Habitats of the Lower Grand of the Lower Grand River The warm, muddy water of the Grand River is home to more than 100 Watching of fish. Some are large river fish that A Checklist are specially adapted to finding food Don’t expect to see fish swimming deep below in low-light environments. Many others the turbid water of the Grand, but late summer is use the Grand as a connecting highway a good time to see gar gulping air at the surface. between their preferred habitats. Schools of young shad also create disturbances on the surface. When the water is calm in backwaters and at the mouth of the river, you can observe a variety of sucker species, , drum and bass feeding over rocks or shallow flats.

Backwaters include a drowned river mouth lake ( Lake), numerous bayous and Collecting Fish man-made gravel pits. Some are dominated with hook and line is the best way to by rich plankton blooms and others offer catch most species. Even and darters abundant rooted vegetation. will strike a tiny fly or hook baited with a piece of worm. Nets and traps are also legal gear Many small creeks flow to theGrand River. for certain species in some environments (check Some suffer from excessive sediment and the Fishing Guide for regulations). nutrients, which creates poor water quality Seines are a good choice for snag-free flats and that can limit fish diversity. However, others cast nets are effective on open water species in like the upper reaches of Crockery Creek waters. still support fish that require clean, cold, flowing water — including brook .

The cold, clear water of Lake Michigan provides a home for many species that occasionally enter the Grand River. River www.miseagrant.umich.edu/news/sw species also move into Lake Michigan in SPRING late summer to find cooler temperatures. Michigan Sea Grant helps to foster economic growth and protect Michigan’s LAKE coastal, resources through research, education and outreach. Diadromous fish species, such as Lake MICHU-13-708

Sturgeon, spend much of their adult life Hanshue, S. K., and A. H. Harrington. 2011. Draft Grand River Assessment. Michigan in Lake Michigan before returning to the Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, Special Report, Ann Arbor. Bailey, R. M., W. C. Latta, and G. R. Smith. 2004. An atlas of Michigan fishes with keys Grand River and tributary streams to . and illustrations for their identification. Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Miscellaneous Publications No. 192. Ann Arbor. Lower Grand River Look for these fish species found in waters of the Grand River and connected waters including Spring Lake, other backwaters, tributaries and Lake Michigan. FISHES Checklist See outer panel for explanation of preferred habitats.

LampreyLamprey familyLamprey family (Petromyzontidae) family (Petromyzontidae) (Petromyzontidae) SuckerSucker familySucker family () family (Catostomidae) (Catostomidae) PiratePirate perchPirate perch family perch family (Aphredoderidae) family (Aphredoderidae) (Aphredoderidae) chestnut chestnut chestnut lamprey lamprey lamprey Grand Grand RiverGrand River River quillbackquillbackquillback Grand Grand RiverGrand River River S pirate S pirate S perchpirate perch perch CreeksCreeksCreeks Lamprey familyAm. (Petromyzontidae)Am. brook Am. brook brook lamprey lamprey lamprey CreeksCreeksCreeks Sucker family (Catostomidae)longnose longnose longnose sucker sucker sucker DiadromousDiadromousDiadromousPirate perchCod family familyCod (Aphredoderidae) Codfamily (Gadidae) family (Gadidae) (Gadidae) chestnut lamprey Grand River quillback Grand River S pirate perch Creeks I sea I sea lampreyI sea lamprey lamprey DiadromousDiadromousDiadromous white white suckerwhite sucker sucker DiadromousDiadromousDiadromous burbotburbotburbot Lake Lake MichiganLake Michigan Michigan Am. brook lamprey Creeks longnose sucker Diadromous Cod family (Gadidae) SturgeonSturgeon Sturgeonfamily family (Acipenseridae) family (Acipenseridae) (Acipenseridae) lake lake chubsuckerlake chubsucker chubsucker Grand Grand RiverGrand River River KillifishKillifish familyKillifish family (Fundulidae) family (Fundulidae) (Fundulidae) I