Bait Profile - Spottail Shiner

Odds are you haven’t even heard of a spottail shiner but let me tell you there are a bunch of them out there. The telltale “spot” where the caudal fin and caudal peduncle meet gives them away (right at the tail). You can find them throughout most of the state and they can get big up to 5 inches or so.

All sorts of predator fish will eat them given a chance. However they are often found on sand/gravel areas so they are more often preyed upon by walleyes and smallmouth. You wouldn’t believe how many are roaming the beaches of Lake Michigan. If you see schools of minnows while swimming or wading that is often what you are seeing. These often turn up in our seines along the beach while looking for larval whitefish.

I’ve never had an instance where I knew the fish were there to exclusively target spottail shiners. But I can assure you they are on the menu if they are encountered. One interesting fact is it is really common to catch them while ice fishing Muskegon lake. Usually out deep in 30-60 feet or water while perch fishing. I’ve seen them confused for all sorts of things by guys who have encountered them. They will readily take tungsten or speed spoons tipped with spikes. The small mouth and the spot on the tail (it can be faint) gives them away.