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Learn Fish Species


chinook salmon Chinook Salmon
Chinook Salmon are the largest of Pacific Salmon. Often referred to as “Kings” they return in great numbers to rivers like the Columbia, and many other along the Pacific coast. Also found in the Great Lakes, they can reach huge size, though most average between 10 – 25 pounds. Chinook are active feeders in the ocean and seem to key in on scent. Baits like eggs, herring sandshrimp and tuna bellies can be very effective whether trolled, float-fished or drifted. Plugs can be a fantastic way to catch Chinook whether anchored, backtrolled or trolled.
Watch our Salmon fishing videos
steelhead Steelhead
Steelhead are essentially ocean-run rainbow trout. They boast an impressive life-span and unlike salmon, they do not die after spawning. They are known for being fantastic fighters and are aggressive. Steelhead love bait like sandshrimp, eggs and prawn tails, but are also known to be voracious sight-feeders. Jigs, spinners and other artificials do a great job of enticing these impressive fish. Steelhead are typically split into two groups: winter-run and summer-run and they are found all over tributaries along the Pacific Coast, Canada, Alaska and even Russia.
Watch our Steelhead videos
coho-salmon Coho Salmon
Coho Salmon, also commonly known as “Silvers” are a highly sought after sport-fish that returns in good numbers to Pacific tributaries and Great Lakes tribs. They typically return in large schools and can be very aggressive in tidewater, smashing spinners and plugs with ferocity. Coho turn reddish in color when near spawn and develop hooked snouts.

