Redside Shiner
The redside shiner is a small native minnow of British Columbia's interior watersheds, where it lives alongside trout and salmon in cold lakes, ponds, and slow stream pools. Anglers rarely target it directly — it matters most as forage.
Big trout in BC lakes key in on redside shiners, and knowing the fish is present shapes lure and fly selection for anyone chasing trophy-sized rainbows or bull trout.
- Dark olive-to-brown back with a bold dark stripe running from snout to tail, a narrow pale stripe just above it, and silver-washed lower sides with a reddish tint.
- Breeding males turn vivid red and yellow along the sides and belly; females show the same pattern but much more muted — the color difference is striking in hand.
- Body is noticeably deep and flat-sided for a minnow, with the dorsal fin set well back behind the pelvic fins — a useful ID mark separating it from dace.
- Most adults run 3–5 inches; the upper end reaches about 7 inches, though fish over 5 inches are uncommon.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to southern British Columbia, including the Columbia, Fraser, and other interior drainages west of the Divide; also recorded in the Yukon.
- Introduced in some waters outside its native range, likely through bait-bucket releases — a concern in BC where it can establish quickly.
- Prefers cold, clear lakes and ponds and the slow-moving pools and runs of headwater creeks and small to medium rivers.
- Usually found over mud or sand bottom, often near aquatic vegetation where schools gather in open water or along edges.
Key Locations
- Southern British Columbia interior — Columbia and Fraser drainages hold the core of Canada's native redside shiner range.
- Small BC interior lakes where forage studies have confirmed their presence — contact BC Fish and Wildlife for lake-specific data before targeting trout over shiner schools.
Specific Spots
- Shallow, weedy lake margins and inlet/outlet stream mouths — schools stage here, especially during warmer months when trout follow them in.
- Slow pools and backwater eddies in streams, where current breaks let schools hold without burning energy.
- Mid-depth open water in lakes, where redside shiners suspend in schools and draw feeding trout up from deeper structure.
Redside Shiner FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Redside Shiner?
Small hooks baited with worm pieces or tiny jigs in the 1/32–1/16 oz range will take redside shiners when targeting them as bait for larger trout.
What flies work for Redside Shiner?
Redside shiners are important forage for trout, so streamer patterns that imitate small minnows, Woolly Buggers in olive or silver, or Clouser Minnows (which imitate baitfish with a weighted, jigging action) in white/silver, are the direct connection between this species and fly selection in BC lakes.
When is the best time to fish for Redside Shiner?
Spring and early summer, spawning runs into inlet and outlet streams make shiners most visible and concentrate trout near stream mouths. Summer, schools hold in lake shallows and mid-depth open water; trout follow, making streamer fishing productive through the warmer months.
How do you catch Redside Shiner?
Most Canadian anglers encounter redside shiners incidentally while fishing for trout in BC interior lakes and streams. Those who target them deliberately do so with ultralight spinning gear and tiny baits to collect them as live bait, or use the knowledge of their presence to select minnow-imitating lures and...
What do Redside Shiner eat?
Adults eat terrestrial and aquatic insects, including mayflies, caddisflies, and midges, as well as algae, mollusks, and small fish. This broad diet means they respond to the same surface and subsurface presentations used for trout.
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