Northern Hog Sucker - ever Caught One?

[Roughfisher]

Probably the hardest fish to catch in the State of Minnesota is the Northern Hog Sucker. I've caught about seven of them in 30 years. Two this year though! Anybody else have any hogsucker stories!?!?

(Hogsucker pics)

[carlcmc]

Actually i have! i fish for suckers/carp in the zumbro river in rochester. i see these occasionally. never really target them but once and then i caught a small one about 10-12 inches long.

[MURPHFISHER]

I know I have caught at least one (if not more) of those in the Zumbro near Zumbro Falls over the years. I did not even know what they were back then.

[TonyCarpBoy]

You should check out the guys at roughfish dot com, there are some expert sucker fishermen there.

<g>

Is there anywhere near the twin cities that holds them?

Tony

[Roughfisher]

During a recent flood they circumvented the Coon Rapids Dam, so they now live in the Mississippi all the way up to Monticello. Best numbers lower down, though, and in the Root, Zumbro, and Cannon.

[jonny_redhorse]

i've never come across a hog sucker in all the years i've fished......i've even caught "mooneyes" on the sturgeon river chain up north of hibbing....white suckers ...red horse...buffalo fish...dog fish(ugly things that they are)...sturgeon....but....no hog suckers....jonny

[Fatty Mcfat]

I once caught a dozen hog suckers. All oubout a pound or two. Caught them on the root river. They are great eating to aren't they.

[DTro]

These look like the same suckers we buy for bait. Decoys for example. Are they the same?

[Roughfisher]

No, the suckers you buy for bait are juvenile White Suckers. Hog suckers have a black ring around the mouth an a concave head with protruding eyes.

[DTro]

I was just looking at the records and you probably came pretty darn close with one of those:

1 lb 15oz on sunrise river (chisago).

[DTro]

upon further review....looks like about 17-18" is where you need to be.

[Roughfisher]

This one was 18 inches. It was a record easily, and we knew it, but my bro was feeling sick so we had to quit. The fish was released. But we know where he lives.

[LEECH21]

MY FRIEND I THINK CAUGHT ONE IN '98 OUT OF THE MN RIVER BY GRANITE FALLS. I HAVE A PICTURE FOR A CLOSER LOOK, BUT NOT SURE HOW TO GET IT ON THE FORUM. I HAVE A SCANNER TO SCAN IT. FROM COMPARING THIS FISH TO ROUGHFISHERS MY FRIENDS LOOKS BIGGER YET. ANY HELP TO GET IT ON THE WEB WILL HELP...THANKS LEECH

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[Roughfisher]

Leech - scan it an email it to me, I'll post it for you. Check my profile for my email address.

[LEECH21]

ROUGHFISHER WHEN I GO INTO YOUR PROFILE IT SAYS YOUR E-MAIL IS UNAVAILABLE.

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[Big Jim]

I don't know about you guys but who gives a **** about suckers I want hear about 50 pound carp not half pound suckers.

[This message has been edited by Big Jim (edited 05-26-2004).]

[Roughfisher]

Well then, I guess you should fish for something else. Walleyes or something. Carp are exotic fishes, go eat your tea and crumpets and fish for your Frenchie fish, I fish native American fishes and I love it. I have more respect for the guy who catches a hog sucker than some **** who catches some dag-burned exotic and doesn't care about America and her great fishes.

[LEECH21]

YEA! WHAT ROUGHFISHER SAID!

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[ricqik]

Only caught 2 so far some years back on the Red Cedar when I used to live in Minomonie. Don't have a clean enough river hear to try and catch them now.

[northern pike fisherman]

Im with my man Jimbo

[ricqik]

Looks like some are missing the point of catching a half pound hognose. Between a 10lb carp and 1lb hognose, I'd be more thrilled with the hognose, not because is rarer than the carp but because it's bigger, if you know what I mean.

[rapala fisher]

actually I think it does

[Roughfisher]

Yeah, most people just don't understand. A fish is a fish. Just because they are too hard for you to catch, doesn't mean they are worthless!

[Roughfisher]

So you are saying the Northern Hog Sucker is worthless? How many have you caught?

[rapala fisher]

I've caught two down near rodchecter while fishing for trout. I thought you supposed to kill suckers so I left it in a trash can