Identification
The short dorsal spines stand separately before the soft fin. Their number varies, so a single count should be used alongside the fish’s shape and other features. Breeding males become much darker than their usual olive coloring.
Size and Weight
The reported maximum total length is 8.7 cm, about 3.4 inches. A common length of 5 cm is approximately 2 inches. Both include the tail fin. A dependable maximum weight was not established.
Habitat and Natural Food
Slow water and submerged plants provide habitat in streams, ponds and lakes. Small crustaceans and insects are important foods; the recorded diet also includes fish eggs and other small organisms.
Observation and Fishing Context
No species-specific recreational bait or lure recommendation was verified. Nesting behavior offers a particularly interesting way to understand this small fish without treating it as a conventional sport-fishing target.
A Tiny Fish That Builds with Glue
The male binds pieces of vegetation using a sticky secretion from his kidneys. He courts a female into the nest, fertilizes the deposited eggs and guards the eggs and young. The plants are building material as well as surrounding cover.
All Lakes With Brook Stickleback
Browse all lakes and reservoirs with confirmed Brook Stickleback records in our database, listed alphabetically.
Showing 1–24 of 515 lakes · Page 1 of 22
- Acorn Lake Becker, MN
- Acorn Lake Becker, MN
- Albert Lea Lake Freeborn, MN
- Anderson Reservoir Blaine, MT
- Anita Reservoir Blaine, MT
- Annie Battle Lake Otter Tail, MN
- Artichoke Lake Big Stone, MN
- Assinika Lake Cook, MN
- Baby Lake Cass, MN
- Bainville RR Pond #1 Roosevelt, MT
- Ball Bluff Lake Aitkin, MN
- Balsam Lake Lake, MN
- Barrett Lake Grant, MN
- Barry Lake Big Stone, MN
- Bass Lake Mason, MI
- Bass Lake Crow Wing, MN
- Bass Lake Itasca, MN
- Bean Lake Lake, MN
- Bear Lake Freeborn, MN
- Bear Lake Lake, MN
- Beaver Lake Alger, MI
- Becker Lake Stearns, MN
- Bee Cee Lake Itasca, MN
- Beetle Lake Lake, MN