Fish ID: what did I catch?
Narrow it down by body shape, then check the markings that separate look-alikes.
Largemouth bass
Upper jaw extends past the back of the eye; dark horizontal stripe along the side.
Smallmouth bass
Jaw ends below the eye; bronze to brown with dark vertical bars.
Walleye
Large glassy eyes; white tip on the lower lobe of the tail.
Sauger
Spotted first dorsal fin; no white tip on the tail.
Yellow perch
Yellow body with six to eight dark vertical bands.
Black crappie
Seven or eight dorsal spines; irregular black speckles.
White crappie
Five or six dorsal spines; faint vertical bars.
Bluegill
Dark flap at the back of the gill cover; small mouth.
Northern pike
Light bean-shaped spots on a dark body.
Muskellunge
Dark bars or spots on a light body; pointed tail lobes.
How this tool works
A key built on features anglers can see at the boat: jaw length, fin spots, tail tips and body markings. Check your state's rules for species you cannot keep.