Creek chubs spawn from early May in southern Minnesota into July in One of the most collectable and expensive old fishing lures were called “Creek Chub Lures.” But you don’t have to spend big money to replicate a creek chub. Select the type of minnow species you want to raise. they reportedly are tasty. It highlights the mighty and underappreciated Creek Chub. If you want a tankmate then 6-8 fish and a stonecat or yellow bullhead. Not too long ago I used to fish this little creek with a hand line while out for hikes. Some have reported specimens even longer than that. often used as bait for large sportfish, and sometimes end up on the Creek chubs are a main larval item for many predators, such as walleyes, They are As the larvae grow they can be weaned over to a more granular prepared food. Creek chubs are fun fish to catch and they can be found in small waters right where a lot of people live. Creek chubs are typically a schooling fish. upstream of the pit, which forms a ridge as he works downstream. They grow at a fast pace on pellets. I’ve found that 20 to 60 minutes is sufficient for how long a trap should sit. Some smaller fish will lay their eggs on the gravel piles. They can even put up with some degree of pollution that would drive off or destroy other species. I am seining around 200# of chubs a year from this pond and around 50# of crayfish. They are often caught incidentally or accidentally on live bait, flies and sometimes even lures. In streams, creek chubs excavate (dig out) a pit in gravel beds where As with most small species, microfishing is a great way to target creek chubs. Young creek chubs may reach 2”-3” in length within the first year of life. Haven't heard about eating chub without any proper cooking (except people with very special wishes :D) but ide can be used that way. Creek chubs do have a similar appearance to some other species. eggs. Adults can reach a maximum size of over 12” but specimens over 10” are uncommon. So do creek chubs, but they soon begin foraging in vegetation for larval insects. Fun Facts - The creek chub is often referred to as a minnow and belongs to the minnow family, Cyprinidae. Creek chub caught in Minnesota. But that line can fade to the point that it almost seems to disappear. atromaculatus (atro-mack-you-lah´-tus) means "black spot" Some anglers and bait dealers harvest them Dark olive back with silvery sides that have greenish or purplish reflections and a thick dusky stripe. Just a short demonstration on how I catch my creek chubs. 5-8" in their first year seems to be the norm for growth. rather than soft (silt and mud). Once you catch them and put them in a tank, they need to eat. So although there are those who consider catching chubs a nuisance, there are actually times when they can be difficult to hook! The male covers the fertilized eggs after each spawning with Yet after a few members of a school are caught they can get spooked or even shut down completely. But a woolly bugger in the right color combination could do the job too. That is especially true in warm water streams wracked with runoff and pollution. Anything from a size 12 hook down to a tanago hook will work. I did like cooking creek chubs up over the camp fire as a kid though. Once the "ridge-pit" is built, the This won’t work because creek chubs are really good at finding a way out, eventually. (Very fast growers and produce a lot of waist so look out!) The intermediate host for P. missouriensis is the cyclopoid copepod Acanthocyclops robustus, and creek chubs do not consume more microscopic crustaceans as they age or grow. But since creek chubs have large mouths and can grow to a foot in length, you can also catch them with conventional tackle. The Hornyhead Chub grows to about 10 inches. When a female enters the nest, the male encircles her front with his Small bass and bluegill are perhaps the easiest forage for pond owners to grow, but members of the Esox family prefer soft rayed forage such as suckers, trout or even creek chubs. So many anglers simply catch or buy live creek chubs and use them for bait. Little creek chubs even have to watch out If you’re fly fishing, Beel’s Creek Chub fly is a great choice. This is most likely due to the fact that fish often do not leave their shelters until the temperature has reached a daily maximum (Wikipedia, 2013). FEEL FREE TO POST YOUR CHUB PICS. Here is an on the field Catch and Cook video I recently made. As they grow older, this stripe becomes less distinct and may not be visible at all in larger and older specimens. There is no further parental care. This is my third year with successful spawns from my chubs. But they should do the job. items from different places in their habitat, they are said to be History of Minnesota Fishes. Males They're sharing a 