When to start suckers?

[sam10basefish]

Been musky fishing for a few summers now. Now that I'm done with school I can do some fall fishing. I am planning on trying some suckers. Wondering how cold the water temps need to get before this is worth while.

[Cfollow]

The question of when to start with suckers in then Fall is a good one. I'll start by saying I have caught muskies in the fall with the water temps just barely below 70 degrees. I have several pictures of me holding sucker caught muskies while I am wearing short sleeve shirts. That is more the exception than the rule and I generally start sucker fishing too early because I enjoy the heck out of it. The best water temps last year on Tonka for suckers was 54-48.

Guys will say muskies can be caught all year long on suckers and they are correct but as a good general rule the closer that water temp is to 50 degrees the better the sucker bite will be. I am also willing to say the closer the water temp is to 50 suckers will be your best presentation on MOST days.

Here is 50" from Tonka last fall to wet your appetite.

[50inchpig]

it's more than several

if you treat them well you can run them now. must have oxygen on them, be careful of water temperature shock from the baitstore water to your tank or lake. pre-turnover, while fish are still scattered out, casting will still be your best bet, the sucker bite doesn't seem to really get going until post-turnover, but this year it's been hard to wait.

[JacobG]

On the lakes I fish the sucker bite really begins at 62-64 degrees. And will run thru ice up. so far this fall we have boated 9 muskies on suckers so not a bad start. Currently water temps are 59 degrees. Another thing about the suckers is that the past 2 years the fishing during this time, "turnover time" has been very good with little to no negative impact on the bite. Not saying that the suckers counter act the turnover blues, but it def helps IMO

[BrianLucky13]

Four weeks ago

[JBMasterAngler]

What types of areas would I want to look for when sucker fishing? I got a WI license for the 1st time this year, and entertaining the idea of using the 2nd line to entice a muskie I've already gotten more muskie follows this year while fishing for bass than all my years of MN fishing combined. Kind've exciting!

[Nick Kuhn]

I like to fish them along breaks and cast in/out. Unseen fish follow in all the time and hopefully they stumble on the sucker. Remember in Wisconsin it's quick-strike rigs (or a huge circle hook) only for large sucker minnows.

[JackPineGuy]

ive been fishing suckers alot this fall and have caught a couple smaller muskies and decent pike, but have been catching most of the bruisers trolling big minnow baits. im sure ill be fishing live bait A couple more times this season beforre ice up. but its hard to argue with the size and numbers of the trolling bite... I started live bait fishing around september first but i truely beleave the best bite

is just starting now till maybe ice up. This cooler weather will get things going on that front.

[JackPineGuy]

I like to fish them along breaks and cast in/out. Unseen fish follow in all the time and hopefully they stumble on the sucker. Remember in Wisconsin it's quick-strike rigs (or a huge circle hook) only for large sucker minnows.

I wish they had that law in Mn. I mean not two lines but the quikset rigs or circle hook only. my old man uses single hooks or single trebale hooks. Ive never seen em kill a muskie yet but he playin with fire

[sam10basefish]

Thanks for the info guys! I am heading up to vermilion tomorrow night late. Does anyone know of a gas station or bait shop that sells the big sucker minnows on the way up 35/53 from the cities.

[FowlSki]

Thanks for the info guys! I am heading up to vermilion tomorrow night late. Does anyone know of a gas station or bait shop that sells the big sucker minnows on the way up 35/53 from the cities.

I have heard that meat fishing on Vermillion is tough. I don't have time to fish in the fall but that is what I have heard from guys who fish the lake a lot. Some lakes they like suckers and other lakes they do not for whatever reason.

Good luck and give us a report when you get back.

[sam10basefish]

Thanks for the heads up. However my grandpa is a little to old for casting so we will have to have at least one sucker going this weekend.

[JBMasterAngler]

Fish Lake Bait in Harris is one of my favorite bait shops. It's right on hwy 35, so you won't have to back track much. They got some big suckers, but also some big creek chubs too.

[FowlSki]

Thanks for the heads up. However my grandpa is a little to old for casting so we will have to have at least one sucker going this weekend.

Trolling big stick baits or big rubber in the fall can be very effective. Of course you need all the trolling gear so it may not be an option for you.

Good luck.