Northern Hog Sucker

(Hypentelium nigricans)

Characteristics: 1. thick lips with “pimples”; 2. large scales; 3. large, rectangular head, broadly flat (young) or concave (adult) between eyes; 4. body wide in front, abruptly tapering behind dorsal fin; 5. Three to six dusky-brown saddles on upper side.
Size: to 610mm
Similar species: Longnose Sucker, White Sucker
Ontario distribution: southwestern Ontario
Habitat: riffles and adjacent pools of clear shallow streams with gravel to rubble substrates; found infrequently in shallow lakes near the mouths of streams
Use as bait: limited, sometimes sold as “pike” bait

White Sucker

(Catostomus commersonii)

Characteristics: 1. thick lips (lower lip about twice as thick as upper lip) with many “pimples”; 2. small scales.
Size: to 487mm
Similar species: Longnose Sucker, Northern Hog Sucker, Black Redhorse, Golden Redhorse, Silver Redhorse
Ontario distribution: widespread
Habitat: found in a wide range of habitats
Use as bait: widespread; often sold as “pike” bait

Lake Chubsucker

(Erimyzon sucetta)

Characteristics: 1. thin lips with grooves on small, slightly, upturned mouth; 2. deep body; 3. rounded edge on dorsal fin.
Size: to 292mm
Similar species: other suckers
Ontario distribution: southwestern Ontario
Habitat: shallow, clear, vegetated ponds and lakes over silt, sand or debris; rarely in streams
Use as bait: illegal under the OFRs; listed as Threatened under SARA and ESA

Black Redhorse

(Moxostoma duquesnei)

Characteristics: 1. mouth under snout has thick lips with grooves; 2. large scales; 3. gray caudal fin; 4. concave dorsal fin; 5. lower lip not notched.
Size: to 658mm
Similar species: Golden, Greater, River, Shorthead and Silver redhorses, White Sucker
Ontario distribution: southwestern Ontario
Habitat: pools in the swifter flowing medium-to-large rivers
Use as bait: illegal under the OFRs; listed as Threatened under ESA

Golden Redhorse

(Moxostoma erythrurum)

Characteristics: 1. large scales; 2. gray caudal fin; 3. concave dorsal fin; 4. lower lip notched.
Size: to 660mm
Similar species: Black, Greater, River, Shorthead and Silver redhorses; White Sucker
Ontario distribution: southwestern Ontario
Habitat: clear, small- to large-sized streams in riffles over variety of substrates
Use as bait: illegal under the OFRs

Greater Redhorse

(Moxostoma valenciennesi)

Characteristics: 1. thick lips with grooves; 2. large scales; 3. red caudal fin; 4. concave dorsal fin; 5. grooves on lower lip are parallel.
Size: to 673mm
Similar species: Black, Golden, River, Shorthead and Silver redhorses; White Sucker
Ontario distribution: southern Ontario
Habitat: large streams in riffles with bottoms of clean sand, gravel or boulders
Use as bait: illegal under the OFRs

River Redhorse

(Moxostoma carinatum)

Characteristics: 1. mouth under snout has thick lips with grooves; 2. large scales; 3. red caudal fin; 4. dorsal fin edge usually straight; 5. grooves on lower lip are parallel.
Size: to 617mm
Ontario distribution: isolated populations in southern Ontario
Similar species: Black, Golden, Greater, Shorthead and Silver redhorses; White Sucker
Habitat: rocky pools and swift runs of small-to-large sized streams ; impoundments
Use as bait: illegal under the OFRs; listed as Special Concern under SARA and ESA

Shorthead Redhorse

(Moxostoma macrolepidotum)

Characteristics: 1. thick lips with grooves; 2. large scales; 3. red caudal fin; 4. concave dorsal fin; 5. lower lip notched.
Size: to 620mm
Similar species: Black, Golden, Greater, River and Silver redhorses; White Sucker
Ontario distribution: widespread
Habitat: lakes and streams over bottoms of sand or gravel without heavy silt
Use as bait: discouraged; redhorse species (including species at risk) are very difficult to distinguish from one another

Silver Redhorse

(Moxostoma anisurum)

Characteristics: 1. thick lips with grooves or pimples on mouth under snout; 2. large scales; 3. gray caudal fin; 4. convex dorsal fin; 5. lower lip notched.
Size: to 635mm
Similar species: Black, Golden, Greater, River and Shorthead redhorses; White Sucker
Ontario distribution: widespread
Habitat: mud to rock bottomed pools and runs of small- to large-sized streams; occasionally lakes
Use as bait: discouraged; redhorse species (including species at risk) are very difficult to distinguish from one another.

