Hello, can anyone give me an idea about what species of fish I saw yesterday? These were seen in the Big Gunpowder river just upstream from the route 40 bridge. There was a small school of them hiding in the shadow of an overhanging tree. I'd say they had a over all shape similar to a carp, in that they weren't the rounded long bass shape or catfish shape and they weren't the chunky shape of a bluegill type of fish. But these had four lower fins that were all about the same length and spread out so they could rest on the bottom. Each of these four lower fins had white tips and I'm pretty sure there was some white on the tails too.



From the moment I saw them I spent the afternoon trying to get them to bite. I tried live worms, garlic fish eggs, micro-spinners with bugs, artificial worms, hard minnow lures and soft minnow lures. Nothing seemed to work even though I'd drop the baits right in amongst the school. I was catching plenty of small White Perch, little Yellow Perch, and Sunnies but not these bigger fish resting on the bottom.


I don't remember ever seeing this type of fish in the Gunpowder so it's a bit of a mystery as to what they might be. I'd say they might be carp but I know what carp look like and these were kinda different.


So anyone have any ideas?


-JT