Southern Redbelly Dace
Chrosomus erythrogaster
Southern Redbelly Dace is a small North American minnow found in cool, clear headwaters and spring-fed creeks. Males develop a vivid red belly and often spawning tubercles; it is mostly of interest to bait collectors and naturalists rather than as a target game fish.
Identification points
- Small minnow with a slender, silvery body and slightly compressed sides
- Adult males show a bright red to orange-red belly, especially in the breeding season
- A dark lateral stripe is usually faint or absent compared with many other dace
Habitat
Cool, clear, well-oxygenated small streams, spring runs, riffles, and pool margins with gravel, sand, or submerged vegetation; often in headwater systems and shaded creeks.
Bait notes
Rarely targeted intentionally. If collected as live bait where legal, small worms, tiny insects, dough-like micro baits, or bits of aquatic larvae can take them; ultra-small flies and ice-fishing jigs tipped with a speck of bait also work.
Behavior
Feeds on algae, diatoms, tiny aquatic invertebrates, and organic film, often near the bottom or around plants. In spring, males turn bright red and school in shallow margins for spawning.
Caution
Check local regulations before collecting or using as bait; small native minnows may be protected or restricted in some waters. No notable human-consumption issue, but it is generally too small to be a food fish.
Fishing notes
Best approached with ultralight tackle, tiny hooks, and fine line in shallow current seams, pool edges, and vegetation. Present baits drifted naturally near the bottom; it is usually more practical to catch by dip net or seine for bait use than to fish for harvest.