One or Two
Dorsal Fins
(top fins)
one/two
Silver, or...
Yellow, Green
or Brown
(overall
coloring)
one
silver
two
yellow, green, or brown
Crappie (page 15) and Sunfi sh
(Page 17). The dorsal fi ns is on the
top of the fi sh. In many fi sh, the
dorsal fi n appears as one fi n or has
no separation between the front
spiny and rear soft fi ns. (Note:
Largemouth and smallmouth bass
will appear to have two fi ns that
can be slightly connected. Assume
they are two fi ns. Go to key 6.)
Temperate Bass and Drum (Page
19). This group of fi sh is often very
light colored, appearing white or
silver.
Go to Key #6. The dorsal has two
fi ns where the front spiny and rear
soft fi ns are separated by a space,
sometime the space is very small as
in white perch and drum or slightly
connected like largemouth and
smallmouth bass.
Go to Key #7.
KEY NUMBER 5
KEY NUMBER 6
6
FISH KEY
FISH FAMILIES
