Went netting, need an ID on unknowen fish

[Wulfonce]

I went netting today for minnows and I found one with very interesting coloration on its tail. Its minnow like and about 2" long. What type is it?

It has a gold and black face like pattern on its tail. With about 12 darker vertical lines running vertically down its body.

This was netted in Southern Ontario

 

[Northern Pike]

Small mouth bass

 

[Wulfonce]

Small mouth bass

wow really?

 

[Northern Pike]

wow really?

Yup 100% sure.

 

[Wulfonce]

Yup 100% sure.

I didn't know there were bass in small shallow creeks

 

[Northern Pike]

I didn't know there were bass in small shallow creeks

You would be surprised where bass are, especially small mouth bass, they love small streams and creeks much more than large mouthes. I'm guessing if you brought your fishing pole with you to this creek next time and found some deeper pools and used a small spinner or even a live worm you would catch quiet a few Small Mouth bass.

 

[Northern Pike]

Does this creek run into lake ontario? or any lake for that matter?

 

[Wulfonce]

The creek (north west of Kitchener/Waterloo) runs into the Grand River, which runs into Lake Erie well over 100km away.

 

[Northern Pike]

The creek (north west of Kitchener/Waterloo) runs into the Grand River, which runs into Lake Erie well over 100km away.

probably a lot more gamefish in that creek then

 

[Umbra]

The grand has a ton of smalls so I'm sure your creek has quite a few, possibly in the 1-2 pound range. If you go to the headwaters you could probably find some brown trout. Might have walleye at the confluence with the grand as well.

Just a heads up, you might want to either destroy that fish or take the picture down (if you wish to keep it), not legal to keep gamefish in Ontario unless they were bought from a licensed aquaculture facility. I doubt the ministry would run you down over keeping a couple sunfish or bullheads, but an actual popular gamefish might be a different story. Better be safe than sorry.