Fish Photos

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

This page was last updated 4/20/03