Live Sucker Rigs

[DTro]

Looks like there's a good chance I'll be headin up to Vermilion mid to late Oct.

Being a Cat guy I tend to be on the lazy side and would prefer letting the fish come to me, not only that, but my boat isn't the "milk run" type of boat.

I know there are pretty strong feelings about using a sucker rig. In the event that I did use one, are some better than others, what about circle hooks?

I guess I could always troll, yeah I know.......more sighs

[RK]

Hiya -

There's nothing wrong with live bait for muskies. It's not traditional in MN, partly because of our one line law, but it's not unheard of either.

With live bait, it's entirely a matter of method. Done right, live bait is very fish friendly. Done wrong, it's a 100% mortality technique.

If you fish live bait for muskies, quick strike rigs are a must. It's that simple. I personally don't think circle hooks are a viable option. I've used circle hooks extensively, for everything from walleyes to catfish to bass. They're effective, but not foolproof, and you can gullet hook fish them. Any technique that relies on wait and swallow opens the door to the possibility of gut hooking and a dead fish... It's really that simple. Those of you who know me know I very rarely say anything is absolute, but this is one case where I will...quick strike rigs are the only way to go.

There are some practical reasons for quick strikes too, if the fish friendly argument isn't convincing. With a wait and swallow method, you never know how long is long enough. The old story was it took a fish a half an hour to swallow something. I can tell you for sure that's not true. I've seen muskies swallow baitfish, and a 20" pike can disappear in about 15 seconds. Or they can paddle around with them crossways in their mouth for half an hour and never even turn it, much less swallow them. With quick strikes, if they have the sucker, they have the hook. The other reason is flat out catching fish faster. LAte fall means short feeding windows. Get the fish and get back fishing, rather than waiting half an hour for a fish that may or may not have the hook.

I make my own quick strike rigs. They're slight variations on the Maina Lift-Off rig or the Herbie rig. Of the quick strike rigs on the market, those are the two best in terms of both effectiveness and fish-friendliness I think. Remember though that in Minnesota you have to have a spinner blade on the QS rig within 2 inches of the hook so it's a legal rig. It's a stupid law, and one I've been on my soapbox about enough with the DNR that it may actually be up to be changed, but for now...jump through the hoop and be legal...

Once you have the sucker rigged, when a fish hits, set right away. Hooking percentages go up a little of the fish is heading away from you. Usually if you lean on the fish a little - a second or two of hard pressure - it'll turn away and you can set. As soon as you feel the fish head away, set the hook as hard as you can. I mean, HARD. (I once told a rather large friend of mine to try to break the rod when he set the hook. He did... since then I just say 'set hard' )

Hope that helps...

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[Random guy]

RK, around and around and around

[mplspug]

I wouldn't use circles Dtro. I used them for pike because that's what I had from catting and it's harder to get a hookset. I missed one because I paniked as he went sideways towards the weeds, but once the slack was up and I went to set the hook he was heading right toward the boat. My hook rate was worse than my bros. I was 1 for 4. If you are concerned about releasing them intact, I'd pinch the barb too.

[Phunnyfarm]

I like to use Eagle Claw wide bend hooks. When I switched to those this summer, I found that I was getting a lot more lip sets.

[mtreno]

we have had nothing but good things from circle hooks pike fishing. just like when your cattin. always right in the corner of there mouth. we wait 30 seconds (yes i timed it) and set the hook as to not give them to much time. missed a few that never took the bait down but we have had way more hookups than misses. never tried it for muskies but if i were to do it that would be the way.

[markkstanley]

I use circles for pike but that's with 8" or smaller suckers. For muskies in fall nothing beats a 16" sucker and the quick strike rig is the way to go. I grew up fishing for muskies in Wisconsin so I have been there. Personally I don't soak suckers anymore. Rather cast or troll and cover more water.

[DTro]

Thanks for the help!

