List of fish of the Indiana Dunes facts for kids

Indiana Dunes National Park is a special place right on the shore of Lake Michigan in Indiana, United States. It's managed by the National Park Service. In 2009, scientists and volunteers did something called a "BioBlitz" there. This was a big event where they tried to find and list as many living things as possible in a short time. During this BioBlitz, they made a list of all the freshwater fish they found in the park's waters.

Discover the Fish of Indiana Dunes

Many different kinds of fish live in the waters of Indiana Dunes National Park. Scientists have put together a list of these fish. Some are native to the area, while others are considered "invasive." Invasive species are plants or animals that are not originally from a place and can sometimes harm the local environment.

Meet the Fish Species

Here are some of the fish you might find swimming in the park's lakes and rivers:

Invasive Fish

• Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)
  • These fish are not native to the Great Lakes. They can sometimes cause problems for local fish populations.

Other Fish Species

• Warmouth (Chaenobryttus gulosus)
• American Pickerel (Esox americanus)
• Iowa Darter (Etheostoma exile)
• Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)
• Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus)
• Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
• Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus)
  • This is another type of fish that is not native to the area.
• Spotfin Shiner (Cyprinella spiloptera)
• Emerald Shiner (Notropis atherinoides)
• Spottail Shiner (Notropis hudsonius)
• Sand Shiner (Notropis stramineus)
• Mimic Shiner (Notropis volucellus)
• Golden Shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas)
• Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
• Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
• Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
• Central Mudminnow (Umbra limi)

Where to Go Fishing

If you enjoy fishing, Indiana Dunes National Park has some great spots. Remember to always follow park rules and have the right fishing licenses.

Popular Fishing Locations

• Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk
  • This area has a new fishing pier built in 2009. It's a good spot to catch small mouth bass, carp, catfish, salmon, and trout.
• Long Lake
  • You can get to Long Lake through the West Beach entrance. It's a popular place for catching large mouth bass and bluegill.
• Salt Creek
  • Salt Creek is located where it meets the East Branch of the Little Calumet River. This spot can be a bit tricky to reach in Burns Harbor. However, it's known for having large mouth bass, salmon, and trout.