Post date: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - 00:18
Updated date: 4/10/17
Longnose Sucker - Catostomus catostomus

 

An arctic fish, the Longnose sucker lives in Lake Superior, as well as in Canada, Alaska, a few large northern Minnesota lakes, the Rainy River, and Siberia. It is the only sucker capable of living in saltwater. In Alaska it is often found in brackish habitats near river mouths. The Longnose Sucker is a peculiar fish. The underslung mouth is very papilose (covered in warts), and positioned farther back on the head than other suckers. The resemblance of it's mouth to the sturgeon's has given this fish another common name: The Sturgeon Sucker. Longnose suckers are usually dark brown in color on their upper bodies, and their bellies are white, with a sharp contrast between the two. During the spawn, dominant male Longnose Suckers develop a bright red coloration on their dorsal surface which is quite striking. Males also develop small but numerous tubercules on their caudal and anal fins. Their habits are similar to the White Sucker, but they tolerate only cold waters. Like most suckers, they ascend streams in the spring to spawn. Longnose suckers do not grow large - 3 pounds is about tops according to the record books. However, I think that record-breaking individuals of this species are fairly common. Light spinning or fly tackle would be your best bet if you're looking to snare a longnose, but they are extremely strong fighters, often jumping, tailwalking, and making determined runs into heavy cover. They will take nightcrawlers as well as flies.

 

Other Names:  Redside Sucker, Red Sucker, Sturgeon Sucker, Mullet, Red Mullet, Northern Sucker, Finescale Sucker, Black Sucker, Blackstriped Sucker

 

 

Range Map


Lifelist Entries

Post date: Wednesday, June 7, 2017 - 10:29
Upper MI
Post date: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 23:42
Baker Creek, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Post date: Saturday, April 16, 2022 - 15:15
Racine, Wisconsin - Root River
Post date: Sunday, June 10, 2018 - 00:37
Post date: Monday, May 7, 2012 - 07:53
Superior Tributary, WI
Post date: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 - 20:48
MN
Post date: Tuesday, January 22, 2019 - 15:24
Missouri River
Post date: Wednesday, June 15, 2016 - 17:40
Post date: Thursday, June 8, 2023 - 13:58
Post date: Saturday, April 25, 2015 - 18:41
Bois Brule River, WI
Post date: Saturday, April 30, 2022 - 14:24
Racine, WI
Post date: Sunday, June 15, 2014 - 09:37
North shore of Lake Superior
Post date: Thursday, April 21, 2016 - 21:42
Upper MI
Post date: Sunday, April 24, 2016 - 00:09
Lake Michigan Trib, WI
Post date: Sunday, June 18, 2017 - 16:22
Post date: Wednesday, April 13, 2022 - 07:39
tom
Lake Michigan trib.
Post date: Tuesday, August 21, 2018 - 19:44
Quebec City, QC
Post date: Saturday, April 15, 2017 - 10:57
WI
Post date: Saturday, April 23, 2022 - 21:32
Lake Michigan tributary
Post date: Monday, March 26, 2012 - 17:54
Beaver River, MN
Post date: Sunday, July 6, 2014 - 15:43
Lake Superior stream
Post date: Friday, August 11, 2017 - 23:54
Sand Creek Beulah, Wyoming
Post date: Sunday, June 26, 2016 - 18:55
Post date: Thursday, July 27, 2017 - 14:22
Baptism river, MN

Pages