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Crappie

crappie.jpgBoth White and Black Crappie live in ponds, lakes, reservoirs and low-gradient streams and rivers.  They concentrate around brush, fallen trees and stumps.  Both species feed on insects, freshwater shrimp, amphipods and small fishes and are found at Lake Reelfoot.  Black Crappie are found in quiet, warm waters and are often associated with thick aquatic vegetation and sandy to muddy bottoms. In the Spring, they eat more bottom dwelling insects than white crappie. Black crappie normally range from 6 to 14 inches in length.  White Crappie are more tolerant of muddy water than black crappie.  They are abundant in their range.  Average length for the white crappie is 6 to 14 inches.  However much larger sizes are caught at Lake Reelfoot.

Bass

lmbass.jpgAlthough several species of black bass may live together in the same waters, they prefer somewhat different areas.  Smallmouth prefer the clearer, cooler portions of reservoirs or the riffle areas of streams, while large mouth prefer warmer, often more colored parts of the lakes with ample cover in the form of brush, stumps and similar obstructions.  Spotted bass are usually more associated with largemouth but prefer very rocky areas.  If you are identifying black bass you'll want to know that the spotted bass and largemouth are very similar.  But there is one good way to tell them apart.  Look at the fish's upper jaw when its mouth is closed.  If the jaw doesn't extend past the back of the fish's eye, you've got a spotted bass.  If the jaw goes past the eye, it's a largemouth.  Smallmouth feed on a variety of fishes and invertebrates, such as sunfish, shad, shiners, suckers, tadpoles and crayfish, as well as the nymphs of dragonflies, damselfies, smbass.jpgstoneflies and mayflies. Most fall between 8 and 22 inches. Largemouth feed on insects, frogs, crayfish, minnows, sunfish and gizzard and threadfin shad.  They sometimes feed on land animals such as mice and snakes that go into the water. Most range between 8 and 22 inches.

Bluegill type Sunfish

greenfish.jpgGreen Sunfish. All sunfish are similar in food habits, living chiefly on insects, crustaceans and small fish. Green sunfish will tolerate many habitats, but prefer warm, still waters.  They inhabit lakes, ponds and sluggish creeks and streams and are known to establish territory near the water's edge under brush, rocks or exposed roots. They prefer dragonfly and mayfly nymphs, caddishfly larvae, midges, freshwater shrimp and beetles, and will occasionally eat small fish like mosquitofish.  Common throughtout their range, they are found across the state except in the higher elevations of East Tennessee.  Their average length is four inches and they range between tow and eight inches in length.

warmouth.jpgWarmouth inhabit relatively shallow, slow-flowing, mud bottom creeks, ponds, lakes, swamps and reservoirs.  They are often found hiding around weed beds, snags and under the banks of streams and ponds, rather than in open water.  Because of their large mouths, warmouth have more variety in their diet than most sunfish.  They eat small fish, as well as invertebrates such as crayfish, snails and freshwater shrimp.  Dragonflies and other insects are also important food items.  They are found throughout the state except in the higher elevations of East Tennessee.  Warmouth range from uncommon in some locations, to common in others.  Eight inches is the average length of warmouth harvested from Tennessee reservoirs.  They range between four and ten inches.

rockbass.jpgRock Bass, sometimes incorrectly called Redeye Bass, prefer small, cool streams or the shoreline of larger streams with typically rocky, always silt-free bottoms, clear water and extensive cover.  They are occasionally found in clear, rocky areas of reservoirs and often congregate in deep pools near boulders, ledges, logs and other cover.  Major foods of the rock bass are crayfish, aquatic and land insects, small mollusks and small fishes.  In Tennessee, rock bass are found in the cooler streams associated with smallmouth bass or even trout.  They are found between Kentucky Lake and the higher elevations of eastern Tennessee.  Rock Bass average eight inches in length when harvested in Tennessee.  They range between six and 12 inches.

redbreast.jpgRedbreast sunfish inhabit streams, rivers and lakes.  In streams with rapids, they move to deeper stretches with gravel or rocky bottoms and frequently concentrate around boulders, limestone outcroppings, logs or aquatic vegetation.  The major food of the redbreast is aquatic insects, including caddisflies, dragonflies, beetles, midges and mayflies, and land insects.  They also eat snails, crayfish, small fishes and occasionally organic matter from the stream bottom.  Redbreast are found throughout the state except in higher elevations in East Tennessee.  They are more common in the eastern part of the state than in the west and are also more common in steams  than in reservoirs, ponds or lakes.  Nine inches is the average length of redbreast sunfish kept by anglers.  They range from five to 12 inches.

