Beneath the often dark and muddy waters of the Minnesota River swim a great variety of fish from huge catfish (153 pound record!) to tiny baitfish to rare native fish like the paddlefish. A recent MDNR fish survey* found 70 fish species representing 18 families in the Minnesota River.

Catfish Derby Winner
Photo: Ron Bolduan 
 
Paddlefish
Polyodon spathula
Photo: Konrad Schmidt
Gizzard shad
Dorosoma cepdianum
Photo: Konrad Schmidt

Freshwater Drum
Aplodinotus grunniens
Photo: Konrad Schmidt

Carp (exotic species)
Cyprinus carpio
Photo: Konrad Schmidt
Channel catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
Photo: Konrad Schmidt
Northern pike
Esox lucius
Photo: Konrad Schmidt
Flathead catfish
Pylodictis olivaris
Photo: Konrad Schmidt
Blue sucker
Cycleptus elongatus
Photo: Konrad Schmidt
Emerald shiner
Notropis atherinoides
Photo: USGS
Shortnose gar
Lepisosteus platostomus
Photo: USGS

Images courtesy of 1) the The Fishes of Minnesota Andrew M. Simons, Curator; Jay T. Hatch, Associate Curator; Konrad Schmidt, Volunteer Curatorial Assistant and 2) United States Geological Survey - Upper Mississippi Fish Species Picture Album

Other Fish Links
* Konrad Schmidt, MDNR - Minnesota River Fish Tales
MN DNR - Fish Page
The Fishes of Minnesota
Minnesota River Fish Species List
Minnesota Department of Health - Fish Consumption Advisory
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This page was last updated 4/20/03
Minnesota River Basin Data Center | Minnesota State University, Mankato
184 Trafton Science Center S, Mankato, MN 56001 | Phone: (507)389-5492 | FAX: (507)389-5493 | Email: mrbdc@mnsu.edu