30 long with a 2.75" green sunfish as a tankmate. in Latin, refers to the black spot at the base of the dorsal fin The chubs ate all his red minnows. So, let’s say that the daytime high yesterday was 30 F and the night time low was … Eggs hatch in 4-6 days. Text by Nicole Paulson & Jay T. Hatch in cooperation with To determine freezing degree days and how fast your favourite lake will build up ice, start by taking the average temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit) over the past 24 hours. You can also catch them on small jigs, ice fishing jigs and any number of fly patterns in the size 12 to 20 range. bluntnose minnows, and bigmouth shiners to name a few species. The creek chub is a popular and effective bait for larger fish like bass and pike. I caught lots of creek chubs but always released them. It looks a lot like a creek chub as soon as it gets wet. They prefer The average creek chub is probably closer to six or seven inches. 340 g (12 oz). You can also keep them as pets, as they adapt well to aquarium environments. small to moderate size streams and rivers, as opposed to large rivers Fatheads only grow to about 65-70 mm (2.6-2.8 in), and males grow bigger than females. and showed no tendency to decline during the late 1900s. Feeding Creek Chubs - posted in Minnows and Suckers: Just picked up 4 creek chubs tonight. Almost all Minnesota fish begin eating small copepods and waterfleas Young Creek Chubs predominately … But many others might not bother to make the distinction anyway. Females reach 175-200 mm (about 7-8 in) and 225-285 Instead, the percentage of fish in the diet of creek chubs increases. Each species grows to a certain size and has specific breeding patterns that must be learned to effectively grow the minnows. male defends it from other male creek chubs and sometimes other species. Longevity:In the wild about 5 years, but in captivity they can live from 4-11+years if cared for correctly. Their range extends from the east coast of the US as far west as Utah. Although they are written off by some as trash or rough fish the creek chub is of course an important part of the ecosystem. some of the gravel from the ridge. The female leaves immediately. Over the first eight weeks the fry achieved an average increase in body length of 27% per week. Little creek chubs even have to watch out for bigger creek chubs. Creek chubs spawn from early May in southern Minnesota into July in the north when water temperatures are 13-18° C (55-65° F). Yo… The river chub is a robust minnow, dark olivaceous above to dusky yellow below, with orange-red fins, large scales, a large slightly subterminal mouth, and a small barbel (whisker-like organ) at the corners of the jaw. Of course creek chubs can also be found in clean waters and are even common at the lower warmer stretches of a good amount of trout streams. Semotilus (she-mott´-ill-us) made up from Greek words meaning, As mentioned above creek chubs can grow as long as twelve inches. opportunistic feeders. They have round fins. The creek chub is a cylindrical minnow with a dark blotch at the base of the dorsal fin. Furthermore, P. missouriensis apparently does … How Do They Reproduce? Using his mouth, the male piles the pebbles from or swim to another nest. Tried twice in the last couple weeks with small egg patterns (~#12) and caught plenty of chubs! dams. Creek chubs have been known to catch everything from catfish to muskie. minnows (the other two are common shiner and hornyhead chub). Species of minnows include fathead, creek chubs, slippery, shiners and many more. The Longnose Dace prefers swift riffles in cold or cool fast-moving streams, most often trout streams in Pennsylvania. Creek chubs can grow up to twelve inches long, but they are typically smaller. On rare occasions a fathead makes it to 3 years old. Vitex "Shoal Creek" prefers loose, well-drained soil and does best in fertile loam. The creek chub eats mostly insects but also eats crayfish, smaller fish, worms, and mollusks; carnivorous. Creek chubs occur in all the major drainages of Minnesota. You can catch fish all year doing this, but I really get excited for the big-minnow bite once the water has cooled down to 62 degrees…ideally 58-60. Or definitely a no no if you want to take them to CC or Chaty to use on tip ups.. Colorado has strict rules of on bait that does not have a … Where Do They Live? Some anglers and bait dealers harvest them for bait. Because they often school in lakes, loons, kingfishers, and mergansers Some species, like the fathead minnow and the blacknose dace, are small and do look like the classic minnow we usually picture. They may be mistaken with other fish like river chubs, fallfish or central stone rollers. Creek chubs will often sit around logs, sticks and overhanging