Scientific name:
Ameiurus Natalis
Identification:
Dorsal region of head, back, and upper sides yel- low, olive, or black; sides lighter; ventral region of head and belly yellow to white. Snout and upper jaw barbels dark pigmented, chin barbels whitish, occa- sionally grayish in large individuals. All fins dusky, with pencil-line black margins; the interradial mem- branes dark but not black; anal fin usually with dark horizontal median band.
Distribution:
In Wisconsin, the yellow bullhead occurs in the Mississippi River, Lake Superior, and Lake Michigan drainage basins. The yellow bullhead is generally uncommon in the Mississippi River, and common in the Wisconsin River and in Lakes Winnebago and Poygan. It is the typical bullhead in clear, medium-sized streams and dear lakes.
Spawning:
The spawning of the yellow bullhead may begin in May, and in northern Wisconsin it extends into July. The nests are usually saucer-shaped excavations at depths of 0.5-1.2 m (1.5-4 ft), located beside or be- neath a bank, a log, or a tree root. Usually 300-700 eggs are deposited in a nest.
Angling: