Carpiodes cyprinus

How to identify a Quillback

Quillback are found in cool and temperate lakes, rivers, streams, and connected wetlands. Use these features as a starting point and compare with a full identification guide before relying on any identification.

Habitat and range

Cool and temperate lakes, rivers, streams, and connected wetlands

Where to catch Quillback

• Mississippi River pools
• Great Lakes rivermouths
• Ohio River — all species we list for this fishery

Quillback by state

State season calendars that list Quillback — each shows the months it is in season and the official licence source:

• Arkansas — seasons, best months and licence info
• Illinois — seasons, best months and licence info
• Indiana — seasons, best months and licence info
• Iowa — seasons, best months and licence info
• Kentucky — seasons, best months and licence info
• Louisiana — seasons, best months and licence info
• Michigan — seasons, best months and licence info
• Minnesota — seasons, best months and licence info
• Mississippi — seasons, best months and licence info
• Missouri — seasons, best months and licence info
• New York — seasons, best months and licence info
• Ohio — seasons, best months and licence info

Plus 4 more — all 50 state calendars.

Baits and lures

Species-dependent · insects · worms · small fish · crustaceans · flies · or artificial lures where legal

Related species

Often caught in the same waters or confused with Quillback:

• Rainbow Darter — identification & profile (Freshwater)
• Rainbow Trout — identification & profile (Freshwater)
• Rainwater Killifish — identification & profile (Freshwater)
• Red-bellied Piranha — identification & profile (Freshwater)
• Redbelly Tilapia — identification & profile (Freshwater)
• Redbreast Sunfish — identification & profile (Freshwater)