Next Wednesday, March 2nd, Wisconsin DNR “fish guru,” John Lyons will be at the Minocqua Brewing Company for Science on Tap-Minocqua, where he’ll talk about the “Wonderful World of Wisconsin Fishes.” (Can’t make it to Minocqua? You can always watch online).
Lyons will give an overview of Wisconsin fishes: How many different kinds of fish are in Wisconsin? What’s the biggest? The smallest? The oldest? The shortest lived? What fish species is most common? And what is the rarest? What is Wisconsin’s strangest fish? And what about the odd mating rituals of Wisconsin’s favorite panfish, the bluegill? He’ll answer all of these questions and more, including yours. (Details here.)

If it's a picture of a Wisconsin fish, chance are Lyons took it! Photo: John Lyons — If it’s a picture of a Wisconsin fish, chance are Lyons took it! Photo: John Lyons

Lyons is a research scientist for the WDNR and adjunct curator of fishes at the UW-Madison Zoological Museum. He has devoted his career to the study and wise management of Wisconsin’s fishes – work that’s taken him from the mighty Mississippi, to the extreme depths of the Great Lakes, to hundreds of streams, creeks, ponds and lakes in between.
We’re honored to have him join us up north and hope you will, too – either in person or online!
And, since it’s Fish Fry Day, here’s a little blast from the past – the amazing Wisconsin Fish ID App – which wouldn’t have been possible without help from, you guessed it, Mr. John Lyons! Enjoy:

Fish Q? There’s An App for That

The WIsconsin Fish mobile ID app, your starting point for becoming an expert in local fishes. Photo: A. Hinterthuer — The Wisconsin Fish mobile ID app, your starting point for becoming an expert in local fishes. Photo: A. Hinterthuer

Happy Fish Fry Day! Restaurants around Wisconsin are warming up the deep fryers for our weekly feast and we’re putting fish on the menu here at the blog. Today’s special is an all-you-can-eat buffet of ichthyological goodness, thanks to an awesome new (and free) app for your smartphone, “Wisconsin Fish”
From trophy muskies to the multitude of minnows and every fish in between, “Wisconsin Fish,” has got you covered. A collaboration of the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and yours truly, UW-Madison’s Center for Limnology, Wisconsin Fish is both an online tool and a mobile app that will help you learn about and identify any fish you pull out of our waters.
In our humble opinion, is a “must have” app. Here’s how it works: Keep Reading ->