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U . S . F I S H A N D W I L D L I F E S E R V I C E

U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceDepartment of the Interior

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Printed on Recycled Paper

FISHINGABC’s

C O L O R I N GC O L O R I N G B O O B O O KK

ARTWORKMat MerchlewitzU.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceDivision of Wildlife and RefugesRegional Sign CenterWinona, Minnesota

TEXT DESIGNSusan Merrifield, Fishery BiologistU.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceDivision of Fisheries and Federal AidGulf Coast Fisheries CoordinationOfficeOcean Springs, Mississippi

GRAPHIC DESIGNBarbara OrisichU.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceDivision of Wildlife and RefugesPublic Use BranchAtlanta, Georgia

FUNDING PROVIDED BYDivision of Fisheries and Federal AidSoutheast Region1875 Century Blvd.Atlanta, Georgia

U.S.FISH & WILDLIFE

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Department of the Interior

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This coloring book was developedwith the assistance of a number ofFish and Wildlife Serviceemployees whom we thank. Earlytext and design assistance camefrom Dr. Alexander V. Zale,Assistant Unit Leader–Fisheries of

the Oklahoma Cooperative Fish andWildlife Research Unit. Mr. DouglasJ. Frugé, Gulf Coast FisheriesCoordinator, provided significantinput and support in finalization ofthe product.

My Drawing Page

AQUATIC

The aquatic environment is home to both aquaticand terrestrial animals. Some of these include fish,frogs and herons. Water is essential to all life.

BLUEGILL

The bluegill is fun to catch! It is a valuable fishbecause it is an important source of food for othersport fish. It lives in shallow, quiet waters nearweed beds. Bluegills build nests in colonies wherethey deposit their eggs.

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CHANNEL CATFISH

The channel catfish is highly rated by manyanglers because it bites hard and is very good to

eat. It can be found in all kinds of freshwater habitatsCatfish feed mostly at night on insects and other fish.Whisker-like sensory barbels on the upper and lowerjaw help the catfish to find its food in the dark.

DRAGONFLIES

Dragonflies are aquatic insects that live inmarshes, lakes, creeks and rivers. They are eatenby fish, both as nymphs (young dragonflies) whichlive underwater and as adults which spend most oftheir time in the air.

EEL

Eels have long, slender bodies with acontinuous fin that consists of united dorsal, caudal,and anal fins. The young eels are leaf-like in shapeand are called leptocephalous larvae. Most eels livein fresh water and spawn in the ocean.

FISHING

Fishing can be enjoyed alone or shared withfamily and friends, regardless of age. Some anglersenjoy just being outdoors and combine fishing withboating and camping. Fishing is fun, relaxing, andcan provide tasty meals!

GAR

Gar are elongate fish with long snoutsequipped with sharp teeth. Their bodies arecylindrical and covered with hard diamond-shapedscales. Gars inhabit relatively clear, sluggishwaters where they feed entirely on small fishes.

A hatchery helps improve fishing by hatching,and raising fish for stocking in streams, riversand lakes. Both state agencies and the U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service share in the responsibility ofproviding fishing recreation for you.

HATCHERY

Ice fishing is fun in winter when the ice is thickenough to hold you up. Most ice fishing is done onlarge lakes in the northern states. "Shanties" arebuilt to protect the anglers from the cold.

ICE FISHING

A juvenile fish looks just like an adult fish, but is notyet old enough to reproduce. Juvenile fish needclean water and good habitat to grow into adults bigenough to catch.

JUVENILE

The king salmon (also known as the chinook)is the largest of the Pacific salmons. Adults returnfrom the sea and move into freshwater streams toreproduce. They are an important part of the Nativesubsistence fisheries of Alaska.

KING SALMON

The largemouth bass is the most popular sportfish in America. It prefers warm, quiet waters oflakes and streams around weed beds andsubmerged logs. It feeds on small fishes, frogs,crayfishes, worms and insects.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Management of fish means improved fishing!Surveys of fish populations, construction of man-made fish habitats and recommendations onharvest regulations make fishing better for you!

MANAGEMENT

The northern pike has a tremendous fightingspirit. It eats almost anything that swims(frogs, crayfish, mice, young ducks and insects).It can usually be found in shallow waters of lakesand streams.

NORTHERN PIKE

Over-fishing results when more fish areremoved from a body of water in a single year thancan be replaced through reproduction or hatcherystocking before the following year. Limits on fishmay only be needed for some species.

OVER-FISHING

Pollution is a growing problem in our aquaticenvironment. It threatens the health and safety ofboth animals and people. Pollution free waters areessential for high quality recreational fishing.

POLLUTION

The quality of fishing may be maintained withcreel limits (the number of fish allowed per day) orsize limits. Size limits allow fish to grow up andreproduce before ending up on a stringer.

QUALITY

RESEARCH

Research by state and federal agenciesprovides answers to problems facing anglers andfisheries managers. Research projects can tell usthe condition of the fish and give us information tohelp improve our fisheries resources.

SAFETY

Safety comes first! Fishing and boating can befun, but remember to take along these importantitems for your safety!

Tackle is the equipment used to catch fish. Thisincludes the tacklebox, rods, reels, line, lures, andbobbers. The type of fishing you do will determinethe type of tackle you use.

TACKLE

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The United States Fish and Wildlife Serviceis the federal agency responsible for the

conservation and protection of our country's fishand wildlife resources. This includes promoting thewisest use of our land and water and all the livingcreatures which live there.

Vegetation that grows in the aquaticenvironment provides food and cover for manyanimals that live in or near the water. It providesspawning and nursery sites for fish — two importantelements in maintaining a good fishery.

VEGETATION

The walleye is a popular gamefish in large lakesand streams. They feed mostly at night on fish,insects, crayfish and snails. They are considered tobe among the best fish to eat.

WALLEYE

X MARKS THE SPOT!

X marks the spot! A map of a river or lake canprovide useful information to the angler on goodfishing spots. Submerged fish attractors andlocation of the main stream channel are importantthings to know for successful fishing.

Yellow perch usually swim in schools (groups offishes) in both deep and shallow water of lakes,ponds and rivers. This gives anglers a goodchance to fill their stringer.

YELLOW PERCH

Zones are layers in a lake, stream or river thatseparate different fish habitats. Some fish can be foundin the shallow water zone (bluegill), some fish can befound in the open water zone (walleye), and some fishcan be found in the deep water zone (catfish).

ZONES