Blacknose dace

Characteristics

brownish to blackish above, light beneath and sides speckled with dark scales giving is a mottled appearance, with dusky lateral band outlined by a row of light scales, mouth sub-terminal

Distribution

found throughout central and northeast Iowa

Foods

aquatic insects and larvae

State Record

4 inches

Expert Tip

Details

The blacknose dace is found throughout central and northeast Iowa, where they are common with scattered populations found in Osceola, Dickinson, and Emmet counties. They are absent from the southeastern part of the state and the Missouri River drainage. The Iowa distribution of this minnow seems to be increasing, and they appear to be flourishing in the trout streams.

The blacknose dace is brownish to black above, light beneath, and the sides are speckled with dark scales giving the fish a mottled appearance. A dusky lateral band is outlined above by a row of light scales. Spawning males develop a pink to red-colored lateral band. The sub-terminal mouth is oblique with equal jaws, and a barbel is present on the posterior tip of the mandible. The upper lip is attached to the snout without a groove (a feature known as a frenulum), which is characteristic of Rhinicthys. There are from 62 to 71 scales in the complete lateral line. Hooked pharyngeal teeth are arranged in a formula of 2, 4-4, 2. The peritoneum is silvery colored, and the air bladder is fairly well developed. Dorsal and pelvic fins contain 8 rays, while the anal fin has 7, and the pectoral fins from 13 to 16 rays.

Spawning takes place from May through July, when males build a nest of gravel and guard a well-defined territory. Eggs are l/6 to l/8 inch in diameter. Young blacknose dace range from 1 l/2 to 2 inches in length by the end of the first season. Adults reach up to 4 inches in length. Food consists largely of aquatic insects and larvae.

The blacknose dace was first listed as the western blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulas meleagris), which is probably the correct interpretation for this minnow in Iowa.

Return

Present in these Iowa water bodies:

Lake/Stream	County	Location	Acres/Length
Paint Creek	Allamakee	Located in Yellow River State Forest, 3 miles west of Harpers Ferry off of State Forest Road or CR B25.	11.00
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
South Bear Creek	Winneshiek	Located at Highlandville.	5.20
Little Turkey River (put and grow)	Delaware	4 miles east of Colesburg off Hubbard Road	3.20
Coon Creek	Winneshiek	Located in Coon Creek Wildlife Management Area, 7 miles northwest of Decorah.	2.60
Wapsi River Trout Section	Mitchell	Located 0.5 mile west of McIntire.	2.50
Otter Creek	Fayette	Located 3 miles southeast of West Union.	2.50
Pine Creek	Allamakee	Located on Pine Creek Wildlife Management Area, 2 miles northeast of Sattre on Balsam Road or CR W60.	2.50
Fountain Springs	Delaware	2.5 miles northeast of Greeley along Oak Road. Most of the fishery lies within Fountain Springs County Park	2.30
Turtle Creek	Mitchell	Located about 1/2 mile north of St. Ansgar off of Highway 218.	2.20
Upper Swiss Valley Creek	Dubuque	Located 3 miles south of Dubuque near Swiss Valley Nature Center, just off Swiss Valley Road	2.10
Clear Creek	Allamakee	Stream runs along Highway 9 through Lansing. Public angling access is at the County Park located off South Road Drive.	2.00
Burr Oak Creek	Mitchell	Stream located just north of Osage. T98N, R16W, S4, 5, 9, 10	2.00
Brush Creek	Jackson	Located 2 miles norteast of Andrew just south of 261st street.	1.90
White Pine Hollow	Dubuque	This fishery is located primarily within White Pine Hollow State preserve, about 2 miles northwest of Luxemburg. Access to this fishery is difficult. A small parking area is available on the east side of the preserve. Best fishing is on the west side.	1.80
Richmond Springs	Delaware	3 miles south of Strawberry Point. Located entirely within Backbone State Park. Closest to north park gate access.	1.40
Hewett and Ensign Creeks (Ensign Hollow)	Clayton	Located on Ensign Hollow Wildlife Management Area about 5 miles north of Strawberry Point. Access is provided on the north side of 322nd street.	1.30
Grimes Hollow	Delaware	1.5 mile east of Colesburg off Hubbard Road. T90N-R3W; Sections 2, 3.	1.20
Little Turkey River	Delaware	3 miles east of Colesburg in Hoffman Wildlife Managment Area off Hubbard Road	1.20
Tete des Morts River	Jackson	Located near St. Donatus. T87N, R3E, S4	1.10
Mink Creek	Fayette	Located on private property 1.5 miles north of Wadena, access on Bighorn Road.	0.90
Twin Bridges	Delaware	Just south of Highway 3 about 5.5 miles west of Colesburg in Twin Bridges County Park	0.90
Joy Springs	Clayton	South on Alpha Ave, off Highway 3 about 3 miles west of Strawberry Point in Joy Springs County Park.	0.80
Miners Creek	Clayton	Stream is located west of Guttenberg. T92N, R2W, S7, 18 and T29N, R3W, S12	0.80
Lower Swiss Valley Creek	Dubuque	Located 3 miles south of Dubuque in Swiss Valley Park just off Swiss Valley Road	0.80
Spring Creek	Mitchell	Located on the west edge of Orchard.	0.80
Little Mill Creek	Jackson	Located on Little Mill Wildlife Managment Area and private property 2 miles west of Bellevue, with parking south off 216th street.	0.70
Ozark Springs	Jackson	T86N - R1E; Section 32	0.70
Bigalk Creek	Howard	Located 7 miles northeast of Cresco.	0.60
Baileys Ford	Delaware	3 miles southeast of Manchester - follow signage from Jefferson Road.	0.60
Bankston Creek	Dubuque	Just south of Park Hollow Road, 3 miles north of Bankston in Bankston County Park	0.60
Mossy Glen	Clayton	5 miles northwest of Edgewood at the termination of the Level B portion of Eagle Ave. Road damage from weather has made access to this site difficult for all vehicles. Not recommended for low-clearance or 2-wheel drives.	0.50
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
Monastery Creek	Dubuque	Monastery Creek can be accessed through the Dubuque County Swiss Valley Nature Preserve about 4 miles SW of Dubuque off of Swiss Valley Rd.	0.20