Skip to main content

The charity making life better by water

Minnow

Minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) are very good at hiding. Find out more about this small fish, which is hunted by most predators.

Minnow, courtesy of Jack Perks
Placeholder for quotes
Minnows will eat most baits, but due to their size, small baits and hooks are a must.
Carl Nicholls, fisheries & angling manager

Appearance: Minnow are distinctive in appearance with green to dark olive sides, usually with a striped banding similar to perch. They have a short, rounded dorsal fin and an upturned mouth. Female minnows have a white shiny belly whereas males have a red belly and red pelvic fins. Sometimes the male minnow can be confused with a three-spined stickleback.

British record: 13.5dms (British record committee 2015)

Lateral line scale count: 80-95 (this is the dark row of scales along the central length of the fish's body)

Lifespan: 2 to 4 years

We like minnow because: well actually, minnow are not usually targeted by anglers.

How to catch a minnow

Minnows can be found in most slack waters and back eddies in river systems. These fish know they are a primary food source for many predators. Anywhere shallow, with low flows and cover is a good place to start. Minnows will eat most baits, but due to their size, small baits and hooks are a must. Squatts, pinkies and maggots are all good baits to attract and catch minnows on.

Where to catch a minnow

They are present in the margins and back waters of most river fisheries.

404

Find a place to fish

Enter a town or postcode into our fishery search tool to find good local fishing spots

Last Edited: 24 December 2020

photo of a location on the canals
newsletter logo

Stay connected

Sign up to our monthly newsletter and be the first to hear about campaigns, upcoming events and fundraising inspiration