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Muskie Fishing -> Lures,Tackle, and Equipment -> Suick
 
Guest
Posted 9/23/2012 10:01 PM (#586634)
Subject: Suick


Was just wondering what length rod is the most effective for working Suick? Do prefer a shorter rod? or the stick with the trend of the longer rods that are being used?....I find I can work a Suick best with a shorter rod.
greenstealth
Posted 9/23/2012 10:23 PM (#586639 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 142


I use the same rod I use for gliders and other jerk baits. 6'9" lt classic jerk.
Junkman
Posted 9/24/2012 7:32 AM (#586661 - in reply to #586639)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 1220


I have the St Croix "Classic Jerk" as well and it is an excellent rod, just like all the rest of their line of great sticks. And, there is no question that this was the rod in my locker that had the solid wire leader I use for jerks and glides....but not any more! No question at all that the shorter rod is a joy for working the glides into the boat and the 8'6" Sling Blade or 9'0" Big Nasty that is my "true love" provides a clearly more difficult challenge in creating the desired action to the bait. But...for making the figure eight (that you still have to make) or for fighting a fish (which you really hope you'll have to do) the longer rods shine for me over the shorter ones. My advice is to change it up a little with what your "hard and fast" regular rules dictate and try something new. It certainly looks different when you see someone working a Suick, Twisted Sucker or whatever with a long rod, but "different" can often be "better!"
tundrawalker00
Posted 9/24/2012 3:55 PM (#586802 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 517


Location: Ludington, MI		7'0" Gander Guide Series. Got two for $80 total on clearance. Thank goodness I bought two since my son sent one swimming this year in an algae bloom.
HomeTime
Posted 9/24/2012 6:18 PM (#586841 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 247


Location: Uxbridge Ontario		Depends on the freeboard of the boat. My boat a 6-6 heavy is just about perfect. In a 16ft tinny that is 12" off the water. I like a 6-3
dougj
Posted 9/24/2012 6:44 PM (#586849 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: RE: Suick





Posts: 906


Location: Warroad, Mn

I use an 8'-6" Okuma Heavy. You just work it off to the side. Works great and gives you better fish and lure control.

Doug Johnson

10,000 Casts
Posted 9/25/2012 7:48 AM (#586953 - in reply to #586849)
Subject: RE: Suick




Posts: 127


dougj - 9/24/2012 6:44 PM

I use an 8'-6" Okuma Heavy. You just work it off to the side. Works great and gives you better fish and lure control.

Doug Johnson



ditto
BenR
Posted 9/24/2012 6:45 PM (#586850 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick


I use a 8'6" or 9' depends on which of my two rods it is attached. BR
milje
Posted 9/24/2012 7:01 PM (#586854 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 410


Location: Wakefield, MI		6' 9", I have a Fenwick HMG and my dad has a St. Croix Avid, both work awesome.
greenstealth
Posted 9/24/2012 8:46 PM (#586876 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 142


I couldn't use anything over 7'6". Id rather lean over to figure eight rather than struggle throughout the whole cast beating my rod in and out of the water for the majority of the cast. I'm about 12 inches off the water and I'm pretty tall so the 6'9" classic jerk is perfect for me.
cast10K
Posted 9/25/2012 6:03 PM (#587097 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: RE: Suick




Posts: 432


Location: Eagan, MN		8-6 thorne bros custom on a steel 20 blank. The length and soft tip help with casting, working the bait, figure 8's and keeping fish hooked. I don't work suicks with big, downward jerks, so hitting the water is not an issue for me.
rjhyland
Posted 9/25/2012 8:06 PM (#587115 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 456


Location: Kansas City BBQ Capitol of the world		For Suicks and baits like that I use a 7' Fenwick. Probably my favorite rod.
sworrall
Posted 9/26/2012 8:45 PM (#587340 - in reply to #587115)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 32958


Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
lehighmuskies
Posted 9/27/2012 6:30 AM (#587391 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 348


steve do you not believe in tweeking the ring in the nose of the bait for straightning out the running of the bait?just asking normally this is what i do an it works,just wondering if theres a reason that you dont do it?
milje
Posted 9/27/2012 9:54 AM (#587437 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 410


Location: Wakefield, MI		I'm interested in the part about how much noise they make. I always assumed they were fairly quiet going through the water.
cast4musky
Posted 9/27/2012 10:45 AM (#587451 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 865


Thanks Steve that was quite interesting, I know many people T their hooks so the wooden lures do not get all scratched & scraped up. But now according to this if noise is what you are trying to produce with your lure we should not T the hooks and let them bang along the bodies of the lures. I guess The Ideal thing would be to use a True Oil or simply add a very thin coat of some type of epoxy coating to protect the lures finish so the hooks can bang away without hurting the lures finish.. As old as I am I still Learn something everyday. Mike Sr.
Guest
Posted 9/28/2012 7:30 PM (#587762 - in reply to #587451)
Subject: Re: Suick


T the hooks to get them away from the body for better hook-up, not to save paint.z
sworrall
Posted 9/28/2012 8:31 PM (#587774 - in reply to #587762)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 32958


Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin		I don't t the hooks and the lure hooks up very well. The Suick is one of the loudest baits you can throw. I use the tail to make the lure dance, so don't find the need to mess with the eye much.
milje
Posted 9/29/2012 10:08 PM (#587901 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 410


Location: Wakefield, MI		2 more on 9" weighted black Suick's today. My dad caught one on the first cast (before I even had a lure in the water) and I caught one just before we left. Last week, same lake, I missed about a 45" (didn't get a good hookset) and caught a smaller one on the same Suick.
sworrall
Posted 1/16/2013 6:05 PM (#610242 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 32958


Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin		Seriously?
IAJustin
Posted 1/16/2013 8:09 PM (#610260 - in reply to #610242)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 2088


cave run legend - 1/16/2013 6:14 PM

I have never used a suick or a dive and rise and was doing research. No need to make someone feel dumb. I figured the non weighted version would sink a couple feet and the weighted would sink deeper.



