Best Freshwater Fish Identification Guides: 4 Field Guide Picks

Choosing a freshwater fish guide can be tricky when you’re deciding between a compact folding reference and a bound book, or wondering what identification details each one covers.

The guides vary in their presentation, from maps and revised plates to notes on habitat, field marks, and natural history.

This time, we’ll round up four guides to freshwater fishes, including compact pocket formats and paperback field guides.

Quick-reference table of recommended products

Product name	Format	Featured freshwater fish species (count)	Guide content
Freshwater Fishes (Pocket Naturalist® Guide)	Laminated folding guide	—	Simplified reference to common North American species; organized around likely observations
Ken Schultz’s Field Guide to Freshwater Fish	Paperback	140 common species	Identification, habitat, size, and diet
Peterson Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes, Second Edition	Paperback	—	North American freshwater fish; all-new maps and new and revised plates
Bass & Freshwater Game Fish of North America	2nd Edition pamphlet	39 featured species	Color illustrations, field marks, and natural history

Freshwater Fishes (Pocket Naturalist® Guide)

For anglers of any age looking for a simplified reference to common North American freshwater fish in the field, Freshwater Fishes is recommended. Its information is organized around what viewers are most likely to observe, with color pictures and information on both sides of the card.

In its compact form, this lightweight laminated folding guide measures 4” x 8” and opens to 8” x 22”, with a format intended for field use.

Ken Schultz’s Field Guide to Freshwater Fish

For anglers looking for a field guide to common freshwater fish across North America, Ken Schultz’s Field Guide to Freshwater Fish is recommended. It covers 140 species found in North American rivers, lakes, and streams, with information on identification, habitat, size, and diet.

Peterson Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes, Second Edition

For readers looking for a North American freshwater fish field guide with updated maps and visual references, Peterson Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes, Second Edition is recommended. This edition incorporates almost 150 additional species, including 19 marine invaders and 16 newly established nonnative species. It also includes all-new maps and a collection of new and revised plates.

Bass & Freshwater Game Fish of North America

For anglers and naturalists looking for a portable fish reference to take on fishing expeditions, Bass & Freshwater Game Fish of North America is recommended. It covers 39 featured species, each illustrated in color with information about field marks and natural history.

The 12-panel folding pocket guide is laminated for durability and described as weather-resistant.

Choosing a freshwater fish guide

• Anglers seeking a folding guide for field use
  • Freshwater Fishes (Pocket Naturalist® Guide)
  • Bass & Freshwater Game Fish of North America
• Readers looking for identification details across common North American freshwater species
  • Ken Schultz’s Field Guide to Freshwater Fish
• Readers seeking all-new maps and new and revised plates
  • Peterson Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes, Second Edition

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