Suckers

• The White Sucker
  The white sucker, Catostomus commersoni. A distinguishing characteristic of his is that the scales in front of the dorsal fin are smaller than on the rest of the body so they look crowded together. This sucker will usually be found in small cool creeks and spring branches.
  Some fish spawn near the shore-line. However, most species migrate up the small tributaries to spawn. They are considered a desirable food fish and great numbers are taken during the spawning runs.
  Suckers are important in that the young are available food for more desirable game fishes. Suckers can compete for food with game fish if large numbers of adults are harvested inadequately.
  These fish take bait best during early spring and again in August and September but they are catchable throughout the summer. Two of the recognized baits are worms and mussels. Worms need no explaining but mussels may be new to some anglers. In using mussels, break open the shell and cut or tear out a half-inch chunk of the muscular lip of the bivalve and bait up.
  Then comes the selection of a place to fish. Remembering that suckers are fast-water, bottom-feeding fish, anglers usually fish in fast riffles. Some prefer the head end of fast water. Others choose the tail waters. One thing you must do--keep that bait on the bottom.
  Suckers, like other non-game fishes, may be taken legally by hook and line at any time of the your. May is the spawning season for most species of the sucker family and, as is their wont in , they run up into small tributaries.

• The Hog Sucker
  The long-snouted rooter of the riffles, generally known as hog sucker, and technically as Hypentelium nigricans, is very different from the other members of the sucker family. Although the rest of the suckers are unusually similar in habits and modes of life, the hog sucker has more of the aspects of the darters.
  The hog sucker appears suddenly from among the riffles, darts rapidly away for a short distance, then merges with the bottom. This sort of activity along with a slender body, large pectoral fins, and comparatively high coloration heightens its resemblance to the darters. Like the darters, it has the habit of resting quietly on the bottom, supported by its paired fins. Its coarsely mottled colors help to conceal it among the surrounding stones.
  The most striking peculiarity of the fish is its feeding habits. A large bony head, streamlined form and well-developed pectoral fins enable it to seek its food in the more rapid parts of streams. It uses its long snout and large head to turn over rocks while it keeps its position on the riffle with the large pectoral fins. Food is obtained by sucking up the ooze and slime which is exposed when the rocks are moved. Many insect larvae and other minute organisms are gathered up in this manner. During these activities the sucker often serves as a provider for other species. As it roots a path through a riffle it is often followed by small fish which feed on the insects that are dislodged. The smallmouth bass is the game species most frequently observed enjoying this free board.
  Identification of the species is relatively simple. The main features are the large head and the four rather broad, dark oblique bars or saddles on the body. The whole body appears almost conical and is covered with large scales. The lower fins are a dull red. There is no color variation between the sexes.
  The hog sucker is very particular as to where it lives. It generally is present only in clear streams. Preferred habitats are riffles and adjacent areas of clear, shallow streams with gravel bottoms.
  Spawning occurs in shallow waters or riffles in April or May, as soon as water temperatures reach about 60 degrees F. Previous to spawning, pearly bumps known as "pearl organs" or tubercles appear on both sexes. They are present on the head, fins, and the body of the males. On the females they are smaller and are lacking on the head, sides of the body, dorsal fin, and lower surface of paired fins. These organs furnish rough surfaces which enable the male and female to maintain spawning 0positions. During the actual spawning period several males crowd about a female as she takes her position over an area of sand and grovel in shallow water. Two or three males usually are able to remain at her sides as the eggs are extruded. This takes about two seconds and may be repeated in four or five minutes. The eggs are not guarded and minnows frequently rush to feast upon them as soon as they are laid.
  There is no closed season for angling for this non-game species. Though it is not widely used for food by man, the hog sucker still fills an important niche in the stream. Its greatest value is that it makes much food available for more desired species.