Dorosoma cepedianum gizzard shad Natasha Schuchmann

Dorosoma cepedianum Identification: –Herring body –Long, last dorsal fin ray –Large, dark spot on shoulder in younger fish –Silvery blue with shiny white belly –No lateral line –52-70 lateral scales, dorsal rays

Dorosoma cepedianum Distribution: –Most of Iowa

Dorosoma cepedianum Habitat: –Deep, open rivers and lakes with soft bottom Diet: –Omnivorous filter feeder Phytoplankton and zooplankton Reproduction: –400,000 eggs –Prefer sandy and rocky substrate for spawning –No care of young

Dorosoma cepedianum Importance: –Competition for sport fish –Little food or commercial value –Used as bait Conservation Status: –Abundant, stable numbers

Dorosoma cepedianum References: –Berra, Tim M., Freshwater Fish Distribution. San Diego: Academic Press, –Morris, Christina. “Dorosoma cepedianum.” Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 28 Sept < animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/ information/Dorosoma_cepedianum.html>. –Page, Lawrence M., and Brooks M. Burr. Peterson Field Guides: Freshwater Fishes. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1991.

Goldeye (Hiodon alosoides) Chris Gelner Identification: dark-blue to blue-green sides, silver belly with sharp keel, large scales Similar Species: Mooneye, origin of dorsal fin is in front of origin of anal fin Distribution: inhabits larger streams in western southern and southeastern Iowa where it is considered rare; rarely found in Mississippi river Iowa DNR

Goldeye (Hiodon alosoides) Habitat: quiet slow moving waters of large rivers and muddy shallows of large lakes Diet: nocturnal opportunistic carnivore, aquatic insect larvae, fish, worms, snails, waterfleas, sideswimmers, terrestrial insects, frogs, mice, shrews Mississippi River Resource Page

Goldeye (Hiodon alosoides) Reproduction: male and female spawn at 3 years old when water reaches 10 degrees C. Females can release 5,000-25,000 semi- floating eggs Conservation status: although uncommon not listed as threatened because of its wide distibution Breck P. Kent Charting Nature

Goldeye (Hiodon alosoides) Economic value: low, few anglers target goldeye, important as a sport fish and commercially in Canada Ecological value: probably unimportant due to its low numbers

Goldeye (Hiodon alosoides) Common names: goldeye, slicker, webechee, norhtern mooneye, toothed herring, shad mooneye, mooneye, yellow herring… State Record: 2 pounds, 4 ounces, Des Moines River, June 1992 Roughfish.com Frank Bosemeyer

References: Hiodon alosoides Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Iowa DNR Fish and Fishing. Available at card.html. September card.html Mayhew, J Iowa Fish and Fishing. Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Fishes of Minnesota. Available at September Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr Freshwater Fishes of North America North of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.

Mooneye (Hiodon tergisus) Kate Walker Identification: large eye; dorsal fin origin located in front of anal fin origin; teeth prominent on both jaws, tongue and roof of mouth; cycloid scales Distribution: large river drainages across Iowa- Mississippi, Missouri and Des Moines Rivers Pictures from:

Hiodon tergisus Habitat: prefer swift, clean water; non-silted conditions Diet: young-plankton; adult-insects, mollusks, crayfish, and small fish Reproduction: spawning is random in April and May (in shallow waters); females produce 10, ,000 eggs; eggs covered in a gelatinous material /Wabash/mooneye.jpg

Hiodon tergisus Conservation status: neither endangered or threatened Economical/Recreational Importance: neither valued for food or sport Ecological Importance: contribute to forage fish populations Other: state record; spirited catch; appearance similar to herrings; other names

References Natural Resources IowaDNR Fish and Fishing. Available at Iowa Department of September 28 Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Iowa’s threatened and endangered species. Available at September 26 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Mooneye Fact Sheet. Available at ooneye.html. September 26 ooneye.html Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr Freshwater Fishes. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.

Esocidae Northern Pike (Esox Lucius) Becky Olerich Identification: elongated fish with long head depress forward into pair duck billed jaws; canine teeth usually bluish-green with irregular yellow or gold spots on sides; cheek fully scaled lower half opercle scales; 10 plus pounds and 3 to 4 ft. Distribution: Found world wide; upper 2/3 of Iowa larger lakes and rivers Habitat: sluggish heavily vegetated areas Iowa DNR

Northern Pike (Esox Lucius) Diet: young insects, larvae adults perch, drum, small suckers, sunfish, smaller pike predatory fish large pike eat anything Reproduction: mid-march; random spawners; 63,000 to 500,000 eggs laid depending on size; take female until 3 rd year in life to reach sexual maturity Conservation status: abundant in right lake Iowa is maintaining the population population biggest ever been in spirit lake Canada Outfitters

Northern Pike (Esox Lucius) Economic and recreational importance: big game fish Stocked in some lakes 5 2inch fingerlings per acre Ecological importance: species is a predator does not effect the population that much; tolerant to pollution very sensitive to warm water take fairly low oxygen Other: names common pike, northern jack fish, pickerel State record 25 pounds 5 ounces west Okoboji there is close season on fishing pike in west and east Okoboji and spirit lake from Feb.15 to May 2 daily bag limit is 3 with a possession of 6 Boundy rivers open year round bag limit 5 possession 10 except Big Sioux bag 6 possession 12 Canada Outfitters

References: Esox Lucius Canada Outfitters. Available at Iowa Department of Natural Resources IowaDNR Fish and Fishing Available at Mayhew, J Iowa Fish and Fishing. Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa. 323 pp. Miller, Lannie. Fisheries Biologist. Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Lake View, Iowa personal communication. September 28, 2004.

Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy ) By Chris Nickell Identification: olive to dark gray above, sides lighter with dark spots or bars; upper 1/2 of cheeks and opercle lightly scaled, lower 1/2 of both scaleless; Six or more pores on underside of jaw Picture from Iowa DNR Habitat: Muskellunge normally live in lakes and slow-moving rivers with clear water and numerous underwater weed beds.. Muskies most often reside in water less than 4.5 m (15 ft) deep.

Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy ) Picture from Minnesota DNR Diet: Fish, Ducks, Muskrats for adults, Larval Muskies eat waterfleas and copepods but add fish at around 2 inches. Reproduction: 10,000 to 225,000 eggs depending on size and health, Hatch in 8 to 14 days. Attach to vegetation using adhesive organ on head. Develop mouth and fins over 1-2 weeks, then swim free.

Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy ) Picture from Ohio DNR Distribution: has been stocked regularly into Brushy Creek, Hawthorn Lake, Pleasant Creek, Big Creek, Three Mile, Clear Lake, West Okoboji, and Big Spirit. Muskies can also be found in East Okoboji, Upper Gar, Lower Gar, and Lake Minnewashta. Muskies were also stocked in Lake Macbride in 1993, and some individuals are still being caught there. Conservation: Unlisted but Stocked annually into certain lakes.

Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy ) Picture from University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Economic/ recreational value: Important as game fish Ecological importance: Important as a predator fish in keeping numbers down in smaller prey fish

Other: Are solely carnivorous, ambush predators AKA: Musky, Muskie, Wisconsin Musky, Purebred Musky, Fish of 10,000 casts State Record – 50 pounds, 6 ounces Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy ) Picture from Minnesota DNR

References: Esox masquinongy Iowa department of natural resources Iowa DNR Fish and fishing. available at September 2004http:// Mayhew, J Iowa Fish and Fishing. Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Fishes of Minnesota. Available at: September Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Wildlife Division. Fishing. Available at September Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr Freshwater Fishes of North America North of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Lepisosteus osseus. Available at html September html

The Tiger Musky Other Names: Normie, Silver Northern By Nathan Wilhelm Esox masquinongy (Male Muskellunge) X Esox lucius (Female Northern Pike) Hybrid =

Identification  Long Cylindrical Body  Olive to Dark Grey  Tiger Markings on Side  Jaws Shape Like Duckbill  Many, Prominent Teeth  Dorsal Fin Located Far Back  Cheek/Gill Characteristics of a Northern Pike  Body Characteristics of a Musky

Distinguishing From Northern Pike Easily Differentiated  Northern Pikes Have Light Bean-Shaped Spots  Tiger Muskies Have Dark Verticle Stripes and Spots Muskies, Not So Easy!

Distinguishing From Musky Fin Ray Counts Not Helpful Tiger Musky: Darker Brown Markings Rounded Fins Cheek and Upper Half of Gill Scaled Similar to Barred Musky Strain Musky: Lighter Brown Markings Pointed Fins Only Upper Half of Cheek and Gill Scaled Multiple Strains

Distribution  34 Stocked Lakes in 1984  Over 800,000 Fish Stocked  No longer Regularly Stocked Habitat  Large,Clean Lakes and Rivers with Shallow Feeding Areas and Deeper Cool Areas  Prefer Weeds, Logs for Cover When Feeding

Carnivorous Diet Fish Hatchery: Prepared Foods or Zooplankton as Fry, Then Fish In the Wild: Mainly Fish - Frogs – Small Mammals – Water Fowl Reproduction  Can Occur Naturally From Northern Pike and Muskellunge, but Need Stocking to be Sustained  Usually Created in Hatcheries by Fertilization of Northern Pike Eggs By Muskellunge  Tiger Muskies Are Sterile, Except for Females Occasionally

History and Conservation Status  1965 First Hybrid at Spirit Lake Hatchery Created  1978 Released Into 9 Southern Iowa Lakes  1983 Occupying 27 Lakes  Iowa Lakes  State Record at 27 lbs. and 2 ounce, From West Okoboji Lake  No Regular DNR Stocking in Iowa  Season open all year except in West Okoboji Lake, East Okoboji Lake, Spirit Lake(closed February 15 to May 20)  The daily bag limit is 1 fish  The possession limit is 1 fish  Fish must be at least 40 in.

Recreation  Important Game Fish Where They Are Found  Grow Faster Than Northern Pike and Muskellunge  More Apt to Strike Than a Muskellunge  Grows Larger Than a Northern Pike  Aggressive Fighters Ecological Significance  Most are Sterile so Population Easily Managed  At the Top of Food Chain When Adults  Piscivore: Can Help Keep Populations of Smaller Fish in Check

References Burr, Brooks M. and Lawerence M. Page Peterson field guides. Freshwater Fishes. Houghton Mifflin Company. Pp. 61,62. Discover the outdoors. Species locater: Tiger musky. Found at speciesid=337 Mayhew, J. (editor) Iowa Fish and Fishing. Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa. 323 pp. Found at Minnesota muskie farm. Fish species Found at