“A treasure of hardcore fish intelligence and delightful tidbits of fish history.”—Dale Bowman, Chicago Sun-Times

Fish don’t heed state boundaries, and neither does this comprehensive, photo-filled guide to the diverse species of Chicago and beyond.
 
Encompassing southern Lake Michigan, northeastern Illinois, and adjacent areas of Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, the Chicago Region is home to rare habitats supporting diverse fish populations. From small creeks to large rivers and from small ponds to one of the world’s largest freshwater ecosystems, Lake Michigan, these systems are home to some 164 fish species representing 31 families. In this essential field guide, the most complete and up-to-date reference for fishes in the Chicago Region, we meet them all—lampreys, sturgeon, paddlefish, gars, drum, darters, perches, sticklebacks, sculpins, and more. Written by leading local ecologists and featuring a pictorial family key, color photographs, detailed species distribution maps, and natural history observations unique to the region, this go-to guide belongs on the shelf—and in the boat—of every angler, naturalist, fisheries manager, and biologist.

Francis M. Veraldi is a fish biologist and restoration ecologist for the US Army Corps of Engineers, where he leads multidisciplinary teams for the formulation, design, and implementation of aquatic ecosystem restoration projects. Stephen M. Pescitelli is retired from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, where he spent thirty years as a Natural Resources Advanced Specialist and stream biologist. He was responsible for monitoring fish assemblages in the watershed areas of the Des Plaines, DuPage, Fox, Kankakee, and Mazon Rivers as well as the Aux Sable Creek. He was also involved in stream restoration, focusing on dam removals in northeastern Illinois. He also worked and studied at the Illinois Natural History Survey. Philip W. Willink is an academic researcher for the Illinois Natural History Survey. He was previously a senior research biologist in the Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research at the John G. Shedd Aquarium and the assistant collections manager for the Fish Division at the Field Museum of Natural History.