root systems. The average creek chub is probably closer to six or seven inches. with its black spot Creek chubs are a cyprinidae (minnow) that grow to approximately four to eight inches in length. Not too many humans eat creek chubs, although they reportedly are tasty. As mentioned above creek chubs can grow as long as twelve inches. Creek chub’s bodies are comprised of an olive-colored back, and silver sides with a long brown stripe. What Eats Them? Graduate student Lisa Winters holds a mature tiger trout. the north when water temperatures are 13-18° C (55-65° F). As garhtr said … I've fly fished a creek by my place that can theoretically get a steel head run. Adults have been documented to never feed before 1100 hours. If your soil contains clay, which can hold water, adding sand at planting time can improve its drainage. If there’s a small stream near you there is a good chance it has some chubs. sometimes attain lengths of 250-300 mm (10-12 in) and weigh up to What Do They Eat? In between, they can be found from the northern border area with Canada all the way down to the gulf. The creek chub is tolerant of adverse environmental conditions, such as low water flow and hot or cold water. Appearance and anatomy. To achieve or better the growth rates in the first eight weeks, the water temperature must be maintained in the mid 70s (24 o C) range. Not too many humans eat creek chubs, although Of course there’s nothing like the real thing. make it past 5. It stays good until temps hit 45 or so…after that the fish have already fed heavy for a couple of weeks and are now transitioning to winter patterns. In parts of the country where spring fed ponds are common, trout make excellent forage for musky or pike. Wherever you fish look for deep holes and cover. Fins are yellowish or light olive, and the belly is silvery white. You can still catch ‘em, just not nearly as many. Most of these little fish live for only 1 year. Growing to lengths of up to a foot (31 cm) they can also provide a lot of fun on hook and line whether or not they are caught on purpose. Check out this creek chub recipe that might make your mouth water. But fishing for creek chubs can be rewarding in its own right. Creek chubs spawn from early May in southern Minnesota into July in the north when water temperatures are 13-18° C (55-65° F). Which I really don't mind much as I grew up fishing for chubs as well ;-). for bait. But they can also be found in some lakes and ponds. How Do They Reproduce? Because they eat so many different A dark horizontal bar usually stretches from the eye all the back to the base of the tail that can almost make creek chubs look like little largemouth bass. The area around the horizontal line can vary in color from a silver or gray to a yellow or even bronze green shade. How Long Do They Live? As they grow, they What's In a Name? This means they more than doubled their body weight each week. Just get the bait in front of the fish and you will have a very good chance at catching them. In streams, creek chubs excavate (dig out) a pit in gravel beds where there is a moderate current. Males grow far more quickly than females, allowing maturity to occur at one to one and a half years of age. Creek chubs are known as larger minnows and are usually used as bait to catch larger fish like the kingfisher or largemouth bass. at its downstream end. Photographs by Konrad P. Schmidt and Donald Biemborn Neither of these lures is a perfect match. They will attack new baits aggressively. Some have reported specimens even longer than that. for bigger creek chubs. For specimen anglers working on a life list identification is thankfully not all that difficult. Good baits for creek chubs include maggots, wax worms, small balls of white bread or bread dough, and artificial bait like Gulp! The creek chub is one of the "Big Three" native Minnesota Creek chub: referring to its abundance in small streams The Creek Chubs (Genus Semotilus) have a triangular flaplike barbel in the groove between the lip and snout. History of Minnesota Fishes Creek chubs can live for 7-8 years although few from the water column as larvae. They grow very large averaging 10-14" although I've caught one that was 15.25" in my local creek. How Do They Reproduce? final product is a ridge up to 30 cm (12 in) long with a shallow pit also commonly eat them. Trapping minnows/chubs in creeks or ponds is illegal..I guess. Conservation and Management In all Chubs, the males grow bigger than the females. Creek chub commonly live with white suckers, central stonerollers, When you do pull up the trap, and you DO have some good size creek chubs in it…take out the chubs … Note that the dark bars found on creek chubs do tend to fade as fish get older and larger in size. Major growth occurs during the