Suick's are a great bait but dont overlook bobbie's and big daddy's as well, big daddy's work great on deeper weed edge's. I'll often reach for one of these three baits on tough days or when fishing large weed beds on tough days, something about these baits worked through pockets of weeds that will get fish to react when nothing else will...definitely a tool every muskie angler should have.
Masqui-ninja
Posted 1/16/2013 8:53 PM (#610270 - in reply to #610260)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 1297


Location: Walker, MN		A couple of years ago I removed the rear trebles from all of my Suicks. I don't feel like I miss any more fish this way. There is less fouling and fewer hooks to remove from Muskies and especialy Pike. Does anyone else do this?
MartinTD
Posted 1/17/2013 6:28 AM (#610321 - in reply to #610270)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 1168


Masqui-ninja - 1/16/2013 8:53 PM

A couple of years ago I removed the rear trebles from all of my Suicks. I don't feel like I miss any more fish this way. There is less fouling and fewer hooks to remove from Muskies and especialy Pike. Does anyone else do this?



Yes, on the 9" I remove the back hook and move the middle hook back an inch or so. 10" and up I leave alone.
bigbite
Posted 1/17/2013 1:20 PM (#610402 - in reply to #610321)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 1348


Location: Pewaukee, WI		Besides removing the back hook, I increase the hook size to 7/0 and secure the second hook with a plastic tie down or wrap a heavier rubber band around it to secure it up and against the body of the bait.
sworrall
Posted 1/16/2013 7:12 PM (#610249 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 32958


Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin		Ahh, I see. Apologies, hard for a guy 30 miles from the Suick factory to believe someone hasn't tried one. Try one!

The first Suick is a non weighted. The tail placement makes it dance, dive, and wobble, hence the video on how to tune it. A floater can be tuned to nose into vegetation and rise backwards out of it too, great presentation. Even the weighted will be neutral buoyant or float, but can be tuned to dive and hold with a VERY slow rise.

The new molded Suick is a nice middle ground between the two.
catchandrelease
Posted 1/16/2013 11:39 PM (#610301 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick




Great video, Steve. I'll definitely be asking you some questions when I try the ones from the contest. Gotta learn from the master while I have the chance.
Clammer
Posted 1/17/2013 10:33 AM (#610365 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 668


Location: Wisconsin		thanks for the video, I have generally used the rod for the action w/ the reel vs mostly the reel doing the lions share. Always have had good luck with the suicks, but I am going to try playing around with a few more variations this year.
Tackle Industries
Posted 1/17/2013 11:37 AM (#610379 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 4053


Location: Land of the Musky		Anything up to 9' works great for me.
DonPursch
Posted 1/17/2013 1:55 PM (#610409 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 540


Location: Leech Lake, Walker MN		Don't leave the dock with out a Suick
BenR
Posted 1/17/2013 9:18 PM (#610476 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick


cave run legend - 1/17/2013 1:33 PM

I think I am going to hold off adding some suicks to my aresenal. I just now got a hang of working hell hounds and phantoms, I like my lures to work well out of the box instead of having to do a lot of tuning.


A suick is one of the few baits that lasts the test of time. They just plain catch fish, they did before the baits you listed and they will after. They also produce actual strikes more than follows and have a good hook up rate. You really cant use them wrong, just cast them out and make them move. BR
IAJustin
Posted 1/17/2013 9:29 PM (#610479 - in reply to #610476)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 2088


LOL...If you have a Tranx with a new "power handle" and a couple of dbl-10's why would you need anything else?
sworrall
Posted 1/17/2013 9:25 PM (#610478 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 32958


Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin		'I think I am going to hold off adding some suicks to my aresenal. I just now got a hang of working hell hounds and phantoms, I like my lures to work well out of the box instead of having to do a lot of tuning.'

Seriously?

It's simple to tune a Suick, and you can make it do whatever you want by using that tail. That's known as versatility.

If you don't want to learn...don't ask questions.
Clammer
Posted 1/17/2013 9:37 PM (#610485 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 668


Location: Wisconsin		cave, suicks work well. You will catch fish with them, just toss it a few times. The tail is easy to adjust, if needed.
sworrall
Posted 1/17/2013 11:00 PM (#610493 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 32958


Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin		Just bend the tail down a bit and try it, it takes 5 casts to get it how you personally want it and then can mess with it to make it dance. Not tough at all.

PM your address, and I'll send you one no charge, but you have to promise to use it. if you use it, you WILL catch fish on it.
fishhawk50
Posted 1/18/2013 6:53 AM (#610510 - in reply to #610493)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 1416


Location: oconomowoc, wi
sworrall - 1/17/2013 11:00 PM

Just bend the tail down a bit and try it, it takes 5 casts to get it how you personally want it and then can mess with it to make it dance. Not tough at all.

