Fish Species

Fish Species by Watersheds : 'Lower Big Chico Creek-180201570503'

Freshwater native and non-native fish species present currently and/or historically, determined from the PISCES database (Feb. 26, 2014).  Some species, such as salmon or steelhead, may no longer be present upstream of dams that lack fish passage.

Yes/No corresponds to California native species

American Shad

  • Alosa sapidissima
  • No

  • Thumbnail. American shad, head. Caught on the Feather River (Star Bend boat launch) on 4 July 2008. Approximately 20 cm TL. Photo by Brian Currier.

Bluegill

  • Lepomis macrochirus
  • No

  • Thumbnail. Bluegill approximately 15 cm (6”) long. Location: Leonard Lake, California Date: 8/6/2008 Photo: Lisa Thompson

Brown Bullhead

  • Ameiurus nebulosus
  • No

  • Thumbnail. Brown bullhead. Caught in Seneca County, New York. Photo by Arthur Masloski, January 2009.

Brown Trout

  • Salmo trutta
  • No

  • Thumbnail. Brown trout, approximately 20 cm (8”) long. Location: Deer Creek, California Date: 6/21/2007. Photo by Dave Giordano

Central Valley Fall Chinook Salmon

  • Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
  • Yes

  • Thumbnail. Chinook salmon. Spring-run Chinook salmon (female spawner) swimming in Butte Creek, CA on 14 September 2006. Photo - Lisa Thompson, UC Davi

Central Valley late Fall Chinook Salmon

  • Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
  • Yes

  • Thumbnail. Chinook salmon. Spring-run Chinook salmon (female spawner) swimming in Butte Creek, CA on 14 September 2006. Photo - Lisa Thompson, UC Davi

Central Valley spring Chinook Salmon

  • Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
  • Yes

  • Thumbnail. Chinook salmon. Spring-run Chinook salmon (female spawner) swimming in Butte Creek, CA on 14 September 2006. Photo - Lisa Thompson, UC Davi

Central Valley Steelhead

  • Oncorhynchus mykiss
  • Yes

  • Thumbnail. Rainbow trout, 18 cm (7”) long. Location: Deer Creek, California (Yuba River basin). Date: 6/21/2007. Photo by Dave Giordano.

Coastal Rainbow Trout

  • Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus
  • Yes

  • Thumbnail. Rainbow trout, 18 cm (7”) long. Location: Deer Creek, California (Yuba River basin). Date: 6/21/2007. Photo by Dave Giordano.

Common Carp

  • Cyprinus carpio
  • No

  • Thumbnail. Common carp approximately 18 cm (7”) long. Location: Suisun Marsh, California. Date: 8/8/2008. Photo by Dave Giordano.

Goldfish

  • Carassius auratus
  • No

  • Thumbnail. Goldfish, captured in rotary screw trap on Sacramento River at Knight's Landing. Date: January 2009. Photo by Dan Worth, CDFW.

Green Sunfish

  • Lepomis cyanellus
  • No

  • Thumbnail. Green sunfish with measurements Location: Leonard Lake, California Date: 8/6/2008 Photo: Lisa Thompson

Inland Threespine Stickleback

  • Gasterosteus aculeatus microcephalus
  • Yes

  • Thumbnail. Threespine stickleback (armored). Location: Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Date: 16 April 2011. Photo by Christopher Mosser, UC Davis.

Largemouth Bass

  • Micropterus salmoides
  • No

  • Thumbnail. Largemouth bass approximately 30 cm (12”) long. Location: Deer Creek, California Date 6/22/2007. Photo by Dave Giordano.

Pacific Lamprey

  • Entosphenus tridentata
  • Yes

  • Thumbnail. Pacific lamprey, captured in rotary screw trap on Sacramento River at Knight's Landing. Photo by Dan Worth, CDFW.

Prickly Sculpin

  • Cottus asper subspecies
  • Yes

  • Thumbnail. Prickly sculpin, approximately 10 cm (4”) long. Location: Suisun Marsh, California. Date: 8/6/2007. Photo by Dave Giordano.

Redear Sunfish

  • Lepomis microlophus
  • No

  • Thumbnail. Redear sunfish. Photo courtesy of Professor Peter B. Moyle.

Riffle Sculpin

  • Cottus gulosus
  • Yes

  • Thumbnail. Riffle sculpin, side view. Location: South Fork American River. Date: 5 May 2010. Photo by Lisa C. Thompson.

Sacramento Blackfish

  • Orthodon microlepidotus
  • Yes

  • Thumbnail. Sacramento blackfish, caught in the San Joaquin river near Stockton on 11/11/08. Photo by Steve Reem.

Sacramento Pikeminnow

  • Ptychocheilus grandis
  • Yes

  • Thumbnail. Sacramento pikeminnow, juvenile. Location: Deer Creek California (Yuba River basin). Date: 6/20/2007. Photo by Dave Giordano.

Sacramento Speckled Dace

  • Rhinichthys osculus subspecies
  • Yes

  • Thumbnail. Speckled dace, approximately 7 cm (3”) long. Date: 7/8/2007. Photo by Dave Giordano.

Sacramento Splittail

  • Pogonichthys macrolepidotus
  • Yes

  • Thumbnail. Sacramento splittail, adult, from the Cosumnes River, CA. Photo courtesy of Professor Peter B. Moyle.

Sacramento Sucker

  • Catostomus occidentalis occidentalis
  • Yes

  • Thumbnail. Sacramento sucker, adult, caught in Putah Creek, California on 26 June 2008 by Teejay O'Rear. Photo by Amber Manfree.

Sacramento Tule Perch

  • Hysterocarpus traskii traskii
  • Yes

  • Thumbnail. Tule perch, 13 cm (5”) long. Location: Suisun March. Date: 8/6/2007. Photo by Dave Giordano.

Smallmouth Bass

  • Micropterus dolomieu
  • No

  • Thumbnail. Smallmouth bass. Photo courtesy of Drew Gregory.

Southern Green Sturgeon

  • Acipenser medirostris
  • Yes

  • Thumbnail. Green sturgeon, juvenile, in tank. Photo courtesy of Dennis Cocherell, UC Davis.

Spotted Bass

  • Micropterus punctulatus
  • No

  • Thumbnail. Spotted bass, juvenile, approximately 7.5 cm (3”) long. Location: Deer Creek, California Date: 6/22/2007. Photo by Dave Giordano.

Striped Bass

  • Morone saxatilis
  • No

  • Thumbnail. Striped bass, approximately 18 cm (7”) long. Location: Suisun Marsh, California Date: 8/6/2007. Photo by Dave Giordano.

Thicktail Chub

  • Siphatales crassicauda
  • Yes
  • N / A

Western Brook Lamprey

  • Lampetra richardsoni
  • Yes

  • Thumbnail. Western brook lamprey. Location: Prairie Creek, CA. Date: 2011. Photo by Michael Sparkman, CDFW.

Western Mosquitofish

  • Gambusia affinis
  • No

  • Thumbnail. Western mosquitofish, captured in rotary screw trap on Sacramento River at Knight's Landing. Date: 1/29/2009. Photo by Dan Worth, CDFW.

White Crappie

  • Pomoxis annularis
  • No

  • Thumbnail. White crappie. Photo courtesy of Corey Geving, webmaster at roughfish.com.