I just found your channel. Thank you. My grandmother's favorite fish to eat was buffalo. 50 years ago. I am a catch and release fisherman now. I really enjoy your vids. Thanks again.
Thanks for using my photos! (Dan V) That 2nd pic was the first buffalo I ever caught. 31 inches at least, and probably 20 pounds. I was a rookie at the time and didn't know about things like carp mats! Next year I'll be buying a better mat, and some fish first aid spray to help take care of them. Maybe a cradle too. It took me 2 full weeks of hot summer fishing to catch that fish. I know now that it was because I was using too large of a hook. A big circle hook with some corn is a great way to catch the carp, but its bad for Buffalo. Next year I'll be using a rig more like yours, I like the 2nd baitstop knot, thats a great idea.
I much appreciate you letting us use your photos for this video! Mats are handy, or even just a wet towel. I usually have plastic bags in case I don't have something soft for 'em or a big tank with me. Thanks again!
Love this! I’ve been trying to target these things for years, but never really figured it out. Small hooks pinned to lead might be the answer. Might try tomorrow in the Mississippi!
Great video! There's not a whole lot of YT videos with good info on Buffalo fish, they're considered trash fish around here.The river I frequently visit is called the Meremac River after the Buffalo fish. Meremac in native vernacular in the 17th century meant "ugly fish" and you can frequently catch 15 - 20 pounders on the southern arm with just a can of corn.
I got a thirty-pound Smallmouth Buffalo this summer on 6 lb test, spinning gear, and a Ned rig. It was one hell of a fight. The Smaller hook is definitely a necessity.
As one of your fans who doesn’t fish, I particularly liked this video. While I knew you were a proponent of catch & release, I had trouble envisioning how this works. Barbless hooks, squeezed barbs, maintaining tension, avoiding floats-fascinating! And reassuring.
This comment is SUPPOSED to be on the video about hook size. Can’t figure out how to move it. Grrr. However, I also enjoyed this video on suckers. Two questions: 1. To what degree is human interference responsible for the genetic mixing? 2. With Ace around, you make fishing look like a very companionable sport. Is that true across the boards or just in this video?
1. It's likely that humans haven't contributed too much to this genetic mixing in the native ranges. It's more likely that these species are so early in their divergences that there just still very similar genetically. In another 50 thousand years, they'll be easier to tell apart. But I don't think I'll be around to see that...
I've never caught a Buffalo and the only two I've ever seen hooked were Big Mouth and they were both on minnows. They seem to be much more aggressive and almost predatory in nature which matches with their more forward facing mouths...but even growing up in Iowa, fishing the Upper Iowa, Iowa, Cedar and Mississippi Rivers quite regularly, I've never caught one.
Yeah, tricky fishes to get. I'm still yet to get a bigmouth. But I might just have to try that minnow technique if I come across a shoal of 'em one day. Thanks for sharing!
@@KNFishingSmarts No problem and whenever you’re ready to have a crazy day of Bowfin fishing just let me know. Watch my last few videos for reference!😉
Caught a MS river smallmouth last year on nightcrawlers- it hit lighter than a logperch. Kahle hook completely covered up, finally set a hook. Caught a bigmouth drifting half a worm once- same light bite, but I was quick on the trigger. Dad got a bigmouth on a pink crappie tube last summer.
I made my way to this vdieo while identifying a black buffalo. Today we got a massive one on a size 5 catfish hook/ carolina rig/ running a worm for bait. Didnt even know it was on until we had it near the surface of the water
Great video! Found your channel in my suggested feed after recently researching stream fish of Ohio and becoming quite fascinated with Darters. I’m mainly an avid carp and Buffalo fisherman but multi-species from time to time. Isn’t it better to support these fish horizontally vs vertically as shown around the 7 minute mark?
Thanks for sharing, John! Sounds like we find interest in chasing/researching some of the same species. And to answer your question--I'd say you're right. It definitely is better to support the fish at more of a horizontal; I just felt that the light weight of the fish and my two-hand hold wasn't going to cause spinal injury and/or break any jaw bones.
Yeah, you'll see some action at the surface. And definitely when they start feeding it'll knock up some gas bubbles from the benthic--though that's harder to see on a moving system (like a river.)
You mentioned 2 hours for the fish to come in, does the pack bait last the 2 hours or do you reset lines after 15 mins? 1/2 hour? Hour? Do other fish hit the lines? When you are targeting the buffalos how many common carp do you catch? What about catfish? I would like to know, so I don't get super excited and think "this is it" on the first strike. One more question, how do these buffalo fight? Are they like a common carp or redhorse with strong runs or like catfish with a steady pull? Please advise. Fan for life~
Heya, I'll do my best to answer your questions here. 1) The bait on the method lead I use stays on for a good 30-45 minutes, depending on the current. I usually check it after 30 min and reset. If I get a quality hit and no hookset, I'll wait 5 min then check/reset to see if the corn got snapped off the hair rig. 2) Yeah, other fishes were hitting but once I switched over to this rig. It was all hooksets on buffalos except one small common carp. I was surprised I didn't get a catfish on it though, like bullheads. 3) I'd say these buffalo definitely fought more like common carp. There were definitely strong bursts and all of them except one has surfaced trying to jump and shake the lure free.
