All In The Family ​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​

We’ve all attended them, the family reunion where the “self-appointed family genealogist” lines up reluctant kids and declares how much they look like Great Grandpa or Grandma. We all dutifully agree, although no one can imagine them as children! Or those awkward moments when long-lost cousins appear and nobody recognizes them. We think they’re the caterers. So much for family resemblances!

- Barry Corbett

Well, fish also belong to families and, like any family, there are members who resemble each other and there are others where the family connection isn’t as obvious. In the freshwater world, I can’t think of a family more diverse in size, shape and lifestyles than the Percidae or perch family!

The most well-known members of this family are the walleye, sometimes referred to as pickerel; the sauger and, of course, the yellow perch who bears the family name. But did you know there are a number of other family members collectively called the “darters” with exotic names like rainbow, Iowa or Johnny?

Walleye, sauger and perch can be found throughout North America with equivalent versions (Zander and European perch) in Europe, Scandinavia and Russia, while an amazing 107 species of darters are only found in North America. In Lake of the Woods, Ontario, where I live, there are five species of darters - Iowa, Johnny, logperch, river and black side – along with walleye, sauger and yellow perch.

Although there is tremendous diversity in size, shape and colours, all members of the Percidae family share some common traits. The family is distinguished by two well-separated dorsal fins, the first possesses sharp spines while the second is soft-rayed. These fins act like ballast, keeping the fish from rolling, and are used like a sail to execute sharp, quick turns. The pectoral and pelvic fins, positioned just behind the head, control direction, balance and braking. Percidae use them in unison, like a double set of oars, to hover and perform tight maneuvers.

Another common feature amongst Percidae is that the pelvic fin is equipped with one spine while the anal fin has one or two spines. These sharp spines, as well as the first dorsal fin spine, act as a deterrent to predators - just ask any fisher unfortunate enough to be poked by one!