green bait fish up close and personal?

[pignjig]

Repoman's question about flats got me to thinking about this. Hope ya'll can help this ign'ernt Italian: A couple/three weeks ago I was bank fishing a reservoir that is too low for boats. I was walking along a light yellow clay bank and saw a school of dark green baitfish horsing around right close to the bank. I thought, at first, that they were shad being chased but when I started to cast out I saw that they weren't shad. Or perch (bluegill). They seemed to be about 2"-3" long and dark green. The water was about 40 or so that day. I tried to sneak my fat carcass up closer to get a real close look but they buggered off.

Is this a common baitfish I've just never seen?

Thanks- P2