Spotted Sucker

(Minytrema melanops)

Characteristics: 1. thin lips with grooves; 2. small scales; 3. rows of dark spots at scale bases on back and side.
Size: to 449mm
Similar species: other suckers
Ontario distribution: southwestern Ontario
Habitat: creeks and small rivers with sandy, gravelly, or hard clay bottoms without silt, but occasionally in large rivers and impoundments
Use as bait: illegal under the OFRs; listed as Special Concern under SARA and ESA

Central Mudminnow

(Umbra limi)

Characteristics: 1. dorsal and anal fins far back on body; 2. black bar on caudal fin base; 3. rounded caudal fin.
Size: to 132mm
Similar species: Blackstripe Topminnow; Banded Killifish
Ontario distribution: southern Ontario
Habitat: still, mud-bottomed, often heavily vegetated streams and ponds
Use as bait: sold and used as bait, hardy (capable of breathing air)

Rainbow Smelt

(Osmerus mordax)

Characteristics: 1. streamlined, elongate body; 2. adipose fin; 3. large teeth on jaw and tongue.
Size: to 297mm
Similar species: Cisco species (illegal baitfish, most at risk; most not included in this Primer)
Ontario distribution: native to Ottawa Valley in Ontario, widely introduced elsewhere
Habitat: open waters of lakes
Use as bait: introduced; illegal under the OFRs

Cisco or Lake Herring

(Coregonus artedi)

Characteristics: 1. streamlined, elongate body; 2. adipose fin; 3. no teeth.
Size: to 395mm
Similar species: Rainbow Smelt; other Cisco species (illegal baitfishes, most at risk; not included in this Primer)
Ontario distribution: Great Lakes, central and northern Ontario
Habitat: primarily found in opens waters of lakes but may occur in large streams in the Hudson Bay region
Use as bait: popular in some areas for use as bait for Lake Trout and Salmon

Brook Silverside

(Labidesthes sicculus)

Characteristics: 1. small upturned mouth; 2. two dorsal fins; 3. long anal fin;
Size: to 130 mm
Similar species: Emerald Shiner, Rainbow Smelt, Silver Shiner
Ontario distribution: southern Ontario
Habitat: warm surface waters of clear streams and nearshores of lakes
Use as bait: illegal under the OFRs

Banded Killifish

(Fundulus diaphanus)

Characteristics: 1. small upturned mouth; 2. vertical bars between 12 to 20.
Size: to 114 mm
Similar species: Blackstripe Topminnow; Central Mudminnow
Ontario distribution: southern and northwestern Ontario
Use as bait: illegal under the OFRs

Blackstripe Topminnow

(Fundulus notatus)

Characteristics: 1. small upturned mouth; 2. dark lateral stripe along side.
Size: to 80mm
Similar species: Banded Killifish; Central Mudminnow
Ontario distribution: Essex County in southwestern Ontario
Habitat: warm surface waters of small streams
Use as bait: illegal under the OFRs; listed as Special Concern under SARA and ESA

Trout-Perch

(Percopsis omiscomaycus)

Characteristics: 1. large, unscaled head; 2. adipose fin; 3. spines in dorsal, anal and pelvic fins; 4. rows of 7-12 dusky spots along back, upper side and side.
Size: to 123mm
Similar species: none
Ontario distribution: widespread
Habitat: lakes or deep flowing pools of small- to large-sized streams, usually over sand
Use as bait: incidental capture and sold with mixed species

Brook Stickleback

(Culaea inconstans)

Characteristics: 1. 4-6 short dorsal spines; 2. deep, thin body with no bony plates on side.
Size: to 87mm
Similar species: Fourspine, Ninespine and Threespine sticklebacks
Ontario distribution: widespread
Habitat: quiet, vegetated waters of small rivers, ponds or lakes over sand, muck or mud
Use as bait: only incidental

Fourspine Stickleback

(Apeltes quadracus)

Characteristics: 1. four dorsal spines of various lengths, wide gap before last spine; 2. no bony plates on side.
Size: to 52mm
Similar species: Brook, Ninespine and Threespine sticklebacks
Ontario distribution: introduced into northwestern Lake Superior
Habitat: quiet, vegetated waters
Use as bait: introduced; illegal under the OFRs

Ninespine Stickleback

(Pungitius pungitius)

Characteristics: 1. nine short dorsal spines; 2. slender body; 3. well-developed keel on caudal peduncle; 4. no bony plates on side.
Size: to 68mm
Similar species: Brook, Fourspine and Threespine sticklebacks
Ontario distribution: widespread in northern Ontario, the Great Lakes
Habitat: shallow, vegetated areas of streams, ponds or lakes; deep waters of Great Lakes
Use as bait: only incidental

Threespine Stickleback

(Gasterosteus aculeatus)

