Targeting suckers

[Dewey Cox]

What would you do to specifically go after suckers?
I'm thinking a worm or a piece of cheese on a pickerel rig, or under a bobber?
I'm hoping to catch few in a creek that doesn't have any other fish.

[the local angler]

if you fancy fly fishing go with a small indicator and a black of brown body chonomide with a brass or chrome bead. roughly about 2 -5 feet depending on the waterbody. if you catch them during their spawning and know where they are it is non stop action

[Penner]

Worm laid right on the bottom.

[SamSteele]

I have caught most of my suckers using a 1/8 oz jig tipped with a leech under a slip bobber. I have a running joke with a buddy that all I catch on my Vanford reels is suckers. Three new Vanfords and the first fish on each has been a sucker…

SS

[Smoky buck]

Just pretend your bait fishing trout and you won’t be able to keep the suckers off your hook

[Sundancefisher]

Any small jig hook with some bait catches them at chain.

I’ve caught Quillbacks on a bucktail jig. White suckers on a balanced leech. Mountain suckers on small flies. Longnose suckers on a pickerel rig and worm.

[mapleleafman3]

Used to fish for suckers in the spring run in Wisconsin. Friend of mine's dad used to pickle them. They were actually pretty good. We used a worm on a hook and a weight (lindy rig) to keep it on the bottom.

[Markl11]

I've caught quite a few on the river while targeting sturgeon. I've read the suckers wont eat dead bait, but will eat live, sturgeon will eat anything that smells good. this lines up to my experience, I've only ever caught suckers when using worms, never with frozen minnows.

Modifying a sturgeon rig (sliding weight on main line, then swivel, then 18" ish of leader, then hook and worm) for lighter tackle should work great, or like others stated, anything that gets a worm or leach to the bottom. The bigger suckers didnt seem to mind the 130# dacron leader I use, but you can definitely tell the smaller ones cant fit the hook in their mouth and just steal my worms...lol

[WayneChristie]

I catch probably hundreds of suckers a season, fishing for sturgeon. White suckers will eat suckermeat,. so far thats the only one Ive caught on it, the rest all on worms. I also caught silver redhorse on crayfish a few times when I was tagging sturgeon and could use them for bait. Goldeye like them too

[H380]

Night crawler on a jig head worked for these pros .just part of their take ,45 in 3 hrs .

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[fish99]

look at the smiles on there faces .
congrats guys must of been a lot of fun .

[cranky]

Originally Posted by Penner

Worm laid right on the bottom.

^^^this^^^

[stubblejumper01]

Originally Posted by H380

Night crawler on a jig head worked for these pros .just part of their take ,45 in 3 hrs .

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What a great picture !! Great to see the youngsters having such a great time.

[3blade]

Worms on a pickerel rig, or slip sinker rig with a short leader.

[H380]

Originally Posted by stubblejumper01

What a great picture !! Great to see the youngsters having such a great time.

Thanx bud ,these kids had a blast ...to them a fish is a fish, no problem that they weren't trout or walleye .. even lucked out with a few whites.

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[Seli]

Besides the one post of pickling, do people target Suckers to eat or for the fight?Fish for them to use as bait for other game fish?
I generally would like to know as I have never thought to target Suckers nor have I have caught one as a by-catch.

[Dewey Cox]

I've never targeted them specifically before, only caught them when fishing for trout.
I'm targeting them because I think they're in a creek very close to me. Trying to find out if they're growing to a fishable size.
I'll probably use them for pike bait, or catfood.

[EZM]

For me, over the years, the good old worm seems to be the favorite food for suckers. They work the bottom of lakes and rivers, so get it sitting down on the bottom and they will come. Slower water tends to be better.

It used to be pretty fun, as a kid, to catch those giant fat suckers off the shallow and slow river tributaries in spring. They can put up a pretty good fight on lighter gear.

[3blade]

Originally Posted by Seli

Besides the one post of pickling, do people target Suckers to eat or for the fight?Fish for them to use as bait for other game fish?
I generally would like to know as I have never thought to target Suckers nor have I have caught one as a by-catch.

I’ve never targeted them, or eaten them, just occasional by-catch

Pickling, smoking and canning, bear bait, fertilizer, pig feed, pike bait, are the uses I’ve heard of. All were practiced in the past but are rather uncommon today.

[Talking moose]

Pickerel rig parked on the bottom of the river with worms.
If there is sturgeon in the river, upgrade everything to a sturgeon rig and heavier line.

[fish99]

Originally Posted by Seli

Besides the one post of pickling, do people target Suckers to eat or for the fight?Fish for them to use as bait for other game fish?
I generally would like to know as I have never thought to target Suckers nor have I have caught one as a by-catch.

i would set a rod up for the granddaughter in the pond behind the house for her to catch suckers, she had a blast. didn't care what kind of fish , just it was a fish and fought good.

[pikeman06]

Brine smoke and eat if they are out of reasonably clean water. I eat them out of the battle river if I catch them. Big bones, but nice flaky sweet meat.