Iowa DNR
BioNet
River & Stream Biological Monitoring
Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Surveys
Physical Habitat Assessments

Redfin Pickerel Esox americanus

Family
Esocidae (Pikes and Mudminnows)
Tolerance
Intermediate
Trophic Class
Top Carnivore
Is Exotic to Iowa?
False
Is Lithophilous Spawner?
False
Is Hybrid?
False
State Listing Status
Threatened
Assessment Program Statistics

This species was found at 7 bioassessment sites, 0 rapid fish bioassessment sites, 0 fisheries assessment sites, and 0 fisheries presence-only assessment sites. In total, it was collected at 7 distinct sites, or 0.5% of the 1522 total sites monitored by the bioassessment program. It is the 111th most commonly collected species.

The Redfin Pickerel was collected in 19 bioassessment sampling sessions and 0 fisheries assessment sessions. It was present in 0 rapid bioassessment sessions and 0 presence-only sessions.

The biological assessment program has collected a total of 117 individual Redfin Pickerel specimens, ranking it the #96 most collected fish.

Species Characteristics

Long, slender body, like the Northern Pike and Muskellunge, that is green to olive-brown above with wavy or worm-like bars on the sides and light beneath. The snout looks like a duck bill. Both the cheeks and the opercles on the head are fully covered with scales. The branchiostegal rays number 11 to 13, and there are 4 mandibular pores. There are about 105 scales along the lateral line and 12 soft rays in the dorsal fin. It is a small fish, rarely exceeding 12-inches long and usually from 7- to 10-inches at maturity.

Species Distribution Maps

HUC12 watersheds where this species has been found