Seasonal Changes

universal harbinger of spring, the sucker barely waits for ice to disappear from the lake before moving into shallow-water spawning sites over gravelly bottoms. Males typically arrive first to stake out their territory, but by the time spawning occurs in waters over 50° F. (10° C), as many as four males may accompany a single female. Fifty thousand to 60 000 eggs are randomly scattered to hatch unattended eight to 11 days later. The fry remain over their gravel beds for one or two weeks, then return to the lake or move to deeper river waters to begin their life of scavenging.

After spawning, the adults move to quieter waters and continue their feeding habits of scavenging for aquatic plants, insects, mollusks, and worms. By the time the young join them, their offspring have been drastically reduced by predation. Suckers seldom bite on a lure, seemingly lazy in their feeding efforts. Most of them are taken in dip nets quite easily and, during certain periods, even by hand. They may not be great fighters but they are good eating. In addition they are becoming a popular baitfish in some areas.

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