orange.jpgOrangespotted sunfish are found in quiet streams and vegetated lakes, ponds, and reservoirs.  Insects constitute their major food source  They are found primarily in the western half of Tennessee and are uncommon even in that area.   With a range of one to four inches, this sunfish averages two inches in length in the state and is one of the smallest of the sunfish family.

flier.jpgThe flier prefers sluggish lowland habitats with clear, heavily vegetated waters.  Its feeding habits are typical of sunfish, and include cladocerans, midges, beetles, worms, snails, clams and occasionally fishes, fish eggs or fry.  The Flier is found in western Tennessee, in streams that flow directly into the Mississippi River and Reelfoot lake.  It is common within this range, averaging four inches long and ranging in length from three to six inches.

longear.jpgAlthough Longear sunfish now thrive in reservoirs, they typically inhabit creeks, small streams and rivers.  They feed on immature aquatic insects, worms, crayfish, small fish and fish eggs.  Longear sunfish are found throughout Tennessee except in the higher elevations of the eastern mountains.  They are common throughout most of their range in Tennessee and one of the most colorful fish seen by fishermen.  Averaging around six inches, adults normally range from four to nine inches in length.

redear.jpgRedear sunfish prefer warm, clear, non-flowing waters where there is a lot of vegetation, stumps, logs and other cover, such as in farm ponds, lakes and reservoirs.  Their main food items are aquatic snails ( giving them the common name of "shellcracker"), midge larvae, amphipods, cladocerans and mayfly, damselfly and dragonfly naiads.  Other foods are copepods, fish eggs and crayfish.  The habits and feeding of redear do not differ all that much from bluegill, except that they eat more snails.  Redear sunfish are common throughout Tennessee except in the higher elevations of the eastern mountains.  Average length of redear harvested in Tennessee is nine inches, and they range from four to 11 inches.

bluegil.jpgBluegill inhabit quiet, shallow, reasonably clean, warm lakes, ponds, reservoirs as well as slow flowing rivers and creeks.  These often have a lot of aquatic vegetation and sand, mud or gravel bottoms.  Bluegill can live in most waters except swift flowing cold trout streams.  Insects are their principal food.  Bluegill are found throughout Tennessee except in the higher elevations of the eastern mountains.  They are common throughout this range, and the most common sunfish in the state.  Average bluegill length harvested in Tennessee reservoirs is seven inches.  They range from four to 10 inches.

stripbass.jpgStriped Bass were originally native to the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, where they entered fresh water only to spawn.  In Tennessee, they are found only where they've been stocked, or in places where they can move from stocked waters. They occupy open water areas, usually in schools.  Striped bass feed almost exclusively on gizzard and threadfin shad.
     In Tennessee waters where striped bass have been stocked, they can be considered common, however, they can migrate to other reservoirs through the series of locks found on many dams.  Mean harvested size on the striped bass from reservoirs is approximately 32 inches.  They normally range in size from 15 to 40 inches.

whitebass.jpgWhite Bass are found in schools in open water, usually in clear, cool-water, rivers and reservoirs.  They feed on fishes, mainly small shad and minnows.  While bass are found throughout the state except in the higher elevations of eastern Tennessee and are common to abundant over their range.  The mean of harvested white bass from reservoirs is approximately 12.5 inches.  They range from eight to 18 inches in length.

yelobass.jpgYellow Bass are found in quiet pools and backwaters of large streams, lakes and reservoirs.  They prefer warmer waters than white bass and feed in open water on small crustaceans, insects and small fish.  They are found in Reelfoot Lake and mainstream reservoirs of the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, where they are moderately common to abundant.  The mean harvested size of yellow bass is about 9 to 10 inches.  Their ranges from four to 11 inches in length.

cherokeebass.jpgCherokee Bass  This introduced species is a hybrid of the female striped bass and the male white bass.  It has, until recently, been called the "hybird."  The Cherokee bass prefers habitat similar to that of the striped bass and is only found where stocked or where it has migrated through dams to nearby reservoirs.  This fish feeds mainly on shad.  Like striped bass and white bass, they herd schools of shad near the surface and can cause considerable surface disturbance when they feed.  For more information on the stocking locations for the Cherokee bass, contact the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.  Cherokee bass are found in low to moderate numbers in these areas.  They average approximately 18 inches in length and range between eight and 30 inches.

