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Posts: 2024
| I've been reading about a lot of folks who have a sucker rigged alongside the boat in hopes of getting a fish that follows artificials to hit live bait. However, this pattern seems to come primarily from folks fishing lakes in WI where a major source of food for the muskies are suckers. Nevertheless, people talk about using the same technique on Webster, Fox Chain, and even down south. What are your thoughts on using this technique in waters with a heavy shad forage base? There are suckers in most, if not all of these lakes, just not a major population/source of food for the 'skis. Reason I ask is I've had quite a few follows this year without any hookups. One goal I've set is to catch one (at least) before our trip to LOTW (June 26). Would this be something to try?
The bait shops around here don't sell suckers, so how would one go about catching them? Also, what type of equipment is needed for this type of fishing? Thanks much! |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | They do work on shad lakes. I prefer a sucker in the 10-14" range quick strike rigged. Give them a try, they do catch fish. |
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Posts: 2024
| Where do I go about obtaining them. No one sells them around here which means I'd have to go catch them on my own. How do you fish for suckers? Also, would a regular graphite (my jerkbait rod) rod be OK to use with suckers? I got 80 pound test on it right now. Is that sufficient? Thanks much! |
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Location: Illinois-Indiana | Esox,
I fish all the lakes you mention and also live in Illinois, I get my suckers from the bait stores.
I prefer to use a longer rod, 8' classic cat heavy is perfect for sucker fishing. The longer rod helps with the hard hooksets and the stiffer tip allows the hooks to penetrate the Musky.
Let me know where you are fishing and I can tell you where you can get suckers.
All or most of the lakes that I fish are shad based and let me tell you, suckers work great. |
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Posts: 2024
| Ralph,
I primarily fish Shelbyville and Evergreen. Thanks for your help!
Esox50
Lake Shelbyville Muskie Club Member |
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Location: Illinois-Indiana | Where do you live?
I order suckers from Ed Shirleys when I'm not going to be near a bait shop that has suckers. |
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Posts: 2024
| I live near Champaign. If I thought the suckers would be alive I'd order them, but I don't think they'd be able to survive. It takes something from Chicago about two days to get here. Thanks for your help. |
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Location: Illinois-Indiana | Water is getting a little warm right now to be using them.
I use them early spring and fall when the water temps are around 60 and under.
Good luck!!! |
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | esox50,
For some reason suckers have been hard to come by.
I would not cast without a sucker hanging over the boat in month of May. I think I have 6 fish this year that ate the sucker after turning off the bait they came in on.
We even had a double using suckers Sunday afternoon, opening weekend.
Make sure you use quick-strike rigs and VERY SHARP HOOKS.
One fish out of 11 got off before it made it to the net, that was a 12 year olds 2nd fish of the day and I let him set the hook himself, the 39-40 inch muskie tail walked 8ft from the boat and got off. I was ready with the net in hand but maybe not hard enough hookset or just bad luck.
Thats 10 for 11 using a quick-strike rig. Not all rigs are the same, find a quality one with two hooks, one for each side of the sucker. This will increase your odds. I actually run 3 hooks. ( 1 in the upper lips and one on each side of the sucker )
Don't wait to set the hook with these rigs. Tighten up the line and when the fish is going away set it hard, reel and set it again, FISH ON ! ! !
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