Characteristics: 1. three dorsal spines, last very short; 2. bony plates on side; 3. bony keel along side of caudal peduncle.
Size: to 76mm
Similar species: Brook, Fourspine and Ninespine sticklebacks
Ontario distribution: isolated populations mainly in central and eastern Ontario
Habitat: shallow areas over mud or sand with vegetation
Use as bait: incidental; CAUTION: has been introduced in some parts of Ontario

Mottled Sculpin

(Cottus bairdii)

Characteristics: 1. dorsal fins joined at base; 2. 2-3 dark bars on body under second dorsal fin; 3. large black spots at front and rear of first dorsal fin.
Size: to 82mm
Similar species: Slimy Sculpin, Round Goby and Tubenose Goby (Spoonhead and Deepwater sculpins look similar but, due to their deepwater habitats, they are not included in this Primer)
Ontario distribution: widespread
Habitat: riffles of small streams and headwaters over rubble or gravel; rocky shores of lakes
Use as bait: limited; easily confused with illegal gobies

Slimy Sculpin

(Cottus cognatus)

Characteristics: 1. long, fairly slender body; 2. three pelvic rays; 3. prickles on head and behind pectoral fin base.
Size: to 120mm
Similar species: Mottled Sculpin, Round Goby and Tubenose Goby (Spoonhead and Deepwater sculpins look similar but, due to their deepwater habitats, they are not included in this Primer)
Ontario distribution: widespread
Habitat: rocky areas of cold streams and lakes
Use as bait: limited; easily confused with illegal gobies

Blackside Darter

(Percina maculata)

Characteristics: 1. slender, elongate body; 2. large mouth; 3. 6-9 large oval black blotches along side; 4. black caudal spot.
Size: to 111mm
Similar species: Channel Darter, Logperch, River Darter
Ontario distribution: southwestern Ontario
Habitat: riffles and pools of medium-sized streams over gravel and sand with an abundance of vegetation
Use as bait: only incidental

Channel Darter

(Percina copelandi)

Characteristics: 1. slender, elgonated body; 2. blunt snout; 3. 9-10 horizontally oblong black blotches along side; 4. black X’s and W’s on back and upper side.
Size: to 61mm
Similar species: Blackside Darter, Logperch, River Darter
Ontario distribution: isolated populations in southern Ontario
Habitat: pools and margins of riffles of small- to medium-sized streams usually over sand and gravel; shores of lakes
Use as bait: illegal under the OFRs; listed as Threatened under SARA and ESA

Logperch

(Percina caprodes)

Characteristics: 1. slender, elongate body; 2. large mouth; 3. dusky tear drop; 4. many alternating long and short bars along side.
Size: to 150mm
Similar species: Blackside Darter, Channel Darter, River Darter
Ontario distribution: widespread
Habitat: medium to large streams, rivers and lakes over sand and gravel bottoms
Use as bait: occasionally used as live bait but cannot be held long in a bait bucket

River Darter

(Percina shumardi)

Characteristics: 1. slender, elongate body; 2. large mouth; 3. black teardrop; 4. 8-15 black bars along side; 5. small black spot at front, large black spot near rear of first dorsal fin.
Size: to 80mm
Similar species: Blackside Darter, Channel Darter, Logperch
Ontario distribution: widespread in northwestern Ontario, isolated populations in southwestern Ontario
Habitat: medium- to large-sized streams with strong, deep current over sand, gravel or rock
Use as bait: only incidental

Fantail Darter

(Etheostoma flabellare)

Characteristics: 1. slender, elongate body; 2. small mouth; 3. black bands on second dorsal fin and caudal fin; 4. gold knobs on tips of dorsal spines.
Size: to 70mm
Similar species: Greenside Darter, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter, Least Darter, Rainbow Darter, Tessellated Darter
Ontario distribution: southwestern Ontario
Habitat: gravel- and boulder-bottomed streams of slow to moderate flow
Use as bait: only incidental

Greenside Darter

(Etheostoma blennioides)

Characteristics: 1. slender, elongate body; 2. small mouth; 3. dusky teardrop; 4. 5-18 green W’s, V’s, or bars on side.
Size: to 110mm
Similar species: Fantail Darter, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter, Least Darter, Rainbow Darter, Tessellated Darter
Ontario distribution: isolated populations in southwestern Ontario
Habitat: small- to large-sized streams among rubble and small boulders with attached filamentous algae
Use as bait: illegal under OFRs; introduced beyond native range

Iowa Darter

(Etheostoma exile)

Characteristics: 1. slender, elgonated body; 2. small mouth; 3. black teardrop; 4. middle red band on first dorsal fin.
Size: to 58mm
Similar species: Fantail Darter, Greenside Darter, Johnny Darter, Least Darter, Rainbow Darter, Tessellated Darter
Ontario distribution: widespread
Habitat: clear, standing, or slowly moving waters of streams, small to medium rivers and lakes with aquatic vegetation, and a bottom of organic debris and sand
Use as bait: only incidental

