Snagging Suckers at Tan Vat 1/25/05

     Many trout fishing don't know much about snagging sucker fish. It is legal to snag non-game fish including yellow suckers and hogsuckers in the Current River from March 15 to May 15 and from September 15 to January 31. The daily limit is 20 sucker fish. Below Cedar Grove the daily limit may include no more than 5 hogsuckers. Sucker fish are regarded as a delicacy to many people, especially local residents.
     A typical snagging set up includes 30 to 100 pound test line. A large weight placed 2 - 3 feet above a large grabbing hook. A small piece of white cloth is usually attached to the hook to help the fisherman see it.  The line is tossed out and rocks are thrown on each side to drive the fish back into the area. When a sucker fish is positioned in front of the hook the fisherman gives the line a good jerk.
     The fishermen in the pictures below were unable to see the fish through the slightly murky water. They would just guess when the fish were in place. They missed more times than they hooked a fish, but they were still able to catch quite a few. I did see one of them hook a trout in the tail and he tossed it back into the water.

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