Category: suckers

hi italo,I found a spot in my river where I saw suckers spawning in less than 10″ fast moving water. I decided to try and target them and tried in the deeper area just downstream of where they were, with a worm and sliding sinker, but no luck. should I just keep trying or do you have any other suggestions?

Posted on April 12th, 2021

Best not to target suckers that have “spawning” on their mind. Try fishing deeper, slower pool and the tail-outs of the pools just fishing your sliding sinker rig on the bottom. You will have better luck there. Be patient and after you cast and your bait settles just use a stick to rest your rod and wait for them to find your nightcrawler…God bless you.

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Hello ItaloI fish the tributaries on lake o for suckers, mainly duffins creek. Im a seasoned sucker fisherman however am having trouble finding many fish as i am new to this particular river. Should i be looking more in the very north parts of the river, the mid sections, or south of highway 2, close to lake ontario? What area would you suggest?Also, how far up duffins would you expect suckers to travel to spawn?Just curious what there seasonal patterns are, i cant seem to pattern them. Thanks Italo

Posted on April 27th, 2020

Hi Ryan, I like sucker fishing too and enjoying them deep fried. I did a TV show catching them in a Lake Erie tributary and the. showing viewers the recipe right in the stream, https://youtu.be/WZz54y-VOHM .

Ok, regarding locating them in Duffin’s. Many of the suckers will be at the lower end in the deeper pools. Some will run up past Hwy.#401 and all the way up to almost Taunton Rd., but the majority will be below. Best location in just above Bailey St. in the larger pools. The other good locations that gets a big sucker run nearby is Lynde Creek, Whitby, ON. There should be lots north and south if Hwy.401 and around the railway bridge.

Later some will go back in the lake and others will stay in the deeper pools. By summer you will do well fishing some of the deeper pools upstream…God bless you.

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Hi ItaloI am going to go sucker fishing at duffins creek in the next few days,i have tried in the past with no luck, can you give me some tips?Do you recommend duffins creek over the rouge river?Should i go by duffins creek marsh?, mid river? Or very far up river?Should i use a bobber with worm or my worm on bottom?Is mid day ok or should i wait till evening?,Any other tips?Thank you Italo!

Posted on May 11th, 2019

Hi Jack, most of the suckers have gone through the lower sections of Lake Ontario tributaries and are either holding in the larger and slower pools up-stream, or spawning on the shallow gravel beds.  One challenge you have right now is high water levels which will also mean turbid water. Suckers don’t mind murky water, but it’s hard to keep your worm on the bottom in the same spot when the current is fast unless you use a heavier sinker. I suggest you either head further up-stream on Duffin’s, like around above Kingston Rd. and look for them in the pools, or head down-stream to Baily St. and fish the large pool just above the bridge for “drop-back” suckers heading back to Lake Ontario. Best way to fish for them is to use a nightcrawler on a #6 Baitholder hook right on the bottom. If the current is not too strong you can just use a few #3 split-shot sikers. If the current is stronger use a “sliding-egg-sinker-rig” of between 1/4-1/2 oz (depending on depth & speed of current). Use the same size baitholder hook and either use an in-line swivel or a small split-shot to keep the egg sinker about 1-2′ up from the hook. Hope you catch them…God bless you.

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Hey ItaloIm in the pickering area, out of all my years of fishing, i have never caught a sucker. I have tried the rouge and duffins creek, covering miles and havent seen any, using live bait/ worms. I allways read they are in big groups however i cant find them. Am i to late in the year?, can you suggest a spot on these rivers or a new river to try?Thanks alot Italo

Posted on May 8th, 2019

Hi Alex, suckers are running now and should be located in all of the big pool that have over 6′ depth. The Rouge and Duffin’s definitely have them but they will be concentrated in the largest, slow-moving pools. Few will be in the shallower runs and rapids as the steelhead. I suggest you find a slow, deep pool at either location and just use a hook/worm and split-shot sinker on the bottom…God bless you.

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hi italo,I live in toronto and have been wanting to go fishing for suckers in the humber river. The river is very high right now, flooding out some of the marsh areas. I know suckers usually hold in deep pools, but will they have moved to other areas now that the water is so high?

Posted on May 1st, 2019

Hi Brad, the suckers much like steelhead are taking advantage of high water flows and heading as far upstream to find the best spawning areas. Many will spawn in the lower sections, as well as others running way upstream. I would suggest you check the deepest pools for holding fish and fish a garden worm right on the bottom. Spawning fish will use shallow gravel much like steelhead but I think the water is too cold for them to spawn right now, maybe in a couple weeeks…God bless you.

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Hey Italo, have the crappie started biting yet in the GTA? Also, are suckers still around?

Posted on May 7th, 2016

Hi Randy, crappie started biting over a month ago around the GTA right after ice-out.

crappie_feast

They will continue to be in shallow water until the water warms up over 60F, then they will start dispersing in the water column and further off-shore. Suckers started coming up the tributaries since March. The suckers will be in the tributaries all summer long. Best to target them in the deeper pools.

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Hi Italo, I’d like to take my grandson fishing on sixteen mile creek for suckers ,do you know of any easy access to the creek between cross street and dundas he loves to fish .I would like to stay away from trout anglers Your advice would be greatly appreciated ,thanks tight lines

Posted on April 26th, 2015

In the spring it will be tough for you to get away from trout anglers on any of the Oakville/Mississauga, ON tributaries. I suggest you fish Lyons Valley Park on the south side of Hwy.5. There will be other anglers there, but if you choose on of the deeper, slower pools that will hold mostly suckers, the trout anglers should not fish near you.

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Hi Italo, which species are in lower parts of Western GTA rivers this time of year? Are suckers running yet?

Posted on April 2nd, 2015

Hi Randy…..Some suckers may have started running, but the major run will start as the steelhead move closer to their spawning sites & water temps warm up. Best fishing for them will start in about 2-weeks and continue trough to after trout opener…God bless you, Italo

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