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White Sucker

White Sucker

White Sucker (Catostomus commersonii) are not native to Arizona but have been introduced to the Colorado River drainage basin, making them an invasive species in the state.

They are bottom-feeding fish that serve as important forage for predatory fish like trout, bass, walleye, and northern pike.

Scientific Name: Catostomus commersonii

Physical Characteristics:

Distinctive fleshy, papillose lips positioned on the underside of their heads for vacuuming food from substrates.

They have elongated, cylindrical bodies with olive brown to black coloration on their backs, lighter-colored bellies, and during breeding season, males develop gold coloration and red or black stripes along their sides.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

Prefer rocky pools and riffles in creeks and small to medium rivers

Key Locations

Colorado River drainage basin, upper Little Colorado River system and tributaries like East Clear Creek, Barbershop Canyon, Chevelon Creek, and Silver Creek

Specific Spots

Look for current breaks, eddies, deep pools, and slack water behind structure like logs or rocks. Suckers often congregate in deeper holes and near tributary junctions, particularly areas with connections to groundwater that provide thermal refugia.

White Sucker FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for White Sucker in Arizona?

Small pieces of nightcrawlers, red worms, or garden worms fished on the bottom. Pack bait made from bread crumbs and corn can be molded around sinkers to create an attractant chum effect that draws more fish to your area.

What flies work for White Sucker in Arizona?

Sinking nymph patterns, scud patterns, San Juan Worms, and small stonefly nymphs in sizes 10-14. Effective fly patterns include bead-head nymphs, blood dots, sucker spawn patterns, and worm-like flies that sink quickly to the bottom where suckers feed.

When is the best time to fish for White Sucker in Arizona?

Best during spring before spawning season begins and again in late spring through summer after spawning concludes. During spawning season (April-May), these fish should be left undisturbed as they perform crucial reproductive activities.

How do you catch White Sucker in Arizona?

Fish baits on the bottom. For fly fishing, use Euro-nymphing techniques to maintain bottom contact or fish patterns under indicators. In clear water conditions, use smaller presentations; in murky water, scale up fly sizes.

What do White Sucker eat?

Omnivorous, feeding on invertebrates, fish eggs, aquatic insect larvae, algae, detritus, mollusks, crustaceans, and plant matter.

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