come on sucker

[DAQ]

Does anyone know the approximate size (mm) of sucker eggs? I stumbled upon a stream that has a good spawn going on and want to tempt some of the canibals into taking a fly.

I cast into groups of them today with only two takers and one foul hooked. These things fight pretty well on my four weight, this was the first time my drag was used on this reel.

D

[albacized]

You got them to take a fly? What fly did you use? The spot I was referring to in my other thread gets a sucker run and I could never get them to hit.

[lowwall]

I Have caught them using Size 12 Sucker spawn, looks like clump of eggs. I usually tie in a veil of white yarn or yak hair.

[Eddy Merckx]

I Have caught them using Size 12 Sucker spawn, looks like clump of eggs. I usually tie in a veil of white yarn or yak hair.

Thanks, I've got to try that. They're stacked deep on one of my local rivers, counted over 25 in the tail of one small pool the other day.

[PJT]

I think I know where that spot is. Every year about this time they gather there. I could never get them to hit anything. Take a good look since sometimes there are trout mingling around with them. The trouth spook quicker that the suckers and you can usually pick them out by their flight.

[G-Man]

Suckers ... brings back memories.

As a kid ... looked down on a local stream and thought I saw a school of whopper brookies ... dropped my worm ... lifted the fish with a big grin .... which quickly changed as I yelled to my buddy "what the hell is this thing?"
At first, I did not get it as he shouted "sucker!". :cool:

[Eddy Merckx]

Take a good look since sometimes there are trout mingling around with them. The trouth spook quicker that the suckers and you can usually pick them out by their flight.

That, and the trout usually don't let you bounce a fly off their head. --125-3 I drifted every nymph and weighted fly I had into these suckers, hitting them right in the face more than a few time, but no take.

[Slappy]

When I lived in Watertown, i used to get in on the Charles sucker bite. My go to fly was a #8 green hackle palmered on a hook with a small green tail.

Drift it into the fish and watch closely. I don't think I ever actually felt one hit.

[ShaneY]

I caught a bunch on buggers last year and sucker spawn flys in a slower flat run in NH. I thought they were kinda fun but my buddies kept making fun of me:rolleyes:

[PJT]

In terms of stink, they are only second to carp. I grabbed one to unhook it and the stink lingered on my hand for quite some time. Totally disgusting earthy rotten fish stank. I don't mind either by itself but put them together it's almost bad enough to turn me off freshwater fishing altogether. I imagine if you ever tried to eat one it would taste exactly like that.

[Cheju]

As suckers suck in the sediment from the bottom of the stream in their feeding process, they taste like what ever is on the bottom of any given stream where they might be feeding. Mud, pcb's, lead, mercury sewerage, road run off are all possible flavors for these fiesty fish. Some even think they compare in edibility with the all favorite mud-fish and the aligator gar.

Cheju

[SteepBank]

I was on a trib of the Allagash last summer with friends fishing with my new 3 weight and we were catching brook trout left and right when we came onto a big bend pool that just screamed 'big fish'...I threw a muddler in the run and a fish took it hard...well, these are seasoned guys I was with and there wasnt a one of us that thought anything other than '19 inch brookie' ...it took about three long minutes to land (two guys were standing ready with thier trout nets) and it was about a three pound sucker...man did that ever really suck--124-3

[Ken Catch]

Great Live bait for large northern pike. :brow

[SPCantwell]

last year while fishing the millers river in erving we were catching a ton of 2 to 4lb suckers on caddis flies. they would come up to the surface and roll on their side and suck down the fly. its was incredible to watch.

[DAQ]

I caught them on an egg pattern I use in NY for trout. I went back today with a smaller egg pattern and got another one right away then nothing. Switched to a black bugger and got another, actually two more but one was foul hooked.

You get some pretty funny looks when people see you fishing a stream that is so narrow that you can pee across it in some areas.

[teflon_jones]

I've always called them "chubs" instead of suckers, but I've caught more than my share. My largest was a 19" fish out of Grand Lake Stream. I thought it was a feeding trout or salmon based on the behavior and I was sight casting to it. Took a few flies before it ate my fly but I finally got 'em and realized it was a chub when it didn't fight like a salmonid. They're fun to catch when there's nothing else around. :)

[Slappy]

Teflon, the charles has a very good run of suckers and they are underfished. The fish I have caught there are typically in the 2-4# range and great sport on the panfish rod. When they are on the spawn, they do hit spinners too.

They are fun to catch when other fish are around too. ;)

[Fish Farmer]

Suckers ... brings back memories.

As a kid ... looked down on a local stream and thought I saw a school of whopper brookies ... dropped my worm ... lifted the fish with a big grin .... which quickly changed as I yelled to my buddy "what the hell is this thing?"
At first, I did not get it as he shouted "sucker!". :cool:

Hey G-Man, I did the same thing on a small brook in Dedham, ME. There was a pool about 6ft deep just after a culvert. I couldn't believe my good fortune to have stumbled on such huge trout. I thought they were big trout up from a local lake feeding on smelts.
Although I didn't catch one, my buddy who lived nearby had a good laugh at my expense when he told me what they were.

[greyghostX]

Chubs and suckers are similar but different fish, both are primarily bottom feeders, like politicians.

[Tynan]

This is a funny thread. I too stumbled on some the other day. I thought they were a pod of huge trout then saw their bright orange/pink sides. :rolleyes:

[DAQ]

I have been back to my honey hole several times since the original post and have caught several more but not quite the sucess I had wanted. No single pattern produced great.

Hit the spot for a couple of quick casts at lunch yesterday and there was not a single fish to be seen. I went up stream and down but not a one.

Amazing that a spot that had well over 30 fish on Friday doesn't have a lone straggler two days later. I guess I'll have to wait for next years run.

D

[eshuang]

I've always called them "chubs" instead of suckers, but I've caught more than my share. My largest was a 19" fish out of Grand Lake Stream. I thought it was a feeding trout or salmon based on the behavior and I was sight casting to it. Took a few flies before it ate my fly but I finally got 'em and realized it was a chub when it didn't fight like a salmonid. They're fun to catch when there's nothing else around. :)

I've caught both in the rivers near where I grew up (NJ). I've caught chubs on dry flies and suckers on spinners, usually when angling for trout. I think they are two different species.

[Tynan]

Snagged one in the rear the other day in current. Thought I had a monster trout on for a minute. --124-3