PM your address, and I'll send you one no charge, but you have to promise to use it. if you use it, you WILL catch fish on it.

now that is customer service!
ARmuskyaddict
Posted 1/17/2013 11:38 PM (#610498 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 2026


I'm new to musky fishing, but the first baits I ordered (per the advice of a guide friend), were suicks, then DC10's. The way my buddy put it was, when nothing else is working, throw on a suick thriller. There's something about the bait that turns fish on who may otherwise be uninterested. Once I watched Steve's video and practiced using the reel to bring it in, as well as small taps, it moved both sideways and at a slight dive down into the weeds. Take a few hours and practice. They aren't any harder to fish than other jerkbaits once you practice. If I can do it, you can for sure.
mountainmuskies
Posted 1/18/2013 4:22 AM (#610505 - in reply to #610498)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 816


I don't know about everyone else but most of the fun of using a suick is getting it to work the way you want it. There are so many modifications, applications, and ways to tune them that they really can be one of the most versitable baits in your box. I bet the plastic ones will be just as good plus they will have an added durability factor as well.
curleytail
Posted 1/18/2013 6:58 AM (#610512 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 2686


Location: Hayward, WI		That's pretty awesome of Steve to send you one free of charge. If you are afraid of the work it takes to tune a Suick, think about the stuff we do as musky fishermen. Throw big bladed baits all day with big heavy rods (compared to bass and walleye tackle), toss and rip back 8-16 oz rubber. Rip hard pulling minnow baits.

Bending and tweaking a thin metal tail with a pair of pliers is nothing. No harder than pulling a weed off your double 10. I think about the 1st musky bait I bought was a Suick Thriller. I had no problem getting it to run in a manner that I thought would catch fish. It goes this way, bend the tail one way. If you bent the wrong side, straighten it back out and bend the other side. You aren't going to break the thing if you don't tune it perfectly on the 1st shot.

As you get going in this sport you'll have to learn how to tune all your lures. Catch a fish and bend the wire on your Bulldawg or double 10 back in line, tweak the nose on your crankbait so it runs true again, re-cup the tail on your tail rotating topwater. Learning your baits is part of the fun.

Have fun experimenting with the Suick Steve is sending you and catch some fish on it. I don't use them as much as I should but it's really cool to learn how to work them through weeds.

Tucker
kustomboy
Posted 1/18/2013 11:08 AM (#610576 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 256


Love suicks. Biggest fish in the boat last year my buddy caught on a suick. 53.5
Mark
Posted 1/18/2013 12:53 PM (#610599 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: RE: Suick


I,m very curious what other modifications there are for a suick.

I know of the little spinnerblade. I know of extra weighting them. But what else???
esox99
Posted 1/18/2013 1:34 PM (#610605 - in reply to #610599)
Subject: RE: Suick





Posts: 95


There are so many interesting ways to modify a Suick, but my favorite is replacing hooks after quickly cutting a couple of hook shanks to release a muskie! I also like to add weight to the front hook and make it barbless; seems like almost all my muskies are hooked on the middle and/or back hooks anyway!


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JLR
Posted 1/18/2013 5:37 PM (#610637 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 335


Location: Pulaski, WI		Even if you can't tune them to go side to side they still catch fish.
Ec Matt
Posted 1/18/2013 8:29 PM (#610657 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: RE: Suick


Caught fish on Suicks for years having them just dive and rise. Can't wait to work on tuning them to go side to side.
wkeegobbler
Posted 1/18/2013 10:16 PM (#610681 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: RE: Suick





Posts: 324


Location: Waukee, IA		Any more pics of suick modifications? I am curious about how you hook weights to the front hook and the use of pliers to turn down the tail section. Pics would help this visual learner out ALOT!
PikePeter
Posted 5/28/2016 3:58 PM (#818514 - in reply to #610681)
Subject: RE: Suick





Posts: 83


Location: North of Sweden!
wkeegobbler - 1/19/2013 5:16 AM

Any more pics of suick modifications? I am curious about how you hook weights to the front hook and the use of pliers to turn down the tail section. Pics would help this visual learner out ALOT! :)


I take the opportunity to wake an old thread to life and say I agree with you, more picks of suicks (the Jailbird above was BEAUTIFUL!!!) and modifications +pics of peoples suick's tails would be very beneficial to see!!! (promise to upload some picks of my own in due time as well!!!)
This woudl be useful for all people new to the Suick and perhaps even to veteran-Thriller-users, as, even though it will be needed to be tuned differently from one Suick to the other (as they are all, at least in my experience, rather "individuals" more than any other lure) I think we could all get new ideas and inspiration from something like that!!!

So, bring on your Suick Thriller-pics here please!!!

Kind regards from the north of sweden!
/peter
PikePeter
Posted 5/29/2016 7:54 AM (#818546 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 83


Location: North of Sweden!		Not to step on any toes, and, not really a biggie, but, does it ever happen that you get a "dud" of a Suick Thriller???????

I was out fishing today, have recently bought 3new thrillers to replace lost ones (1 each of; Blaze Orange/Black Spot, Jailbird, Frog) all in 9" H. So, first order of business for me was to tune them to my liking, which, I have NEVER had a problem with before, EVER!!!
So, started with Frog-color, quick, easy tuning done, in rapid succession I went on to the Blaze Orange/Black Spots, same there very easy tune-up... then, took the jailbird (planned on beginning my fishing with that one so, hence the order of business :D ) and... it was just IMPOSSIBLE!?!?!?! to get it running properly... wrestled with it for a good ~20minutes before taking a break from it and instead started fishing some other Suicks (which produced) but, I love my jailbird...so, before long I was back at it, trying to tune it... seemingly, to me at least, to no avail...

