Warm Freshwater Fish.

• Bluegill. Bluegill are one of the smallest freshwater fish worth going for. They like to hang around brush, piers, and the shore, and are easy to spot. They bite all year round, and at anything: bait, small lures, you name it. They also put up a hell of a fight for their size. They're tasty, but are usually so small that they're not worth the effort. A blast if you're into catch and release.
• Crappie. Many anglers (such as myself) prefer these over all other warmwater fish. Early to mid-Spring is the best time of year for these guys, which are larger than Bluegill and much better eating. They tend to hang close to the shore so a boat isn't necessary.
• Walleye. Larger than crappie, and they have big sharp teeth for a freshwater fish. I don't fish for them, but I've caught them from time to time, and they're decent eating.
• Striped/Hybrid/White Bass. Anglers either love or hate these fish, there's no middle ground. Social, like crappie and bluegill, and not much larger, very easy to catch off of crappie jigs. They taste alright, nothing to write home about.
• Smallmouth Bass Puts up a hell of a fight, a good-sized fish, but I'd release these guys. Not worth eating.
• Largemouth Bass The king of the freshwater angling sport. These are what you save your big lures and heavy line for, and angling for them is as much as a science as a sport. If you're lucky enough to land one, they put up a rewarding fight. Not worth eating, get your picture taken with it for bragging rights and release.
• Catfish These fish range from small to one of the largest freshwater fish you can ever hope to catch, if you're so inclined. I'm not, because they are bottom feeders that will consume anything. They also have a poisonous spine on their dorsal spine. They're also ugly as hell. They rarely, if ever, will snap at a lure so bait is the only sure method. Definitely something to throw back, if you love catfish I'd suggest eating only farm-raised variety, at least you'll know that your dinner's last meal wasn't a turd. Oh, and they're not kosher (no scales.)
• Carp. ha ha ha carp

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