggest rivers, like the mighty Mississippi and Missouri Rivers (and countless others) are home to several species of catfish. Since catfish can withstand a good deal of turbidity and pollution, they're hardened to some fairly extreme living conditions.
Although catfish are raised in small ponds throughout the southern region of the U.S., these fish need space as they grow and get older. The farm-raised catfish are seldom grown to sizes larger than about five pounds, so this isn't really an issue for such fish.
But catfish over five pounds require a lot more space ---they need plenty of room to forage for food ---their main sources of which will be found in large rivers and lakes. Of course, when allowed to roam, feed, and grow freely, catfish can attain some truly gargantuan proportions.
There are plenty of 50 to 100 pound catfish swimming in large rivers and reservoirs!
Fishing in small ponds can be a whole lot of fun, for children and adults alike. You may be totally surprised at how big the Largemouth Bass can get in even the tiniest of ponds. Many a trophy-sized bass has been taken form such waters. Look for them near cover, like logs, deadfalls, rocks, and brush. Believe it or not, bass up to 10 pounds manage very well in ponds that are no bigger than ½ acre in size, and no more than 6 feet deep!
Other fish species you'll likely find in natural ponds include White Suckers, Chub, Grass Carp, and Chain Pickerel. On occasion, you'll find a pond that's loaded with White Suckers. These fish are a childhood favorite to catch; a can of worms, a cane pole, and a cozy spot on the bank under a shade tree will reward the young kid who's itching to catch a mess of scrappy fish. White Suckers run about 10 to 15 inches, and up to 2 pounds. They put up a furious fight when hooked, and will keep children entertained for hours. White Suckers are excellent to eat, and especially good when caught during the spring, just after floods or ice-outs. Roll fillets in cornmeal and pan fry them ---or, broil them.
Shallow, weedy lakes and ponds will hold plenty of Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Bluegills, Redbreasted Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Pumpkinseeds, Bullheads ---and, if the pond is large enough, you'll also find a few Northern Pike.
In some lakes you'll find as many as 20 varieties (or more) of fish ---that's quite a variety of fish for a single body of water! And if that's not enough fish to hold your interest, you might want to consider taking up a different hobby.
Eric Knudsen is a freelance writer and an avid angler, living in Upstate New York.
