minnow ID question, Black River

[Jerry Rapp]

wish I would have a take a photo. But the last couple of times to the river, I have caught a minnow that looks like a bowfin in profile, but has pumpkinseed sides? What is it?

[Amery]

It's a darter of some sort. Rainbow darter maybe. Super cool little fish.

[Al Agnew]

Doesn't sound like a darter. Sounds to me like a topminnow, specifically the northern studfish, which is the typical topminnow on Ozark streams. Flattened head, rounded tail, long dorsal and anal fins set pretty far back toward the tail. And the colors are blues and oranges down the sides, with yellowish fins. When I was a kid, we'd really seek out these topminnows for bait. Get a big one about 4 inches long, hook it through the back near the tail with a light wire hook, no weight. Cast it out, and if there was a bass around, the minnow would start leaping and skipping and the bass would go nuts chasing it.

[Jerry Rapp]

that's it Al, thanks!

http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/northern-studfish

[Johnsfolly]

Jerry,

What have you been using when you have caught them? I would love to catch one. They look like a pretty cool little fish.

[Jerry Rapp]

a white crappie nibble on a very small hook with 2lb test.