Dragging Meat – Quick Strike Rigs??

I’ve started fishing with sucker minnows that last couple weekends. This past weekend we finally had some action. We fished for about 5 hours on Saturday and had 6 encounters with muskies. We had 2 fish hit the sucker I was dragging behind the boat with a bobber. They let the sucker go before I could get it up to the boat to see what they were. I also had one hit right behind the boat. Had it up to the boat twice only to have my buddy (without naming names) do the old Lobster Boy (he short armed it) with the net. I’m guessing it was between a 42 – 44 inch fish.

I’ve been fishing with live bait in the fall for 5 or 6 years now. We almost always have some action, but its difficult to get a hook to bury into the fish when using about 16 inch suckers. I make my own quick strike rigs with a single hook through the suckers nose and either 1 or 2 treble hooks in front and behind the dorsal fin of the sucker. When the fish hits they always seem to grab the sucker from the side – right in the middle of the fish. It is ussually a tug of war into the net. More often than not, they seem to drop the minnow before we can get them in the net.

I’ve heard about the herbie rig that uses rubber bands to attach to the sucker. I haven’t ever fished with anyone that uses it though. Has anyone used this technique with any success? How hard are they to hook onto the sucker? Do you ever hit weeds, set the hook, and lose the sucker? Does anyone else have other techniques they have been successful with?

The rubber band rig suck! Just my opinion. I have a buddy that fishes WI hayward area and is big into meat this time of year. He makes his own rigs. The single hook through the lips and then he welds a safety pin to treble hooks and attaches the sucker with the pin on the side. He too uses 14″ or larger suckers. I’ll try to get a pic from him.

How hard are they to hook onto the sucker?
Not hard at all. The rubber band is ‘threaded’ through the nasal membrane of the sucker with a needle, then twisted and hooked to the rig. Trebles are placed (like most any other rig) on the sides of the sucker just under the skin.

Do you ever hit weeds, set the hook, and lose the sucker? I never have, but I’d imagine this could happen with any sucker rig. The rubber band is surprisingly strong. It takes a wholloping hook set to break it free. Then you should set at least one more time to make sure hooks are into the muskie. Its really not a bad system. Although when its cold out and your hands are freezing it can be a drag to set up.

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Then you should set at least one more time to make sure hooks are into the muskie.

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Very true, even more critical with 14″ plus suckers. You want to make sure you get the hooks moving on your quick strike rig

Another thing to remember, the more line you have out the harder it is to get the hooks moving. Keep in mind, Musky’s will take a sucker boat side. While casting if you have a follow that does not chomp your stick……keep an eye on that sucker.

No, I’m not a Musky pro but do it enough this time of year to know how I personally like to use suckers

Suckers are infamous for fall muskies but I tire of the added expense/maintenence of using meat. So last fall, I experimented on every outing from Oct 3 – Nov. 6. I had suckers off the boat as well as plastics. The secret? Move! Always move! Don’t be afraid to go ultra slow either but typically, I’d do just enough to find the action the fish were attracted to that day (really follows water temp, actually). From that point on, there’s free “meals” while I toss search lures to help lure them in.

The numbers? Glad you asked! 5 to 1……… in FAVOR of the PLASTICS!!!

The fish come grab them and run, just like a sucker, so free spool your presentation and let the clicker sound the alarm. Jump on the rod, wait for the fish to turn the bait and BAMMM!

Now, I’m still working on perfecting this but when I’m out fishing, no joke……. I’m the only guy doing this! Talk at the ramps is usually in my favor for the days action.

Last week, if you read my “rain post”, I’m having trouble closing the deal on retrieves but if I do the dragging plastic right, I don’t lose many fish. I screwed up last week but the first two fish to show up should both be in the photo album!

If you’re going through the trouble of using meat as your “guaranteed” presentation, I believe you’re missing out on what could be even MORE action.

