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Posts: 80
Location: Geneva, IL | Before going up to "Musky Camp" this year I was wondering if we need to feed the suckers we keep in a bait cage in the lake. If so what can we feed them with?
Would it also make sense to drop an aerator into the cage too? Guess it wouldn't hurt having some extra O2.
At the start of the week we will have between 50-60 suckers in 2-3 bait cages. I am just trying to treat our guests (suckers) well, and hope they return the favor. |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | I keep them mine in a cooler in the garage with an aerator pump and put crappie minnows in with them. I dont know what you could use with the cage unless the mesh was small enough to keep the minnows in. |
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Posts: 80
Location: Geneva, IL | No mesh, they are wire cages. Way too many to keep in a cooler. |
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Posts: 547
Location: Oshkosh | Becarful that nothing can get through the wire cages like muskrats. They would love to get in there and have some free meals.
Peter |
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| 1st off suckers don't eat minnows unless maybe they are dead and on the bottom.
2nd Muskrats don't break into cages, however otters will. Makes sure the cages are otter proof.
Next you will not need to aererate the suckers in the cages if they are in the lake with the cool temps they will have plenty of O2.
Lastly I'm not sure if you place something in the form of feed in the cages that it will stay there for them to eat. Maybe it will if the wind/current isn't there. |
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Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | Guest - 9/22/2010 12:14 PM
50-60 SUCKERS!!!! Give me a break
If the fish are like last weekend they will need them!
Not sure what state you plan to fish but if in WI be careful. If you fish the lake you are keeping the suckers in the cage you are fine. However, if you plan to fish other lakes technically I don't believe you can use those suckers. |
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Posts: 661
Location: Roscoe IL | No need for sucker food, I kept 20+ suckers alive in a tank for over two weeks last year. Since your keeping them in a cage in the lake, you should be fine. Some may kick over if it's too crowded so think about keeping some in your livewell overnight with an aerator if its just overnight. Just hit them with a fresh blast of water once you launch the boat first thing.
Best luck! |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | So guest.....What is the deal with all of the dead crappie minnows laying in my cooler with their heads and guts sucked out?????? Maybe I need to keep a closer eye on my kids eh? I keep tellin them there is food in the cabinets. |
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Posts: 80
Location: Geneva, IL | 3 cabins in the UP of MI, 6 boats, 10-12 guys and most are staying a full 5-7 days. That is not a lot of suckers.
We will never transport them from the lake we are on.
I was just thinking that it wouldnt hurt to feed them. What do they use at rearing ponds?
Also the cages are 3'x4'x24" deep. Made of chain link fence with a lockable access door on the top.
Edited by CrappieKid 9/22/2010 1:34 PM
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| muskihntr - 9/22/2010 1:57 PM
So guest.....What is the deal with all of the dead crappie minnows laying in my cooler with their heads and guts sucked out?????? Maybe I need to keep a closer eye on my kids eh? I keep tellin them there is food in the cabinets.
its not enough clear,sucker dont kill baitfish,they are not predator......... |
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Posts: 462
Location: Antioch, IL | I wouldn't worry about feeding them. They will be fine for at least a full week, most will probably make it for 2 weeks. If you did want to feed them though I would suggest getting a mesh bag (like a fruit or veggie bag), put your food supply in the bag and then tie the bag to the top (center) of the cage so it hangs in the middle (away from "other" critters looking for an easy meal). I would use earth worms, minnows (dead or alive), any seafood table scraps...hell, cube up a bluegill if you want to. Sucker will eat just about anything they can fit in their mouth. (They are big fans of small invertabrates, and "easy" meats, like dead or injured minnows...sorry to those of you who think they won't..they will and do) The first time you feed I wouldn't put too much in the bag. If they don't take to the set up you will just be making a mess and possibly adding "some" stress to an already stressful situation. If they do show a willingness to eat this way then you can load the bag up as needed. Again, I wouldn't worry about it. As long as they are in cool water with decent O2 they will be fine.
The one thing I would do is make a few casts around those cages first thing every morning. Never know who will be hanging around checking out your "guests". Good luck and have a great trip!
I really like the idea of putting "guests" in cages, can we do that around here?
Edited by Fish and Whistle 9/22/2010 2:09 PM
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Posts: 238
Location: Rhinelander | 50-60 suckers may not be enough.
Works out to about 1 sucker per man per day. Run into a couple good days and you may run out fast. Also if the weather warms up don't know how well the suckers will keep all week in the shallow water near shore?
Dropping them off the end of a dock in deeper water will help in their longevity for an all weeker.
50 degrees(and cooler) water temps suckers will keep for a while. I've kept some "overruns" or once hooked but no bite suckers for about a week in the garage in a tank and aerator in 60-70 degree weather, but thats about it. Kept adding frozen water bottles to keep water temps down.
Cooler weather they will last longer. Good Luck. |
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Posts: 547
Location: Oshkosh | How big of a cage will we need to keep all the guests in, and how long will they keep underwater?
Peter |
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Posts: 22
Location: Minnesota | This sucker was having a "Bad Day"
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Posts: 1456
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | It bothers me when people say, "First off,...", or "First of all...". It's like they're giving a lecture. They might as well begin with, "I'm going to be condescending now....".
