I was out on a lake in a paddleboat last weekend (or is it a pedal boat – one has to pedal it to get the paddle going). In the back was my 8-year old niece who caught a little fish. By caught, I mean that she found one lying dead on a leaf in the water. No matter, the fish was promptly christened Fishalina and a funeral service was conducted for the deceased – my niece roped in her fellow passengers in the back of the boat – her 6-year old brother and her 7 year old cousin who dutifully intoned all the prayers that they knew [all of the prayers that my mother has been trying to teach them for the last couple of years].
When my brother and I were growing up, we called any small fish a pinkeen – though I think the name should actually be used for minnows only. The little fish pictured above [in my niece’s hand] is actually a Three-Spined Stickleback – much the same size as a minnow and just as common.