I kept on going back to it throughout the day for short bouts of tuning (and also caught 2 decent pike on it) but could never make it run properly, no matter what I did... though, I did manage to get it to have a real nice side/side-wobble while reeling it in fast, a huge and real trouble lay in the fact I just couldn't get it to dive good, actually couldn't at times for the life of me get it down no matter what I did, unless I really cranked it hard and steady.
Not really the way I would've prefered using it on a day like today as slower twitchier styles produced way better, now I had to most of the times really gun it to get it to stay down at all...and even when I did that it at times rose up anyways... was basically impossible to get it to dive down much at all.

To me it felt like either something is off with it, or it was just a crazy-strong-extra-buoyant piece I happened to get???
Unfortunately I had left my box of "just-in-case" stuff at home as this was just a "quickie" for me, so, I didn't have anything to add weight to it with me to see if I could've gotten it to do what I wanted with some "force" so to speak :D

Well, as always with me, extremely long-winded, but, my real question:
* Is it possible I just got a "dud" and I might never be able to get it doing what I want it to???
Of course, I suppose that it must statistically be possible to have such bad luck, but, has it ever happened to any of you guys or anyone you know of???

As, said, this has NEVER EVER happened to me before.
I have honestly NEVER understood some of the comments I've read here and there about people "having trouble using a Suick".
I just have never ever understood why anyone would have trouble with it, I've always found it quite easy to do what I want, some easy tuning, also very easy to adjust on the fly if needed due to changing places in between for instance lake/river.
But, if stuff like this happens (for instance if I had only ever had this particular Jailbird) I can understand why people get "tired" of even trying... though, I have not given up on my beloved Jailbird, I still have some hope of being able to tune it to my liking, at least if I try and add weight (or at least I hope so, we'll see). Otherwise I know I'll be ordering another 9" Jailbird in no time, no tackle-box is complete without that one in it.

Weeell, sorry for the wall-of-text, but, any thoughts, ideas, inputs??? I hope I'll get it running OK so that I can get some more teeth-marks in it, might be all it lacks??? :D (my old one was really chewed up before I lost it)

Kind regards
/peter
Jeremy
Posted 5/29/2016 10:15 AM (#818553 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 1150


Location: Minnesota.		Peter,

I can empathize with your situation and it must be very irritating. So I'd ask this, when you kept going back to "re tune" your troublesome bait did you keep trying to bend the tail this way and that or did you go back to the "zero point" which is likely having the tail straight back and flat and then begin a very slight variation after a few casts?

I ask because I can sense your frustration. Maybe a deep breath, pause a bit and begin from "zero" again? These things don't take much tuning, typically, as you well know.

Just a thought. then if you are satisfied that things are indeed messed up with this particular bait set it aside for a couple weeks and then try again.

If things still don't get better maybe contact Suick, they might help with ??? Or ..just toss it away and buy another. These baits aren't much money in the long run...no biggie.

Good luck man,
Fishysam
Posted 5/29/2016 10:56 AM (#818557 - in reply to #818553)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 1209


So for quite a while I used XH rods with suiks because I like XH rods the most. As I can tune suiks to work for me I ran into a couple that are like yours. I tweaked the eyelet To a side and that fixed one. Now I more recently found that a softer rod with a action that comes deeper into the rod (moderate) with about a 2.5' sweep of the rod makes even the most picky suik work for me. I have found also that some can be worked harder and others must be slower/ calmer.
PikePeter
Posted 5/30/2016 2:44 AM (#818586 - in reply to #818557)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 83


Location: North of Sweden!
Fishysam - 5/29/2016 5:56 PM

So for quite a while I used XH rods with suiks because I like XH rods the most. As I can tune suiks to work for me I ran into a couple that are like yours. I tweaked the eyelet To a side and that fixed one. Now I more recently found that a softer rod with a action that comes deeper into the rod (moderate) with about a 2.5' sweep of the rod makes even the most picky suik work for me. I have found also that some can be worked harder and others must be slower/ calmer.


Interesting aspect about the rod-choice! I only have a really stiff rod (no pun intended/that's what she said's ) and not really a lot of cash to try anything at the moment, also really love my rod. But, it sounds reasonable what you are saying, I'll make sure to try some of my friends rods whenever I get the chance and use a few of my Suicks on them then, might be interesting to get to try if nothing else!

Also, hearing about the difference in how they might "be needed" to be worked to work properly is great to hear, perhaps this one is just one I'll be forced to use when there is a "need for speed" so to speak to trigger them for as I said, I found some tweaks to actually work quite nicely provided I kinda burned it through the water, which is something completely new for me in regards to Suicks, though, as said in one of the other answers, I haven't really owned a boatload of them so far as I haven't really had the need for that as they are great long-lasting lures. They get hammered, constantly, bitten and torn up, but, they fish like no other lure regardless (or maybe even due) the amount of bitemarks in the wood.

