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| Mountain-Prairie Region |
Salvelinus fontinalis
The original range of the brook trout was Northeastern North America from the Artic Circle to
Georgia and west to the Mississippi River; however, it has been introduced extensively throughout
the Rocky Mountain Region. It has smaller scales and reaches a smaller size than either the brown
or rainbow, normally reaching a weight of less than 3 pounds. The record weight for a brook trout is
14 pounds 8 ounces. The top of the head and upper surface of the body are heavily vermiculated
with light wavy lines. Its natural habitat consists of small, cold, clean streams and brooks, where it
feeds mainly on aquatic insects and other invertebrates. Brook trout have displaced many
populations of native cutthroat trout in many small streams in the Rockies.
Stizostedion vitreum vitreum
The largest U.S. member of the perch family, the walleye has a record weight of 25 pounds. They
occur throughout central and eastern continental North America from the freshwater areas adjacent
to the Hudson Bay southward to extreme northern Mississippi and Alabama and stocking
continually extends their range. Walleye inhabit open waters of large and small lakes, reservoirs, and
the deep pools of streams; and voraciously feed on other fishes, insects and crustaceans. The
walleye is considered to be one of the best eating of all freshwater fishes. Spawning occurs at night,
sometimes in extremely shallow water.
Micropterus salmoides
The largemouth is found in every state, but originally ranged from the Great Lakes region to the Rio
Grande and eastward to Florida. It prefers somewhat turbid, weedy, quiet waters and is a great
favorite with the angler. It may be distinguished from the closely related smallmouth by its larger size,
the dark lateral stripe, and the fact that the posterior end of the upper jaw extends to beyond the
eye in adults. The largemouth reaches a record weight of 22 pounds 4 ounces and feed mainly on
other fishes.
Lepomis macrochirus
The natural range of the bluegill included the Great Lakes region to southern Florida, and the Gulf
States, west to Arkansas. Besides being a prime food and sports fish, it is also widely used as
forage for larger species such as black bass. Its use in farm ponds and reservoirs has extended its
range throughout the United States and into Mexico. It may be distinguished from other sunfishes by
the solid black gill-tab of the adult and dark bands that extend the full depth of its body. Breeding
males, which show a rust-red breast, vigorously defend eggs which are laid in shallow depressions.
It feeds mainly on small fishes and invertebrates and reaches a length of nearly a foot and a record
weight of 4 pounds 12 ounces.
Salmo trutta
Introduced from Europe in 1883, the brown trout is now widely established in Northeastern and
Western United States. In the Mountain-Prairie Region, the brown trout fisheries in rivers such as
the Green in Utah, and the North Platte in Wyoming are famous with fly-rodders throughout the
nation. It is more difficult to catch than brook of rainbow trout and has a reputation for being able to
resist environmental changes. The coloration is normally yellowish-olive dorsally, with black and
occasional orange-red, blue-bordered round spots on the sides. Brown trout have attained a weight
of 35 pounds. Food is primarly insects, other invertebrates, and smaller fishes.
Oncorhynchus Mykiss
Introduced widely throughout the United States, the rainbow had a natural range from the mountains
in northern Mexico through the Pacific drainage in the Western United States to the Aleutian
Islands. The rainbow has been introduced, with varying degrees of success into each State in the
Mountain-Prairie Region. A great favorite with the angler, it may be distinguished from other native
species by the rosy lateral band that extends from the gill cover to the base of the tail fin and the
numerous black dots that pepper the greenish-golden back, sides, and upper fins. Rainbows that go
to sea and return to freshwater are called steelheads. The rainbow can reach a weight of more than
10 pounds and feeds on small fishes and invertebrates.
Ictalurus punctatus
The range of this catfish includes virtually all of the U.S. from southern Canada to central Florida
and Mexico. In the Mountain-Prairie Region, the channel catfish is native to much of the Missouri
River drainage. Adults are silvery-gray to nearly black above, and paler on the sides; sub-adults are
usually marked with scattered black spots. It may be distinguished from its close relatives the
bullheads by the slender tail base and the widely forked caudal fin. Omnivorous in habit and easily
pond-reared, the channel catfish feeds on small invertebrates, fishes, and vegetation, and is active
mainly at night and during the twilight hours. Adult size is about 30 inches with a weight of around
15 pounds; however, the record weight for this species is 58 pounds.
Brook Trout 
Walleye 
Largemouth Bass 
Bluegill 
Brown Trout 
Rainbow Trout 
Channel Catfish