Johnny Darter

(Etheostoma nigrum)

Characteristics: 1. slender, elongate body; 2. small mouth; 3. black teardrop; 4. dark brown X’s and W’s along side.
Size: to 60mm
Similar species: Fantail Darter, Greenside Darter, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, Rainbow Darter, Tessellated Darter
Ontario distribution: widespread
Habitat: wide variety of aquatic habitats but most common in quieter waters over bottom of sand, gravel, silt, or a combination of these, but do inhabit weedy areas or gravel riffles of streams
Use as bait: only incidental

Least Darter

(Etheostoma microperca)

Characteristics: 1. slender, elongate body; 2. small mouth; 3. large, black teardrop; 4. dark green saddles.
Size: to 46mm
Similar species: Fantail Darter, Greenside Darter, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter, Rainbow Darter, Tessellated Darter
Ontario distribution: southwestern Ontario, isolated populations in northern Ontario
Habitat: clear, quiet, weedy waters of lakes and slow-moving small- to medium-sized streams
Use as bait: likely none as a result of small size

Rainbow Darter

(Etheostoma caeruleum)

Characteristics: 1. relatively deep-bodied; 2. small mouth; 3. no teardrop; 4. 6-10 dark saddles.
Size: to 74mm
Similar species: Fantail Darter, Greenside Darter, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter, Least Darter, Tessellated Darter
Ontario distribution: southwestern Ontario
Habitat: fast-flowing gravel and rubble-bottomed riffles of small to medium streams
Use as bait: only incidental

Tessellated Darter

(Etheostoma olmstedi)

Characteristics: 1. slender, elongate body; 2. small mouth; 3. black teardrop; 4. dark brown X’s and W’s along side; 5. six dark brown saddles.
Size: to 88mm
Similar species: Fantail Darter, Greenside Darter, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter, Least Darter, Rainbow Darter
Ontario distribution: southeastern Ontario
Habitat: lakes and rivers over mud, sand or rock bottom
Use as bait: only incidental

Eastern Sand Darter

(Ammocrypta pellucida)

Characteristics: 1. slender, elongate, transparent body; 2. 10-19 horizontal dark green blotches along side.
Size: to 81mm
Similar species: other darters
Ontario distribution: isolated populations in southwestern Ontario
Habitat: sand-bottomed areas of small to large streams and wave-protected beaches of large lakes
Use as bait: illegal under the OFRs; listed as Threatened under SARA and ESA

Ruffe

(Gymnocephalus cernua)

Characteristics: 1. fairly deep, compressed body; 2. broadly joined, spiny dorsal fins; 3. many small black spots on dorsal and caudal fins.
Size: to 290mm
Similar species: Yellow Perch (not included in this Primer)
Ontario distribution: introduced into western Lake Superior
Habitat: lakes; quiet pools and margins of streams
Use as bait: illegal under the OFRs; invasive species

Tubenose Goby

(Proterorhinus semilunaris)

Characteristics: 1. fused pelvic fins; 2. long anterior nostrils; 3. spiny dorsal fin with oblique black lines (no spot).
Size: to 115mm
Similar species: Round Goby, Mottled and Slimy sculpins (Spoonhead and Deepwater sculpins - not included in this Primer)
Ontario distribution: isolated, introduced populations in southwestern Ontario
Habitat: shallow, vegetated areas of lakes and streams
Use as bait: illegal under the OFRs; invasive species

Round Goby

(Neogobius melanostomus)

Characteristics: 1. fused pelvic fins; 2. greenish, spiny dorsal fin with a black spot.
Size: to 250mm
Similar species: Tubenose Goby, Mottled and Slimy sculpins (Spoonhead and Deepwater sculpins - not included in this Primer)
Ontario distribution: introduced populations in the Great Lakes and tributaries
Habitat: rocky or gravelly habitat, generally inhabit the nearshore area of lakes but will migrate to deeper water in winter; also found in tributaries
Use as bait: illegal under the OFRs; invasive species

Rusty Crayfish

(Orconectes rusticus)

Characteristics: 1. greenish coloured claws with dark black bands near the tips; 2. prominent rusty patches on either side of the carapace.
Size: to 625mm
Similar species: native crayfishes (not included in this Primer)
Ontario distribution: isolated, introduced in southern Ontario
Habitat: streams and lakes with adequate rock, log, and debris cover and substrates of clay, silt and gravel
Use as bait: caution; overland transport is prohibited; crayfish cannot be commercially harvested or sold; anglers can capture their own for bait but must use them in the waterbody where they are captured