About Semotilus corporalis (Mitchill, 1817)
Semotilus corporalis, the fallfish, has an average length of about 7 inches (18 cm). Occasional individuals grow to 15 inches (38 cm), and exceptional specimens measuring more than 19 inches (48 cm) have been recorded. Juvenile fallfish have a dark stripe running down the center of their body. The top and sides of their body are silvery, while their belly is shaded white. Breeding males develop a pinkish tone on the opercular region, but this species does not develop bright breeding colors. Spawning males build stone nests called redds, which are a prominent feature of the stream bottom in many streams across the northeast. Spawning is communal, with both males and females joining the nest-building male. Fallfish are distributed across the northeastern United States and eastern Canada, and they inhabit clear streams, lakes, and ponds. They predominantly prefer swift currents, but can also be found in well-oxygenated pools. As their common name suggests, they are often found at the base of waterfalls. Before species such as smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and brown trout were introduced, the fallfish was the apex predator in many streams.
