ruff fish for cut bait?

[south_metro_fish]

I was reading through the bullhead thread and read that you are able to use any size ruff fish for cut bait. Does any one ever use sheep head or carp or any thing you can get right out of the river?

I guess scratch the carp but are there any ruff fish that work well for cut bait that are easily caught out of the river.

[SteveD]

Does any one ever use sheep head or carp or any thing you can get right out of the river?

I usually spend some time at the front end of most trips catching bait. I like fresh sucker or bullheads for cut bait. I've used just about every legal rough fish for bait and they will all catch fish.

Unfortunately carp are not legal to use for bait (live or cut) in Minnesota. Page 8, 2008 Minnesota Fishing Regulations - Angling Methods: Using whole or parts of game fish, goldfish, or carp for bait is unlawful.

[Big Cat Dad]

Drum is a solid choice and Carp (legal to use in Montana) is not bad either. I think fresh cut White Sucker and Goldeye is better though.

Drum and Carp meat is much tougher (stay's on the hook better), however, Carp make a huge mess when you cut them up. Scales and blood everywhere.

[ec30_06]

I don't like to use sheephead for cut bait, but I have in a pinch. They don't seem to put many fish in the boat for me. I have noticed that the flatheads will sometimes eat cut sheeps when the channels won't. I have tried very small buffalo in the spring and it worked ok.

[redogman67]

What do you use to catch sucker, I have never caught them before, any tricks?

[Here-Kitty-Kitty]

Catch sheep head and gut them. Use the guts as bait they work awesome.

[Here-Kitty-Kitty]

Catch sheep head and gut them. Use the guts as bait they work awesome.

[south_metro_fish]

What kind of suckers are you talking about? If its sheephead night crawlers on the bottom is all you need on the river down by Lacrosse.

I am going to continue reading the bullhead thread but I am wondering before I get to the end if it is legal to still transport bait you catch in the new regs after all the resent fish virus scares.

[northernsportman]

crawlers for suckers.

[south_metro_fish]

How big of a chunk of ruff fish would be good to use?

[SteveD]

What do you use to catch sucker, I have never caught them before, any tricks?

The fishing doesn't get much simpler than this - Small piece of nightcrawler on a plain hook with a split shot to get it down. Cast it out and let it sit - 3 to 5 minutes max if you don't get a bite reel in, check your bait and reposition it a few feet one side or the other from the previous cast. It seems to work most any time of the day. Look for spots with a sand / gravel or rocky bottom with slow to moderate current. I usually will get a mix of sheepshead, suckers and smallmouth. On the St Croix you can fish two rods. I anchor about 10 feet off the shore and spread a couple of rods off the back of the boat. Cast downstream and let the splitshot just sink in the current. Believe me - that is all the weight you need.

I like to catch bait during the day and bring the grandkids and let them do the fishing for bait. You can add two rods for each kid but you will mostly spend your time untangling lines. It is fun though and with the kids I can fill my livewell pretty quickly with sheepies and usually a few 12 - 15" suckers. That size sucker is perfect for cut bait.

[Here-Kitty-Kitty]

That size sucker is perfect for a big a*s weight and a over sized hook. I love a fatty to catch a fatty.

[Flaco651]

I've heard cut sheepie works pretty good on Lake Sturgeon, haven't given it much of a chance though. Shad, suckers, and creek chub are my typical cuts for cattin'.

[south_metro_fish]

So if you were to catch a larger sheephead or drum and cut 12-15" long strips, it would work great, but how wide is too wide for a strip?

[Here-Kitty-Kitty]

Ya I have great luck with sheepies. Surprisingly I have never caught a sturgeon on it or anything for that matter. So I should say I have never caught one at all before.

[River Runner Z]

use enough on the hook to still protuding out the back side probabaly a 1/2 to 3/4 of a inch but i prefer useing creek chub, suckers,and shad but thats me they don't seem to like sheephead and the few others i have tryed

[SteveD]

So if you were to catch a larger sheephead or drum and cut 12-15" long strips, it would work great, but how wide is too wide for a strip?

I've got a Cat Tip of the Day from last year on making cut bait that I will repost so you can see a good way to cut up a sucker. For now this is about a 15" sucker - just cut them up like this:

[Here-Kitty-Kitty]

Nothing like a little morning sushi