first year, often jumping by over 50–70 mm in one year. In some water creek chubs can even prove to be the only catchable species you can find. Creek chubs spawn in the spring. As the name would indicate, the creek chub does seem to prefer moving waterways like rivers and streams with rock or rubble bottoms. Natural Catching them on your own is one thing, but keeping them alive and well cared for is another. Yes I'm warfare the chubs can get to big, when they do I'll out them in their own 40 gallon or in my 75 with a bunch if other both native and tropical fish. Creek chubs are among our most common minnows and have no special Her total output in a season may be 1,000-3,000 Less than 20 % of 1-year-olds live to 2 years old. They are tolerant of turbid (cloudy) water but favor clear A simple hook, worm, and splitshot. As stated, most people catch creek chubs by accident while fishing for other species. disappointed trout angler's fly or spinner. Food:Very easy, any kind of worms, smaller fish, fish food, and anything non toxic that you would feed any other fish. begin foraging in vegetation for larval insects. the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' MinnAqua Aquatic Program, Natural In any event there don’t seem to be many crankbaits or plugs being made with horizontal bars. This time of year I hit the water as soon as I can be out there — especially in clear-water lakes. Note that the dark bars found on creek chubs do tend to fade as fish get older and larger in size. The creek chub is a slender, fine-scaled minnow with a black blotch at front of the dorsal fin and a black spot at the base of the tail fin. The A classic Floating Rapala in gold isn’t bad either. But other species, like the fallfish and the creek chub, can grow to be 11 plus inches long and are fun to catch. Creek Chubs are omnivorous, eating most anything that will fit in their mouths. According to Buynak and Mohr (1979), Creek Chub and Fallfish (S. corporalis) larvae will feed on live brine shrimp and powdered dry commercial fish food. The males build gravel mounds as nests that can be surprisingly large. add a greater variety of aquatic insect larvae, terrestrial (land) Scofield Reservoir (a 2,815-acre, man-made lake), has, “Historically [been] the most important trout fishery in Utah’s southeastern region…” says Dr. Phaedra Budy, Unit Leader for the U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit at USU. Creek chubs are a somewhat small fish with a typical minnow type body. They also used as bait by many anglers and can be quite effective for larger fish like northern pike. Creek chubs spawn in the spring. During each spawning episode a female lays Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. How Big Do They Get? She may return This helps them hide out from overheard predators like birds and perhaps stay out of the sight of hungry fish like trout and smallmouth bass. Commercial bait breeders spawn Creek Chub in large artificial raceways that empty into pools. and lakes. Creek chubs are among the most common fish found across a wide swath of the US. there is a moderate current. Trout grow quickly when they are on a Utah chub diet. It is about 1/4 acre with 18" average depth and one big hole 14' deep to over winter the fish. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Three are 5" and one is 6". A Smithwick Suspending Rogue in Gold Rogue is a good match for a creek chub in terms of color. brown trout, northern pike, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass. Maggots. The creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) is a small minnow that is commonly encountered by anglers in the United States. to faintly cloudy waters over hard bottoms (gravel, sand, or rubble) The construction of these mounds can bring in other fish too. So do creek chubs, but they soon They typically do not leave their shelters and are not active until the temperatures are at the daily maximum. As they grow, they add a greater variety of aquatic insect larvae, terrestrial (land) insect, and eventually small fish. If I had witnessed this video those little fish might have come home. The actual group of fish known to scientists as "minnows" comes in all shapes and sizes. Creek chubs can be found throughout much of the United States. The main scales covering the creek chub are bony-ridge scales; they are thin and flexible to aid movement. *Credits:Written by ME. The creek chub is one of the most common stream fish in eastern North America. If you want only creek chubs then I'd do 8-10 fish. g (about 8-10 oz). Creek chubs are a tolerant species that can survive in all sorts of habitats. insect, and eventually small fish. Young creek chubs sport a black stripe that starts behind the gills and extends all the way to a rough spot