Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax)

The Rainbow Smelt or Osmerus mordax is a rather small fish that is found in many places in North America including the Great Lakes and many coastal rivers. Rainbow Smelt have slender bodies that have an iridescent look to them with shades of blue, pink and purple on their sides, a silver back and a light underside.  Like other Smelt, they are not particularly large only growing to about 12" in maximum length and weighing in at about 3 oz maximum.

These fish go by a couple different names including American Smelt, Leefish, Freshwater Smelt, and Frost Fish.  Rainbow Smelt fall prey to a few different species of fish including Walleye, Yellow Perch, Coho Salmon, Burbot and Trout. This species of Smelt will often dine on small invertebrates, zooplankton, Whitefish, sculpins and are even known to eat other Smelt!

Rainbow Smelt are caught both commercially and for recreation.  They are edible, but are often used as animal feed and are not considered to be one of the tastiest fish.  Rainbow Smelt are considered an invasive species that can cause serious damage when introduced in the wrong locations.  While they do provide food for larger fish, they also reproduce quite quickly and can easily become overpopulated in a rather short period of time.

Some Rainbow Smelt are anadromous which means that they can live in salt water as well as fresh water near the coastline.  This fish spends much of its summer around the coast line only a mile or so inside the ocean.  In the wintertime this fish has a special anti-freeze protein that helps it survive the harsh winters.  Once Spring comes Rainbow Smelt will spawn at night in small streams.     

You can check out these Rainbow Smelt with your own eyes in the video below...


If you have any additional information about the Rainbow Smelt please leave us a comment...

Round Whitefish (Prosopium cylindraceum)

The Round Whitefish or Prosopium cylindraceum is a just one of the few different species of Whitefish. This freshwater fish is found in the upper parts of North America including the Great Lakes. Round Whitefish are normally not much larger that 20" and can weigh in at 3lbs. These fish are bottom feeders that eat fish eggs, insects, and crustaceans. You can tell this species apart from other Whitefish by a single flap that exists between the nostrils.

Round Whitefish go by many different names including Pilot Fish, Round Fish, Menominee and Frost Fish. These fish have silver underbellies with a olive brown sides. Like so many other fish on our planet they were once very populous throughout North America, but their numbers have decreased dramatically due to habitat destruction, climate change and overfishing. The State of New York has even gone as far as listing them as an endangered species.

Spawning occurs in the fall normally in November or December. They will choose an area that is rocky like a shoal or sometimes at the mouths of rivers. Their eggs take a long time to hatch, as long as 140 days! Once they hatch, the young Whitefish will grow to almost 5 inches in the first year of their lives. Round Whitefish will reach sexual maturity at around 4 and can live for about 13 years.
Round Whitefish like all other species of Whitefish are considered to be one of the finest tasting freshwater fish in the world with a light mild flavor. If you have any fishing tips or recipes for the Round Whitefish that you would like to share please leave us a comment!