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Posts: 1308
Location: WI | Lots of information about sucker fishing, but I never see anything about reel settings.
Sucker out with or without a bobber, or down rod...free spool w/line clicker? Light drag with clicker on? |
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Posts: 2754
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Lower sucker to desired depth-> Set spool tension to level that sucker can't take line with casting release bar pushed-> Drag cranked down hard-> clicker on. Click,click, click - turn reel handle to engage -hook set and rip the lip's off the sucker-> back off drag. Get the net!
No bobber - waste of time & something that gets in way. Just what I do based on advice from an N.WI guide. Works for me.
Have fun!
Al
Edited by ESOX Maniac 10/14/2009 5:55 AM
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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | If it's in a rod holder while I'm casting as a secondary presentation, I'll have it in free spool with the clicker on set just tight enough that the sucker can't pull line out without super-sucker effort, like when a musky is chasing it. Depending on the area I'm fishing, I'll either run it with lead, straight down, or on a bobber out away from the boat so the sucker can cover more area.
If it's the primary presentation, I have the one rod in my hand, reel in freespool, thumb on the reel, no clicker. I fish it just like a Lindy rig working tight to cover and deep structures. I want to feel the sucker because it telegraphs little messages to you about whether or not there is something down there that is making it nervous. That's half the fun of sucker fishing.
I never crank my drag down, ever. I set with my thumb on the spool and that is more than enough for me to pound hooks home. Thumb off the spool and the fish can run easily so you don't rip the hooks out. Works for me and my fishing partners.
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Posts: 134
| I prefer using a bobber. I guess cause I'm a visual learner and it reminds me of days gone by when I was a kid. Adds to the excitement of the chase.
Rod in holder, drag totally backed off. When I know I'm getting ready to set that's when I hit the feel spool botton then tightened the drag as tight as it goes. Then engage the reel. Slowly reeling in any slack line. Get as close to the fish as you feel comfortable. When the fish starts moving away, slam it home. Works for me. |
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Posts: 378
Location: On the River | I use an Ambassador 7000 ,free spool clicker on cast contol tighten just enough to keep the sucker from taking out line. The Drag is cranked so I have no slip on the hook set. I use a thill's big fish center slide they work great.
One close to the boat and one 30 feet behing the boat.
Rod Holders running off the transom
Edited by wisriverrat 10/14/2009 7:16 PM
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Location: Contrarian Island | all my sucker rods have Daiwa or Okuma linecounters...with loud clickers....drag cranked almost to lock down...loosen only if it's a really big one...I run bobbers behind the boat in Madison as we can troll...in lakes you that you can't legally troll on a bobber out while you are on the trolling motor is trolling...you are chancing a ticket...I run suckers typically 4 feet down, then another 1/2 down and another close to bottom if I can...make sure musky is going away from you and I don't like to get right over them rather have them about 10 feet out swimming directly away from you when I set the hook...reel up to half load the rod, one hard, fast set....no pumping...get the net!
Edited by BNelson 10/14/2009 7:57 PM
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Posts: 1308
Location: WI | Thanks guys! |
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Posts: 929
Location: Rhinelander. | Use reels with clickers. I set the drag just so a musky can pull line out and make clicker go. I've been know to take a nap while sucker fishing. When I hear clicker or notice sucker getting active I start to prepare. Soon as a musky takes it I crank the drag down and hit them. I don't think anyone is doing it wrong. We just all do what we are comfortable with and what has worked.
Pfeiff
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Posts: 1
| caught a 43" musky on Teal Lake (Lynch Bay) 10/18/08 on a sucker with a quick release set-up...I let the musky take it for a ride,(it was like the "jaws" episode) then literally followed the musky with the trolling motor until I was approximately 10-12 feet from the boat...set the hook(s), my pole bent in half, and I held on for dear life...keep your rod steady, but be ready to let out line if necessary...cut hooks if in deep; it's not worth hurting the fish...just keep an extra set of treble hooks to replace cut hooks...THE FISH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY SET OF HOOKS! hope I helped...going back 10/24-27/09! 50"?
Jerry Klein
Orland Park, IL. |
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How do you set your reel for sucker fishing?