Really great answer, gives me confidence I'll have it working for me, one way or the other!
Kind regards!
/peter
PikePeter
Posted 5/30/2016 2:27 AM (#818584 - in reply to #818553)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 83


Location: North of Sweden!
Jeremy - 5/29/2016 5:15 PM

Peter,

I can empathize with your situation and it must be very irritating. So I'd ask this, when you kept going back to "re tune" your troublesome bait did you keep trying to bend the tail this way and that or did you go back to the "zero point" which is likely having the tail straight back and flat and then begin a very slight variation after a few casts?

I ask because I can sense your frustration. Maybe a deep breath, pause a bit and begin from "zero" again? These things don't take much tuning, typically, as you well know.

Just a thought. then if you are satisfied that things are indeed messed up with this particular bait set it aside for a couple weeks and then try again.

If things still don't get better maybe contact Suick, they might help with ??? Or ..just toss it away and buy another. These baits aren't much money in the long run...no biggie.

Good luck man,


Huge thank you for this answer Jeremy!!!
And, yeah, actually, now when I am thinking back to it I am not certain I ever went back to "absolute zero" with it yesterday??? might have, or I just went back to "kinda zero" before re-tweaking it here and there...dunno why as that is the way to go, but, your reminder is greatly helpful, I think my reson not going back all the way is due to me having tuned 2other Thrillers just beforehand, and, this one just wouldn't cooperate, at all!!!
I will for make sure to have it back at zero before even going out to the water next time (hopefully tomorrow if time allows!!!) so I'll just re-set it now and go back out later and start out with it and tinker with it some more. Though, I am a bit sceptical to me ever getting it running "right" unless I add weight to it, or, it might be something I've so far never encountered, but, Fishysam is talking about. Perhaps the individual differences in the Suick Thrillers now has provided me with one Jailbird where I basically HAVE TO work it really fast to make work for me.
As I said, somewhere in my frustration and tinkering I found a tuning that had it moving quite nice provided I almost burned it... though, that is something I've never really done with Suicks so, I kinda didn't see it as a benefit yesterday... but, the more I am thinking about it, might be a good thing to have in my box... only downside to that solution is that I am currently without a 9" Jailbird that I can work as I am used to... :D
And, the last resort, if nothing seems to work, no matter what, well, then I have the option of trying to add some weight and if even that doesn't work, well, then it can just serve as a beautiful "statue" or something, I'll just hang it somewhere in the apartment! :D see if the wife likes my home-decorating spirit??? :D

All the best, and, once angain, huge thank you for the reminder!!!
/peter
Old Guy
Posted 5/29/2016 10:41 AM (#818556 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: RE: Suick




Posts: 84


  Once in a blue moon, some fiddling with the line tie or screw eye attachment  is also needed...fiddle slowly . All mine are wood baits so it's not an issue; however, with plastic, a gentle bend may be all that is allowed.     As with all alterations....very small steps til you get what you want.

   I'd bet someone else here will be able to comment in a more exact way.

PikePeter
Posted 5/30/2016 2:38 AM (#818585 - in reply to #818556)
Subject: RE: Suick





Posts: 83


Location: North of Sweden!
Old Guy - 5/29/2016 5:41 PM

  Once in a blue moon, some fiddling with the line tie or screw eye attachment  is also needed...fiddle slowly . All mine are wood baits so it's not an issue; however, with plastic, a gentle bend may be all that is allowed.     As with all alterations....very small steps til you get what you want.

   I'd bet someone else here will be able to comment in a more exact way.


All mine are also wood, so, you are right, more tinkering is an option... though, I'll take it as a last resort to really make any drastic changes to it. As I have not owned a boatload of Thrillers in my lifetime (they last forever for me unless I make some... erhm...human errors... :D such as lending some to a friend who had some really old and weak mono on his reel...not a good thing when using Suicks as they'll get hammered and eaten all day long!) I kinda still feel "uncomfortable" or at least not very confident in making any drastic changes, even though I have some thoughts on stuff I would like to do, I would like to experiment with a bunch of things, but, so far I haven't gotten round to it. Also, living in a small apartment where I have no real area for woodworking and such also kinda holds me back. But has a friend with a bit of a wood-shop where I am planning on going and making some experimental changes to one or a few of my Suicks.
As I am fishing Pike mostly, and, well, they hammer just about any size bait regardless of their own size, I sometimes find it very annoying with all the trebles on the 9" Suicks (another reason I'd like to one day try out the 12", hope it will at least keep some of the Pike under 40" off of the bait) so I'll basically never fish with the rear-treble attached, but, I would like to experiment by reducing down to just having one treble, but in order for that to be more successful I think moving the front treble a bit back would be the best for a combo of hook-ups while still keeping minimal damage to the fish. So, I'd like to move one of the trebles back to like in between the front and middle treble, which would require some drilling and stuff I can't really do at my apartment right now.

But huge thank you for the answer, it gives me a lot of great ideas and inspiration!!!

kind regards
/peter
toothysmile
Posted 5/30/2016 12:25 PM (#818609 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 5


Location: N.E. Ohio		I really enjoyed this post- thanks for that video... I bought 3 Suicks years ago and tried them once or twice and never liked the way they felt or performed so I shelved them... Had no idea the adjustment they offer, I'll have to dig them out and give them a try again.

A few questions to those more experienced Suick users:
Any relation to the size of the Suick versus the size of fish caught?
Any particular color choices w/ weather or?