northernpike.jpgNorthern Pike are not native to Tennessee and are stocked in just a few small areas of the state.  They feed on forage fishes such as shad, and on other vertebrates.  Northern Pike are found only in stocked areas in Tennessee and are not abundant in any of these areas.  Contact the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency for location information.  Samples have not been obtained for an average length estimate.

muskel.jpgMuskellunge Both strains of musky found in Tennessee prefer cool clear water with aquatic vegetation.  They are rarely far from cover and often hang motionless near cover waiting fro their prey.  Muskellunge feed on fish, usually any fish small enough to eat.  Tennessee Muskellunge are found in tributaries of the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River,  and also the Emory River and its tributaries in the Tennessee River system.  They've also been reintroduced to several other reservoirs and river systems.  The reservoir stain is found mainly in Dale Hollow Reservoir.  They are well distributed but not abundant.  The muskellunge river strain averages about 31 inches long at harvest.  It ranges from 15 to 36 inches.  The lake strain averages around 34 inches and ranges between 24 and 50 inches in length.

pickerl.jpgChain Pickerel survives in habitat that varies from clear, shallow, heavily vegetated shoal water, to the deeper parts of lakes.  They are  most commonly found in the backs of coves in Kentucky Lake and many West Tennessee streams.  They prefer the cover of brush and weed beds.  Chain pickerel feed on fish and other vertebrates, sometimes including mice, salamanders, frogs and tadpoles.  They are found in the western third of Tennessee and are generally uncommon.  The average length of chain pickerel caught in Tennessee is 20 inches, and the range is from 12 to 28 inches.

yelperch.jpgYellow Perch is a very adaptable species that lives in a variety of habitats from large lakes to ponds or quiet rivers.  It is most common in clear, open water with moderate vegetation, with bottoms of muck to sand to gravel.  Their food consists of immature insects, large invertebrates and fishes, taken in open water or off the bottom.  In Tennessee, yellow perch can be found mainly in the larger mainstream reservoirs of the Tennessee River in southeast Tennessee.  Although common in some of these areas, they are uncommon in most.  Their range as well as their numbers seem to be expanding in the state.  Harvested yellow perch average eight inches in length.  They range from four to 14 inches.

sauger.jpgSauger habitat is typically medium and large free flowing streams and rivers, and reservoirs.  The are tolerant of muddier conditions than are walleye.  Fish are their principal source of food.  Sauger are found in all mainstream reservoirs of the Tennessee and Cumberland river systems, the Mississippi river and many larger tributary streams.  They are common to abundant.  The average length of sauger harvested is approximately 16 inches.  The range is from 10 to 22 inches.

saugeye.jpgSaugeye is a hybrid between the walleye and the sauger.  It occurs naturally (although infrequently) where the two species exist together.  Most populations are produced in hatcheries and stocked into locations where neither parent species has been able to maintain a population.  The feeding habits of the saugeye are similar to those of the sauger and walleye.  They occur in large numbers only in those areas currently being stocked.  For more information, contact the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.  Harvested saugeye average approximately 15 inches in length in the state.  They range between 10 to 24 inches.

walleye.jpgWalleye prefer large, clear, deep streams, rivers and reservoirs.  They can survive temperature extremes of 32 to 90 degrees F, but usually prefer water with a maximum temperature around 77 degrees.  The walleye is a voracious feeder that feeds primarily on other fishes, including shad, sculpins, suckers, sunfish, shiners, and other available small fishes, which make up most of its diet.  Walleye are found in many of the reservoirs in Tennessee, however, only about half of these have populations dense enough to attract fishermen.  They are common to uncommon in this range.  Approximately 18 inches is the average length harvested and walleye range from 14 to 24 inches.

brooktrot.jpgBrook Trout are found mostly in clear, cold water streams and headwater sections of rivers at altitudes above 3,000 feet.  The water temperature of brook trout habitat rarely goes above 68 degrees F.  They are the only trout native to Tennessee.  They feed extensively on aquatic and land insects, and also on spiders, snails, fish eggs, frogs, salamanders, small fishes and crustaceans.  Brook trout habitat is found in the mountain streams, fading to rate in lower sections of these streams.  Average harvest length of Tennessee brook trout is approximately seven inches.  The range is between four and 14 inches.

