Minnow is the common name for a number of small, silvery fish. Minnows belong to the largest family of freshwater fishes, with hundreds of species (kinds) in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Most American minnows are small, less than 6 inches (15 centimeters) long. However, a few grow quite large. The Colorado squawfish, which is one of the largest minnows in North America, reaches a length of 2 to 4 feet (61 to 120 centimeters). The golden mahseer, found in rivers and streams throughout India, grows to 9 feet (2.7 meters) long. Minnows often are difficult to identify because of their uniform size, form, and color.
Minnows are forage fish—that is, they furnish the food that allows game fish to reach a large size. Minnows also are used as live bait to catch larger fish. In many places, so many minnows have been caught for bait that there are few left, and some states have outlawed or limited the taking of minnows. Minnows are usually caught with nets and are often raised in ponds and fish hatcheries. Some common minnows in North America are the common shiner, the golden shiner, and the creek chub.
