In British Columbia, adult speckled dace are found in shallow waters with slow to moderately strong current. The fish seem to prefer mountain streams with stony beds that are cleaned by spring flood-waters. Young dace are generally found among polished stones at the river's edge where the current is slower and the water shallower.

Speckled dace have moderately elongated and rounded bodies with flat bellies. The fish is grey-brown or olive in colour with dark speckles that often obscure the dark lateral stripe. The dace's lower parts are yellowish-white. During spawning, males develop reddish lips, snout, and fin bases. In Canada, the speckled dace reaches lengths of between five and six centimeters.