North America is home to many species of fish that inhabit its lakes and rivers. These fish can be found all the way from northern Canada and the Great Lakes region to further south in the coastal regions of the United States and Mexico. Among the many species of freshwater fish, the following 5 fish could be considered among the most the colorful, and would be just as fun to see and identify on a freshwater dive.
Rainbow Trout
The Rainbow Trout is a very colorful freshwater fish that inhabits the northwest territories of the United States and up the western coasts of Canada into Alaska. It is called the Rainbow Trout because of redish or pink striped markings that go down their sides. These fish can be migratory fish that travel up the rivers and streams to the ocean if they so choose. Typically these fish will grow up to about 2 feet in length.
The Redbreast Sunfish
This little fish is called the Redbreast Sunfish due to an orangish redish coloring found on its belly while the rest of it is colored in green and teal colors. The fish is commonly found in the fresh waters of northern and central Florida, but it is beginning to be bred further west into Alabama and even as far as Louisiana and up the eastern United States coast to Canada.
Blueback Herring
This is another fish found on the east coast of North America and it is a multiple mix of colors that has a darker bluish color and silvery on the backside, while having a lighter blue and pinkish colors on the underside. This fish will usually feed on smaller plankton and crustaceans.
Spotted Bass
The spotted Bass is a fish that sometimes has been called a cross between a smallmouth bass and a largemouth bass. This fish’s greenish colors can vary, but it has spots that dot the bottom half of it. It is native to the Mississippi and Ohio River regions but can be found in some western regions of Atlantic states and into Texas.
White Crappie
The White Crappie, also known as the white perch, usually has silver with a rather greenish mercury color on the front with a darker green on the back and is striped down the side. White Crappie inhabit mostly midwest territories ranging from the southern areas of Ontario down to Texas and northern Mexico.
