Why use live bait (suckers)?

[jlong]

I respect the desire of many musky men to use live bait for muskies. Those truly dedicated to this application are masters of a tedious method.

I do not have the patience to dedicate my presentation to live bait. I'm curious WHY so many rely on this type of presentation, especially in the fall. Do suckers really increase the number of fish visiting your boat each season? If so, is it because you have MORE LINES in the water (for WI fisherman) or because they are MORE EFFECTIVE than artificials in cold water?

I've done well without them, just curious if I'm missing something.

jlong

[DR]

How does everyone get/catch or whatever, the suckers to fish with?


DR

[John Skarie]

There is a lake by me that is quite clear, and doesn't have a ciscoe forage base in it. It's a hard lake to fish, with the right weather, clouds, wind rain etc., it's o.k.

Come october, you put suckers on a quick strike and it can be dynamite. Other lakes in my area are not good sucker lakes, but this on is, I think because there are no ciscoes.

I like to fish suckers becuase I've been casting and trolling for 3-4 days a week since early june. It's something different. It's fun to get on the water, have a beer and listen to the Vikings hopefully winning while you drag a soft-ball sized bobber behind the boat with a quick-strike on.

JS

[Slamr]

We use live bait because its one more way to get the followers to eat, we cast while dragging the meat! BUT, the thought of dragging suckers all day w/o casting makes me want to die of boredom, just thinking about it!

Slamr

[kmon]

I've been wondering about this myself.
And I got a good insight (chuckle) when I thought of drinking a beer and listening to a football game while out fishing. In Canada you're only allowed one rod, so no dragging a sucker and casting ...

But for me the real question is about the "sport" of musky fishing. Is the goal to catch the fish regardless of technique? Put me down for "learn the technique" -- and it's artificials all the way. Of course next I'll be saying you have to build your own rod, reel and lures, nail together some logs for an outrigger and paddle your way to the fishing hole.

Seriously though, is the true art of musky fishing not found in the fooling of the largest or most experienced fish with lures. And it's the manipulation of those, carefully learned and practised, that creates the sport of fishing? Otherwise we have meat fishing, whatever is practical; Spearing, netting, live fish baiting?

[John Skarie]

I know where you are coming from when you want to fish artficials only. I will only fish for trout with flies that I make. This isn't because I think that is the way it should be, but It's what I want to do.

To me sucker fishing is a great way to relax, enjoy the colors and smells of Fall, ##### with you fishing buddies and have some enjoyable fishing before the blizzards come and you are out in a smowmobile suit breaking ice so you can troll believers.

I have just as much satisfaction live-rigging for muskies as casting artificials. Maybe it's because I get to fish so much that I just enjoy something different.

JS

[ToddM]

I personally cast and drag a sucker. My vacations are over by the start of school so my fall fishing is in southern wi. or illinois. My fall waters get the ^&*( pounded out of them. One lake in particular you may not catch a fish at all if you don't have one out. I have had multiple fish days on suckers when I never seen a fish follow my lure.

[MRoberts]

The answer to this question is easy, because it’s another tool in the box. There are times when a sucker is the best presentation. You know me and know that I don’t fish sucker very often, but if guys are telling me that they are only having action on suckers I will give them a try. It’s just another tool.

I want to make this clear. It AIN’T easy. You don’t just drop a sucker over the side of the boat and wait for all the fish in the lake to jump in. One of the reasons I don’t do it often is that is a royal pain in the butt. You constantly have to me messing with the dumb thing to keep it out of the weeds, rocks, or whatever other type of structure you may be fishing. Plus it’s not real fun reaching into a bucket of water when the air temp is in the low 20s.

But it has its rewards, there is nothing like the thrill of hearing that clicker go off. 9 times out of 10 the dumb sucker is stuck on the bottom. But when you pick up the rod and apply a little pressure and feel something pull back. The adrenalin shoots through you, but guess what? Part of that rush is the fact that you know that you are far from done and the fish is far from caught. I just set the hook and pray. It’s not over until you get the fish 5 feet from the net and watch her open her mouth and drop the sucker, realizing for the first time that you never had the fish hooked to start with.

