Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center From 1892-1994, 84
fish species representing 20 families were reported by
investigators from the Red River basin (Table 3). Of these, 77
are considered native to the basin; and seven are known
introductions, including the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus
mykiss), brown trout (Salmo trutta), brook trout (Salvelinus
fontinalis), muskellunge (Esox masquinongy), white bass (Morone
chrysops), common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and flathead chub
(Platygobio gracilis). All but the cyprinids were introduced for
sport-fishery purposes in the basin; and, while most populations
of salmonids and muskellunge have been maintained by state
and/or federal stocking programs, the white bass has apparently
reproduced successfully in the basin following its introduction
into Lake Ashtabula (Sheyenne River) in 1953. The highest
percentage of fishes from the Red River basin were from the
family Cyprinidae, which was represented by 29 fish species
(34%), while 10 species (12%), 9 species (11%), 8 spe