Jerkbaits are my favorite to use but I'm embarrassed to say that I haven't even caught a fish on a jerkbait...plenty of follows. Up until now the only type I've used is Hellhounds and Phantoms. I don't like the Phantoms very much- just seem too lifeless. But that's probably the user... right?
PikePeter
Posted 5/31/2016 10:30 AM (#818713 - in reply to #818609)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 83


Location: North of Sweden!
toothysmile - 5/30/2016 7:25 PM

I really enjoyed this post- thanks for that video... I bought 3 Suicks years ago and tried them once or twice and never liked the way they felt or performed so I shelved them... Had no idea the adjustment they offer, I'll have to dig them out and give them a try again.

A few questions to those more experienced Suick users:
Any relation to the size of the Suick versus the size of fish caught?
Any particular color choices w/ weather or?

Jerkbaits are my favorite to use but I'm embarrassed to say that I haven't even caught a fish on a jerkbait...plenty of follows. Up until now the only type I've used is Hellhounds and Phantoms. I don't like the Phantoms very much- just seem too lifeless. But that's probably the user... right? :)


First off, I'd like to just make two points, before I go on answering this question that I suppose was not directed exactly at me, but, I'll jump on it anyways, I find it a very good and intriguing subject!!! But, first my points;
1. As I am new to this board, I have NO IDEA as to how much "off topic" is "allowed so to speak, or rather, I dunno when off topic starts getting frowned upon :D
2. I am, my entire prescence over here that is, by definition ONLY OFF TOPIC :D as I have never fished for muskie in my life (though I do dream of it and intend on making my way over for it in due time) but, I have fished for pike since childhood... so, guess I've fished for pike one way or another for like, hmm, I suppose ~25years? though, when I was 8 I'd say my fishing was not all that "focused" :D and I have had my periods of lay-offs and other stuff...

Regarding size of lure vs actual fish caught I must say I think it something that is very dependent on a lot of factors...

First of all, the pike up here are, most of the time at least, not very picky when it comes to eating, and, they are what seems like fear-less predators, it is not a totally uncommon sight to see a fish only equal the size of the lure attack it with all it's might, looks kinda ridiculous :D
But, at times you can weed out the smaller fish by picking a bigger lure. Unfortunately I have only fished with Suick 7" (and very little with that size) and 9" (my main-stay, basically this entire season has been Suick 9" or Poe's Giant Jackpot). It seems that it will depend on "the mood of the fish" for lack of better words.

I think that the actual size of the lure itself is not really the biggest factor when it comes to weeding out the small fry, rather it is the "impression" that the lure is making in the water, it's foot-print so to speak. Many times as long as a lure gives off a big profile, moving water around, it seems to be able to keep some of the smaller pikes at bay.

Then on the other hand, I know of a lot of HUGE pike being caught on minimal (think like 1/5oz) spinnerblades by random people "just fishing" so, it is not necessary for a bait to be insanely huge.

Regarding color, that is another very tricky subject, very hard to really know for sure, the classic old rule of thumb is something like"crazy in dirty water/subdued in clear" but it is once again something that does not hold true in a lot of situations. Once again, it depends on the situation at hand, though, I do belive that color is most of the times not the limiting factor that many people make it out to be (not on here though) rather it is a smaller piece of the puzzle most of the times.

Sorry, not much of an answer, I hope some of the other guys will come in and chime in on this most interesting subject, would be very interesting to hear peoples opinion on the bigger Suicks, comparisons of the 10&12 to the 9 would be interesting for me to hear about.

kind regards!
/peter
PikePeter
Posted 5/31/2016 10:52 AM (#818717 - in reply to #818713)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 83


Location: North of Sweden!		By the way, the Jailbird that gave me gray(er) hair two days ago, update:

Yesterday I re-set the tail to basically "in-the-box" setting again (thanks for that simple yet well needed reminder Jeremy). Slapped on a small weight in eye behind the front treble (see attached pic) and took it out to the water today. I never got the chance to try it without the added weight today (I am quite certain that would have been useless anyways, it is really CRAZY-BUOYANT, but will of course try some other day) because I just started it out as I had pre-prepared it yesterday. And, well, #*^@!!! it ran like a BEAUT!!!!! I'd say that it rivals the best of my tuned Suicks!!! Looks pure killer the way it looks right now!
That is by my eyes account, not really a good clue as to what the fish thinks of it, yet, as I only caught 2pikes on it today (only 30" and 35") but to Jailbirds defence it was a very hard days fishing and it is a quite difficult lake for one like me that is without boat. I caught 5other pikes, all on a Giant Jackpot (biggest 37", the rest below 30") Perch Tiger.

Something interesting that this weight added to the Suick (which I don't know, not yet at least, if it is a really good thing or a bad thing) was the possibility to "knock on wood" :D if I snapped a bit harder here and there at chosen times I could produce a dull "knock on wood" (the weight hitting the Suick).
This was especially noticeable when I tried doing "my classic move" (as nothing is new under the sun I suppose that a lot of people might also have come up with this "trick" :D ) that I sometimes do at times the fishes seem "slow".
And, that is to work the Suick down a bit, then I let it rise completely free to the surface, this gives it a lot of speed when it breaks the surface = head is shooting up above the surface at an angle, then I just snap the slack out so that the head slaps down on the surface and then I just promptly resume the diving, repeat as needed.
When doing this it gave a loud but dull nice sounding wooden "knock" of course as the Suick hit the weight.

I have no clue as to whether or not this is a good thing, I think it will prove to be as a lot of other things in fishing, something that is dependent on the situation/time and other factors, I suppose at times it might be "too much" (not that it is overpoweringly strong, lots of lure have rattles that sound way more, but in another way) and other times it might be just what the doctor ordered.... I'll have to experiment a lot more to know for sure.

