02-14-2019, 11:37 PM
Hello all, First let me introduce myself. My Name is Chance Broderius and I am the Native Aquatics Biologist for the Division of Wildlife in the Northern Region. The fish in the OP’s picture is most definitely a Redhorse Sucker. If you made me narrow it down to a specific species, I would say it is a Shorthead Redhorse (Moxostoma macrolepidotum). OP if you have any other pictures of the fish in question I would love to see them to get a more definitive answer for you.
To address wiperhunter’s concerns that maybe we (DWR) accidentally stocked them with a stocking of Bluehead Sucker. That is wholly not possible, as the DWR has never stocked Bluehead sucker into the Weber River from another body of water. The Blueheads that occur in the Weber are native and a state species of concern. They are the reason that it is unlawful to keep or kill any non-game fish other than common carp in the Weber River. I can assure you that it would be highly unlikely that the DWR would stock any suckers in the Weber River that were not produced from stock taken from the Weber River so as to preserve the genetic integrity of the population.
I have attached a Redhorse ID cheatsheet as well as a picture of a Weber Bluehead. Enjoy!
Chance
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To address wiperhunter’s concerns that maybe we (DWR) accidentally stocked them with a stocking of Bluehead Sucker. That is wholly not possible, as the DWR has never stocked Bluehead sucker into the Weber River from another body of water. The Blueheads that occur in the Weber are native and a state species of concern. They are the reason that it is unlawful to keep or kill any non-game fish other than common carp in the Weber River. I can assure you that it would be highly unlikely that the DWR would stock any suckers in the Weber River that were not produced from stock taken from the Weber River so as to preserve the genetic integrity of the population.
I have attached a Redhorse ID cheatsheet as well as a picture of a Weber Bluehead. Enjoy!
Chance
[signature]