What are chub?
Scott Turner
always seem to be where trout are, but this is the first summer I've run
into them. A couple that I caught were about five inches long, My friend had
asked if we could fry up a bunch like smelts, but I had no idea whether we
should be eating such a fish. I couldn't find any info on the web.
Just curious,
Scott
Dan from Quebec
"Scott Turner" <godal...@igs.net> wrote in message
news:8kv20g$edm$1...@news.igs.net...
I remember when I was a kid in Sarnia Ontario. We used to catch chub
in the creek nearby. I often ate them and I guess they tasted ok because I
do not have any bad memories. There are quite a few different chub and dace
in N.America. They are grouped into the "cyprinidae" family. In Quebec, a
lot of fishermen call them "ouitouche" (pronounced "wee-toosh"). Normally
they grow to about 8 inches. Up in my area, I often catch a species of
cyprinidae that go almost to 12 inches long. They can be a nuisance. But,
where there are minnows, the predators are nearby.
Dan in Quebec
Scott Turner
> Scott,
>> cyprinidae that go almost to 12 inches long. They can be a nuisance. But,
> where there are minnows, the predators are nearby.
> Dan in Quebec
>
the info I'll do some looking under cyprinidea. I guess we can eat any
freshwater fish, some just taste better than others. I've still never eaten
a carp, but I used to catch plenty as a kid.
Peter D
Sometimes they are introdiced as a forage fish for larger predators
like walleye or trout. The chub you see are probalby released livebait
minnows that survived. Chub can grow to 12-14" I would suppose,
depending on the species. Most are probalby in the 5-7" range if they
survive.
Excessive populations of chub/large minnows can weaken and eventually
replace tullibee (sp?) and cisco popualtions. THey might eventually
compete with and weaken other species like Trout, though they would
have to grow large enough not to be eaten, live long enough to have an
effect, and be in sufficent numbers to make a difference.
Eating? Dunno. My guess is that they wouldn't be worth the effort.
Dunno about their taste, but most of us in NA prefer predatory fish
that feed on small, non-fatty baitfish. Chub don't fit that bill.
They'd probably taste like small Carp.
HTH
-------
Peter D
Scott Turner wrote in message <8kv20g$edm$1...@news.igs.net>...
Lloyd Sumpter
>
> Anybody know anything about this little fish? I've been told that they
> always seem to be where trout are, but this is the first summer I've run
> into them. A couple that I caught were about five inches long, My friend had
> asked if we could fry up a bunch like smelts, but I had no idea whether we
> should be eating such a fish. I couldn't find any info on the web.
>
> Just curious,
> Scott
Would these be what we call "squawfish"? They're smallish (2-8"), very
slippery, with sucker-like mouths (but the mouths are in front rather than under
like in a sucker or catfish). They have one or two beautiful irredescent stripes
down the side, and yellowish colouration at the fins.
One guy at rec.boats suggested they're a type of carp.
(BTW, sorry about the aboriginal slur, but it's the only name I know them by
- I'd LOVE to find out a better name for them!)
Lloyd Sumpter
Vancouver, BC
Lloyd Sumpter
Found 'em! on website:
http://livinglandscapes.bc.ca/peter_myles/fishlist.html
They're in the same family as carp (Cyprinidae) but seem to be a type of minnow
("proper" common name: Northern Pike Minnow). Chub and "Dace" are also in this
category. This website has some nice pictures for identifying these fish, but
the description is more to where they're found than what they look like.
Lloyd Sumpter
Vancouver, BC
That Pesky Farmboy
them they're great bait for pike and smallmouth.
PC
Lloyd Sumpter wrote:
--
"He has honor if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient,
unprofitable, or dangerous to do so." -- W. Lippmann