sea lamprey Diadromous Diadromous Lake Michigan T lake T lake T sturgeonlake sturgeon sturgeon DiadromousDiadromousDiadromous northern northern northern hog hog sucker hog sucker sucker CreeksCreeksCreeks w. w. banded w. banded killifish banded killifish killifish BackwatersBackwatersBackwaters Sturgeon family (Acipenseridae) lake chubsucker Grand River Killifish family (Fundulidae) Gar familyGar familyGar (Lepisosteidae) family (Lepisosteidae) (Lepisosteidae) S black S black S buffaloblack buffalo buffalo Grand Grand RiverGrand River River SilversideSilversideSilverside family family (Atherinopsidae) family (Atherinopsidae) (Atherinopsidae) T lake sturgeon Diadromous northern hog sucker Creeks w. banded killifish Backwaters SC spotted SC spotted SC spotted gar gar gar BackwatersBackwatersBackwaters S spotted S spotted S spotted sucker sucker sucker All All All brook brook silversidebrook silverside silverside BackwatersBackwatersBackwaters Gar family (Lepisosteidae) S black buffalo Grand River Silverside family (Atherinopsidae) longnose longnose longnose gar gar gar Grand Grand RiverGrand River River silver silver redhorsesilver redhorse redhorse Grand Grand RiverGrand River River SticklebackSticklebackStickleback family family (Gasterosteidae) family (Gasterosteidae) (Gasterosteidae) SC spotted gar Backwaters S spotted sucker All brook silverside Backwaters BowfinBowfin familyBowfin family (Amiidae) family (Amiidae) (Amiidae) T river T river T redhorseriver redhorse redhorse Grand Grand RiverGrand River River brook brook sticklebackbrook stickleback stickleback CreeksCreeksCreeks longnose gar Grand River silver redhorse Grand River Stickleback family (Gasterosteidae) bowfin bowfin (dogfish) (dogfish) (dogfish) BackwatersBackwatersBackwaters S golden S golden S golden redhorse redhorse redhorse Grand Grand RiverGrand River River I threespine I threespine I threespine stickleback stickleback sticklebackLake Lake MichiganLake Michigan Michigan Bowfin family (Amiidae) T river redhorse Grand River brook stickleback Creeks Eelbowfin familyEel family (dogfish)Eel (Anguillidae) family (Anguillidae) (Anguillidae)Backwaters S golden shorthead redhorseshorthead shorthead redhorse redhorse redhorseGrand RiverGrand Grand RiverGrand River River I threespine ninespine sticklebackninespine ninespine stickleback sticklebackLake stickleback MichiganLake Lake MichiganLake Michigan Michigan Eel familyI (Anguillidae)American I American I American eel eel eel DiadromousDiadromousDiadromous shorthead greater redhorsegreater greater redhorse redhorse redhorseGrand RiverGrand Grand RiverGrand River River ninespine SculpinSculpin stickleback familySculpin family (Cottidae) family (Cottidae) (Cottidae)Lake Michigan I HerringAmerican familyHerring eelfamily () family (Clupeidae) (Clupeidae)Diadromous greater CatfishCatfish family redhorseCatfish family (Ictaluridae) family (Ictaluridae) (Ictaluridae)Grand River Sculpin family (Cottidae)mottled mottled mottled sculpin sculpin sculpin CreeksCreeksCreeks Herring IfamilyalewifeI (Clupeidae)alewifeI Lake Lake MichiganLake Michigan Michigan Catfish family (Ictaluridae)black black bullheadblack bullhead bullhead BackwatersBackwatersBackwaters mottled sculpinslimy slimy sculpinslimy sculpin sculpin Creeks Lake Lake MichiganLake Michigan Michigan I alewifeI gizzard I gizzard I gizzard shad shad shad Lake MichiganGrand Grand RiverGrand River River black yellow bullheadyellow yellow bullhead bullhead bullheadBackwatersBackwatersBackwatersBackwaters slimy Temperate sculpinTemperateTemperate bass bassfamily bass family ()Lake family (Moronidae) (Moronidae) Michigan I Minnowgizzard Minnow family Minnow shad family () family (Cyprinidae) (Cyprinidae)Grand River yellow S brown S bullheadbrown S brown bullhead bullhead bullheadBackwatersBackwatersBackwatersBackwaters Temperate bassI white familyI white I(Moronidae) perchwhite perch perch BackwatersBackwatersBackwaters Minnow familycentral (Cyprinidae)central stoneroller stoneroller CreeksCreeksCreeks S brown channel bullheadchannel catfish catfishBackwatersGrand Grand RiverGrand River River I white perchwhite