If you ask five guys you'll probably get five answers on hook position but…
I prefer the top because it hooks up better for me, seems to be more tangle free when they get a crazy running from a fish and lastly the sucker seems to stay strong longer because there isn't a weight on its side trying to flip it over all day. The reason I believe it hooks up better is because I've never seen a muskie with a sucker in its mouth with the suckers belly facing the muskies throat, it's always facing out.
"Will Schultz" said:
I've never seen a muskie with a sucker in its mouth with the suckers belly facing the muskies throat, it's always facing out.
Huh. That's interesting, because I would've assumed it would be the other way around if anything. I always figured a muskie is going to T-bone it, so 1 hook on each side would be the best, or the muskie is going to take it from straight underneath.
Was doing a little reading:
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A person who catches baitfish that are listed as Susceptible Fish Species, or harvests roe from fish that are listed as Susceptible Fish Species in a body of water that is included in the VHSv Free Management Area may use those baitfish or that roe in any public waters of the state, subject to Provision 6.
Provision 6. A person shall not use or otherwise release baitfish that are listed as Susceptible Fish Species, or roe harvested from fish that are listed as Susceptible Fish Species, in any public waters of the state, unless that person is fishing and those baitfish or that roe are attached to a hook.
I'm really not reading anything that prohibits the use of any baitfish like suckers caught elsewhere and transplanted to another lake as long as both bodies of water are in the VHS free zone. I've been reading page 15. Here's the link for those of you who don't have it readily available.
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Ok…. Wait a minute…out by us Detroiter's it's nearly impossible to get suckers in the 10+" range. We've called many local baitshops in the area to see if larger suckers were available for LSC. So with that being said I saw a well known Indiana Guide fishing very large suckers off the other side of his boat recently. If I had to guess I'd say they were transported from Ye Old Tackle Shop in Indiana and used in LSC. Isn't that illegal?? I have zero experience fishing suckers because we just can't get them over here. So what's the law on transporting suckers for Indiana to LSC???
"Jim tenHaaf" said:
Was doing a little reading:
—
A person who catches baitfish that are listed as Susceptible Fish Species, or harvests roe from fish that are listed as Susceptible Fish Species in a body of water that is included in the VHSv Free Management Area may use those baitfish or that roe in any public waters of the state, subject to Provision 6.Provision 6.
A person shall not use or otherwise release baitfish that are listed as Susceptible Fish Species, or roe harvested from fish that are listed as Susceptible Fish Species, in any public waters of the state,unless that person is fishing and those baitfish or that roe are attached to a hook.I'm really not reading anything that prohibits the use of any baitfish like suckers caught elsewhere and transplanted to another lake as long as both bodies of water are in the VHS free zone. I've been reading page 15. Here's the link for those of you who don't have it readily available.
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You have to read the whole thing and not just sections. There are specifics about moving fish from different management areas that are important too. There are ways to get around the rules but you need to be careful and you must KNOW that what you have are legal and be able to prove it.
"detroithardcore" said:
Ok…. Wait a minute…out by us Detroiter's it's nearly impossible to get suckers in the 10+" range. We've called many local baitshops in the area to see if larger suckers were available for LSC. So with that being said I saw a well known Indiana Guide fishing very large suckers off the other side of his boat recently. If I had to guess I'd say they were transported from Ye Old Tackle Shop in Indiana and used in LSC. Isn't that illegal?? I have zero experience fishing suckers because we just can't get them over here. So what's the law on transporting suckers for Indiana to LSC???
If he's purchased those from a dealer and has the receipt it's completely legal including transport across state lines. In fact, many of the rules don't apply to LSC because that is a VHS positive water.
Another thing I do with the single hook is: Get a piece of bicycle inner tube, cut them in 1/4 strips and about 1/2 or 3/4 inches long. Poke a hole in both ends, a little ways in. Pull one end over the hook past the barb, pull the hook thru the suckers mouth and take the other end of the inner tube and pull that over the hook past the barb and that hook won't come out. Will is right on the suckers, as long as you have a receipt, even ice fishing when you get suckers keep your receipt to show to the DNR if they ask.
"ricky sox wrangler" said:
Nevermind….that does no good if I can't transport them.
Ok, I might be wrong again, but I believe you can transport them and use them as bait in a water that is VHS positive.
A person who catches baitfish that are listed as Susceptible Fish
Species, or harvests roe from fish that are listed as Susceptible
Fish Species in a body of water that is included in the VHSv
Surveillance Management Area shall not use or otherwise release
those baitfish or that roe in any public waters of the state, except
that those baitfish or that roe may be used in any waters included
in either the VHSv Positive Management Area or the VHSv
Surveillance Management Area subject to Provision 6 above.
"Will Schultz" said:
You want 7 strand 90-135# for the rig.If you are building your own don't copy the stealth exactly. Make the 7 strand 6" longer and connect to the flouro with a solid ring/split ring connection.
The flouro isn't for invisibility but for wear and tear on those fall fish that love to roll in the line.
I probably won't risk it and will just buy some rigs; what rigs do you suggest I get? Stealth? Musky Innovations? Other?
For the rig, I make mine identically to what Will showed in his photos execpt for the hook. I use 3/0 Owners with a quilitying safety pin (they have a bend to them) attached to the trebel (attached with powerpro wrapped around pin and trebel, then epoxied). You just slide the safety pin under the skin and then clip. Will is right, you can definitely lift the fish a little to get a look at what is going on. You just want to make sure you don't let the fish sit and eat. When you come back up to fish with the boat they usually keep moving some, which I think is a good thing to prevent this. It is best if you can ensure fish direction is moving slightly away from you so are setting mostly straight up, but slightly back. They really don't bolt due to the boat, so don't be scared to get the proper position of right over them. One other thing I would say, is that we generally thumb our spool when setting the hook to ensure a good hook-set. This rig comes free pretty easy though, and requires less force than other rigs.
Hey guys I got a chance to try out some of the quick strike rigs you talked about. I really like the safety pin one and the one Will talked about. Anyway while I was out I had the trolling motor going about 1mph and the suckers would spin, at .5mph everything was good but the suckers were on top of the water. Should I weight them down and if so how much weight should I use? Most of the suckers I get are about 16in. Thanks guys
I've heard of guys using anywhere from 1/2 oz up to 1-1/2 oz. On the last suckers I used, they were around 12", and I used a 3/4oz rubbercore on my braid right above the leader. You could also use a bell sinker and attach it to the solid ring at the top of the leader with a split ring. Also, when sucker fishing, I don't have the trolling motor on constant speed. Actually, I don't think I ever have it on constant, but that's just me. Check out this little tidbit from "The Next Bite" on Youtube.
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