The Interminable "March" Toward Spring

For a good part of the country, March is a frustratingly long transition period where it's generally just cold and wet enough to make most outdoor pursuits less than enjoyable. There's mud everywhere and odds are you're going to end up in it at some point if you're out long enough. But every now and then we're blessed with a day here or a couple there where the rain/snow abates, the wind dies down, and we can fully enjoy our time outdoors. 

It's during these rare days that you can often find me hitting one of the creeks or rivers that are so numerous in west Michigan. Most folks are probably thinking I'm excited to get out and target steelhead, as many of my fellow Michiganders are doing. But that's not my style. You see, deep down, I'm just a rough and ragged country boy, and early spring fishing for me means sucker. 

Yes, you read that correctly. Sucker. The ugly, big lipped, bony fleshed, bottom feeding, trash fish. At least that's how they are largely perceived...and it's accurate, except for the trash part. Spring run sucker are mighty fine table fare. They just take a bit of know how and some extra care when preparing them. 

Aside from being good to eat, my favorite thing about sucker fishing is the simplicity. Simplicity in tackle, methods, and locations. It doesn't take much to be able to get out sucker fishing. Just about any fishing rod will work. Heavier is generally better as you're often in areas with lots of snags, but if you're okay with retying your rig often, you can even get away with ultralight tackle. Line type doesn't matter as the water is usually less than crystal clear. Add an chunk of weight, a hook, and a big fat nightcrawler and you're good to go. I just started using the Kentucky rig this year and I'm already a big fan. You can find easy to follow videos on YouTube. As a side note, my earliest sucker fishing memories had us using rusty old nuts as weights. 

 A bucket is a pretty handy accessory to have also. Get yourself one of those bucket lid seats and you've got a chair as well as a way to haul your catch home and you're fishing in style!

Ideal locations for sucker are deeper holes in creeks, streams, and rivers that have fairly strong current. Suckers like current. Once you've found a likely spot. bait up, toss your line out into the water and sit back and relax. You can hold the rod if you like, but to be truly traditional, you have to cut a forked stick to use as a rod holder. 

Sucker are generally not subtle fish. You'll know if you're getting a bite. That rod tip will start bouncing fairly heavily. Set the hook and bring the fish in. That's really all there is too it. Of course you can always add whatever accessories will make your trip more enjoyable. A net, stringer, etc., but you can definitely catch sucker without them. 

If you've never gone sucker fishing, this is about prime time in west Michigan. Give it a shot. If nothing else, you'll be out of the house, enjoying nature. And just maybe, you'll find a new tradition to fill some of the time before warmer weather moves in.