Catching Cheek Chubs

9 posts / 0 new
Last post
kamrynscoles
Catching Cheek Chubs
<p>Hello! I am writing a paper on Creek Chubs for a fishing class. For part of the paper I need to interview people who have caught a Creek Chub. The information you provide will be included in the paper. I am wondering if a few people who have caught one could answer a few questions for me? I will put the questions below. Thank you in advance for helping me out!</p> <p>1. Where/What type of bodies of water have you caught a Creek Chub? What is its preferred habitat?</p> <p>2. What time of the year do you catch them? What state/city (location) of where you catch them?</p> <p>3. What did you use to catch the Creek Chub? (What kind of bait, hook, etc.)</p> <p>4. Do you know what a Creek Chub likes to eat?</p> <p>5. Do you know when where and how this fish reproduces?</p> <p>6. What is a Creek Chubs predators?&nbsp;</p> <p>Thanks again for taking the time to answer a few questions! You can also send me a private message if you would rather answer that way!</p>
FishNerd
FishNerd's picture
I believe you have come to the right place

1) Small streams that are too warm for trout. Small pools seem to have the highest density of them from my experience.

2) I've caught most of my creek clubs during the summer, but there could be some sampling bias there. Ashippun River near Oconomowoc.

3) Piece of redworm on a size 8-10 hook. People do catch them on jigs though, so the hook probably could be bigger.

4) My guess is that they would eat about anything. They are predators, as was documented by his creek chub eating his bluegill. My Ichtyology professor doesn't allow creek chub in his tank because it will eat anything smaller than it.

5) Chubs spawn on mounds. 

6) Bass and pike can live in smaller streams than what you might expect. I would imagine some birds eat them as well.

2017: Total species (44), New (12)
2018: Total (94), New (50)
2019: Total (116), New (49)
2020: Total (63), New (9)
2021: Total (72), New (11)
2022: Total (151), New (59)
2023: Total (134), New (48)
2024: Total (30), New (13)

SomewhereDownstream
SomewhereDownstream's picture
Creek chubs

1. Creek chubs like small streams and can sometimes be found in small, chilly ponds. In my experience, they tend to be quite common in any sort of trout water as well as some warmer creeks. 

2. Creek chubs can be caught year round, at least in Pennsylvania. I've caught all of mine in PA, but they're pretty ubiquitous.

3. Small spinners, jigs, worms, corn, mealies, pretty much any fly that fits in their mouths, and myriad other baits will all work. Minnows can also be good for the big ones.

4. Creek chubs are very opportunistic. If it is found in the same body of water as them and fits in their mouth, they'll eat it.

5. As fishnerd has already said, chubs spawn on mounds, usually in the faster water at the head of a pool. They do it in early to mid May in my area and take on vibrant hues of red and purple a week or two prior to the act.

6. Turtles, mink, raccoons, kingfishers, herons and a wide variety of related waders will all gladly eat creek chubs, along with a long list of predatory fishes that live in the same bodies of water as them. Big creek chubs will also eat little creek chubs.

Good luck with your paper! If you ever have any other fish related queries, this is a good place for them.

SomewhereDownstream

Corey
Corey's picture
Creek Chub Info

1. Where/What type of bodies of water have you caught a Creek Chub? What is its preferred habitat?

I have caught creek chubs in smallish, cool streams, including some that have trout in them and some that have bass or sunfish. They like clean, flowing water with lots of rocks and logs for cover.

2. What time of the year do you catch them? What state/city (location) of where you catch them?

I have caught creek chubs during the spring, summer, and fall - although I am sure they occasionally feed on warm winter days as well. I have caught them mostly in the midwest, near Minneapolis, MN.

3. What did you use to catch the Creek Chub? (What kind of bait, hook, etc.)

I have caught them on trout flies (nymphs) as well as insect larvae and worms. Typically, the easiest way is to use a #8 hook with a bobber and split shot, baiting it with a garden worm or a waxworm.

4. Do you know what a Creek Chub likes to eat?

Creek chubs eat: mayflies, midges, grasshoppers, caddisflies, beetles, crayfish, small fishes, leeches, or other invertebrates. Essentially, anything they can fit in their mouths.

5. Do you know when where and how this fish reproduces?

Creek chubs reproduce in the springtime. A male creek chub will build a special nest of pebbles on the stream bottom for the female to lay eggs into.

6. What is a Creek Chubs predators?

Predators of creek chubs include birds such as kingfishers, herons, and mergansers, mammals such as mink, otters, and raccoons, and fishes such as bass, trout, and northern pike.

Hope this helps!

RoughFish
RoughFish's picture
These guys know what they’re talking about ^

I will add that when they say they will eat anything, they mean anything. I’ve caught them on bare hooks and many times they try to eat your splitshot......very aggressive. 

Divemaster
Divemaster's picture
Creek Chubs

1) Small streams and runs have been my most productive water, especially ones that get on warmer side during the Summer.

2) Where I target them in western PA, they're willing to eat all year under the right conditions. Spring and Summer produce numbers, Fall is the time to hunt trophies, and Winter is a grind to pull them out of deeper holes.

3) Redworms and small pieces of nightcrawler are staple baits that I'll fish all year, small spinners and plugs also work well on a spinning rod for aggressive fish. On the fly rod, dries are fun as heck to flick at risers on warmer days, especially in late Spring and Summer. Nymphs are a good bet all year and small streamers can be productive for aggressive individuals. During the spawn (generally late March to late April), egg flies can be deadly for taking fish feeding behind other mounds.

4) Creek Chubs are aggressive, opportunistic feeders that'll truly eat just about anything that can fit in their mouths. Aquatic and terrestrial insects, small invertibrates, and small fish are all fair game for Chubs.

5) Creek Chubs spawn over gravel mounds anywhere from March to May.

6) Large, predatory fish such as Bass, Trout, Walleye, Pike, Bowfin, and Gar will happily hunt down Chubs for a quick meal. Many land animals such as birds and mammals will prey on them as well.

Gunnar
Gunnar's picture
I have caught them on

I have caught them on plastics (twister tail grubs on jigs), worms, nymphs, dry flies (while fishing for--and catching--brook trout in northern Wisconsin), inline spinners, spinnerbaits, and small crankbaits. Cold trout streams in WI and IA, sluggish warm urban streams in IL. Winter, spring, summer and fall. Bare sandy bottoms, heavy wood/root cover, rocks, grass...

 

Redhorse ID cheatsheets, gars, suckers: moxostoma.com


2020: 10 days fishing 11 species 0 lifers. 2019: 34/45/13 2018: 39/40/5

Jason E.
Jason E.'s picture
It's great to see the

It's great to see the roughfish community promoting learning and awareness!!  Thanks everyone for helping me and my students learn about fish species!!

Mack in N.C.
Mack in N.C.'s picture
creek chubs

I catch them sometime on Crappie tube baits under corks.this one was caught on a trout magnet jig under a cork. cast into current and let it drift down.   see article below

 

https://mackinncblog.blogspot.com/2018/01/big-river-chub-on-my-unc-virgina-tech.html