But, long story short, my beloved Jailbird is fishable again!!!!! I did en up bending the tail down just a little more during the day, but, the re-set was good at least and the weight is good as well, still, it is crazy buoyant!!! but, it got some more teethmarks in it as well today so that'll add to the lures quality and performance as well!!!

kind regards!
/peter


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Jeremy
Posted 5/31/2016 2:03 PM (#818738 - in reply to #818717)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 1150


Location: Minnesota.		Peter,
Now all you gotta do is work on gettin' yourself a .... boat!

Glad to see things worked out for you and best of luck this season. Those Suicks have been around for decades for a good reason.

I'm only just realizing this after years of not fishing them myself! Sad to say but I have a "few" tackle boxes full of them now. But I'm a bit odd...;)
muskyroller
Posted 5/30/2016 12:49 PM (#818611 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 1038


Location: North St. Paul, MN		I'll take any 6" softail phantoms off your hands...they don't work, but I'll give em a go
ARmuskyaddict
Posted 5/31/2016 6:17 PM (#818771 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 2026


Off topic is quite common here. I love Suicks, and had a 9" weighted sucker dud. It would work well on a fast retrieve also, but only if I ran it deep. So, since I had 2 others that ran well, and time on my hands, I spray painted it in a jailbird pattern, then used a 5 minute epoxy on it. The extra weight made it really hang on the pause and I was able to tune it so it danced to my liking. Then the 2nd day fishing the wind blew it onto a rock and bent the tail. I haven't been able to re-tune it despite several attempts. Bummer. My point is, adding weight throughout the bait may work if adding a sinker to the front hook hanger hadn't helped.
PikePeter
Posted 6/3/2016 2:23 AM (#819130 - in reply to #818771)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 83


Location: North of Sweden!
ARmuskyaddict - 6/1/2016 1:17 AM

Off topic is quite common here. I love Suicks, and had a 9" weighted sucker dud. It would work well on a fast retrieve also, but only if I ran it deep. So, since I had 2 others that ran well, and time on my hands, I spray painted it in a jailbird pattern, then used a 5 minute epoxy on it. The extra weight made it really hang on the pause and I was able to tune it so it danced to my liking. Then the 2nd day fishing the wind blew it onto a rock and bent the tail. I haven't been able to re-tune it despite several attempts. Bummer. My point is, adding weight throughout the bait may work if adding a sinker to the front hook hanger hadn't helped.


Love fishing with the Suicks!!!
Good to hear about your experience with the dud one!!! but, too bad about it now having returned to a dud again... but, awesome tip!!!
might actually do that when I have the time anyways! Sure, it is now really nicely tuned with the added weight, but, still I feel like I should get myself som 5min-epoxy anyways (for other lures and some repairs or reinforcements). And, to have it weighed down throughout the entire bait like that seems like it would only make it better, either it might work just like that or I might still need to add the small extra-weight, but, either way that is a really great tip!
Thanks!!!
PikePeter
Posted 6/3/2016 2:16 AM (#819129 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 83


Location: North of Sweden!
Jeremy - 5/31/2016 9:03 PM

Peter,
Now all you gotta do is work on gettin' yourself a .... boat!

Glad to see things worked out for you and best of luck this season. Those Suicks have been around for decades for a good reason.

I'm only just realizing this after years of not fishing them myself! Sad to say but I have a "few" tackle boxes full of them now. But I'm a bit odd...;)


Ah, yes, dang it, I sure would love a boat... was out for a few hours yesterday at a river nearby that is known for holding real pigs of northern pikes. Was an awesome bunch of hours at the water, but, also really hard work trudging along those overgrown and/or muddy riverbanks...to be honest feels like I am too old for that nowadays (at 34 :D ) but I'll keep on hammering... made me want a boat indeed, would've been glorious to have as that place is awesome from a boat.

Still, managed to hook-up, catch and release two pikes over 40" yesterday, in just a few hours of fishing (actually first one was within the first 10casts) though, they were not much over 40, maybe ~42" at the most if I'd have stretched them out :D
As it is now I usually (unless it is a real pig /personal record) just measure the fish while it is still in the water by just holding my rod over it as I have made markings with nail polish at 50cm and then every additional 10cm up to 130cm. So, it is a quick, easy (not that accurate but good enough, unless as said, something really worth knowing, then I have a proper tape measure with me for those times) and nice to the fish.

First +40 was taken on a Giant Jackpot Perch Tiger and the second was on the Suick Jailbird with the small weight added. In between, and after I of course caught a couple of smaller ones as well, one of them only about 1inch longer than the Suick :D :D :D they sure are hungry and aggressive.

Glad to see my Jailbird working good again after the added weight, it is a nice feel when you get to catch fish on the lures you yourself prefer fishing with :D

A few tackle boxes of them you say?!?!?!?! crazy!!! :D but awesome!!! time to give them some time in the water then!!!

/peter
sworrall
Posted 6/3/2016 8:48 AM (#819149 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 32958


Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin		There is no Suick made that can't be tuned to 'dance' out of the box.
PikePeter
Posted 6/3/2016 11:56 AM (#819183 - in reply to #819149)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 83


Location: North of Sweden!
sworrall - 6/3/2016 3:48 PM

There is no Suick made that can't be tuned to 'dance' out of the box.


