Freshwater · Late spring to early fall; best in summer
Mooneye
Hiodon tergisus
The mooneye is a silvery Hiodon of the Winnipeg, Red and St. Lawrence river systems in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. A close relative of the goldeye, it feeds near the surface on insects and small fish and is taken on light baits and flies in summer.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Silvery, strongly compressed herring-like body with large silvery eyes
- Dorsal fin starts AFTER the pelvic fins — the key mark versus goldeye
- Small upturned mouth with teeth on the tongue
- Deeply forked tail and a soft belly keel
- Bright silver flanks, slightly darker olive back
Habits
- Native to the Winnipeg/Red, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence drainages
- Feeds on insects, small fish and crustaceans, often near the surface at dusk
- Migrates upstream in spring to spawn
- Schools in eddies, backwaters and below barriers
- Most active in warm summer water
Distribution
Where to find them
- Eddies below rapids on the Winnipeg and Red rivers
- St. Lawrence and Ottawa river current seams
- Lake Winnipeg and Lake of the Woods river mouths in summer
Where they live
How to catch them
Light bait fishing in eddies River
Rig: Light spinning rod, small hook under a slip float or lightly weighted, fished in eddies and seams
Bait/lure: Worm pieces, small minnows
Key tip: Keep the bait small and high in turbid water — mooneye feed up like goldeye.
Fly fishing at dusk River
Rig: Light fly rod, floating line, small dry flies or nymphs cast to rising fish
Bait/lure: Dry flies, small nymphs
Key tip: Work current seams at dusk where mooneye dimple the surface for insects.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Light 6-7 ft spinning or fly rod
- Line: 4-8 lb mono
- Terminal: Small hooks, slip floats, tiny spinners
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
9' 5-weight fly rod outfit
≈ US$180-260
Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.
Flies · Budget
Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)
≈ US$25-40
Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 9-13 in; large fish to about 15 in
On the table
Fair — soft, bony flesh; best smoked or eaten very fresh, and often released.
Similar species
Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
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