Creek Chub Ecology

By Ian

When you are creek fishing, the term "chub" mostly refers to two species: The Fallfish, and the Creek Chub.  All are excellent fish to catch.

wikipedia.org

Creek Chubs live mostly in small to medium-sized streams, but they sometimes live in lakes too. They prefer clear to slightly cloudy water with a gravel bottom, and I have found them common around beaver dams and other natural. They often stack up in deeper, more protected pools.

Adults are slender with a large dark spot at the front of the dorsal fin and a smaller dark spot at the base of the tail fin. Their total body length ranges from 12 to 18 cm (30 cm maximum). The head is broad  and has a large  mouth with a small barbel above the upper lip. They are dark olive colored with a dark strip. The fins are yellowish with 8 to 9 dorsal-fin rays, 7 to 9 anal-fin rays, 8 pelvic-fin rays, and 13 to 18 pectoral-fin rays.

To breed, a  Creek Chub will create a breeding pit made out of pebbles, with his mouth . Once he is finished the male chub will defend his nest from other males. A female will arrive and the two fish will mate. The female chub will lay about 25 to 50 eggs in the pit. The male will bury the eggs with gravel and both fish would leave. .Creek Chubs can live up to eight years, but most do not (predators, diseases, man made causes, etc). They do not thrive in streams with stronger and constant current. They are able to tolerate moderately high turbidity if there is enough gravel substrate for spawning.

They consume aquatic insects, insects that fall into the water, small crustaceans, smaller fish, and amphibians. They often take shelter under rocks and aquatic plants, such as wild rice. Larger fish and birds often prey upon them. In Clarksville, smallmouth bass are predators.

http://www.omaha.com

While they are a favored bass baitfish, they are not commonly used for any other fish. They are not commonly eaten, either.

The current world record for these fish is 11 oz., by Hunter Pitt(white shirt) of Nebraska. It was a foot long. However, they didn't catch it in some picturesque rapid, but rather a creek. There are many creeks spread all around this beautiful country. Who knows, perhaps the "Lunker" is swimming in your backyard.

Tight Lines,

Ian