Lures of success include Bull Dawgs, Kilr Eels, Giant Witches, Inhaler Double Tails, Muskie Innovations “Real Fish”, Swimmin’ Joes, and Sluggo’s. I’m still exerimenting with others.

For specifics on the techniques/presentations, send me a pm and I’ll get back to you. I need to run for now.

Hey Guys,
Thanks for your replies. You’ve given me some ideas on things to try. I do want to give the rubber band approach a try. I also would like to try attaching the trebles with safety pins. Great point about not wanting to dick around too much when the weather starts getting nasty (which we’re definately due for some cold crappy weather). We’re able to keep a cage on our dock that works well for keeping our minnows alive when we’re not using them for fishing. If they haven’t been attacked, they stay alive for a couple weeks. At 4 – 5 bucks a pop, thats a good thing.

Still a Kid,
I’m not sure about using the plastics in place of the good old reliable meat. I may have to give it a shot though. Especially, if someone needs to take a timeout from casting to tip a cold one.

Best of luck in the weeks to come.

I generally dont have any problems with rubber bands at all… but I am not casting baits in the cold water. I use a 3oz jig and make a stinger hook type of attachment connecting to the main jig eye, and back to a treble hook in the 3/0-5/0 range. I use a rubber band to hold the end of the leader or hook shank to the minnow as best as possible.

As I said, I dont cast. I lower my baits into the water and drift around the weedline using my trolling motor to slowly keep my boat in position. I dont use clickers, generally, the fish just hit the bait and have a spaz attack when they feel resistence(double the rod over). I rarely lose fish on live bait. I havent had much luck with plastics in the fall.

my dad too makes his own rigs and hardly ever loses any fish.this fall he’s caught somewhere between 5-7 muskies on suckers. he has a coated leader with a 3/4 ounce sinker, a clip with a bead which he sticks that hrough the mouth of the sucker and a treble hook with a safety pin on one side which he sticks that through the skin near the dorsal fin.

For setting the hook if you have a fish on then pick up the rod and fel for the fish and see if there is one on there. then reel down as far as you can go and set the hook as hard as you can and then hang on! i will post a pic later i cant get the picture downloaded on my computer.

Lots of meat draggers out on the lakes lately. I just hope there using quick strike rigs with their suckers and setting the hook right away before the fish swallows the sucker. I have no problem with people using suckers for muskies as long as they use them appropiately with the intention on catching and releasing the fish to live. You hear of guys waiting a whole minute to set the hook, and to me that’s no good . That fish will die if gut hooked either very quickly, or a delayed death, where the fish has problems taking in/digesting food due to being hooked deeply in the stomach . I have never used suckers for muskies, but I’m thinking about trying it. I guarantee that I will be more worried about the fishes life rather than if I hook and catch the fish. Meaning I will probably lose a few fish due to setting the hook right away rather than letting the fish swallow it, but at least they will still be swimming after.

heres a picture of the quick strike rig and a 42 incher i caught on a sucker.

Nice dark fish There is just something about sucker fishing with a big bobber that gives a different rush than casting. I dont know if it brings you back to being kid and fishing for sunnies or what.

Congrats on the fall ski.

I am going to start drowning suckers too. Cant catch anything on lures right now. So its time to drag some meat. how long do you let em take it before u set the hook?

Quick strike rig – soon as the bobber goes down
One LARGE hook – as soon as the ski heads away from you

That is what I do. I use quick strike rigs and have missed many fish. My fishing partner uses one big hook and always gets it in the corner of the mouth. Ive been thinking about making my own. A lot of quys on here do that and I heard of quite a few who have had equipment failure from manufactured quick strike rigs. The crimp is the most important part of the set up.

– my 2 cents.

I don’t condone the use of one LARGE hook, but if that’s what you are going to use, then make it a circle hook, please!!!

Mark

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I don’t condone the use of one LARGE hook, but if that’s what you are going to use, then make it a circle hook, please!!!

Mark

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Using one large hook does.n’t mean it isn’t a quick strike rig.

