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Silver Redhorse

Silver Redhorse

The Silver Redhorse is a native freshwater fish in Kentucky's sucker family and an excellent indicator of water quality as they cannot tolerate murky or polluted waters.

Scientific Name: Moxostoma anisurum

Physical Characteristics:
  • distinguished by its silver sides, dark gray-brown back, and slate gray tail with a moderately forked caudal fin.
  • This species has a convex dorsal fin with 14-17 soft rays and an inferior mouth position adapted for bottom feeding.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Silver Redhorse are widely distributed throughout Kentucky's major river systems.
  • They inhabit medium to large rivers, deep pools with little current, and areas with undercut banks or protruding tree roots, preferring clean gravel and sandy substrates.

Key Locations

  • Ohio, Mississippi, Tennessee, Cumberland, Green, Kentucky, and Licking rivers, as well as reservoirs like Kentucky Lake and Barkley Lake.
  • The Ohio River and its major tributaries.
  • The Rockcastle River in Laurel County has proven particularly productive, yielding the state record.

Specific Spots

  • Focus on gravel-filled riffles and deep pools.
  • Fish deep pools with undercut banks and areas near protruding tree roots during non-spawning periods.
  • Target shallow riffle areas with rocky and gravelly bottoms during spawning runs.

Silver Redhorse FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Silver Redhorse in Kentucky?

nightcrawlers are the top choice, along with pieces of clam, small crayfish, and leeches presented on small circle hooks with split shot rigs. Jigs and dough balls are also effective lures.

What flies work for Silver Redhorse in Kentucky?

size 10-12 black nymphs, smaller beaded woolly buggers, clouser minnows, clam pattern flies, and yarn e.g.gs, adding split shot 12-15 inches above the fly to reach bottom.

When is the best time to fish for Silver Redhorse in Kentucky?

The best time to target Silver Redhorse in Kentucky is during the early spring months from February through April, with peak fishing occurring in March to mid-April before spawning begins. The spawning period should be avoided by anglers to protect reproducing fish.

How do you catch Silver Redhorse in Kentucky?

For bait fishing, use small circle hooks with split shot rigs that bounce along the bottom. Watch your line tip carefully for light bites and hesitations. Practice sight fishing with a stealth approach in shallow riffle areas with rocky and gravelly bottoms during spawning runs.

What do Silver Redhorse eat?

As bottom feeders, they consume mollusks, algae, detritus, immature insects, and small invertebrates, with a particular preference for Asian clams.

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