Bonytail Chub
One of the rarest native fish in North America, stocked in Utah as part of a federally coordinated recovery program for the Colorado River basin.
- Scientific name
- Gila elegans
- Family
- Cyprinidae
- Adult size
- Up to about 24 inches historically; hatchery-reared fish stocked at smaller sizes.
Identification
Slender, streamlined minnow with a pronounced humped back behind the head and a long, narrow caudal peduncle.
Habitat
Historically the main-stem Colorado River system; today largely confined to a few reservoirs and recovery ponds.
Diet
Algae, aquatic insects, and organic debris.
Conservation
Federally endangered; stocking is part of the Colorado River Fish Recovery Program, not a sport fishery.
Recommended Tackle & Gear for Bonytail Chub
Field-tested tackle, baits, and rigging strategies suited for catching Bonytail Chub.
Aluminum Fishing Pliers with Braid Cutters
Safely removes hooks, pinches split-shot sinkers, and cleanly snips braided, mono, and fluorocarbon lines.
Plano Waterproof Utility Tackle Box Tray (3600)
Keeps terminal tackle, weights, and spinners dry and corrosion-free with customizable compartments.
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Where Bonytail Chub is stocked
When Bonytail Chub is stocked
Top Bonytail Chub waters
Green River
DAGGETT County · 6 species · 437 records
Last stocked July 2026
Price River
UTAH County · 6 species · 123 records
Last stocked May 2026
Lake Powell
4 species · 54 records
Last stocked March 2023
Colorado River
1 species · 32 records
Last stocked April 2022
San Rafael River
1 species · 12 records
Last stocked April 2023
Dolores River
1 species · 11 records
Last stocked April 2022
White River
3 species · 11 records
Last stocked May 2014
Stewart Lake
1 species · 2 records
Last stocked June 2022
Frequently asked
Where is Bonytail Chub stocked?
Bonytail Chub is stocked in 8 waters across 1 state: Utah.
When is Bonytail Chub stocked?
Bonytail Chub is typically stocked in spring, most often in April, based on records across every state that stocks it.
How many Bonytail Chub are stocked?
About 721,014 Bonytail Chub have been stocked on record since 1988, across Utah.
What size Bonytail Chub are stocked?
Stocked Bonytail Chub average about 7.5 inches, based on sizes reported by Utah.
What does a Bonytail Chub look like?
Slender, streamlined minnow with a pronounced humped back behind the head and a long, narrow caudal peduncle.