Bait fish ID

[Crazy Horse]

Was at a local reservoir that I've never really used a camera at and seen a bunch of perch, but I noticed a bunch of minnows that were about 2" long, skinny and silvery (had a black and white cam, so not 100% sure) with a black dot on their tail fins. Anyone know what these are?

[EZM]

Spot tail shiner.

[Crazy Horse]

So how big do those buggers get? They walleye must gorge themselves on them more then the perch? I'm fishing where all these baitfish are but yet to see any walleye?

[pike_king780]

yes, spot tailed shiners. in fact i caught one the other day on a wireworm tipped with maggot when perch fishing at jackfish lake lol funniest catch ever for me.. and i fish the NSR :bad_boys_20::sHa_sarcasticlol:

[Crazy Horse]

So I was fishing and seeing these little guys at around 12-14' but did not see any walleye. Do the walleye hang out deeper and wait for some strays to wander out? Or is there just no walleye around and that's why there were huge schools of shiners and perch?

[EZM]

Spot tails don't get much bigger than that - maybe 3" or so. The spot on the tail, when the minnows are in schools moving around, supposedly confuses the predators and looks like an "eye".

I would guess these little buggers make a great snack for walleyes. There are usually predators lurking near food sources.

[Guitarplayingfish]

Lots of spot-tails around here... I have caught them while jigging before believe it or not haha.

They make excellent bait.

[pike_king780]

they are the exact same bait fish taht parkers minnows uses. in fact when i caught that one the other day, i compared it to some parker minnows i had in my tub, EXACT same, was quite interesting actually lol, :bad_boys_20:

[Kim473]

The wallies were probly out a little deeper snacking. Remember they tend to feed close to night time or in dark waters. That way they can ambush thier prey with the least amount of effort.

[Crazy Horse]

I stayed out till 8 with out even a nibble. And I know they are In there. I can catch them all summer long. But seem to go in hiding in winter.

[Lornce]

http://fish.dnr.cornell.edu/nyfish/Cyprinidae/spottail_shiner.jpg