Fish Species

 For my fourth post in this blog, I will be exploring different species of fish that reside in the waters near me. Butte County is home to a number of different species of fish that reside in many different environments, such as lakes, rivers, small streams, and ponds. There are varieties of fishing species ranging from bluegill to white sturgeon. Each of these fish present their own unique challenges when anglers are attempting to catch them. In this blog post I will be exploring the different methods used to catch these different species of fish, and the uses people have for them. 

One of the most common and popular varieties of fish in the United States is the bass. Butte County is home to multiple bass species, including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, and striped bass. Being the most common sportfish in the United States, there is a huge list of ways to catch them. Bass are very aggressive predatory fish, and will try to eat anything that fits in their mouth, including other fish, crayfish, and frogs. Anglers fishing for bass typically use large baits that mimic the creatures they naturally hunt. Soft plastic baits are very popular for bass fishing, taking the form of bottom dwelling creatures such as crayfish, worms, and small fish. Bass fisherman also use hard plastic baits to mimic bait fish, and top water frog lures are also used in especially weedy conditions.

https://www.fishloversguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/large-mouth-bass-1.jpg


Butte County is also home to numerous species of trout, steelhead, and salmon. These predatory fish are popular among anglers for their size, aggression, beauty, and good flavor. Fishermen can catch these species using flashing lures that reflect light and attract fish. These species are especially popular among fly fisherman, who use artificial bugs to mimic food floating on the top of the water. Fishermen may also find success using salmon eggs, live worms, or other scented bait. The Sacramento Pikeminnow is a medium sized predatory fish, native to the region that can be caught using similar tactics to trout, steelhead, and salmon.

https://grahamowengallery.com/fishing/brown-trout-2007/steelhead.jpg


Fishermen who are using strong scented chunks or live bait may find themselves catching catfish, sturgeon, or panfish. There are many catfish species in Butte County, the most sought after being the channel catfish. These fish are primarily scavengers but will attack live bait if it is convenient for them. Fishermen can catch catfish primarily at night, in deep, warm waters such as sloughs or low elevation lakes. White sturgeon are somewhat rare to the region but can be found on the bottom of deep lakes and rivers. While the sturgeon found here are generally smaller than those found farther north, they still have the potential to reach lengths of over 20 feet long.

https://www.fraserriversturgeon.com/uploads/content/whitesturgeon1.jpg


Panfish are small, predatory fish, used primarily as bait for larger fish. These round fish enjoy warm, calm water and feed on minnows, bugs, and scavenge. Fishermen catch these for their flavor, and to use as bait. The best ways to catch them are with flies, small soft plastic lures, or bait like worms or scented chunk bait. https://sp-images.summitpost.org/816074.JPG?auto=format&fit=max&h=1000&ixlib=php-2.1.1&q=35&s=49b6815f6082ab4825e56b0e3d37c58f

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