Unless I am using a SUMO sucker, I generally just use one 6/0 treble near the dorsal fin. As soon as the fish grabs the meat and is heading away from you…set the hook.

Using a large J-hook that has to be swallowed will kill fish and is not advised

Im not trying to start a heated argument, I probably dont have enough experience with meat to give advise. Im just sharing what I have witnessed. All Ive used is 10-12inch suckers. From the muskies logged in my boat, more have been caught with the one hook set up. Not a single one has been hooked bast the corner of the mouth. Growing up I fished for norherns and dozens were caught before quick strike rigs were popular with no injuries that I can remember. Key word remember. I also know that sometimes we would keep northerns to eat and not take as good of care. So that is probably an illrelavent point. I have a hard time believing that a quick strike rig has not ever caused damage. One big hook hanging off the front with multiple size #2-3 trebles hanging of the side of the sucker. Gill raker damage or tears have to be a possibility. I am aware of all the studies done and obviously we dont wait 1 min until the fish swallows the sucker and rig before the hook gets set. Im talking seconds. I also understand that a large musky can swallow a rig relatively quickly. Maybe we have been lucky. I dont know. I do have some very large salt water circle hook rigs homemade. I will try one this fall and see how it goes. Those I have a real hard time understanding because ive never used them catfishing. Do you start realing in as soon as the bobber goes down with cirle hooks? I know I will have a hard time not driving the hooks home. Ive seen so many muskies just open there mouth and burp up the rig. I feel like as soon as the ski would feel tention it would just spit up the hook. Any advise would be great if a veteran meat dragger could comment.

My intensions were not to promote one big hook and I hope nobody thinks so. I am mearly talking out loud and voicing some opinions. I was just giving what I said “my 2 cents” I am diffenately not a pro and have caught maybe 25 muskies in 5 years. I know there are people on this board who have caught more than that every year. They could probably comment. Or wisconsin folks who use two lines probably have lots of expierence with dragging meat. I know usually it isnt with bobbers but that could help.

If anyone can comment or share some experiences that would be great.

I am also interested to hear more information on this topic from the experienced meat users. Like what size suckers are best to use, what depth do you set the suckers at below your bobber, and how much weight should you use to keep the sucker down???? Any other information would be great as well.

We’ve been fishing with suckers beginning in late Sept. until mid November for the past 10 years. I primarily fish 1 small lake we’ve had our cabin on.

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Like what size suckers are best to use

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I prefer to use 16 inchers. They seem to have the best action when swimming under the boat and the treble hooks don’t impede the way they swim. They also seem to be very hearty and will last in our minnow cage from 1 weekend to the next. We’ve used bigger, but they don’t seem to draw as much attention or get the number of strikes. I think Mn will only allow up to 12 inch suckers to be used.

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what depth do you set the suckers at below your bobber

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We pull the boat with the trolling motor along the weed lines. I’ll ussually leave the sucker about 5 feet under the bobber. I also use a line I drag over the side of the boat and let it sink just out of site. Our lake is pretty clear so this is about 8 – 12 feet from the boat.

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how much weight should you use to keep the sucker down????

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I like to use a big egg sinker. I would guess they must be between 1 and 2 oz. Some buddies I fish with don’t use any weight and also have luck.

The quick strikes I like to use with a bobber I don’t use a spinner on. I use 1 single hook in the lip and a treble hook behind the dorsal fin. The ones I drag not using a bobber will ussually have a spinner rig.

I’ve probably seen a hundred fish caught on quick strike rigs and I have never seen a fish inhale the rig that caused any gill damage (again – we use minnows 16 inches on average). As stated previously, my problem is getting a hook in the fish at all.

Nice fish there Netmann I’ve been meaning to try some meat dragging too It just sounds so fun and thats what fishing is all about Although with that comes some responsibility to make sure you’re using quality equipment to reduce or eliminate any chance of hooking mortality