Protruding nose, mouth barbels and speckled body. Pale and translucent with white belly. Sides with a silvery longitudinal stripe. Spawning occurs in May through June and continues sporadically into August. Eggs are dispersed along the bottom by currents and develop as they drift.
Juveniles tend to be solitary.
Lifespan is 1.5 years. Siltation may explain Wisconsin's low populations. Population densities of other fishes and amount of space available may also be factors. See summary fish management section . Information compiled from publication ER-091.