Brown Trout aren't native to the state, but have been introduced in many suitable places.  They can be found in moderate to steeply sloped cold water streams and rivers, reservoirs and tailraces, where temperatures stay between 33 and 75 degrees F.  Their habitat is similar to that of the brook or rainbow trout, but brown trout can live in water with slightly higher temperatures.  Brown trout favor  mayflies, but will feed on a wide variety of animals, such as worms, snails, frogs, insects, crawfish, salamanders and smaller fishes.  Brown trout are most often found in the higher elevations of eastern Tennessee and selected reservoir tailwaters.  They are most common in areas where they are maintained by stocking.  Contact the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency for more information.  The average length kept in our state is around 10 inches.  Tennessee brown trout range from 8 to 20 inches.

Rainbow Trout are also not native to Tennessee, but they've been stocked extensively in the state, particularly in the eastern region.  They are usually found in cold water rivers and streams where temperatures stay cooler than 70 degrees F.  They are also found in several of the cooler water reservoirs and suitable tail waters.  Rainbow trout eat insects, crayfish, fishes and fish eggs.  They enjoy a short, frenzied feeding period when aquatic insects begin to emerge.  Rainbow trout are more numerous in the higher elevations of eastern Tennessee.  They are common in most waters where trout exist.  Approximately nine inches is the average length.  They range between 6 and 18 inches.

Channel Catfish are characteristic of clear, medium to large rivers, reservoirs and ponds.  They will eat almost anything, preferring insects, worms, fish eggs, crayfish, amphipods and a variety of plants, such as vegetable seed and fruits, and fish (usually dead).  Channel catfish are common and found generally throughout the state except in trout streams.  With a state average length harvested from reservoir of approximately 16 inches, this catfish ranges from 10 to 38 inches.

Blue Catfish are found in major rivers and reservoirs, but are also characteristic of deep areas of large rivers throughout their range.  Look for them in chutes and pools with currents.  The food of the blue catfish includes fishes, crayfish, aquatic insects and many other animals in comes across.  Found throughout Tennessee in reservoirs and larger rivers, this catfish is common.  Approximately 18 inches is the average length harvested from reservoir, with a range of 12 to 40 inches.

Flathead Catfish live in major rivers and reservoirs, and prefer deep holes scoured by currents, such as those in eddies, adjacent to bridge pilings and in tailraces below dams.  They feed mainly on live fish, taking whatever is most available.  This includes gizzard shad, freshwater drum, carp, channel catfish, bullheads, bluegill and occasionally crayfish.  Flathead catfish are found throughout Tennessee except in the higher elevations of the eastern mountains.  They are common and those harvested average 18 inches in length in the state.  The range is from 12 to 40 inches.

Yellow Bullhead live in small shallow lakes, ponds, reservoirs and slow moving streams with various bottom types from much to gravel.  They are less tolerant of poor water conditions than other bullheads.  Yellow Bullhead feed on a wide variety of small, live and dead fish.  They'll also eat dragonfly nymphs, crayfish, mollusks and fragments of aquatic plants.  They range throughout Tennessee except higher elevations of the eastern mountains and are common.  In Tennessee the average length for harvested yellow bullhead is approximately 10 inches.  They range from 4 to 16 inches.

Brown Bullhead usually inhabit still or slowly flowing warm waters such as ponds, lakes and sluggish streams and reservoirs.  They are tolerant of poor water conditions including siltation and pollution.  Brown Bullhead feed on mollusks, insects, leeches, sunfishes, crustaceans, worms, algae, plant material, fishes (usually dead) and fish eggs.  Found throughout Tennessee except in the higher elevations of the eastern mountains, this bullhead is common.  Its average length harvested is 8 inches and range is between 4 and 14 inches.

Black Bullhead are found in ponds and lower sections of small to medium sized streams with little slope, as well as in pools and backwaters of larger streams and rivers and slity, soft bottomed areas of lakes and reservoirs.  They feed on immature insects, clams, snails, crustaceans, plant material, leeches and fishes (usually dead) such as common shiners and sunfish.  Black bullhead are common and found throughout the state except in the higher elevations of the eastern mountains.  8 inches is the average harvested length.  The range of length is from 4 to 14 inches.

Longnose Gar are found in larger streams and reservoirs, where they go to  the warmest waters.  Adult gar feed on fishes such as shiners, sunfish, shad, catfish, carp and bullheads, as well as any other available food that their throats will accommodate. They show a  preference for two to three inch minnows and other small fishes that lack spiny fins.  Longnose gar are found throughout the state except in the higher elevations of eastern Tennessee.  They are common throughout this range.  The average longnose recorded in Tennessee is around 18 inches, but the range from 12 to 36 inches.