white basswhite bass bass BackwatersBackwatersBackwatersBackwaters central I goldfishI stonerollergoldfishI goldfish CreeksBackwatersBackwatersBackwaters channel S tadpole S catfishtadpole S tadpole madtom madtom madtomGrand RiverCreeksCreeksCreeks white Sunfish bassSunfish familySunfish family (Centrarchidae) family (Centrarchidae) (Centrarchidae)Backwaters I goldfishspotfin spotfin spotfin shiner shiner shiner BackwatersGrand Grand RiverGrand River River S tadpole flathead madtomflathead flathead catfish catfish catfish CreeksGrand Grand RiverGrand River River Sunfish family (Centrarchidae)rock rock bassrock bass bass All All All spotfin I common I shinercommon I common carp carp carp Grand RiverAll All All flathead Pike familyPike catfish Pikefamily (Esocidae) family (Esocidae) (Esocidae)Grand River rock bass green green sunfishgreen sunfish sunfish All BackwatersBackwatersBackwaters I common S brassy S brassy S carp brassy minnow minnow minnow All CreeksCreeksCreeks Pike familyS (Esocidae)grass S grass S pickerelgrass pickerel pickerel CreeksCreeksCreeks green sunfishpumpkinseedpumpkinseedpumpkinseedBackwatersBackwatersBackwatersBackwaters S brassy S striped S minnowstriped S striped shiner shiner shiner CreeksCreeksCreeksCreeks S grass pickerelnorthern northern pike pike CreeksBackwatersBackwatersBackwaters pumpkinseedwarmouthwarmouthwarmouth BackwatersBackwatersBackwatersBackwaters S striped common shinercommon shiner shiner CreeksCreeksCreeksCreeks northern pikemuskellungemuskellunge BackwatersLake Lake MichiganLake Michigan Michigan warmouthbluegillbluegillbluegill BackwatersBackwatersBackwatersBackwaters common redfin redfin shiner shinerredfin shiner shiner CreeksCreeksCreeksCreeks muskellungeMudminnowMudminnowMudminnow family family (Umbridae) family (Umbridae) Lake (Umbridae) Michigan n. longear n. longear n. longear sunfish sunfishBackwaters sunfish CreeksCreeksCreeks redfin northern shinernorthern northern pearl pearl dace pearl dace Creeks dace CreeksCreeksCreeks Mudminnow familycentral (Umbridae)central central mudminnow mudminnow mudminnow BackwatersBackwatersBackwaters n. longear smallmouth sunfishsmallmouth smallmouth bass bass Creeks bass Grand Grand RiverGrand River River northern hornyhead hornyhead pearl dace chub chub CreeksCreeksCreeksCreeks central SmeltSmelt family mudminnowSmelt family (Osmeridae) family (Osmeridae) (Osmeridae)Backwaters smallmouth largemouth basslargemouth bassGrand bass RiverBackwatersBackwatersBackwaters hornyhead S river S river S chub chubriver chub chub CreeksGrand Grand RiverGrand River River familyI (Osmeridae)rainbow I rainbow I rainbow smelt smelt smelt Lake Lake MichiganLake Michigan Michigan largemouth white basswhite crappiewhite crappieBackwatersBackwatersBackwatersBackwaters S river golden chub golden shiner shiner Grand Backwaters RiverBackwatersBackwaters I rainbow SalmonSalmon family smeltSalmon family (Salmonidae) family (Salmonidae) (Salmonidae)Lake Michigan white crappieblack black crappieblack crappie crappieBackwatersBackwatersBackwatersBackwaters golden emerald shineremerald shiner shiner BackwatersGrand Grand RiverGrand River River Salmon familyT, X T, lake (Salmonidae) X T,lake X herringlake herring herring NoneNoneNone black Perch crappiePerch familyPerch family () family (Percidae) (Percidae)Backwaters emerald shiner Grand River lake herring None S bigmouth S bigmouth S shiner shiner Grand Grand RiverGrand River River T, X lake lake whitefishlake whitefish whitefish Lake Lake MichiganLake Michigan MichiganPerch family (Percidae)greenside greenside greenside darter darter darter CreeksCreeksCreeks S bigmouth blackchin blackchin shinerblackchin shiner shiner shinerGrand Lake RiverLake MichiganLake Michigan Michigan lake whitefishbloaterbloaterbloater Lake MichiganLake Lake MichiganLake Michigan Michigan greenside rainbow darterrainbow rainbow darter darter darterCreeks CreeksCreeksCreeks blackchin shiner Lake Michigan bloater Lake Michigan rainbow darter Creeks blacknose blacknose blacknose shiner shiner shiner CreeksCreeksCreeks I pink I pink I salmonpink salmon salmon Lake Lake MichiganLake Michigan Michigan