Central stoneroller

Characteristics

brownish-olive with a brassy luster above and silvery to white beneath, compressed laterally with a definite arch in back, subterminal mouth

Distribution

small creeks throughout the northeast two-thirds of Iowa and along the entire length of the Mississippi River

Foods

algae and bottom ooze

State Record

7 inches

Expert Tip

Details

The central stoneroller ranges throughout the northeast two-thirds of Iowa and along the entire length of the Mississippi River. It is occasional to common at most locations.

Body form of central stoneroller varies from slender to moderately stout, and they are slightly compressed laterally with a definite arch in the back. The horizontal mouth is sub-terminal and lacks a barbel. A cartilaginous and chisel-shaped lower jaw is a distinct characteristic of this genus. Slender arches support the slightly hooked pharyngeal teeth, which are arranged in a 4-4 pattern. The lateral line is complete, with scale counts from 49 to 55 in number, and the circumferential scale counts (around the body frontal of the dorsal fin) range from 39 to 55. Dorsal and pelvic fins ray count are 8, while the pectoral fins have 15 rays and the anal fins 7 rays. The long intestine is usually wrapped around the air bladder, and it is covered by a black peritoneum. Body color is brownish-olive with a brassy luster above and silvery to white beneath. Body sides are marked with scattered dark scales, giving the fish a mottled appearance. Spawning males develop a dark bar across the anal fin and have tubercles on their back, top of the head, and between the nostrils.

A small creek inhabitant, they are common in clear water streams and occasional to rare in larger, more turbid streams, reaching their greatest abundance in coolwater streams. Spawning activity peaks during April, when males excavate nests by moving gravel with their mouths or nudging it away with their snouts, giving rise to their common name. Stonerollers feed by scraping the algae and bottom ooze from submerged objects. Adults may reach 7 inches in length.

Return

Present in these Iowa water bodies:

Lake/Stream	County	Location	Acres/Length
Yellow River	Allamakee	T96N, R6W, S3 to T96N, R4W, S24	25.00
Bloody Run Creek	Clayton	Located 2 miles west of Marquette off of Highway 18.	6.50
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
Fountain Springs	Delaware	2.5 miles northeast of Greeley along Oak Road. Most of the fishery lies within Fountain Springs County Park	2.30
Spring Branch	Delaware	3 miles east-southeast of Manchester off 205th Avenue. Parking available near highway 20 overpass and Manchester Fish Hatchery	2.20
Trout Run	Winneshiek	Located on the south side of Decorah off Trout Run Road.	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
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
Buck Creek	Clayton	Located 3 miles northeast of Garnavillo.	1.70
Casey Springs	Winneshiek	Stream located north of Decorah. T99N, R9W, S25, 26	1.50
Richmond Springs	Delaware	3 miles south of Strawberry Point. Located entirely within Backbone State Park. Closest to north park gate access.	1.40
Little Turkey River	Delaware	3 miles east of Colesburg in Hoffman Wildlife Managment Area off Hubbard Road	1.20
Bear Creek	Fayette	Located 6 miles southeast of Fayette off of Kornhill Road or CR C24. Access from 128th Street.	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
Lower Swiss Valley Creek	Dubuque	Located 3 miles south of Dubuque in Swiss Valley Park just off Swiss Valley Road	0.80
Miners Creek	Clayton	Stream is located west of Guttenberg. T92N, R2W, S7, 18 and T29N, R3W, S12	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
Bigalk Creek	Howard	Located 7 miles northeast of Cresco.	0.60
tributaries to Tete des Morts River	Jackson	Located near St. Donatus. T87N, R3E, S16, 17, 23	0.60
Baileys Ford	Delaware	3 miles southeast of Manchester - follow signage from Jefferson Road.	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
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