Big minnow

I know these aren't the best photos, but I wasn't even planning on being around water today! My wife and I visited some friends to help them build a bird checklist for their property, then one thing led to another and we were down in the upper Bourbeuse River in central Missouri (drains to the Meramec River, which drains to the Mississippi) when I caught a couple of these guys. One was ~7", another was around 5".

I still don't have Fishes of Missouri (my wife told me "wait until Christmas"), so all I really have to go on is my Peterson guide. It's not evident in these photos, but I did not see a black spot at the front base of the dorsal fin.

I'm hoping I'm correct that it's at least a minnow. My best guess (based on range, size, family, field marks) is a (female) Hornyhead Chub or a Creek Chub. If you agree, let me know! If you disagree, maybe make a suggestion that might direct me towards the proper ID? I'm more interested in learning which field marks I really need to key on for the future as opposed to ID handouts.

Edited by rndouglas, 17 October 2010 - 07:59 PM.

Your fish is a minnow,but i say it's a stripped shiner. i use this web site allot to help me id fish.
http://www.cnr.vt.ed...cyprinidae.html
i picked stripped shiner,because of the very large scales on the lateral line and smaller bunched up scales behind its head.

Edited by CATfishTONY, 17 October 2010 - 09:20 PM.

I know these aren't the best photos, but I wasn't even planning on being around water today! My wife and I visited some friends to help them build a bird checklist for their property, then one thing led to another and we were down in the upper Bourbeuse River in central Missouri (drains to the Meramec River, which drains to the Mississippi) when I caught a couple of these guys. One was ~7", another was around 5".

I still don't have Fishes of Missouri (my wife told me "wait until Christmas"), so all I really have to go on is my Peterson guide. It's not evident in these photos, but I did not see a black spot at the front base of the dorsal fin.

I'm hoping I'm correct that it's at least a minnow. My best guess (based on range, size, family, field marks) is a (female) Hornyhead Chub or a Creek Chub. If you agree, let me know! If you disagree, maybe make a suggestion that might direct me towards the proper ID? I'm more interested in learning which field marks I really need to key on for the future as opposed to ID handouts.

Might look at shiners.

I am not sure about Missouri, but are there both striped AND common shiners there? Either way, the fish you have is no doubt Luxilus as Tony suggested. (But don't trust me on that, my IDs have been silly tonight.)

Edit: are bleeding shiners in Missou too?

Edited by UncleWillie, 17 October 2010 - 09:34 PM.

Come on guys, the guy wanted to be steered in the right direction, not have the answer handed to him. It is a luxilus,, Tony pointed out an important ID characteristic. Look at the nape scales.