![]() Spawning activity concentrates fish and makes them easier to find and catch.Dunkirk, the new movie dramatizing England’s evacuation of its forces from France aboard civilian boats in the summer 1940, examines the event from three overlapping perspectives: A handful of the foot soldiers trapped on the beach, a father-and-son yacht crew sailing across the English Channel to retrieve those troops, and a pair of Supermarine Spitfire pilots out to defend the stranded soldiers and their rescue craft from aerial attack. Many species travel long distances to spawn. Daily travel patternsįish often make regular daily movements between feeding and resting places, seasonal movements to summer and winter habitat and annual movements to traditional spawning areas. ![]() Some fish wander constantly in search of food others have narrowly defined home ranges and wait for food to come close enough to ambush. Many fish swim in groups or schools solitary fish may concentrate when a feeding opportunity presents itself. Fish continue to grow in length and girth as they get older. The life span of most of our game fish is about four to six years, but some of them live more than 10 years. ![]() Growth marks on scales reveal the age of fish, just as tree rings show the age of trees. Catfish have a tough skin, instead of scales. Scales may be thick and tough, as in the sunfish, or extremely small, as in trout. Most fish have scales, which are embedded into the skin and are arranged in overlapping rows. Many fish are dark on top and light beneath, making them more inconspicuous when viewed from above or below, respectively. For example, fish that are found near rocks or weeds often have blotches or bars on their sides. Colors and patternsįish markings usually serve as camouflage. The smaller fins assist with forward and backward movement, provide stability and steering and may help the fish brake. How fish swimĪ fish swims by alternately contracting muscles along each side, which causes its tail to sweep and propel the fish forward. The water also helps "float" fish many species can make themselves lighter or heavier in the water by increasing or decreasing the amount of gas in their swim bladders. ShapeĪ fish's streamlined shape helps it move through the water. Because they don't produce body heat, fish must find and remain in water that they are adapted for. Night feeders or fish that live in muddy water have a highly refined sense of smell.įish are cold-blooded, which means that their body temperatures are about the same as their surrounding environment. Smellįish have a nasal sac to help them detect odor. Most fish do not rely much on taste, but catfish and bullheads have taste buds over their entire bodies and fins. Noise on the bank or dock may attract or spook fish. Water conducts sound better than air, and fish hear directly through the bones in their head. Out of the water, a fish's vision is very restricted. Sightįish are able to see well, but not in muddy water or low light. ![]() Fish are more likely to hold a soft bait longer. Touchįish can detect minute temperature differences and can discriminate between hard and soft baits. The lateral line acts as radar, allowing the fish to detect the size, shape, direction and speed of objects. The lateral line contains nerve endings along a row of pores on either side of a fish from gills to tail. Knowing how fish bodies work, how fish behave, and the different habitats they use throughout the year can improve your Missouri angling success.
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