Fathead Minnow

Fathead Minnow, illustration by Maynard Reece, from Iowa Fish and Fishing.

Characteristics

The Fathead Minnow has a stout body that is moderately compressed laterally with a broad flat area just before the dorsal fin. A typical Pimephales, they have a shortened and closely attached first ray in the dorsal fin and smaller, crowded scales in front of the dorsal fin. The small, terminal mouth is oblique and without a barbel. Slender, slightly hooked pharyngeal teeth are arranged in a 4-4 array. The body is dark olive above with a shade of copper or brass behind the head and along the sides. The sides are lighter with a silvery hue, and the belly is white. A dusky band or blotch appears in the front and rear rays of the dorsal fin, which helps distinguish them from the Bullhead Minnow and Bluntnose Minnow. The lateral band is faint in fish from turbid waters and prominent in fish from clear water. An incomplete lateral line, which does not reach to the caudal peduncle, has 42 to 48 scales. Intestine length is about twice the body length and the peritoneum is black. Dorsal and pelvic fins have 8 rays, while the anal fin has 7 rays, and the pectoral fins have 15 or 16 rays. Spawning males develop a swollen, black head with breeding tubercles in three rows on the snout. Typical males are light silvery behind the opercle to the pectoral fins; then a dark bar extends to the insertion of the dorsal fin followed by a light bar to about mid-way along the dorsal fin.

Distribution

Fathead Minnow Distribution

Found in every watershed in Iowa; common in nearly all fish collections from streams, natural lakes and man-made impoundments and reservoirs. It is found throughout the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.

Foods

Microscopic plants, small insects and larvae, and occasionally fish.

State Record

State Records are not documented for non-game species.

Expert Tip

Catch these at your bait shop - they are the most common baitfish sold in Iowa.

Details

The Fathead Minnow is considered the most widespread and abundant fish species in Iowa. It can be found in streams of various sizes, but is most abundant in sluggish, intermittent streams, ditches and ponds with soft, silty mud or firm clay substrates or backwaters and muck-bottomed pools of larger rivers. It is intolerant of competition and predation, but uniquely adapted to stagnant pools, acid bog-ponds, and alkaline streams where extremes in pH, low oxygen levels, high turbidity, and high temperatures decrease fish diversity. It seeks refuge in stagnant pools of small Plains streams during extended dry periods. It is usually abundant in areas where the Bluntnose Minnow is absent.

Fathead Minnows spawn from early May through August. The adhesive eggs are deposited on the under surface of floating objects, and the male guards them. The eggs hatch in 5 to 6 days. Adults reach a maximum of about 3-inches long. 

Iowa anglers owe a great deal to this unobtrusive minnow. Besides being an important forage fish in most waters, it is the best baitfish available, and millions are sold in bait shops each year. Aquarium enthusiasts also collect fatheads for display.

Recent stream sampling information is available from Iowa DNR's biological monitoring and assessment program.

 

Sources:

Harlan, J.R., E.B. Speaker, and J. Mayhew. 1987. Iowa fish and fishing. Iowa Conservation Commission, Des Moines, Iowa. 323pp.

Loan-Wilsey, A. K., C. L. Pierce, K. L. Kane, P. D. Brown and R. L. McNeely. 2005. The Iowa Aquatic Gap Analysis Project Final Report. Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Iowa State University, Ames

Illustration by Maynard Reece, from Iowa Fish and Fishing


Return

Present in these Iowa water bodies:

Lake/Stream County Location Acres/Length
Tuttle Lake Emmet 1 mile east, 2 miles north of Dolliver 2268.00
Elm Lake Wright 5 miles Northeast of Clarion 458.00
East Nishnabotna River Fremont Red Oak city limits has river access and hard surface boat ramp 123.00
West Nishnabotna River Fremont 121.00
East Nodaway River Page 72.00
Winnebago River Floyd Located in Winnebago, Hancock, Worth, Cerro Gordo, and Floyd Counties. A good access point is East Park in Mason City. It offers excellent shore access to the river and a good starting point for a float trip down to the Averydale Access. 72.00
Missouri River (Sioux City to Little Sioux) Harrison Chris Larsen Park: 1280 Larsen Park Road/Sioux City, IA. Located on the Sioux City riverfront along the Missouri River. Larsen Park offers 110 acres on the Sioux City Riverfront. Managed by the City of Sioux City. 64.00
Missouri River (Council Bluffs to state line) Fremont Lake Manawa State Park: 1100 South Shore Drive/Council Bluffs, IA 51501 phone: 712-366-0220. Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Lake Manawa State Park has boat ramps on the Missouri River within the park. 61.00
Little Sioux River (Correctionville to Missouri R) Harrison Little Sioux Park, 2 miles SW of Correctionville, Woodberry County Conservation Board 57.00
Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs) Pottawattamie Wilson Island State Recreation Area: 32801 Campground Lane/Missouri Valley, IA 51555 phone-712-642-2069. Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Wilson Island Recreation Area has 544 acres along the Missouri River near Missouri Valley Iowa. 53.00
Yellow River Allamakee Coldwater section begins below Livingood Springs and east of Old Stage Road flowing through Allamakee County and the Effigy Mounds National Monument where it empties into the Mississippi River. 25.00
Maquoketa River (trout portion) Clayton The Upper Maquoketa River from Joy Springs downstream to Backbone Lake contains trout year-round. The area 3 miles southwest of Strawberry Point off 400th is stocked with catchable fish. 8.00
Ambroson Pit (north) Winnebago 3 1/2 miles north of Forest City 4.28
Otter Creek Fayette Located 3 miles southeast of West Union. 2.50
Wapsi River Trout Section Mitchell Located 0.5 mile west of McIntire. 2.50
North Cedar Creek Clayton Located 3 miles west of McGregor off of CR B60 or Ivory Road. 2.00
Patterson Creek Allamakee Stream located 4 miles northwest of Waukon. 1.40
Little Turkey River Delaware 3 miles east of Colesburg in Hoffman Wildlife Management Area off Hubbard Road 1.20
Bigalk Creek Howard Located 7 miles northeast of Cresco. 0.60
South Cedar Creek Clayton Located 2 miles south of Garnavillo and may be accessed from Jigsaw Road. 0.50
Bohemian Creek Winneshiek Located about 1.5 miles east of Protivin. 0.30