Fish Details

> >

Blacknose Dace

Characteristics

Brownish to black above, and speckled sides with dark scales giving the fish a mottled look. 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 barbell is on the posterior tip of the lower jaw. The upper lip is attached to the snout without a groove (a feature know as a frenulum), which is characteristic of Rhinicthys. There are 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 well developed. Dorsal and pelvic fins have 8 rays, while the anal fin has 7, and the pectoral fins have 13 to 16 rays.

Distribution

The Blacknose Dace is common throughout central and northeast Iowa, with scattered populations also found in the Little Sioux River, Big Sioux River, Rock River and Floyd River drainages. It is absent from southeast Iowa. The distribution of the Blacknose Dace in Iowa is increasing, especially in northeast Iowa rivers (Eastern Broadleaf Forest Aquatic Subregion).

Foods

Aquatic insects and larvae.

State Record

Grows up to 4 inches. State Records are not documented for non-game species.

Expert Tip

Blacknose Dace are sometimes called the "riffle daces" because they prefer clear waters with swift currents over a rocky substrate, which explains their thriving in Iowa's trout streams.

Details

Spawning takes place from May through July, when males build a nest of gravel and guard a well-defined territory. Eggs are 1/6 to 1/8 inch in diameter. Young Blacknose Dace are 1 1/2- to 2-inches long by the end of the first season. Adults reach up to 4-inches long.

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.

The Blacknose Dace prefers clear, cool headwater and medium-sized streams over gravel bottoms. It is common in moderate to fast flowing water and appear to reach its greatest abundance in trout streams, such as in northeast Iowa.

The Blacknose Dace has a growing population and is viewed as secure according to the Iowa Wildlife Action Plan.

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.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Wildlife Action Plan

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
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
Swiss Valley Creek	Dubuque	Located 3 miles south of Dubuque in Swiss Valley Park just off Swiss Valley Road.	3.25
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 northeast of Decorah.	2.60
McLoud Run	Linn	Along the east side of I-380 in central Cedar Rapids	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
Wapsi River Trout Section	Mitchell	Located 0.5 mile west of McIntire.	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 (Lansing)	Allamakee	Stream runs along Highway 9 through Lansing. Public angling access is at the County Park located off South Road Drive.	2.00
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 Management Area off Hubbard Road	1.20
Tete des Morts River	Jackson	Located near St. Donatus. T87N, R3E, S4	1.10
Bass Creek	Fayette	Located near St. Lucas and empties into the Turkey River.	1.09
Ram Hollow	Delaware		1.00
Twin Bridges	Delaware	Just south of Highway 3 about 5.5 miles west of Colesburg in Twin Bridges County Park.	0.90
Mink Creek	Fayette	Located on private property 1.5 miles north of Wadena, access on Bighorn Road.	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.	0.80
Spring Creek	Mitchell	Located on the west edge of Orchard.	0.80
Little Mill Creek	Jackson	Located on Little Mill Wildlife Management 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	Located five miles northwest of Edgewood at the termination of the Level B portion of Eagle Ave. A small parking lot is on the opposite side of the farmstead with a 0.4 mile walk, then follow the grade B road to the lower end of the trout stream.	0.50
South Cedar Creek	Clayton	Located 2 miles south of Garnavillo and may be accessed from Jigsaw Road.	0.50
Brush Creek	Jackson	Located 3.5 miles north of Andrew just south of 200th street. Only this "upper" section of Brush Creek is stocked. The "lower" section of Brush Creek is no longer stocked with trout and is closed to public fishing.	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