Latin name Phoxinus phoxinus
The minnow is a very small fish with dark markings along the flank. It has quite a blunt snout and very small scales.
Minnows are found, sometimes in very large quantities, in lakes and rivers where they swim in large shoals.
Generally regarded as a nuisance fish when they snatch a bait intended for larger species, minnows are rarely fished for deliberately except by very small boys and anglers who require a quantity to use as live bait for perch or trout.
Baits
Almost any small bait will be taken by Minnows, several of them often racing to take a small maggot or piece of bread at the same time.
Tactics
When all else fails, a few Minnows snatched using a pinkie on a light whip rig at the end of a disappointing day can be fun, especially as in clear water they are often found in large shoals very close to the bank and larger individuals can be targeted by sight.