Not sure if I will fish a sucker or not, just getting some ideas, heck I might even just bring the shotgun instead of the boat

[mplspug]

That's good to know about circles. I think I may have been just fishing them wrong. The problem is the area we fished is a channel through weeds and like I said, I paniced when I see them head to the weeds. Come to think of it, one of the 3 bites I missed was the leader unsnapping. Now that I know others use them with success, I can fish them with confidence.

[mtreno]

mplspug - yep they work good - i have been a big fan of them the last few years

** now if i was going to go and soak some super monster sucker - well i may change my thoughts then. i always wanted to get one of those 20 inch coeys/like a bright red or orange one....... something in that size range i think your better off with a quick set rig

dto - bring your shotgun - the grouse are everywhere!

[ArnieDB]

Hoping some of you are willing to share some insight........

I have never used live suckers for musky fishing, but am thinking of giving it a try. I have picked up some quick strike rigs, but that is as far as I have gotten.

I have heard of people using suckers with a bobber sitting still, or with just drifting with no bobber......

What's the recommended way to fish live suckers? drift a weed edge and hang them out there? Sit with a bobber? From what I have read here it is key to set the hook right away to ensure the fish is not injured....I am all for that. What would I guy do with a live sucker to get to the point where setting the hook is an option?

I appreciate the shared knowledge in advance!

Thanks.......

[RK]

Hey Arnie -

Couple different ways you can do it. First off, I never fish suckers when I'm alone. I just don't have the patience to sit there and watch a bobber or watch the line. So I'll only fish sushi when there's a couple people in the boat (we take turns being sucker boy...).

Generally speaking I fish spots like I normally do - move as I cast. For the sucker, you can put it under a big bobber (I usually use a big Thill) and suspend it somewhere mid-depth in the water column. I try to run the sucker a foot or two below the depth of the lures I'm running, OR, just over the tops of whatever weeds are still around, OR, mid-way down at whatever depth I'm at - whichever seems to make sense depending on the spot. If you're fishing a shallow spot that might only be a couple feet down, but on steep break it might be 15' down. I just let the bobber trail behind the boat a ways. Not a lot of science to it...

The other way to do it, which is a more active, much more precise method, is to rig the sucker without a bobber and with a very heavy (3 to 4 ounce) weight. Then you fish it almost like a jig - adjust the depth constantly so the sucker stays about a foot off the bottom. The sucker should hang straight down below the boat - thus the heavy weight. When you're holding the rod it's amazing how good a fish-finder suckers are. They freak out when there are muskies around, almost like a big redtail on a live bait rig walleye fishing. Rigged like this you can move up and down breaks and inside turns, or fish steep breaks. This is a great way to fish them in conjunction with a vertical jigging bait like a Fuzzy Duzzit. The Fuzzy calls them in... It's wierd - some days the Fuzzy gets every fish, some days the sushi does...

Hope this helps give you some ideas....

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[Phunnyfarm]

Does anyone know where to get a "large" sucker?! I go to the Lakeview Store between Fish Trap and Alex in the mornings, and the heavy pike (largest size they carry) are about 7-8" on a great day, but probably average closer to 5" in length. I would love to get a sucker twice that size to see what it can catch!

[DTro]

Quote:

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Does anyone know where to get a "large" sucker?! I go to the Lakeview Store between Fish Trap and Alex in the mornings, and the heavy pike (largest size they carry) are about 7-8" on a great day, but probably average closer to 5" in length. I would love to get a sucker twice that size to see what it can catch!

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You need to get the "decoy" size

Some places will have them on hand, othere places by special order.

[Green&Gold]

Up here in the Duluth area, there are a couple places you can get them. Just south of Superior we have a bar adjacent to a fun little muskie lake that has them in stock at all times. I can usually find 'em there anywhere between 6 and 18 inches. Otherwise there is at least one bait shop in town that will order them for you as long as you pay in advance. For example, I can go into the Bait Box (Superior again) and order them on Wednesday and pick them up on Thursday night...not the best scenario because then I have to find a way to keep 'em alive if I don't plan on fishing till the weekend. Still, I would bet that many bait shops would arrange a similar exchange if you just ask.