Life History of the Longnose Dace, Rhinichthys cataractae, in the Surge Zone of Eastern Lake Michigan Near Ludington, Michigan

Longnose dace taken mainly during night hours over gravel-rock substrates in a surge zone of east-central Lake Michigan provided seasonal data on distribution, age, growth, maturity, fecundity, and food habits. Dominated by age-classes II and III, longnose dace entered surge-zone waters in mid-May for spawning and remained in small numbers through November. Peak spawning occurred during late June and early July. Egg production ranged from 870 to 9,953 eggs per female. Age 0 fish were taken in early August and reached a mean length of 42 mm by late October. Only a few yearlings (age I) spawned the following year; all fish were mature by age II. Major foods of adult fish were from terrestrial sources.