Shortnose Gar are found in quiet , unvegetated, often backwater areas of rivers and in lakes, and oxbows.  They are more tolerant of muddy water than other gar and prefer warm water.  This gar feeds on crayfish, fish and emerging aquatic insects.  Shortnose gar are found mainly in the larger reservoirs and rivers in Tennessee.  They are common in the western portion of the state, gradually reducing in numbers toward the eastern part of Tennessee, where they are rare.  Tennessee shortnose gar average around 18 inches and range from 12 to 30 inches in length.

Spotted Gar are most abundant in quiet, clear water with a lot of aquatic vegetation.  They prefer warmer waters than other gar, but also feed on fishes.  In Tennessee, spotted gar are found mostly in the larger reservoirs and rivers.  They are common in the western portion of the state, decreasing to rare in eastern waters.  Approximate average length is 16 inches and  12 to 26 in the range.

Bigmouth Buffalo inhabit the shallow portions of larger rivers, oxbows, lakes and reservoirs.  Even though they prefer clear water, they can tolerate muddy water and are well adapted to reservoirs.  Bigmouth buffalo eat plankton as well as bottom organisms, including insects, mollusks, algae, many microscopic organisms and plant material.  Bigmouth Buffalo are found throughout the western half of Tennessee in larger bodies of water and in the mainstream reservoirs as far east as Knoxville.  Although these are seldom seen by sport fishermen, they are common throughout their range.  Harvested bigmouth average approximately 24 inches in length.  They range from 16 to 38 inches.

Smallmouth Buffalo prefer the clear waters of larger rivers and reservoirs.  They eat both animal and vegetable matter, and their main animal foods are aquatic larvae and sometimes microscopic forms  strained from the mud.  Vegetable foods are algae and small plants.  Smallmouth buffalo are abundant throughout Tennessee in most larger rivers and reservoirs, except in habitat east of Knoxville and on the  Cumberland Plateau, where they are rare.  Approximately 22 inches in the average length of smallmouth buffalo harvested in Tennessee and they range between 14 and 34 inches.

Black Buffalo are similar to largemouth and smallmouth buffalo, but since they prefer running water are often found in strong currents or large rivers.  Although more of a vegetarian than other buffalo, black buffalo in Tennessee is similar to that of the largemouth buffalo.  Harvested black buffalo average approximately 24 inches in Tennessee and range between 16 and 40 inches in length.

Golden Redhorse inhabits riffle areas and pools of small to large, clear streams and rivers, where riffles are composed of sand, gravel, boulders, and the pools are free from heavy silt and aquatic vegetation.  It is also found in lakes and reservoirs, but is better adapted to river than lake habitat.  Food of the golden redhorse consists of animals and algae sucked up out of bottom sediments, including immature insects, worms, mollusks, chironomids, mayflies, caddisfilies, oligochaetes, fingernail clams.  They are found throughout Tennessee, except the higher elevations of the eastern mountains and the Mississippi River and its direct tributaries.  It is often common in its range.  The state average for golden redhorse is 14 inches.  The range is 10 to 20 inches.

River Carpsucker prefers Tennessee's larger river systems and their reservoirs but may also be found in more moderately sized rivers.  The river carpsucker's diet consists of food found on the bottom, such as insects, algae and plant material.  The river carpsucker is found in all medium to large rivers and most reservoirs throughout Tennessee except for the extreme eastern portion.  It is generally common and averages approximately 14 inches in length.  Range is 10 to 20 inches.

Gizzard Shad occur in schools and prefer productive, calm, warm waters, although they can also be found in rivers, streams and tailraces where currents are strong.  Their habitat also includes natural lakes, ponds, pools and backwaters of low gradient streams.  They feed almost entirely on microscopic organisms which are strained from water or silt.  Gizzard shad will also pick through mud and organic matter on the bottom for small food.  They are widely distributed in Tennessee, and are abundant in all of the larger streams and lakes.  Although they are seldom caught by hook and line, gizzard shad average approximately 10 inches in length and range from 2 to 14 inches.

Threadfin Shad live in lakes, larger rivers and reservoirs.  While this fish is probably not native to any portion of Tennessee, it has been widely introduced into reservoirs as a forage species.  Threadfin shad feed on plankton and are common in all major rivers and reservoirs.  The range in size from 1 to 6 inches.

