Species Profile: River Chub

River Chub (Nocomis micropogon)

Known as the “knotty head” by most local anglers due to males’ tubercles during spawning, the River Chub is a unique ecosystem engineering fish that occurs frequently throughout the Little Tennessee River in runs and pools with rock substrates. Breeding males build nests resembling mounds by using their mouths to move one rock at a time. Other species of minnows also utilize these nests for egg-laying during their spawning seasons.

Species profile provided by Chantelle Rondel, NCWRC