Blacknose Dace
Blacknose dace are small native minnows found in cool, rocky streams across southern Ontario and the broader Great Lakes basin.
They rarely get targeted directly by anglers, but they matter enormously as forage for trout and bass — and as the inspiration for Art Flick's classic Blacknose Dace bucktail streamer, one of the most enduring trout flies in North America.
- Slender, torpedo-shaped body, olive-brown on top and silvery-white below, with a bold black stripe running from the tip of the snout to the tail — the most reliable field mark.
- Breeding males develop orange or reddish coloring along the lateral line and lower body in late spring.
- Most adults run 5–8 cm (roughly 2–3 inches); occasional individuals reach 10 cm (about 4 inches).
- Slightly subterminal mouth — positioned just under the snout — distinguishes it from shiners, which have a more terminal, forward-facing mouth.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to eastern and central Canada; in Canada, found primarily in southern Ontario and the Great Lakes basin, including headwater tributaries and small river systems.
- Lives in clear, cool, fast-moving streams and small rivers with gravel or rocky bottoms — rarely found in lakes or slow, silty water.
- Frequently shares water with brook trout, which is a reliable indicator you're in the right habitat type.
- Sensitive to pollution and siltation; healthy blacknose dace populations signal clean, well-oxygenated water.
Key Locations
- Southern Ontario headwater streams in the Great Lakes basin — small, clear tributaries of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie drainages hold good populations.
- Cool, rocky creeks in the Canadian Shield fringe where brook trout are present; dace and brookies consistently share the same riffle habitat.
Specific Spots
- Shallow riffles over cobble and gravel are the core habitat — look for them darting between rocks where current breaks create small pockets of slower water.
- Undercut banks and edge habitat with aquatic vegetation give them cover from predators; these same spots concentrate the trout that feed on them.
- Where a riffle transitions into a run or pool, dace stack up at the seam — and so do the trout hunting them.
Blacknose Dace FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Blacknose Dace?
Blacknose dace are occasionally used as live bait for trout and bass in Ontario; check provincial bait regulations before collecting or using them, as rules on baitfish vary by zone. Small inline spinners and micro-jigs in silver or olive can imitate the minnow profile when targeting trout in the same stream habitat.
What flies work for Blacknose Dace?
The Blacknose Dace bucktail streamer, Art Flick's 1947 pattern tied with black, brown, and white bucktail to imitate this minnow, is the defining fly. Swing it across current and let it hang at the end of the drift, or strip it back through pools.
When is the best time to fish for Blacknose Dace?
Spring and early summer bring spawning activity in shallow riffles, which concentrates trout feeding on dace, good timing for streamer fishing in Ontario streams. Summer low-water periods push dace into deeper runs and undercut banks; trout follow, making those spots worth targeting with a stripped streamer.
How do you catch Blacknose Dace?
Blacknose dace are rarely targeted directly. Most anglers encounter them while trout fishing in Ontario streams, either as incidental catches in minnow traps or as the forage species driving streamer selection.
What do Blacknose Dace eat?
Feeds primarily on aquatic insect larvae, mayfly nymphs, caddisfly larvae, midge larvae, picked from between gravel and cobble along the stream bottom. This makes them part of the same food web that drives most trout nymphing.
See it in the app
Most maps show you water.
onWater shows you Blacknose Dace.
- 01 · Species map filter
Map every Blacknose Dace water
Pick Blacknose Dace and the map zeroes in on the waters they call home. No more guessing which lake holds them.
- 02 · Waterbody species
Tap any water. See what lives there.
Species, behavior and seasonal patterns for every lake, river and pond, before you leave the driveway.
- 03 · Angler Intelligence
Ask how to catch Blacknose Dace
Tactics, gear and timing from onWater's AI fishing guide, tuned to the species and the water you're on.
Stop guessing where Blacknose Dace are.
Open the map, filter by Blacknose Dace, and head to water that holds them. Download onWater and plan your next trip in minutes.
- Species map filter
- Angler Intelligence
- Fishing journal
Explore other species
Trout, bass, salmon, panfish and everything in between. Each guide unpacks the behavior, seasons, and tactics that put fish in the net.
No species information available.
Smarter Fishing Starts in the App.
onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.