I've caught probably thousands of what I've called shiners over the course of my life, but now I'm thinking that they might possibly be fallfish?  These are often 8-12 inches long, although smaller is more common.  Any surefire way to tell?

13 minutes ago, billmac said:

I've caught probably thousands of what I've called shiners over the course of my life, but now I'm thinking that they might possibly be fallfish?  These are often 8-12 inches long, although smaller is more common.  Any surefire way to tell?

Go a pic?

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

Go a pic?

Unfortunately no.  They're considered trash fish.  I was just curious.  Wikipedia says shiners have bumps on their head and that's not the case with the fish I normally catch, which makes me think they are really fallfish.

 

It's a bit like the fact that I grew up fishing for redfin mullet only to find out a few years ago (40 years later) that they are actually silver redhorse.

On 4/16/2021 at 7:16 PM, billmac said:

Unfortunately no.  They're considered trash fish.  I was just curious.  Wikipedia says shiners have bumps on their head and that's not the case with the fish I normally catch, which makes me think they are really fallfish.

 

It's a bit like the fact that I grew up fishing for redfin mullet only to find out a few years ago (40 years later) that they are actually silver redhorse.

Shiners and creek chub and stonerollers and several other minnow species develop the bumps on their heads. We don’t have fallfish in my area but they should be browner in general than a shiner and most likely have the bumps on their heads (if I had to guess) 

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

and most likely have the bumps on their heads (if I had to guess) 

I'm pretty well convinced now that I've been catching fallfish.  I have seen online that Fallfish can have the bumps, but not necessarily.  I have caught very few that did.

Just now, billmac said:

I'm pretty well convinced now that I've been catching fallfish.  I have seen online that Fallfish can have the bumps, but not necessarily.  I have caught very few that did.

They should develop them during spawning which I imagine is in spring /early summer 

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

They should develop them during spawning which I imagine is in spring /early summer 

That makes sense.   

 

It is interesting that these fast / clean water loving fish are considered trash fish while at this time of year (minus the pandemic) the legions and firehouses are preparing feasts of bullhead that people have dragged out of the mud.

11 minutes ago, billmac said:

That makes sense.   

 

It is interesting that these fast / clean water loving fish are considered trash fish while at this time of year (minus the pandemic) the legions and firehouses are preparing feasts of bullhead that people have dragged out of the mud.

I have eaten creek chubs and they are bad food. I imagine a fall fish is also 

As mentioned above fallfish would be a browm copperish color. We would catch them up to 20"alot while smallie fishing the saco river in Maine. Like pickeral They'll hit any thing that moves like a freight train but roll over and give up once hooked. And @TnRiver46 i ate a couple once for kicks and while the taste was fine they're bony as heck and not worth the effort.

 

Back when I was a kid me and my brother were trout fishing in the National Park, he hooked into a fall fish about 14” long and that fish had at least 10-14 old rusted bait holder hooks in his mouth. Something I’ll never forget the site of.  

We dont have fall fish but we have creek chubs. 

A male in spawning coloration.