Don't worry. Just an academic exercise. I've got an 'in', a 'bad fish' and an 'uncertain' list, and the red shiner is already on the 'bad fish list'.

Thanks for all of your input! You should be careful. Since you obviously know what you're talking about, I might start hitting you up for every question I have.

Here's one. I didn't think the spotfin shiner was a species of satinfin shiner. The County of Fairfax native minnow website however states that the spotfin shiner is a species of satinfin shiner.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/stormwater/fish/minnows2.htm
Is this true?

In any case, I recognize that success of a lake or pond in producing large bass, which is my goal, is unlikely to be significantly affected by having a variety of small minnow species. However, having proper habitat that can support multiple prey species, in the presence of a healthy predator population, is likely to benefit members at every level of the food chain.

Last edited by deadwood; 01/06/12 09:48 AM.