• Characteristics - bluish-green back shading to coppery-blue sides and light bluish-grey belly; deeply rounded body with a large head and mouth; dorsal fin sickle-shaped; individuals over 40 pounds not uncommon in commercial catches; form schools
• Distribution - large, slow-moving rivers and river impoundments throughout most of the state
• Foods - plankton, copepods, cladocerans
• State Record - 62 pounds 8 ounces - Mississippi River, Allamakee County, August 1999 - Jim Winters, Jessup, Iowa
• Expert's Tip - bigmouth buffalo are rarely caught on hook and line - if you do, hold on because these fish are strong!

For more bigmouth buffalo information, see our printable pdf (134K) or Iowa Fish & Fishing.