Sucker Fish

[BassFishingMachine]

Hey, I would have posted this question in "Other Fish Species" but answers coming from California don't apply to the waters im fishing. What my question is, is when do the suckers start getting active? By this I mean when do they start biting? Specificly in the North Eastern area.

I remember targeting them back a few years ago, I don't think it was April, but I could be wrong. Anyone know when suckers start hitting and becoming active in the North Eastern area? And no im not eating them, I just like them for the fight, they give good fights on a ultralite  8-).

[Marty]

I've caught a few in March in a trout stream and when the Erie Canal gets refilled each spring, they're among the first to bite. I'd start now if you have some running water.

[Perfect Hook Set]

Please specify which sucker fish you are talking about, there are many.

[paangler3117]

white suckers around here in pa start running in mid march, and run till april.

[BassFishingMachine]

I guess im talking about white suckers, they look like the one this guys holding in this pic http://www.cookplex.com/fishguys/places/2003/matt-sucker-few1.JPG.

[jaymc]

I'm going to take this seriously against my better judgement.

what you got is a northern redhorse more commonly called a redfin sucker in my neck of the woods, or just a sucker.  hey are found only in relatively clear cold water streams and lakes.  They are intolerant of pollution and sedimentation.  

We used to catch them by the ton when we were worm fishing for trout in the spring but I've also caught them on nymphs fished on the bottom.  April and May are the best months and they feed voraciously after spawning.  They grow to 12 pounds but the average is 2 to 4.

Trout love sucker roe.  Suckers are real good smoked.  Try flaking the meat off the bones after smoking them.  Dipped in cocktail sauce they are excellent.  Small suckers are dynamite bait for pike and muskies.  

Central NY streams are loaded with them in spring.

[BassFishingMachine]

Hmm do you think there is a good chance of catching them now? Or not likely?

[Grey Wolf]

Late march , april.

[ctd]

One of my trout holes in NY fills up with suckers about this time of year.  If I use worms for trout I, I have a hard time keeping the suckers off of them long enough for the trout to see them.  I think I'll head there this weekend and see if I can catch any to go pike fishing with.

[bassmaster911]

April