Anyhow, delete me... |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | Pepsi Genius and Guest, or is it one in the same? Anyway, your probably right as always, and im sure im wrong.... but do me a favor, buy some suckers and put em in a cooler, container, livewell, or your bathtub. Throw in a dozen crappie minnows and tell me what ya got in a day or 2. |
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Posts: 415
Location: madison wisconsin | Cowboyhannah - 9/22/2010 4:35 PM
It bothers me when people say, "First off,...", or "First of all...". It's like they're giving a lecture. They might as well begin with, "I'm going to be condescending now....".
Anyhow, delete me...
Funny Cowboy. |
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Posts: 8787
| Otters will get into your sucker cage, I do know that. As far as feeding them, I would think they'd eat anything, being bottom feeders and all. Maybe try dry dog food?? I'd imagine a sucker will eat anything a dog will eat... |
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Posts: 80
Location: Geneva, IL | The 50-60 suckers are just our first batch. We will have some on reserve at 2 local bait shopt just in case we run out. A couple of the guys do not drag suckers, they only cast, and ususally have less photos at the end of the day.
There is not an otter around that will get in these well built cages.
Edited by CrappieKid 9/23/2010 10:02 AM
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Posts: 661
Location: Roscoe IL | Wood chucks?
Sorry, you made me think of the Geico commercial.
Hey you wood chucks! Stop chucking my wood! LMAO! |
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| pepsiboy & guest are not the same poster.
Did you read my entire sentence after "suckers don't eat minnows"?
I also state "unless they are dead and on the bottom". If you guys think that suckers can catch swimming minnows without teeth and a down face mouth, that's fine. I also don't understand women either.  |
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Posts: 113
Location: Northwest Wisconsin | Heading out to pick up my first batch today , gonna try using crappie minnows to keep them alive. If the suckers don't eat them I'll just have a head start on ice fishing. Last year I tried bread, they might have eaten some but made a mess of the water. Also I kept a separate cooler for the ones that didn't get any biters or did but made it back to the boat.
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | Please dont take my word for it. Put some LIVE minnows in with your suckers for a day or so and see what happens to them. |
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Posts: 80
Location: Geneva, IL | Please no name calling in my post. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | maybe they sidle the sucker and then osmos them? |
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| pepsiboy - 9/22/2010 1:55 PM
muskihntr - 9/22/2010 1:57 PM
So guest.....What is the deal with all of the dead crappie minnows laying in my cooler with their heads and guts sucked out?????? Maybe I need to keep a closer eye on my kids eh? I keep tellin them there is food in the cabinets.
its not enough clear,sucker dont kill baitfish,they are not predator.........
This post made my day... I think what's "not enough clear" is what you tried to make clear, are we clear? |
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| I use catfish food from the tractor store |
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Posts: 158
| muskydeceiver - 9/23/2010 6:27 PM
pepsiboy - 9/22/2010 1:55 PM
muskihntr - 9/22/2010 1:57 PM
So guest.....What is the deal with all of the dead crappie minnows laying in my cooler with their heads and guts sucked out?????? Maybe I need to keep a closer eye on my kids eh? I keep tellin them there is food in the cabinets.
its not enough clear,sucker dont kill baitfish,they are not predator.........
This post made my day... I think what's "not enough clear" is what you tried to make clear, are we clear?
hahaha...nice. |
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Posts: 1169
Location: New Hope MN | how about feeding them cichlid pellets from the pet store? |
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Posts: 553
Location: 15 miles east of Lake Kinkaid | I kept suckers alive for 3 and 1/2 weeks in a plastic rubbermaid container last November in 60 to 52 degree water. The only food they had were dead minnows...and YES they ate them. And they lived just fine. I am quite a bit south of you, so I do not have to worry about otters(I don't think so at least). I even put a few suckers back after they had been hit by muskies and they not only lived, but ended up getting eaten again. I would not worry about your suckers, they will be just fine. |
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Posts: 2361
| Suckers will gladly eat minnows, worms, crayfish, insect larvae, live and dead if they can catch them. I would assume they inhale more than the occasional sculpin in their lifetimes. I would say they ARE a predator, definitely. |
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Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | Make sure you check on all the new rules/regulations that Michigan has set in place since the whole VHS thing.
GENERAL STATEWIDE PROVISIONS
1. A person shall not stock baitfish or live fish that are listed as Susceptible Fish Species, or roe taken from fish that are listed as Susceptible Fish Species, in public waters of the state prior to receiving a Fish Stocking Permit from the department permitting such activity. It shall be unlawful to import into this state any uncertified baitfish species found on the list of Susceptible Fish Species. This also is a violation of the federal order.
2. If an approved Fish Stocking Permit is issued by the department, the permittee shall carry that Fish Stocking Permit with them when transporting and stocking baitfish or live fish that are listed as Susceptible Fish Species, or roe taken from fish that are listed as Susceptible Fish Species, in public waters of the state.
3. A retail customer shall retain and show upon request the receipt for purchases of baitfish or roe from a state-licensed baitfish retail operation. A receipt shall be valid for 14 days for all certified baitfish (except frozen certified baitfish which will be good for 6 months). The receipt for all uncertified baitfish will be good for three days. Required only when Susceptible Fish Species are involved.
If you want to read into it a little farther, here's the link for it. Good luck up there!!
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/VHS_272351_7.pdf |
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Posts: 80
Location: Geneva, IL | Thanks for the heads up. |
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Keeping and feeding suckers - Questions