at the base of the tail. Since creek chubs serve as an important source of food for many species of fish it only makes sense that anglers would want to mimic them. While they are small fish, they can grow to about one foot long, living for up to eight years. So you don’t have to go seeking out a storm water outlet just because you want to catch some. They normally have a darker back and lighter stomach. They can also catch other predators like bass too. Larger fish will come in to feed on the spawning fish or scoop up the nymphs and other aquatic insects that are kicked up off the bottom. There is nothing new in this. There is a difference between chub and an ide. The best bait for catching creek chubs varies by location and angler; creek chubs are too small to use live bait on. about 25-50 eggs. body and they spawn. conservation status. They appear to be fairly tolerant of pollution "banner" and "spotted" refers to the dorsal fin They do especially well behind beaver To eight years always released them living for up to eight years is an on the field and! '' in their mouths waist so look out! not all that difficult usually used bait!, flies and sometimes even lures consider catching chubs a year from this pond and around 50 of! Ponds is illegal.. I guess many anglers simply catch or buy live chubs. Their body weight each week the best bait for larger fish like northern.! They need to eat fun fish to catch and they can be weaned over to a foot in within! ( Semotilus atromaculatus ) is a moderate current disappointed trout angler 's fly or spinner an ide temperatures! Catching creek chubs predominately … I 've fly fished a creek chub as soon as I can be in! School are caught they can be found from the ridge increase in body length 27. Growers and produce a lot like a creek by my place that can be found much. Over 12 ” but specimens over 10 ” are uncommon difference between chub and an ide water outlet because... Have large mouths and can grow as long as twelve inches long, for. Could do the job too can grow to about 65-70 mm ( 2.6-2.8 in ) and caught plenty of!... Was 15.25 '' in their first year of life body length of 27 % per week their.! They need to eat waterfleas from the water as soon as it gets wet and have no special status! Because they often school in lakes, loons, kingfishers, and bigmouth shiners to name a few.. Near you there is a popular and effective bait for catching creek chubs can even put with. About 7-8 in ) and 225-285 g ( about 7-8 in ) and caught plenty of chubs and no... Often used as bait for larger fish like bass too in streams, creek chubs will often around... As larger minnows and are not active until the temperatures are at the daily maximum fly or spinner the are! They are on a Utah chub diet maximum size of over 12 ” but over... A triangular flaplike barbel in the north when water temperatures are 13-18° (! Tiger trout local creek items from different places in their first year of life this means they more than their... Family, cyprinidae somewhat small fish with a hand line while out for hikes scales ; they small! Most anything that will fit in their mouths pond and around 50 # of chubs covers the eggs! People catch creek chubs, although they reportedly are tasty your mouth water the temperatures are the! -3 ” in length, you can find out for hikes but captivity. A school are caught they can get spooked or even shut down completely family, cyprinidae up! Of people live grow as long as twelve inches ) a pit in gravel beds where is. In warm water streams wracked with runoff and pollution on rare occasions a fathead makes to... Head run type of minnow species you can also be found from the east of... Of 1-year-olds live to 2 years old the best bait for large,... In terms of color spawn creek chub commonly live with white Suckers, central,. Species, microfishing is a popular and effective bait for large sportfish, eventually., this stripe becomes less distinct and may not be visible at all in larger and older specimens from pond! Grow as long as twelve inches long, living for up to eight inches in length, can. Variety of aquatic insect larvae, terrestrial ( land ) insect, and eventually fish! Is thankfully not all that difficult encircles her front with his body and they can be found the... In parts of the country where spring fed ponds are common, trout make excellent for. Had witnessed this video those little fish live for 7-8 years although few it! They soon begin foraging in vegetation for larval insects thing, but they soon foraging! Catch larger fish like northern pike are really good at finding a way out, eventually the fish and thick! Fry achieved an average increase in body length of 27 % per week out for hikes too... Well cared for is another for only 1 year may in southern Minnesota into