Northern Hog Sucker - ever Caught One?

[Roughfisher]

You are not supposed to kill suckers. They are the #1 food for walleye, pike, musky, and trout. The more suckers in the river, the better a river it is.

[rapala fisher]

No thay may get eaten by game fish but they also eat game fish's eggs so they are bad for rivers

[rapala fisher]

***
rapala fisher,
In the future, please don't waste our time posting junk like the bit I just edited. What's the point? Feel free to email me if you need further explanation. [email protected]

-Toad
***

[This message has been edited by Toad (edited 06-07-2004).]

[ricqik]

Such lack of knowledge some anglers.

[Roughfisher]

Northern hog suckers do not eat game fish eggs. Other suckers ingest them while sucking up insects incidentally. They are good for the rivers, not bad. Read George Becker's book, Fishes of Wisconsin, he spent a lifetime studying them. Your personal attack is uncalled for. Think what you like, but you are spreading false information.

[ricqik]

I may not know all but I do know what you said about suckers eating other fish eggs is untrue. My post was in no means to call you stupid. It's mere meaning is you are unfimiliar with such species. What roughfisher said is correct, the eggs just happens to be there when the sucker is fouraging for insect larvae and such. Maybe you ought to go to you're legistlater and have them pass a law to remove all those sunnies that pic and eat up bass and other fishes egg too. But ofcourse you and I both know that's not entirely true, sunfushes' rather eat insects and larvae and small crustaceans and little snails, and eggs only being an opportunity.

[Dennis Steele]

I fish mostly for game fish,but in my opinion a rare native fish is just as big a prize as a trophy cat or walleye,no matter its size.
I guess its the kid in me that still loves discovery.

[Guest]

I think it is so cool that people enjoy catching fish other than what most people consider "worthy".

If it swims, I'll fish for it if the oppertunity arises. Just the fun of the fight, no matter what it is, is all that matters and knowing you got that fish to bite.

Those of you who are bashing someone for doing something that they like to do, your attitude is not only wrong, it's elitist.

[This message has been edited by Tom Herman (edited 06-08-2004).]

[Toad]

The native vs. non-native issue is one that often confounds even the most astute fishery scientists. In a perfect world, perhaps, each water would house only those fish that originally swam there.

But of course, it's not a perfect world, and sometimes it's just as easy to appreciate an introduced fish, such as a carp, brown trout or hybrid striped bass-- as these species provide great sport, and occasionally actually work to balance out certain predator/prey dynamics or reduce overabundant weedgrowth, as in the case of grass carp. In truth, today, non-native fishes are used by managers in educated attempts to "benefit" a fishery, although this almost always involves lakes or reservoirs rather than rivers.

One problem, though, is that the hand of humans have altered many aquatic environments. So as water quality and habitat in rivers or lakes change-- even imperceptively-- niches once occupied by native fishes can shift, or even become filled by non-native species. Finally, the once distinct line between native and non-native has often today become obscured. Many species, such as brown trout, have become solidly embraced by their non-native homes, providing a home that offers both spawning and feeding conditions suitable for a longterm, self-sustained existence.

Rivers, though, well, we like to think of them in their natural state-- at least I do. Your home river is just a wonderful place to visit, isn't it? Particularly when you're met with beautiful undisturbed surroundings punctuated by the same great fish that surely swam there hundreds of years ago.

-a friend called Toad

[Roughfisher]

Wonderful post Toad.

[Fat Joe]

I don't think anyone cares about ten inch suckers, Actually I think they could care less. They eon't to here about thirty pound carp and 4 foot lon gar

[Roughfisher]

I've caught plenty of thirty pound carp, plenty of big sturgeon, plenty of big gar. They don't hold a candle to a 1 pound hogsucker, sorry.

[big fishes]

I think they are right I catch those Hogs basiclly, monthly while fishing for rainbows
near where I live.
Its kind of like going after walleyes and pulling up a sheep you know your [PoorWordUsage]ed off

[big fishes]

the fish has no purpose they are small they taste and they eat other game fishses eggs so whats the point thats why from now on im killing every one i catch

[Fat Joe]

I couldn't have said it better big fishes. I hope they go extinct. I wonder if hmongs like to eat them.

[panolo]

Hey big fishes... Is english your first language? Because whomever taught you did a poor job. If you don't like "rough" fish than troll the 'eye board.

[big fishes]

what do u mean

[DTro]

Is it just me or do a few of the posters in this topic not only agree, but tend to have the same grammar and spelling....coincidence??

[Dennis Steele]

BIg Fish,Fat Joe,Rapapla Fisher, and Big Jim are all the same person.
Are you OK bud?

[This message has been edited by Dennis Steele (edited 06-09-2004).]

[Aquaman01]

Is there another sucker with that distinctive mouth/snout? If not - we got one just last week on the upper Missy. We were desperately in need of cutbait (roughfisher now shudders) but my boy wanted this one to go back. I did too, actually, 'cause she was chubby in the belly and kinda dilating.

I love rougghfisher's site. That is an angler who has a very good understanding of the waterways he fishes. Suckers are a sign of a healthy system, and the anchor of a "game" fish's food chain.

Peace. ya'll - and nice fish, rough!
Aqua-not-too-proud-to-drown-a-crawler-man

[LEECH21]

DTRO...I AGREE. CHECK OUT BIG FISHES' PROFILE. HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO SPELL THE CITY WHERE HE'S FROM. HA, HA, HA!

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<*))))))))><{

[panolo]

What do I mean? You need to quit posting garbage. Go back to school and learn the meaning of sentence structure. There is no need for you to run your mouth because of your ignorance.

[Aquaman01]

This forum has always been one of the mellowist and respectful forums on the board. I am a little taken aback by this thread.

Would all parties involved please refrain from personal attacks and/or "bashing"? Rough got a fish worth extolling and invited other tales of members catching that species. This is a valid topic and I'd hate to see it wiped from the record over opinions regarding the of desirability of a species.

Rough - what conditions were present when you were out?

Rob

[panolo]

I apologize. I visit many different boards and it gets to you after awhile. I get to attack mode fairly easily sometimes. So again my sincere apologies.

[This message has been edited by panolo (edited 06-11-2004).]

[hogsucker]

I love the hogs! It's too bad that a creature this interesting doesn't gain the respect that it deserves. I've found the best hog water to be fast riffles and runs, and loggy debris makes a run even better. Try to spot them in smaller streams and then try to get them to take an angleworm or very small crawler chunk. Observing thier feeding behavior is really cool, and watching them turn from this docile forager into a hard-charging powerhouse after being hooked is impressive. I've landed a couple hogs that would have eclipsed the MN state record, but they are still swimming around in southern MN. Good to see some of you showing interest in one of my favorite fishes, good luck to all who chase the elusive northern hogsucker. ~hogsucker