I posted this on the old message board, but here it is again until I write up a better article with more detailed information. I'm going to test out some new ideas this season, including proper bait (nightcrawlers).

LOCATION:

I fish for suckers on a lake that is fed by a small to medium sized river. At late ice, when temperatures rise above freezing, run-off from the hills begins, and the river starts pumping some current into the lake. That brings the suckers up, and they begin to congregate near the mouth. The river carves out a 20' channel into the lake (which is otherwise relatively shallow at this end), but the ice really thins out from the current, so I stay away and fish in about 10' - 15' of water a little ways off from the main current entering the lake. There is enough current to sweep the bait away from the hole where I am fishing anyway.

RIGGING:

I've used slip-sinker rigs, split shot rigs, jig/dropper rigs, and bead head nymphs tipped with bait. They have all worked.

Using a jig/dropper rig has probably been my most successful rigging. The ice jig provides some weight and color, while the dropper with a single hook is easy for the fish to suck in. The water becomes very cloudy with the increased current, and the suckers definitely are drawn in by movement, which is why I prefer to use a jig rather than just a sinker on the line.

BAIT:

I'm sure that a piece of nightcrawler or garden worm would be deadly, but I have yet to try either as they are difficult to come across at that time of year. I've caught the majority of my fish so far using mealworms, but I have even had success using a small piece of minnow/smelt.

TECHNIQUE / STRATEGY:

I use electronics and jig until I see a fish move in along the bottom. Then I generally just leave the bait sit and let the fish find it on its own. If after a little while the fish has not bit, I will gently twitch the bait a bit to get its attention again.

White suckers will often rise up for the bait, but the shorthead redhorse that I have caught so far have all been caught directly on the bottom. The bite is very subtle, and often there is no indication until you lift the rod and find that a fish is on (especially if your bait is directly on the bottom).