Freshwater Β· Late spring through autumn; best in warm months
Silver Dace
Xenocypris argentea
A silvery, deep-bodied Xenocypris widespread in Chinese rivers, including in Guizhou, that makes its living scraping algae and organic film from stones and hard bottom in the lower-middle water column. It is the close genus-mate of the yellowtail dace in this guide, and the two entries cross-reference each other.
Seasons Β· Peak
Identifying features
- Deep, compressed silvery body with small scales and a blunt, rounded snout
- Small, slightly underslung mouth with a hard scraping lower lip and no barbels
- Tail fin plain silvery-white β no yellow tint
- Dorsal fin set mid-body; belly without the sharp full keel of a sharpbelly
- Back grey-green, flanks bright silver in clean water
Habits
- Holds in the lower-middle layers over stone, gravel and hard mud
- Scrapes algae, diatoms and detritus from surfaces with its horny lower lip
- Moves in loose schools along channel edges and slow bends
- Spawns in late spring and summer in flowing water
Distribution
Regional coverage expanding
Where to find them
- Slow bends and backwaters of large rivers
- Channel edges below dams and bridges
- Hard-bottom lake margins near inflows
Where they live
How to catch them
ε°ι bottom and float fishing River
Rig: Taiwan-style ε°ι rig: fine float, light leads and size 8-12 hooks just on bottom
Bait/lure: Algae-scented paste and scraping baits on the hook
Key tip: Keep the bait right on the hard bottom and re-bait often β scrapers mouth the bait delicately.
Traditional float fishing in slow bends River
Rig: Long float rod, fine float and small hook presented in slow river bends
Bait/lure: Small worms, maggots and soft dough
Key tip: Fish the inside of the bend where the current eases and food film collects on stones.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: ε°ι float rod or medium float rod
- Line: 6-10 lb mono
- Terminal: Fine float, light leads, size 8-12 hooks
Recommended gear for this species
Rod Β· Best value
9' 5-weight fly rod outfit
β US$180-260
Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.
Flies Β· Budget
Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)
β US$25-40
Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.
Picks come from our rule library β never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 6-10 inches; large specimens about 12 inches
On the table
Good β firm, fine flesh; a traditional table fish, though it has many small bones.
Similar species
Regulations vary by area and can change in-season β always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide β
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