REDHORSE, SILVER
It is the largest member or the sucker family normally encountered in small, swift streams. Spectacular fighters, Silver Redhorse are a favorite target for anglers who appreciate big, tough-fighting fish. The life span for the species is somewhere around 10–12 years, with 14 being the maximum. The Silver Redhorse is not commercially or recreationally fished for through most the areas in which it inhabits
The Silver Redhorse, can be distinguished by fin color, lip shape, and number of dorsal fin rays. Silver Redhorses have a light gray to tan dorsal fin, and the pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins are beige to orange. The halves of the Silver Redhorse’s lower lip meet at an acute angle, and the dorsal fin contains 14 to 16 rays. They can gorw up to 12 to 28 in (300 to 711 mm).
When fishing for Sliver Redhorse you can use many techniques as are bait fishing, fly fishing, drift fishing, still casting and spin casting. Bread and dough balls make for excellent baits for bottom feeding fish. The bread or dough leaves a nice scent trail in the water that can be detected by bottom dwelling fish suck as catfish and carp. Using fish cut into pieces attracts fish in a different way than whole, live bait or lures. Fish that are attracted to scent are more likely to hit on cut bait. You can use just about any baitfish to make cut bait as well as other fish species. Jigs have weighted metal heads and a tail made of animal hair, soft plastic, feathers or rubber. For really good action, hook the minnow upside down on a light jig. It will struggle to regain an upright position. To prevent smaller fish from nibbling the worm without biting down on the hook, you can use just a piece of the worm.
Internationally
The Silver Redhorse is widely distributed in eastern North America from Missouri to Quebec. Most Silver Redhorse live in the southeastern United States. They are found in the Mississippi River, St. Lawrence River, Ohio River, and the Great Lakes basins.