O-yea sucker fishing is real easy and definitely not sporting. If using suckers for musky isn’t sporting then neither is using worms for pan fish, or minnows for walleye, or leeches for perch. You know the concept of a treble hook really isn’t sporting either. How does one expect the fish to have a chance with hooks pointing in all directions, maybe they should outlawed.

Sorry Jason, I got off track, but this sporting, non-sporting thing got me going that way.

Suckers are just another option to try and put fish in the boat, because that is what it all boils down to. I could really get buy a lot cheaper if all I really wanted to do was commune with nature.

Nail a Pig!

Mike

P.S. Jason, don’t think we won’t have a big fat slab of meat right on the bottom when we fish Lake X this fall. It will be there and I will show you in person why some people use suckers.

[happyn hooker]

Actually the answer to the qustion is easier yet,,two lines,,you cant work two lures at once unless your trolling so drag a sucker while your casting,,thats why I hope Minnesota never allows two lines

[Jason Schillinger]

I fish a river system that livebait is sometimes the only way to get the fish to go. Out the day before yesterday, and we casted everything in our boxes, and did get a smaller fish on a Reef Hawg. We ended up with 9 hits, and 5 muskies, all coming on circle hook, and quick strike rigged suckers. These fish wanted suckers, not much more need be said. I use them ethically, and try to obtain their utmost effectiveness as another tool to boat more and bigger fish in the fall. Those who use artificials only have every right to do so, and catch many big fish doing so. I do both, and not only believe, but have proven time and time again, that livebait can often save the day when nothing is moving. I like the term purist, and I beleive there is nothing more pure than a live sucker attracting the attention of a large musky!

[Jomusky]

I've noticed some days the bite is on suckers and not on artificials. While other days even in late November the suckers don't do anything but the artificials work. Last time out I caught one on an artificial and screwed up a bigger fish on a sucker(trying a new technique). Musky fishing is not easy and I perfer to increase my odds by as much as possible and use suckers.

[Jomusky]

I'm not trying to stir the pot, BUT if sucker fishing is ethically wrong, what is trolling.
Musky fishing honor is not about your techniques it is about your success, and properly catching and releasing.

[MuskyGal]

My musky buddy had done this type of fishing when he was young, so I think he wanted to try it again. I was with him, and frankly didn't really like it much as I am not wild about any live bait.

We did have some great experiences with the bait. One musky grabbed the sucker and played with it for a couple of minutes. She wasn't really big so we just watched her to see what she was going to do with it. It was on a quick release set up and she was just like watching a dog on a leash for a few minutes and then I got excited as she was going out of sight and tugged on the bait to hard and she took off. It was quite memorable for me. That fish was quite docile and just holding the sucker in the mouth not ready to eat it yet.

I have done single hook fishing once and thank God the fish spit the entire bait(sucker) and hook out right as it was netted, so I don't feel to guilty about it. I am not going to sucker fish again.

I love sitting in a boat and trolling or jigging for muskies is
enough for me. Just enjoy being in the beautiful outdoors for the most part and getting a fish is like a bonus!

[Bob Babcock]

First off, let me say that sometimes you're probably better off not using suckers. There are times when you are better off fishing quickly and covering water. In non-trolling lakes in Wi dragging a sucker while doing this is illegal. Generally I don't use suckers 'til after turnover or during those bluebird coldfront type days.

After turnover and as the water gets even colder I usually start to slow down a fish certain spots more precisely. Why not have a sucker hanging over at the same time? It definately can be a pain in the ##### and there have been times that I have just given up on them after snagging 10 times in 15 minutes. But alot of the time we pick up all of our fish on them. Other times it's artificials, but why not give yourself the best opportunity.

A lot of people say that they're out there to enjoy themselves and catching something is a bonus. To each their own. I don't measure all of my sucess by numbers, but still, the object of fishing is still to catch a fish.