Most Common Baitfish

Fathead minnow:

• First dorsal fin ray is short and thick
• Distinctive fat/flattened head shape
• Generally 2-2.5” in length

Sucker (White and Longnose):

• Mouth points downward with thick lips
• Large scales
• Adults can be over 22” in length

Lake chub:

• Similar in appearance to Creek Chub, but lacks a dot at the base of the dorsal fin
• Mature adults may have bright orange/red spots where the pectoral fins meet the body

Creek chub:

• Similar to Lake Chub but with a dark spot at base of dorsal fin
• Upper jaw extends at least to below front of eye

Northern redbelly dace:

• Two black lateral bands down body
• Males may exhibit bright red coloration on bellies
• Similar legal species include blacknose, longnose, pearl, and finescale dace

Golden shiner:

• Deep flattened body with a strongly downward curving lateral line
• Large scales
• Sickle-shaped anal fin
• Fleshy “keel” (lacks scales) between the pelvic fins and anal fin

Rainbow smelt:

• Long, slender, and silvery
• Adipose fin present

Emerald shiner:

• Long, slender body with a blunt snout
• Similar in appearance to rainbow smelt but adipose fin absent
• Large scales
• Front of dorsal fin completely behind middle of base of pelvic fins

Common shiner:

• Deep bodies with a slightly downward curving lateral line (curved less deeply than the golden shiner)
• Scales on sides near the front of the body are obviously taller than they are wide
• Mature individuals may have red fins (also known as the “Redfin Shiner”)