View our tips & techniques articles for more info on fishing for salmon.
white-sturgeon White Sturgeon
Sturgeon are "prehistoric" in look and nature. Their skeleton is made up of mostly cartilage and instead of scales they have bony plates called "scutes." Bottom feeders, they are quick to take many types of bait when dropped into the holes they typically reside in. You'll find Sturgeon in the Columbia River and many other water systems, typically in the deepest holes in proximity. Sturgeon fishing is usually a day full of hookups and fish landing.
largemouth_bass Largemouth Bass
Largemouth bass are a worldwide sportfish! Prized for their aggressive nature and territorial instinct, they are a fantastic fish to catch. Tournament anglers and casual anglers alike love to fish for largemouth. They can grow in excess of ten pounds and will often take many types of lures, even of the top of the water resulting in explosive strikes. Watch our Bass Videos
smallmouth_bass Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth bass are typically a little smaller than largemouth, but make up for it in their hard-fighting, aggressive nature. They are found in more moderate climates and make for a fantastic sportfish!
striped_bass Striped Bass
Often referred to as "Stripers", these are one of the few sportfish that utilize both saltwater and freshwater, with both areas being exciting for fishing opportunity. They can be caught on techniques similar to other Bass species, but can reach massive sizes, especially on the Atlantic Coast. After being introduced to California, they have flourished and naturalized even up into the Oregon Coast.
walleye Walleye
One of the most sought-after game fish, the Walleye is prized for its tasty white meat. Although not often thought of as hard fighters, the techniques used to catch them can be very enjoyable, like trolling or jigging. Massive populations exist in the Great Lakes, while the Columbia River also has an incredible fishery for them. They are present in Lakes across the Northern USA. Watch Walleye and Bass Videos
american_shad American Shad
These anadromous fish come in massive numbers into the Columbia River in the Summer and are a blast to catch on light gear. Although some people do eat them, they are generally not kept for food, but often as crab or sturgeon bait. 
rainbow_trout Rainbow Trout
An ultra-common and popular species, Rainbow trout are lots of fun to fish for in lakes, creeks or rivers. In fact, a Steelhead is just a Rainbow Trout with the predisposition to head to the Ocean for feeding. They feed on bugs, baitfish and other aquatic food sources and are often aggressive and acrobatic when fished for! Watch Trout Fishing videos
brown_trout Brown Trout
These unique and beautiful looking trout are highly-prized for fly-fishing as they are known to target big dry-fly hatches and can be caught in shallow areas close to shore. They can grow very large in size and have been introduced all over the world.
brook_trout Brook Trout
This species of "trout" is actually a member of the Char family. They are one of the most unique looking freshwater fish and are prized sportfish for their ability to inhabit small, cold, clear creeks. 
Bull-Trout Bull Trout
Another member of the Char genus, Bull Trout are voracious predators that are known to feed on smaller baitfish and even smolt. They are very hard fighters that don't give up and often will bite large lures and flies.
Kokanee landlocked sockeye Kokanee
A land-locked Sockeye Salmon, Kokanee are very successful at occupping lakes with creeks that support spawning. They can survive in freshwater even though if they have access to Saltwater, most will go to the Ocean. They are very tasty to eat and exciting to fish for, and depending on the lake, they can get to a pretty decent size as well. Watch Kokanee Fishing Videos
tiger muskie Tiger Muskie
Supposedly sterile, Tiger Muskie are a cross-breed between Muskie and Northern Pike. They are often planted to control predator populations, and can be very aggressive towards big baits. They are known to follow lures in on a cast and aren't afraid to be seen by humans.
channel_catfish Channel Catfish
These popular fish can grow to some massive sizes and are known to feed on stinky, big baits. They are very strong and can occupy deep water whether rivers or lakes. 
blue_catfish Blue Catfish
Blue catfish are heavy bodied, blueish gray in color, and have a dorsal hump. The best way to tell the difference between a channel catfish and a blue catfish is to count the number of rays on the anal fin. A blue catfish has 30–36 rays, whereas a channel catfish has 25–29. 
flathead_catfish Flathead Catfish
The flathead catfish is olive colored on its sides, with a white to yellow underside. Individuals, particularly young specimens from clearer waters, may be strongly mottled with dark brown to black color. The anal fin has 14 to 17 rays.
bullhead catfish Bullhead Catfish
These smaller species of catfish have the ability to survive in waters that are low in oxygen, brackish, turbid and/or very warm. They have barbels located near its mouth, a broad head, spiny fins, and no scales.
bluegill Bluegill
Pound-for-pound, these panfish are an excellent fighting fish and lots of fun to catch on ultra-light rods. They are often found close to shore and are a great fishery for kids to get into the sport!
yellow_perch Perch
A fan favorite that is widespread throughout rivers and lakes, Perch are often on the smaller side of gamefish, but "jumbo-perch" are a highly sought after fish that is also excellent eating. Perch have a long and round body shape which allows for fast swimming in the water. True perch have "rough" scales.
sunfish Sunfish
Sunfish (not the same as Saltwater Sunfish) prefer clear, warm, and slower-moving water, and are commonly found in habitats such as lakes, ponds, medium to low flow streams and rivers, and swamps. They also prefer to live in and around aquatic vegetation so they can get adequate coverage from predators.
green_sunfish Green Sunfish
Green sunfish are aggressive and will hit small lures. They are great for fly fishing as well. They are extremely aggressive and will attack swimmers. They usually get 10 inches long, but in some cases they can get 12 inches long.
pumpkinseed Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseeds have a small body named for its similarity to a Pumpkin Seed. typically about 4 inches long, but can grow up to 11 in. They typically weigh less than 1 pound, with the world record being 1 pound 8 ounces.
common_carp Common Carp
Although looked down on by many anglers, Carp are one of the most popular fish throughout the world. They are surprisingly intelligent and can be tough to catch if pressured, they are incredibly hard-fighting fish and as the name says, quite common in rivers and lakes.
squafish Pikeminnow
These fish are such aggressive predators towards Salmon and Steelhead that there is an actual bounty on catching them in the Columbia River. They lack an adipose fin, which needs to be paid attention to so that people don't misidentify Whitefish as Pikeminnow.
Albacore Tuna
One of the most popular Saltwater Fish to eat, Albacore Tuna follow warm currents eating lots of bait along the way. They have gained in popularity in the Pacific Ocean for sportfishing and are known to strike lures with vengeance and fight extremely hard.
Halibut
These strange looking Saltwater fish can reach sizes in excess of 100lbs and often feed in extremely deep water in the Ocean. They are a treasured food for many and very sought-after with somewhat restrictive seasons.
Ling Cod
Known for its aggressive bites and tendency to try to head for the rocks after getting hooked, the lingcod is a popular eating fish, and is thus prized by anglers. Around 20% of lingcods have blue-green to turquoise flesh. 
Sea Bass
A fantastic species for finesse Saltwater fishing, it can be caught on many techniques including top-water at certain times. These are popular on the West Coast of the USA for "bottom-fishing".

 

Although there is a myriad more fish species across the world, this is a concise collection of various freshwater and saltwater species that we often fish for on the Addicted Fishing Videos.

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