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Posts: 202
Member No.: 4236
Joined: May 17, 2013
For anyone wondering how I catch these monsters, I don't use a net or a minnow trap - that's cheating. All these fish were caught on hook and line. The hooks I use for the smallest species are shown here, beside a #10 that most of you should be able to relate to. The J hook is a size 26. I may have some size 28 left too, but they're harder to find. The weird one is a tanago hook (named after a tiny Japanese fish) and has no number. It's made by Owner and is simply called Smallest and it comes snelled on 1 lb test line. I use either my regular UL rod, or an UL ice fishing rod for these beasts, and it's mostly a sight-fishing experience, dropping the hook straight down wherever you see a fish. Needless to say, it's not easy to do on breezy days, or in a river with any decent current, but it is what it is. If you happen to see some fool stooped over while wading in a creek carrying an ice fishing rod in the middle of summer, stop by and say hi.
Group: Members
Posts: 202
Member No.: 4236
Joined: May 17, 2013
Time for a few new additions, plus I've added the Latin name for all species. First up is a river chub (Nocomis micropogon). These can be distinguished from a creek chub by not having a dark spot at the base of the dorsal fin. They are most similar with hornyhead chubs, but lack a dark spot at the base of the tail and also lack the orange spot behind the eye. Spawning males look quite different, but I still haven't caught one.
Group: Members
Posts: 202
Member No.: 4236
Joined: May 17, 2013
Striped shiner (Luxilus chrysocephalus). The largest Ontario shiner species. Most similar to the common shiner, but there is more dark pigment on the chin and, when visible, the striped shiner has stripes on the back that converge behind the dorsal fin. The common shiner has smaller, crowded scales between the back of the head and the dorsal fin, the striped shiner had evenly sized scales.
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Member No.: 4236
Joined: May 17, 2013
Blackchin shiner (Notropis heterodon). This is very similar to the blacknose, pugnose and bridle shiners, as well as juveniles from several other species. Distinguishing characteristics are a dark stripe that extends onto the chin (unlike blacknose shiners that have a pale chin), darkly outlined large scales and a zig-zag pattern to the stripe.
Group: Members
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Member No.: 4236
Joined: May 17, 2013
Blackstripe topminnow (Fundulus notatus). Only minnow in Ontario with a dark stripe and a rounded tail. This species also has one of the most restricted distributions of any freshwater fish in Canada, only being found in one river and it's tributaries.
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Member No.: 4236
Joined: May 17, 2013
Longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae). Very similar to the blacknose dace with the obvious difference being the snout of the longnose dace greatly overhangs the mouth. Longnose dace are night feeders and hide during the day. This one was pulled out from under a rock. I've never had a problem catching blacknose dace in open water during the day.
Fishing Northern Lakes
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Baitfish Species
