Category: Fish Biology

It is very easy for anglers to make the claim that they “are on the fish” or “know what they want” or any other connotation we hear when out of the water. Patterns are developed, techniques are mastered, and fish are ultimately put in the boat. Yes, this is the nature of the most successful […]

As a layer of ice forms across the Glacial Lakes region of South Dakota, the thoughts of gold take over the minds of many anglers. Walleye may be the state fish of South Dakota, but it is the jumbo yellow perch that attracts anglers particularly as the ice augers come out of their summer storage. […]

Lake Oahe, one of the most prestigious walleye fisheries in the country, experienced an up and down year in 2022. Anglers were able to enjoy some of the best, if not the best, trophy walleye fishing in the country. However, anglers targeting “slot fish”, or fish between 15-20 inches, experienced difficulty locating these fish throughout […]

When fishing on reservoirs such as Lake Sharpe and Lake Francis Case, fisheries that have abundant populations of both walleyes and saugers, there is a common question that always arises. This question, is did I catch a walleye, sauger or saugeye? We’ll discuss the differences between these fish and how anglers can identify what exactly […]

Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus, are deep-bodied laterally compressed fish with a black spot on the end of their opercular flap, or gill cover. They have olive-green backs and usually have a blue or purple tint to their sides. Breeding males have orange on the flank as well. At adulthood, they are 4-12 inches.  They are commonly […]

Scientific Name: Perca flavescens Common Name: Yellow Perch Nick Names:  Tiger Perch, Ring Perch, Slough Tiger Description Yellow perch have a shorter, more bulky build especially when conditions are right. They are known for their dark, vertical, tiger-like stripes and their bright orange pelvic fins.  These panfish have a very aggressive nature which is why […]

Scientific Name: Sander vitreus Family: Percidae Common Name: Walleye Nick Names: White-tip, Marble Eyes, Grass Pike, Gum Pike, Walter etc Description Walleye have a long, slender body.  They are famous for their white-tipped tail, but also are known for their tapetum lucidum.  This is a part of the eye that is designed to capture all […]

Sauger, Sander canadensis, have a fusiform, torpedo-shaped body and are green to grayish-brown in color with darker splotches on their body and a white belly. Coloration of these fish may change depending on the water and turbidity. They have spots on their dorsal fins. The first dorsal fin is spiny and the one behind it […]