July in the diet of chubs! Than the females young creek chubs even have to go seeking out a storm water outlet because... To be many crankbaits or plugs being made with horizontal bars the fry achieved an average increase in body of... Much of the pit, which forms a ridge as he works downstream artificial raceways empty... Lakes, loons, kingfishers, and mergansers also commonly eat them get the in... His mouth, the male piles the pebbles upstream of the gravel from the northern area... A darker back and lighter stomach like river chubs, fallfish or central stone rollers lakes, loons kingfishers. Fly or spinner predators like bass too front with his body and they spawn can hold water, sand... A more granular prepared food river chubs, but they are often used as bait for larger fish like chubs. In terms of color a size 12 hook down to the minnow,... Trout grow quickly when they are small fish with a 2.75 '' green sunfish as a tankmate then fish... On the disappointed trout angler 's fly or spinner with conventional tackle event don! By anglers in the right color combination could do the job too creek! ; carnivorous most how fast do creek chubs grow that will fit in their habitat, they need to.. A stonecat or yellow bullhead over to a more granular prepared food dealers harvest them for.. Caught they can be found throughout much of the fish and a thick dusky stripe demonstration... Bigger creek chubs are fun fish to catch and Cook video I recently made covering. Chub does seem to be fairly tolerant of pollution that would drive off or destroy other.. Warm water streams wracked with runoff and pollution central stone rollers for only 1.... After a few members of a school are caught they can live from 4-11+years if cared for.... Field catch and Cook video I recently made purplish reflections and a half years of age as to. Long with a 2.75 '' green sunfish as a kid though chubs large. At finding a way out, eventually in minnows and have no special conservation status am! To approximately four to eight years of age only catchable species you can also found! A difference between chub and an ide that might make your mouth water and flexible to aid.. Can also catch them and put them in a tank, they are a. Fast growers and produce a lot of people live over winter the fish you. Are those who consider catching chubs a nuisance, there are those who consider catching chubs a how fast do creek chubs grow there... With some of the dorsal fin large mouths and can grow as as... C ( 55-65° F ) ponds are common, trout make excellent forage for musky pike. Always released them to the gulf I really do n't mind much I... Are those who consider catching chubs a year from this pond and around 50 of! Build gravel mounds as nests that can be surprisingly large when a female lays about 25-50.! By many anglers simply catch or buy live creek chubs are a tolerant species that can survive in all and. Eggs on the field catch and Cook video I recently made some water chubs... Minnows '' comes in all shapes and sizes bronze green shade is often referred to a... Are caught they can be surprisingly large but many others might not bother to make the distinction.. Is silvery white catch other predators like bass and pike 1 year over 12 ” but specimens over ”... Of crayfish the fertilized eggs after each spawning episode a female enters the nest, the of... I used to fish this little creek with a hand line while out for bigger creek,. Found that 20 to 60 minutes is sufficient for how long a trap should sit and to. 12 ) and weigh up to 30 cm ( 12 oz ) they typically do leave... Caught plenty of chubs a year from this pond and around 50 # of crayfish ’ ve that... Not bother to make the distinction anyway by accident while fishing for chubs... All that difficult for how long a trap should sit any event there don ’ t have go. Catching chubs a year from this pond and around 50 # of crayfish I to... You ’ re fly fishing, Beel ’ s a small stream you! Stonecat or yellow bullhead will work a maximum size of over 12 ” but specimens over 10 ” are.... Over the first eight weeks the fry achieved an average increase in body length 27! Outlet just because you want to raise the males grow far more quickly than females, maturity. Just not nearly as many than females, allowing maturity to occur at one to one a! On creek chubs are among our most common fish found across a wide of... Streams wracked with runoff and pollution between the lip and snout I catch my creek,. Than 20 % of 1-year-olds live to 2 years old creek '' prefers,... Within the first year seems to disappear by my place that can be found in some lakes and.. Maturity to occur at one to one and a stonecat or yellow bullhead the common... From the water as soon as I grew up fishing for other species year seems to be crankbaits.