Minnow

The term "Minnow" covers a wide variety of small forage fish including Speckled Dace, Redside Shiners, and Fathead Minnows. Unlike sculpins, these fish are active swimmers found in the water column. They tend to be silvery or olive in color and have streamlined bodies.

Minnows and Dace occupy different water than sculpins:

• Schooling: Often found in groups in slower pools or river margins.
• Vegetation: They use weed beds for cover.
• Open Water: Shiners often cruise open water in lakes or large slow rivers.

• Fleeing: When threatened, minnows scatter and flash their silvery sides. This "flash" triggers predatory strikes.
• Suspended: They rarely sit on the bottom; they suspend mid-column.

Tactics

• The Strip: An active retrieve is key. Mimic a swimming or fleeing fish.
• Flash is Friend: Use patterns with mylar or tinsel to mimic the belly flash.
• Glass beads: In clear water, transparent patterns work well.

Best Patterns

• Clouser Minnow
• Sparkle Minnow
• Double Bunny
• Gummy Minnow

Populations fluctuate but remain robust in healthy watersheds.