<p>Anybody know what flies will work for suckers? I want to try the fly rod out on the white suckers in a local pond, but I really don't know much about it. I thought if there are any experts around, they'd be on here.</p>
I've caught white suckers on many different flies - hare's ears, scuds, pheasant tails, pink squirrels...all the usual stream trout nymphs really. Size 10-14 generally works, at least for adult suckers. I guess I'd add the san juan worm as a good pattern too. If you can sight-fish them, your odds of fooling one will increase dramatically. If you can't sight them, just dragging the fly across bottom might work.
Thanks. The main thing I use for those white suckers with a spinning rod is an ice fly tipped with a wax worm below a float, and usually any fish that will eat that will eat a nymph. What colours of San Juan worms do they like?
Suckers on the fly has quickly become a passion of mine. If you're going for Whites in Stillwater then go for patterns such as damselfly nymphs, small woolly buggers, and larger PTs, Hare's Ears, and Scuds. Everything size 8-16.
Andy and Divemaster pretty much covered everything. Could also add small(like size 14ish) natural colored egg patterns as well.
Just gotta put the flies in their face. Generally, suckers won't move far to take a fly like carp will. Though I have zero experience with pond or lake suckers....
I'm actually moving soon. But when I come back around I can show you a magical place where the smallmouth redhorse feed on the caddis hatch.. well, it's not too magical. They're nutjobs and do it kind of often. But regardless, whenever I'm back home maybe I'll give you a crack at em, if you don't mind a bit of a drive.
Thanks, guys. My part of pa doesn't have many redhorse of any species, so I'll have to try those smallmouth sometimes. Suckers really look weird when they rise to bugs, don't they?
I've caught white suckers on many different flies - hare's ears, scuds, pheasant tails, pink squirrels...all the usual stream trout nymphs really. Size 10-14 generally works, at least for adult suckers. I guess I'd add the san juan worm as a good pattern too. If you can sight-fish them, your odds of fooling one will increase dramatically. If you can't sight them, just dragging the fly across bottom might work.
Thanks. The main thing I use for those white suckers with a spinning rod is an ice fly tipped with a wax worm below a float, and usually any fish that will eat that will eat a nymph. What colours of San Juan worms do they like?
SomewhereDownstream
I use a natural brown worm-color for my SJWs. Carp like them too. Usually tied with a copper bead in the middle of the hook shank.
Suckers on the fly has quickly become a passion of mine. If you're going for Whites in Stillwater then go for patterns such as damselfly nymphs, small woolly buggers, and larger PTs, Hare's Ears, and Scuds. Everything size 8-16.
Andy and Divemaster pretty much covered everything. Could also add small(like size 14ish) natural colored egg patterns as well.
Just gotta put the flies in their face. Generally, suckers won't move far to take a fly like carp will. Though I have zero experience with pond or lake suckers....
I'm actually moving soon. But when I come back around I can show you a magical place where the smallmouth redhorse feed on the caddis hatch.. well, it's not too magical. They're nutjobs and do it kind of often. But regardless, whenever I'm back home maybe I'll give you a crack at em, if you don't mind a bit of a drive.
Thanks, guys. My part of pa doesn't have many redhorse of any species, so I'll have to try those smallmouth sometimes. Suckers really look weird when they rise to bugs, don't they?
SomewhereDownstream
Sure do.. but they look weird a lot. They'll feed upside down under wood and stuff.. sideways under rocks.. they're just really cool fish.