Iowa Iowa darterIowa darter darter CreeksCreeksCreeks blacknose shiner Creeks I pink salmon Lake Michigan Iowa darter Creeks spottail spottail shiner shiner Grand Grand RiverGrand River River I coho I coho I salmoncoho salmon salmon DiadromousDiadromousDiadromous S barred S barred S fantail barred fantail fantail darter darter darter CreeksCreeksCreeks spottail shiner Grand River I coho salmon Diadromous S barred fantail darter Creeks rosyface rosyface rosyface shiner shiner shiner CreeksCreeksCreeks I rainbow I rainbow I rainbow trout trout trout DiadromousDiadromousDiadromous johnny johnny johnny darter darter darter All All All rosyface shiner Creeks I rainbow trout Diadromous johnny darter All sand sand shinersand shiner shiner Grand Grand RiverGrand River River I Chinook I Chinook I Chinook salmon salmon salmon DiadromousDiadromousDiadromous yellow yellow perch perch All All All sand shiner Grand River I Chinook salmon Diadromous yellow perch All mimic mimic shinermimic shiner shiner All All All round round round whitefish whitefish whitefish Lake Lake MichiganLake Michigan Michigan logperchlogperchlogperch Grand Grand RiverGrand River River mimic shiner All round whitefish Lake Michigan logperch Grand River n. redbelly n. n. redbelly redbelly dace dace dace CreeksCreeksCreeks I Atlantic I Atlantic I Atlantic salmon salmon salmon Lake Lake MichiganLake Michigan Michigan blackside blackside blackside darter darter darter CreeksCreeksCreeks n. redbelly dace Creeks I Atlantic salmon Lake Michigan blackside darter Creeks finescale finescale finescale dace dace dace CreeksCreeksCreeks brown brown troutbrown trout trout Crockery Crockery Crockery Creek Creek Creek walleyewalleyewalleye DiadromousDiadromousDiadromous finescale dace Creeks I brown I troutI I Crockery Creek Diadromous bluntnose bluntnose bluntnose minnowbluntnose minnow minnow minnow All All All All brook brook trout brook troutbrook trout trout Crockery Crockery CreekCrockery Crockery Creek Creek CreekDrum familyDrum (Sciaenidae)Drum familyDrum family (Sciaenidae) family (Sciaenidae) (Sciaenidae) fathead fathead fathead minnowfathead minnow minnow minnow CreeksCreeksCreeksCreeks lake troutlake lake troutlake trout trout Lake MichiganLake Lake MichiganLake Michigan Michigan freshwater freshwater drumfreshwater freshwater drum drumGrand drum RiverGrand Grand RiverGrand River River w. blacknose w. w. blacknose w. blacknose dace blacknose dace dace daceCreeksCreeksCreeksCreeks Trout-perchTrout-perch familyTrout-perch Trout-perch(Percopsidae) family family (Percopsidae) family (Percopsidae) (Percopsidae) Goby familyGoby (Gobiidae)Goby familyGoby family (Gobiidae) family (Gobiidae) (Gobiidae) creek creek chubcreek chubcreek chub chub CreeksCreeksCreeksCreeks trout-­‐perchtrout-­‐perchtrout-­‐perchtrout-­‐perch BackwatersBackwatersBackwatersBackwaters I round I gobyround I round I gobyround goby goby All All All All

SpecialSpecial statusSpecial forstatus Specialcertain status for certainspecies status for certain forspecieslisted certain speciesin listed bold: species listed inI = bold: Introduced; listed in bold:I = in Introduced; bold:I =S =Introduced; ISpecies = Introduced; S = of Species SGreatest = Species S of= ConservationSpeciesGreatest of Greatest of Conservation Greatest Need; Conservation SCConservation Need;= Special Need; SC Conc =Need; SCSpecialern; = SCSpecial T Conc = Threatened;Special ern;Conc T Concern; = Threatened; XTern; = ExtirpatedThreatened; T = Threatened; X = Extirpated X = Extirpated X = Extirpated ExtirpatedExtirpated meansExtirpated Extirpatedmeansthe species means the speciesmeanshave the speciesnot the have been species nothave found been havenot in found beenthe not lower beenfound in the Grandfound in lower the Riverin lower Grand the inlower Grand recentRiver Grand Riveryears.in recent River in Weed recent years. in shiner recent years. Weed is years. alsoWeed shiner considered Weed shiner is also shiner is considered extirpatedalso is consideredalso considered fromextirpated all extirpated Michigan fromextirpated allfrom waters. Michigan fromall Michigan all waters.Michigan waters. waters.