suckers through the ice

[buckfever]

so a lake across the street from my work has some suckers and i was thinking it could b a fun way of spending a lunches.


so does anyone caught suckers through the ice and how would i catch them?

thanks


buck

[DuckBrat]

I've had luck with a ball of maggots on a single hook flutter spoon, similar to the small fish shaped russian hook.

[npauls]

Suckers love worms. so maybe try a small jig head with a chunk of worm or a pickerel rig with a worm and maybe a fish egg.


Nate

[Tussell]

Yep the only way ive ever caught them ugly buggers was with a pickerel rig and worms.

[Penner]

A plan old jig head tipped with a dew worm bounced right on the bottom. Ensure you allow the hook to lay right on the bottom once you have seen the suckers come in. Let them suck it in and bingo bango.

[splitflame]

I have never caught one. Are they good to eat?

[DustDee]

When I saw your post title, I thought you were going to tell a story about some suckers that went out on thin ice and fell through! But alas, you meant the fish.

[nicemustang]

They are not good to eat IMO. Mushy, oily and gross!

[Wolverine Boy]

Do not eat them!

[Hunter Trav]

Catch a bunch, freeze them and use them to catch some big ass jacks!!!

[splitflame]

Originally Posted by Hunter Trav

Catch a bunch, freeze them and use them to catch some big ass jacks!!!

Sounds like a damn good idea. Is that even allowed?

[allenford]

use dead sucker as a bait fish is allowed, as it is not a game fish.

[Penner]

Originally Posted by splitflame

I have never caught one. Are they good to eat?

I've never tried but I hear they are not the best. Apparently very boney. I have seen a certain ethnic group catch and keep Suckers on a regular basis out of the North Sask. Thanks but no thanks.

[nicemustang]

I remember back in the day in sask that we would catch them, keep them alive and hook them up on tip ups. A great way to catch pike. I'm sure it will work frozen too, but it was great when we could use live bait.

[Duster]

Sucker is my favorite fish to catch. I cook em whole, the heart and liver are the tastiest!!

[Paul C]

If they are good to eat, how to do prepare to eat and best method of cooking ?
Cheers

[WayneChristie]

people put down suckers, but do some research and you will see the have the same diet as trout. Ive eaten suckers from clean water, just boney, same as carp, but good meat. I wouldnt eat them out of the rivers because I wont eat anything out of the rivers in Alberta, Ive seen what goes into them.

[fisherwoman]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

people put down suckers, but do some research and you will see the have the same diet as trout. Ive eaten suckers from clean water, just boney, same as carp, but good meat. I wouldnt eat them out of the rivers because I wont eat anything out of the rivers in Alberta, Ive seen what goes into them.

Agreed. Safe to eat out of lakes, rivers no thanks. Not overly great eating, some people eat them smoked, I would try smoked, but never again fried. That was not good, too oily for me. Worms work great, too good sometimes.

[Geezle]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

people put down suckers, but do some research and you will see the have the same diet as trout. Ive eaten suckers from clean water, just boney, same as carp, but good meat. I wouldnt eat them out of the rivers because I wont eat anything out of the rivers in Alberta, Ive seen what goes into them.

Back in Sask when I was a kid we used to put down burbots too...called them 'dogfish' and usually left them out on the ice because they were bottom feeders.

It's funny how our views have changed on these guys

[slingshotz]

Originally Posted by fisherwoman

Agreed. Safe to eat out of lakes, rivers no thanks. Not overly great eating, some people eat them smoked, I would try smoked, but never again fried. That was not good, too oily for me. Worms work great, too good sometimes.

They are nice smoked and Wayne is right, their diet is almost the same at trout. I caught them fly fishing with SJWs and boy do they fight hard on a light 4 wt.

The really annoying thing is that they are bony. It's funny how "lazy" some people are eating fish, if suckers had meat you could fillet off like perch and walleye, I doubt we would be having this conversation. However, just like pike it really matters what kind of water you catch them from as they can get that muddy taste like pike can. From good cold waters, sucker meat will rival any game fish. But overall they do probably make much better bait

[WayneChristie]

Originally Posted by Geezle

Back in Sask when I was a kid we used to put down burbots too...called them 'dogfish' and usually left them out on the ice because they were bottom feeders.

It's funny how our views have changed on these guys

I remember at Buffalo Pound lake, seeing piles of ling frozen on the ice just tossed away, what a waste, if they had tried one Im sure the people would have gone around and picked up everyone elses leavings for sure. I heard they were real cod, so I tried one eventually in Calgary, and have eaten every one Ive caught since then, the one fish I wont throw back.

[go-big-or-go-home]

thats pretty much wat ling is man, fresh water cod, fresh water fish and chips is all lol

[WayneChristie]

Originally Posted by go-big-or-go-home

thats pretty much wat ling is man, fresh water cod, fresh water fish and chips is all lol

you bet, and the best fish and chips you can get anywhere, right out of the water, not hanging around on a bed of ice in a truck for days.
About suckers, I recall reading about the settlers canning them, and with the right seasonings the suckers were supposed to taste just like salmon. That would take care of the bones too.

[Geezle]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

you bet, and the best fish and chips you can get anywhere, right out of the water, not hanging around on a bed of ice in a truck for days.
About suckers, I recall reading about the settlers canning them, and with the right seasonings the suckers were supposed to taste just like salmon. That would take care of the bones too.

Actually I just finished reading a book about fishing in Western Canada, and they make mention of canning and pickling 'coarse' fish, and apparently both methods are supposed to work quite well.

I think the book may have even had a couple recipes for doing it...

[slingshotz]

http://www.southendwalleyeslayer.com/sucker2007.pdf

Almost every possible recipe you can think of with suckers. It's strange how regional differences occur as suckers are fairly well regarded in Michigan and other places.