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Crafty little fish


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#1 Guest_JohnO_*

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Posted 06 August 2008 - 11:05 AM

I just spent two hours yesterday pursuing a 3" juvenile northern hognose sucker. And came away unsuccessful.

Spotted this fellow in the creek on my farm. Just the size I wanted, too big to get eaten, small enough not to pose a problem. Had that distinctive pattern on it's back, and I had my large dip net with me.

No luck. It was just too quick, and wouldn't let the net near. I swear, they know what a net is. And they can disappear. One minute I'm tracking it by watching that light/dark pattern on it's back, then it takes a turn and just disappears. 45 minutes of this, and all I get is a sore back from crouching over so much.

So, back to the house to get the umbrella net. Threw in some bread crumbs to get a tasty smell in the water. Up with the net, and I have a whole slew of creek chub. Repeat, and I got more creek chub and a fairly large bluegill. Try again with my wife wading through the water to drive them in the right direction. More of the same, and a nice rainbow darter this time. A larger hognose, about 10" was patrolling around, but wouldn't come near either. And the little one just disappeared, it was a pool that was 20 foot by 30 foot, no more than 12" deep. Come on, dude. Free room and board, no bluegills, and all you can eat.

Finally, I gave up. Packed the umbrella net away, had to walk back to the creek (1/4 mile) to get the dip net that I left sitting by the pool. And there it was, cruising around right by the bank, a smirk on it's face. Want to try again?

Alright, sucker. I'm coming back with a 10 foot seine tomorrow. Your anal fin fin is mine!

#2 Guest_JohnO_*

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Posted 09 August 2008 - 09:45 PM

Don't know if I got that particular one, but I did finally have success. One of the most fascinating aspects of native fish is learning about them in their natural habitat. I had been looking in the evening, after work, and could only see the one. My daughters reported that they had seen several during the day, easy to pick out from their sharklike outline and the pattern on their backs. Apparently, they're more active at midday. So I went back to that pool Saturday morning. Sure enough, there were six juvenile hogsuckers hanging out on a couple of large rocks, plus quite a few more in other pools.

Put an umbrella net slightly down stream, nudge them in that direction with a stick, up with the net, and a nice, healthy pair of northern hognose suckers. They've been quite active in the tank, prowling through the sand. This evening, one snapped up a couple of pieces of bloodworm during feeding time. Here they are, along with a couple of tankmates, a juvenile greenside darter, and a rainbow.

Posted Image

#3 Guest_Gambusia_*

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Posted 11 August 2008 - 04:55 PM

Nice :smile2:

#4 Guest_factnfiction101_*

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Posted 11 August 2008 - 05:38 PM

I had problems trying to catch them also, but now they're pretty easy to catch. I see them most of the time with a big school of central stonerollers. Usually 4 or more stay in the school with them.

The northern hognose suckers that I had didn't do that well. When I added some central stonerollers, they did a lot better. Still had problems with them eating, so my friend took them to his pond.

I like to look over the bridge here to watch the bigger hognose suckers find food in big patches of red algae. The last time I looked over, I spotted about 10 or so. They were around a foot long. I would like to try and catch one on rod and reel sometime.

Edited by factnfiction101, 11 August 2008 - 05:39 PM.


#5 Guest_JohnO_*

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Posted 19 August 2008 - 10:09 AM

In a large pool in my creek, there are a pair of hogsuckers, over two feet long. Very majestic, gliding around, flashing their enormous scales. And they'll eat bread that I toss in the water.

The two little fellows seem to be doing fine. They're munching on frozen bloodworms, and do a good job of keeping the bottom clean. I've noticed that they tend to hang out together, so it's probably a good idea to get more than one.

Interesting... while searching the N fork of the Red River in KY last weekend, I spotted some juvenile suckers of a different type. Couldn't catch one, just too quick and all I had was a dip net, but instead of the broad dark patterns the hogsuckers had, these seemed to have thinner bands across their back, but more of them.

#6 Guest_Newt_*

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Posted 19 August 2008 - 10:56 AM

Are you sure those weren't logperch? They can look pretty sucker-ish when they're not showing off their dorsals.

#7 Guest_JohnO_*

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Posted 19 August 2008 - 12:48 PM

Are you sure those weren't logperch? They can look pretty sucker-ish when they're not showing off their dorsals.


Don't think so, they were swimming like suckers, appeared to have the mouth on the bottom, and they sure avoided a net like suckers.

#8 Guest_jblaylock_*

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Posted 11 September 2008 - 05:15 PM

I caught one of those smaller hogsuckers from Tates Creek once, but I was under the assumption that hogsuckers can get pretty big. I thought they got to big to keep in a 30gal tank so I threw it back. How big can a hogsucker get?

#9 Guest_blakemarkwell_*

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Posted 11 September 2008 - 05:36 PM

I think they can get close to 24". However, I have never seen one over 15", still pretty good size sucker, and yes they would outgrow a 30-gallon given the right amount of food and environment.

Blake

#10 Guest_jblaylock_*

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Posted 12 September 2008 - 01:00 PM

Yeah, that's why I didn't keep it, cool looking fish though.



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