《淡水魚生態學》發表了關于淡水環境中魚類生態的所有方面的原創文章，包括湖泊、水庫、河流和小溪。歡迎涉及行為、保護、發育、遺傳學、生活史、生理學和宿主-寄生蟲相互作用的生態學研究手稿。涉及人口生態學和社區生態學的研究，以及包括人口生物學、進化生態學、行為生態學和歷史生態學在內的進化方法也很有價值。研究河口和近岸沿海地區溯河產卵和溯河產卵物種的生命階段的論文，如果它們有助于對淡水魚生態的一般了解，則應予以考慮。如果理論和模型研究能產生可檢驗的假設，就像那些對漁業有影響的假設一樣，那么它們就是合適的。對已發表數據進行分析的手稿，如果能產生新的結論或合成，就會被考慮。該雜志發表文章、新鮮觀點、評論，偶爾也發表會議和專題討論會的記錄。

Ecology of Freshwater Fish publishes original contributions on all aspects of fish ecology in freshwater environments, including lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and streams. Manuscripts involving ecologically-oriented studies of behavior, conservation, development, genetics, life history, physiology, and host-parasite interactions are welcomed. Studies involving population ecology and community ecology are also of interest, as are evolutionary approaches including studies of population biology, evolutionary ecology, behavioral ecology, and historical ecology. Papers addressing the life stages of anadromous and catadromous species in estuaries and inshore coastal zones are considered if they contribute to the general understanding of freshwater fish ecology. Theoretical and modeling studies are suitable if they generate testable hypotheses, as are those with implications for fisheries. Manuscripts presenting analyses of published data are considered if they produce novel conclusions or syntheses. The journal publishes articles, fresh perspectives, and reviews and, occasionally, the proceedings of conferences and symposia.