Skipjack Herring prefer large rivers with usually clear, cool flowing water.  They are also adapted to large mainstream reservoirs where they can be found in the fast flowing waters below dams.  They feed primarily on fish, insects and plankton, and often in schools, when they force groups of small shad to the surface.  Skipjack herring are found mostly in Tennessee's mainstream reservoirs and their larger tributary rivers.  They are common in this habitat from Knoxville westward, excluding the Cumberland Plateau.  They average approximately 12 inches in length and range from 9 to 20 inches.

Alewife is not native to Tennessee.  It was introduced into the waters of the state from the  great Lakes because it can withstand the colder temperatures that often wipe out other forage species (primarily threadfin shad).  They have been introduced into Dale Hollow and Watauga reservoirs, but can now be found in several reservoirs located downstream from these.  Alewife feed primarily on microscopic plants and animals but occasionally on fish eggs and small fish.  Most alewife average between 2 and 6 inches although they are seldom seen by fisherman.

Paddlefish prefer large, free flowing rivers rich in zooplankton, but are commonly found in reservoirs where they have adapted well but occasionally are unable to fins suitable spawning sites to maintain their populations.  They feed primarily on plankton strained out of the water, and occasionally on very small fish that are inadvertently strained.  Paddlefish are usually found in the mainstream reservoirs of the Tennessee and Cumberland river systems, although populations exist in a few tributary reservoirs of the state.  They are common to uncommon over this range.  In Tennessee paddlefish average 36 inches in length and range from 24 to 60 inches.

Bowfin is a quiet water resident found in sluggish, swampy, clear, vegetated bays of warm lakes and rivers.  It can live in hot, poorly oxygenated water that are uninhabitable to many fishes.  This is because they are able to take air directly into an air bladder, a process similar to breathing.  Bowfin are voracious predators that favor fish but will consume virtually any type of animal, such as crayfish, freshwater shrimp, frogs, and larger insects like water beetles and dragonfly nymphs.  Habitat of the bowfin is the Tennessee River from Chattanooga downstream, the Cumberland River from Nashville downstream and the Mississippi River and its direct tributaries.  They are common in the western part of their range.  Changing to rare in the eastern portion.  Average state length harvested is 24 inches, with a range of 16 to 34 inches.

Carp are not native to the United States.  They were imported into the northeast in the early 1830's and expanded it's range to Tennessee.  Carp prefer larger, warmer waters and flourish in muddy lakes.  They are found in rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, and swamps where water temperatures range from 34 to 96 degrees F.  They occur over all types of bottoms and in clear or muddy waters.  Carp will eat almost any plant or animal matter found on the stream or lake bottom.  Important foods are plants, small crustaceans and worms.  Carp are abundant throughout the state.  They average 14 inches in length and range from 10 to 32 inches.

Drum seem to prefer large impoundment's and rivers, but occur in a wide variety of habitats.  They are mainly bottom feeders, eating insect larvae, crustaceans, small fish, clams, and snails.  Drum are found throughout the state, excluding trout streams of eastern Tennessee and are common.  Their average harvest length is 10 inches and range from 6 to 14 inches.

White Amur (commonly called "grass carp")  is native to several large river systems in Asia and has been widely introduced into small ponds and lakes for control of algae and other aquatic vegetation.  It is capable of surviving in all but the smallest pons and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures.  This transplant feeds on most forms of aquatic vegetation that comes in contact with the water.  White amur are found in other types of waters where they have escaped from stocked pons.  These are rarely caught by fishermen.  Tennessee's average white amur length is approximately 20 inches.  They range from 10 to 36 inches.;

Golden Shiner is a lake species, preferring clean, clear, quiet, shallow, vegetated areas of lakes, reservoirs and sluggish stretches of rivers and streams.  It eats algae, water fleas and other plankton organisms, chironomid paupae, aquatic insect larvae, dragonfly nymphs, cladocera, flying insects, midges, mollusks and occasionally small fishes.  The golden shiner is found throughout Tennessee and is common to abundant.  It averages approximately five inches in length and ranges between three and six inches.

Central Stonerroller commonly called "horny Head" is characteristic of small to medium sized streams with clear, cool water and moderate, sometimes rapid current, gravel or rubble bottom, and pools or riffles, but is also found in clear reservoirs.  It is tolerant of muddy or silty waters.  A vegetable feeder, the stoneroller eats algae and other minute plants found in the mud and on the surface of stones.  Stonerollers can be found throughout Tennessee and are usually very common.  They average about 4 inches in length and range between 2 and 10 inches.

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