Fish Active during the day

Umatilla Dace

Rhinichthys umatilla

iNaturalist Wikipedia

A master of the Pacific Northwest's rushing currents, the Umatilla Dace is a hardy survivor of the Columbia River basin. With its mottled camouflage and specialized streamline body, it thrives in the rocky riffles where few other fish dare to stay.

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Quick Identification

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Size

7.5–12 cm (3–4.7 inches) in length; typically weighs less than 30 grams (1 ounce)

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Colors

Mottled olive-brown or greyish upper body, silvery or cream-colored belly, and a dark lateral stripe that may be faint in adults

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Key Features

Distinctive subterminal mouth with a small frenum
Slender, hydrodynamic body shape
Deeply forked caudal fin
Small scales and a mottled pattern for riverbed camouflage

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 10 AM - 4 PM

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Season May-September

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Diet A benthic insectivore that feeds on aquatic insect larvae (caddisflies, midges, and mayflies), small crustaceans, and occasionally scrapes algae from submerged stones.

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Habitat Swift-flowing large rivers and productive streams with rocky, cobble, or gravel substrates.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Umatilla Dace Live?

The Umatilla Dace is native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, where it is an endemic specialist of the Columbia River drainage system. Its range spans from southern British Columbia in Canada down through the heart of Washington and Oregon, extending eastward into the Snake River plains of Idaho. Because it is tied strictly to the Columbia basin, it is a key biological indicator for the health of these major western waterways.

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2 Countries

450K km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

US United States CA Canada

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Umatilla Dace is a highly specialized river dweller that spends the majority of its life hugging the bottom of swift-moving currents. Unlike many other small fish that prefer the calm of backwaters, this species has evolved to navigate the turbulent 'riffles' of large river systems. They are strong swimmers for their size, using their pectoral fins to wedge themselves against rocks to conserve energy while searching for food.

Socially, Umatilla Dace are relatively gregarious and are often found in mixed schools with other dace species or juvenile suckers. They do not exhibit complex social hierarchies but rely on the safety of numbers to avoid larger predatory fish like Bull Trout or Northern Pikeminnow. While they are sensitive to human-led habitat changes, they are not naturally aggressive and will simply dart into the crevices of the riverbed if disturbed by waders or swimmers.

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Camera Tips

Capturing the Umatilla Dace requires an underwater setup, as they rarely surface and prefer the deepest parts of the river's fast-moving sections. For the best results, use an action camera with a waterproof housing mounted to a heavy lead or steel base to ensure the current doesn't sweep it away. Position the camera in a 'riffle'—a shallow section of the river where water ripples over rocks—and point the lens slightly upstream at a 45-degree angle to catch the fish as they move against the current.

Lighting is your biggest challenge underwater. Try to film during midday when the sun is directly overhead to pierce through the water column. If the water is deep or murky, an external waterproof LED light can help, but place it several inches away from the lens to avoid 'backscatter' from floating debris. Setting your camera to a high frame rate (at least 60fps) is essential, as dace are incredibly quick and jittery in their movements; slow-motion playback will allow you to see their unique feeding behavior more clearly.

While traditional baiting can be difficult in fast water, you can attract them by 'chumming' the water upstream. Gently turning over a few large rocks just above your camera site will release natural insect larvae into the drift, which will often draw a school of dace directly in front of your lens within minutes. Ensure your camera is set to a wide-angle view, as these fish like to dart in and out of the crevices between the cobble stones.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Umatilla Dace.

Longnose Dace

Has a much longer, more prominent snout that overhangs the mouth significantly compared to the Umatilla.

Leopard Dace

Features much darker, distinct 'leopard' spots on the sides and prefers slightly slower water velocities.

Speckled Dace

Generally smaller with a more pointed snout and more uniform speckling across the entire body.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Umatilla Dace are primarily diurnal, meaning they are most active during daylight hours. They are most frequently spotted foraging during the middle of the day when light penetration into the river is at its peak, making it easier for them to spot small insect larvae among the rocks.

Unless your backyard contains a large, fast-flowing river within the Columbia Basin, you won't find them in a typical pond. However, if you live on a riverfront, maintaining a natural shoreline with plenty of submerged cobble and avoiding the use of pesticides helps keep their insect food source abundant.

Their diet consists almost entirely of bottom-dwelling invertebrates. They use their sensitive snouts to find caddisfly larvae, midge larvae, and tiny crustaceans hiding under rocks. Occasionally, they will supplement this with algae or organic biofilm.

They are only common in suburban areas that sit directly along the Columbia, Snake, or Similkameen rivers. They are rarely found in small city creeks or stagnant ponds, as they require high oxygen levels found in turbulent water.

Umatilla Dace have a shorter, more rounded snout than the Longnose Dace. Additionally, the Umatilla Dace typically has a more deeply forked tail and a small 'frenum' (a bridge of skin) connecting the upper lip to the snout that is different in size compared to its cousins.

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