While my goal is to catch 100 species of fish, I have also developed an appreciation for the smaller species that often go unnoticed. Many anglers dismiss minnows, darters, and other small stream fishes, but I find them fascinating. They come in a surprising variety of shapes, colors, and habitats, and learning to identify them has added a new dimension to my time on the water.

The fish on this page are not included in my 100-species challenge unless I have also caught them by hook and line. So far, that includes the Creek Chub, Common Shiner, and White Sucker. The species listed here represent a running list of the minnow-sized fishes I have collected, identified, photographed when possible, and released. All were caught using a dip net or minnow net while exploring streams, rivers, and lakes.

Every small creek, river, and lake seems to hold its own collection of these overlooked species. I suspect this list will continue to grow as I explore new waters and learn more about the remarkable fishes that live beneath the surface.

Species Caught
Bigmouth Shiner (Ericymba dorsalis)
Central Stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum)
Common Shiner (Luxilus cornutus)
Creek Chub (Semotilus atromaculatus)
Emerald Shiner (Notropis atherinoides)
Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas
Iowa Darter (Etheostoma exile)
Johnny Darter (Etheostoma nigrum)
Northern Hogsucker (Hypentelium nigricans)
Rainbow Darter (Etheostoma caeruleum)
Spotfin Shiner (Cyprinella spiloptera)
White Sucker (Catostomus commersonii)

Current total: 12 species