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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | I thought I finally had something working with sucker rigs this year with the Howie Rig. I was wrong--I can not hook a fish on a sucker lately. The problem I am having is with the hooks re-entering the sucker in a different spot, presumably on the second hookset, and a bite off on the fluoro rig (will never use that again). I have been brainstorming to come up with new ideas to make these things hook up better.
I am doing everything "by the book". Hooks barely under the skin, fish moving away, set hard, and I'm talking hard, twice. I know this has been rehashed several times, but guys, what's working for you. I am getting desperate--I've lost my last eight sucker hits. |
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Posts: 1189
Location: Bagley,MN 56621 | Norm, I can't help with info, but I will be watching intently to the responses as well. I have only 2 sucker fish this year and I think I have been picked up 10-12 times...very frustrating. I did manage to get a very nice 45" yesterday but my ratio could be better.
What I didn't put in the other post is that I had a "Shamoo" sized sucker out for this special fish we were fishing for. Well it got picked up by a low 40's..go figure...anyhow what is heartbreaking is that I reeled it up slowly to see what I was dealing with and which way the sucker was in the mouth (curious because I had lost so many already)...well the sucker got let loose as I reeled it closer, this 42 ish nails it again, totally t-boned it, swam down and away and I let her have it. nadda ,zip,blank. All 3 hooks came cleanly off in one hookset and I got squat.It had it grabbed on the "hookless" side.
The next sucker I rigged up was identical, one treble by dorsal, the second treble by the anal opening and I got the 45.......???????
I'm thinking that one treble should be on both sides,,,,go from the mouth (with whatever you use to attach it with..j-hook,jig,rubberband........to the dorsal,then with the wire go over or under the sucker and place the last treble next to the anal fin on the OTHER side.
thats my plan from now on anyhow
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Posts: 234
| Norm, sorry to hear about your success ratio. I am jealous because I only muskie fished 3 times this year and winterized the boat this weekend. I will have to scan my picture of the 44.5" and send it to you. But I lost a low 40 inch fish the last time too on a double leader setup when the hook by the anal sliced into the sucker and made about a 3" gash through the sucker and got stuck when I set the hook. I caught 2 on the single hook at the top by the dorsal fin with the leader (tyger) through the suckers nose. But I lost one on this too.
I think I am going to try the tyger leader through a rubber band that goes through the suckers nose. I think this would release better than the leader going through the suckers mouth. Then a single treble hooked lightly by the dorsal fin and then add a stinger hook tied with tyger leader from the dorsal fin hook back to just in front of the tail. And I will try to use a small black rubber band to hold this hook against the sucker. I think with these 2 hooks coming straight up when setting the hook will increase my hooking percentage. What do you think? |
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | My latest brainstorm is not far off that rig Jimbo--but with my success lately I can use all the ideas I can get. What I am looking at doing is pinning a safety pin in the soft area of the suckers lip. Running a 7 strand leader through that and connecting that to a lift-off rig type hook setup. I think the single hook setup is costing me fish (and I was completely sold on it two weeks ago).
This rig may not look as natural as the one I've been using, but natural aint putting no fish in the boat lately either. |
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | Norm, I have been having the same problem with the rig. I think the 2 hook thing is a definite. That should help aleviate any fish missing at least one hook. I have missed 6 fish on that rig due to the hook going back into the sucker. Let me know if you have something that works. I'll see what I can come up with. |
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| I have had a better hookup ratio with one treble over 2. I think Tyger leader gives you the same benefit of flexibility that fluorocarbon does without the worry of a bite offf. I use a ball bearing swivel attached to the leader with a small aberdeen in the mouth of the sucker. Tie an overhand knot in the aberdeen. The single, 3/0 treble is then secured with a clinch knot. You can adjust the distance between aberdeen and treble to fit the size of the suckers you are using. I realize this is a simple rig but it does give you direct contact with the treble hooks and anyone who has tried it has been more than satisfied with the hook up ratio. One trick that has really helped my sucker hook ups is to give the fish a little bump with the rod tip before setting the hook.If the bait clicker is screaming it's a no brainer to set the hook right away, but thats usually not the case. That little bump will get them going the other way and I have never had one drop the sucker after the bump. I would guess that the bump makes the musky think the sucker is getting away. Whatever the reason, the "bump" has dramatically increased my hookup ratio. If you do use the Tyger leader don't worry about the way the rig looks out of the water as it will be straight and beautiful once the sucker is swimming. hj |
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Posts: 2
Location: Antigo, WI. 54409 | Norm:
Maybe its not your sucker rigs after all. Maybe St. Mary jinxed you. I know I have personally seen him miss five in one day. I believe the remedy is a polar bear type plunge into Pelican Lake. Let me know if I can further assist you.
In good fun,
Andrew |
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | Kruegs,
Good to see that you have made it from lurker status to full fledged posting member. As for the polar bear plunge, if it's that type of voodoo magic that is needed I will surely try it. I even tried feeding the lake dip of Copenhagen to appease it Friday and that did not help.
Like I said---I am desperate. |
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Posts: 332
Location: Neenah, WI | Norm,
I think the rig we talked about Monday will work. it might go 100 %.
The other one we were told about was 12 for 12 last year .@#$@@ that!!
Kruegs as for plunge you might take one the next time we are together
in the boat with me assisting you into the lake if you keep piping off.
SAINT |
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Posts: 389
Location: Presque Isle Wisconsin | Norm, Make sure you scrape the scales away where you penetrating with the hook. The outer skin including the scales are very tough to pull a hook out of.The hook should enter an area free from scales . Its actually the skin of the meat you should be penetrating not the scaly skin. This will help immeasurably. Just scape the scales off at the entry point with the hook. Major Difference. The hook should go just in and out very lightly.I totally disagree with the two hook philosophy because as often as not the second hook will interfere with the hook set as many times as helps it.Place the single hook up high near the dorsal fin not down on the side. |
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | I see your point Howie. I was out with the soon to be borther in law this weekend, and the way he hooked his sucker had the hook largely exposed. Mine would lay down more. Do you have to angle the hook towards the other side maybe, to keep it accessable? It stinks loosing fish on suckers, but I have had a ton of action. If I can figure out how to hook them better, maybe this will help. |
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | I use the two hook rig and place one hook by the fins next too the a$$, the other hook is on top ahead of the dorsal fin. I caught 4 of the last 6 fish that picked up my rig.
I agree with romoving the scales from the sucker and inserting the hook just under the skin, then bring it back out about 1/8 of a inch so the barb clears. I you use large hooks then go through about 1/4 inch and back out.
One other thing is don't have any slack in the line/wire from the front of the sucker to the hooks. This might cause your hooks to pull back into the sucker.
The last two weekend I have boated 4 muskies with suckers, two we missed but one hit a sucker as she got off. My partner had her on 1/2 way to the boat and she got off. Before he got the sucker back in the water I had the fish on my rod(41 inch). All the rigs are flourocarbon. Still have not lost one to a bite off yet. I don't use heavy duty equipment, that might be the trick for me. |
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Sucker Rig Help--Please