Brook Stickleback Culaea inconstans Lou Ewinger AKA: Common Stickleback, Pinfish and Black Stickleback

Morone chrysops (White Bass) David Thompson Iowa DNR

Morone chrysops (White Bass) Identification: Deep body strongly arched behind head; deepest between dorsal fins; blue-gray above; silver-white side; yellow eye; 4 to 7 dark gray-brown stripes on silver white sideIdentification: Deep body strongly arched behind head; deepest between dorsal fins; blue-gray above; silver-white side; yellow eye; 4 to 7 dark gray-brown stripes on silver white side Formerly treated as part of the sea bass family, Serranidae, which closely resembles the Sunfish; is now in the temperate bass family or PercichthydaeFormerly treated as part of the sea bass family, Serranidae, which closely resembles the Sunfish; is now in the temperate bass family or Percichthydae Other names - white bass, striped bass, sand bass, bar fish, rock fish, gray bass, silver bass, streakerOther names - white bass, striped bass, sand bass, bar fish, rock fish, gray bass, silver bass, streaker

Distribution: Mississippi River and lower reaches of its tributaries, natural lakes in northwest Iowa; St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, Miss. River basins from QU to MB and south to LA, also introduced into Atlantic and Gulf CoastDistribution: Mississippi River and lower reaches of its tributaries, natural lakes in northwest Iowa; St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, Miss. River basins from QU to MB and south to LA, also introduced into Atlantic and Gulf Coast Iowa DNR Iowa DNR

Habitat: deep, quiet pools of medium to large rivers and the mid-water environment of lakes and reservoirs; They are most frequently found in locations with sand and gravel bottoms in clear to slightly turbid waterHabitat: deep, quiet pools of medium to large rivers and the mid-water environment of lakes and reservoirs; They are most frequently found in locations with sand and gravel bottoms in clear to slightly turbid water Diet: fish, insects, and crustaceansDiet: fish, insects, and crustaceans Reproduction: the freshwater species do not build nests; spawn at random in spring; give no care to the eggs or young; the number of eggs produced is proportional to body sizeReproduction: the freshwater species do not build nests; spawn at random in spring; give no care to the eggs or young; the number of eggs produced is proportional to body size Michigan DNR Michigan DNR

Conservation status: common in many Iowa’s natural lakes including: Storm, North Twin, Blackhawk, East and West Okoboji, Spirit, Minnewhasta, Upper and Lower Gar and Clear lakesConservation status: common in many Iowa’s natural lakes including: Storm, North Twin, Blackhawk, East and West Okoboji, Spirit, Minnewhasta, Upper and Lower Gar and Clear lakes Recreational importance: sport fish? The season is open all year; the daily bag limit is 30; the possession limit is 30; there is no minimum length limit (except in Big Creek)Recreational importance: sport fish? The season is open all year; the daily bag limit is 30; the possession limit is 30; there is no minimum length limit (except in Big Creek) Other: White bass seldom live beyond 4 years and few attain a size larger than 2 or 3 pounds; Iowa state record was 3 pounds, 14 ounces from West Lake Okoboji in May 1972Other: White bass seldom live beyond 4 years and few attain a size larger than 2 or 3 pounds; Iowa state record was 3 pounds, 14 ounces from West Lake Okoboji in May 1972

References:References: Iowa Department of Natural Resources Iowa DNR Fish and Fishing. Available at Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr Freshwater Fishes of North America North of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. Eddy, S. and J.C. Underhill How to Know the Freshwater Fishes. Third Edition. McGraw-Hill, Boston. Michigan Department of Natural Resources Available at

Habitat: Streams with moderate current and sandy or gravel bottomsStreams with moderate current and sandy or gravel bottoms Small natural lakesSmall natural lakes Low turbidity, clear waterLow turbidity, clear water Require vegetation for reproductionRequire vegetation for reproduction aquanotes-fishid/bstickle.htmIdentification: 4-6 independent dorsal spines4-6 independent dorsal spines Very thin caudal peduncleVery thin caudal peduncle Threespine sticklebacks have caudal peduncle keelThreespine sticklebacks have caudal peduncle keel Colors vary, usually pale yellow to olive green with darker splotchesColors vary, usually pale yellow to olive green with darker splotches Only brook sticklebacks are found in IowaOnly brook sticklebacks are found in Iowa

Diet: Small crustaceans, insect larvae, snails, small annelids, water mites, water fleas and fish eggs Conservations status: No special conservation status in Iowa. Have been introduced outside of their native range when used as bait. Distribution in Iowa: Northern half of the state Water flea/ daphnia Water mite

Reproduction: Males build a cylindrical nest of weeds held together by kidney secretions.Males build a cylindrical nest of weeds held together by kidney secretions. Females deposit eggsFemales deposit eggs Males protect the nest and newly hatched fryMales protect the nest and newly hatched fry Males may spawn several timesMales may spawn several times eggs eggs Recreational/ Economic and Ecological Importance: Popular aquarium fishPopular aquarium fish Occasionally used as baitOccasionally used as bait Gamefish prey where abundantGamefish prey where abundant Lou Ewinger

Interesting Facts: One of the first native North American Fish to become a popular aquarium fishOne of the first native North American Fish to become a popular aquarium fish Closely related to seahorsesClosely related to seahorses Only stickleback that is strictly freshwaterOnly stickleback that is strictly freshwater Originally the TWRA banned them from being imported into Tennessee. Thought the spines would cause harm to game species that attempted to ingest the fish.Originally the TWRA banned them from being imported into Tennessee. Thought the spines would cause harm to game species that attempted to ingest the fish. Genus name, Culaea, is meaningless. Originally Eucalia inconstans.Genus name, Culaea, is meaningless. Originally Eucalia inconstans.

References Etnier, D.A. and W.C. Starnes The Fishes of Tennessee. The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville. Greenhalgh, M Freshwater Fish, The Natural History of Over 160 Native European Species. Octopus Publishing Group Ltd, London. Iowa Department of Natural Resources IowaDNR Fish and Fishing. Available at Ohio Department of Natural Resources Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division, Life History Notes: Brook Stickleback. Available at Zim, H.S. and H.H. Shoemaker Fishes, A Guide to Familiar American Species. Simon and Schuster, New York.