I see! well, that was the reason I started writing on here, I was kinda of the opinion that you are. Which had me simply a bit worried that maybe I am just stooopid in regards to me not being able to tune this particular Suick...
as said, I have never had problems before, and, to be fair, I got it running nicely but only with bizarre need for speed and aggression (something I have never had to resort to with Suicks before) but the problem with this one was that I just couldn't seem to get it to stay down unless I really man-handled it...

Now I have got it running nicely, but with added weight, but, I prefer to see it without the added weight, so, now, with your post here I feel like I will go back to trying to tune it some more then. It just seems to be so darn buoyant this particular one???

Or, do you know if there has ever been a history of "false" Suicks out on the market??? I can't really see that is should be (at least not here in sweden) but, this one I ordered from a company here among two other Suicks, they all looked the same, like EXACTLY the same, other than the fact that this particular Jailbird came equipped with some other hooks and split-rings than the ones I am used to see on all other Suicks. This didn't really strike me as all that odd, but, annoying so I ended up talking to the store that said they didn't know why but probably they had somewhere along the years (they had a sale, Suicks aren't really the most common of lure here in sweden, for some weird reason beyond me, but, hey, I don't complain, all the more Suicks for me to buy!!!) that it had hung in their store changed the splitrings and hooks due to needing them somewhere else more than on one of the Suicks. At least that is the explanation they gave me, but, if there has been some weird history of copies being made and sold (well-made copies that is if so, as this one I can not for my life see any difference from this and the others I have and have had before).

Love my Suicks, going out tonight for some pike-fishing!!!
Actually, this entire season I have only brought small packing with me, and, all the lures I have had with me have been:

Suicks:
9"H Jailbird
9"H Blaze Orange/Black Spots
9"H Frog
9"W Red Hot Thriller Purple Rage

Giant Jackpot:
Perch Tiger
Hot Silver/Black
Golden Perch

All I ever need I think to be honest!!! :D though, I would still love to try some bigger Suicks, and, also must/want to get a replacement for a flat-black 9" I no longer have. Also would love to try the Weagle but haven't been able to find any here in sweden, yet at least!


Kind regards and tight lines from the north of sweden!
/peter
Jeremy
Posted 6/3/2016 2:15 PM (#819208 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick




Posts: 1150


Location: Minnesota.		Peter, you're doing good, don't go crazy like (I) some folks do. But I'd like to see you get a plain Black and Sucker pattern added to your box. They're my favs.

Good luck.
sworrall
Posted 6/3/2016 3:48 PM (#819220 - in reply to #819208)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 32958


Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin		We are pretty much all crazy...

PikePeter
Posted 6/5/2016 6:38 AM (#819335 - in reply to #819220)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 83


Location: North of Sweden!
sworrall - 6/3/2016 10:48 PM

We are pretty much all crazy...



That is an awesome video!!! Have seen it a bunch of times, but, it is always worth seeing again!!!

Also, yes, I suppose we are all more or less crazy! :D

kind regards
/peter
PikePeter
Posted 6/5/2016 5:58 AM (#819334 - in reply to #819208)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 83


Location: North of Sweden!
Jeremy - 6/3/2016 9:15 PM

Peter, you're doing good, don't go crazy like (I) some folks do. But I'd like to see you get a plain Black and Sucker pattern added to your box. They're my favs.

Good luck.


Plain black is something I will get around to getting!!! might just paint one of my existing Suicks for that purpose... Sucker-pattern you say... maybe? :D
I think it won't be problem of me going completely over-board regarding lures. I sure love having them and if I'd had the money I'd say I would have just about every existing color and size of Suick around, preferably in doubles :D but, while I am at the water I actually prefer to have as little as possible in ways of choices and such... but, still, a few more won't hurt, at all.

But, I might actually just buy a few more of the Red Hot Thriller 9"W Purple Rage as they are on a CRAZY-good sale here in one of the swedish web-stores. I bought 2 of those recently, have fished a lot with one of them and with a great deal of success.
Originally I just figured with the price being so low I'd get one and see if I'd come to like it, HEY!!! OF COURSE I ALREADY KNEW I WOULD!!!
so, instead I just bought two immediately just to make sure I had a "back-up" in case. But, now I am thinking I should maybe get two more of those to maybe make one (or two) in to a black one.

I guess a lot of you guys have re-painted Suicks in your days, so, I have 2 questions to you that have done so;
1. Have you seen any preference as to use flat black or glossy? Like, do you prefer your black lures to be matte or glossy?
2. And, when you make your own black Suicks, do you add some form of "visual aid" for you? like making a stripe on the back of a contrast-color for your eyes? I am thinking I should do something like that, like an 1/8 of an inch wide strip of highly visible color stretching along the entire back of the thriller... though, I might just opt for the lazy and cheaper version of just all-black as I am always strapped for cash and it is not like I even have any paint at home at all, so I'll have to get some, either one or two colors then and, well, 1color is cheaper :D if I get only the color black I might be able to afford slightly more fishing and/or more Suicks :D

Kind regards
/peter
ARmuskyaddict
Posted 6/3/2016 4:45 PM (#819227 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 2026


Steve, was posting the video to show a bunch of crazy people, demonstrate how to tune and use a Suick, or both?
sworrall
Posted 6/3/2016 5:12 PM (#819229 - in reply to #586634)
Subject: Re: Suick





Posts: 32958


Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin		Both. No question.
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