These are year-round fish except during the spawn. Spawn is usually late April and into June when the water temps hit 64-68 F. It'd probably be 90% harder trying to land one during that time. Down south I know of Texas anglers that go for 'em in winter but I haven't tried that in the midwest yet. I had all my success this year during the mid and late summer. I would expect now, this late part of the fall transition, to be an ideal time to get 'em as they're making that last push to fatten up.
We'd love to read your buffalo sucker tips/methods/experiences below! (Reminder that TH-cam will block comments with links and/or offensive language.)
I just found your channel. Thank you. My grandmother's favorite fish to eat was buffalo. 50 years ago. I am a catch and release fisherman now. I really enjoy your vids. Thanks again.
Ah, thanks for that, GRC. Glad you found KNFS! Can't say I've harvested a buffalo yet. I've also been strictly catch-and-release so far on this genus.
Thanks for using my photos! (Dan V) That 2nd pic was the first buffalo I ever caught. 31 inches at least, and probably 20 pounds. I was a rookie at the time and didn't know about things like carp mats! Next year I'll be buying a better mat, and some fish first aid spray to help take care of them. Maybe a cradle too. It took me 2 full weeks of hot summer fishing to catch that fish.
I know now that it was because I was using too large of a hook. A big circle hook with some corn is a great way to catch the carp, but its bad for Buffalo. Next year I'll be using a rig more like yours, I like the 2nd baitstop knot, thats a great idea.
I much appreciate you letting us use your photos for this video! Mats are handy, or even just a wet towel. I usually have plastic bags in case I don't have something soft for 'em or a big tank with me. Thanks again!
Love this! I’ve been trying to target these things for years, but never really figured it out. Small hooks pinned to lead might be the answer. Might try tomorrow in the Mississippi!
Great video! There's not a whole lot of YT videos with good info on Buffalo fish, they're considered trash fish around here.The river I frequently visit is called the Meremac River after the Buffalo fish. Meremac in native vernacular in the 17th century meant "ugly fish" and you can frequently catch 15 - 20 pounders on the southern arm with just a can of corn.
I got a thirty-pound Smallmouth Buffalo this summer on 6 lb test, spinning gear, and a Ned rig. It was one hell of a fight. The Smaller hook is definitely a necessity.
As one of your fans who doesn’t fish, I particularly liked this video. While I knew you were a proponent of catch & release, I had trouble envisioning how this works. Barbless hooks, squeezed barbs, maintaining tension, avoiding floats-fascinating! And reassuring.
This comment is SUPPOSED to be on the video about hook size. Can’t figure out how to move it. Grrr.
However, I also enjoyed this video on suckers. Two questions:
1. To what degree is human interference responsible for the genetic mixing?
2. With Ace around, you make fishing look like a very companionable sport. Is that true across the boards or just in this video?
Haha, ah yes. I see that now.
1. It's likely that humans haven't contributed too much to this genetic mixing in the native ranges. It's more likely that these species are so early in their divergences that there just still very similar genetically. In another 50 thousand years, they'll be easier to tell apart. But I don't think I'll be around to see that...
I've never caught a Buffalo and the only two I've ever seen hooked were Big Mouth and they were both on minnows. They seem to be much more aggressive and almost predatory in nature which matches with their more forward facing mouths...but even growing up in Iowa, fishing the Upper Iowa, Iowa, Cedar and Mississippi Rivers quite regularly, I've never caught one.
Yeah, tricky fishes to get. I'm still yet to get a bigmouth. But I might just have to try that minnow technique if I come across a shoal of 'em one day. Thanks for sharing!
@@KNFishingSmarts No problem and whenever you’re ready to have a crazy day of Bowfin fishing just let me know. Watch my last few videos for reference!😉
Excellent! Love the tank footage. Good fighting fish here in Texas. Good tasting too. Great job on the video my man.
Thanks much, Oscar Outdoors!
Caught a MS river smallmouth last year on nightcrawlers- it hit lighter than a logperch. Kahle hook completely covered up, finally set a hook. Caught a bigmouth drifting half a worm once- same light bite, but I was quick on the trigger. Dad got a bigmouth on a pink crappie tube last summer.
I made my way to this vdieo while identifying a black buffalo. Today we got a massive one on a size 5 catfish hook/ carolina rig/ running a worm for bait. Didnt even know it was on until we had it near the surface of the water
Good work 🎉
Thanks 😁
This is such a good video
Thanks much!
Great video! Found your channel in my suggested feed after recently researching stream fish of Ohio and becoming quite fascinated with Darters. I’m mainly an avid carp and Buffalo fisherman but multi-species from time to time.
Isn’t it better to support these fish horizontally vs vertically as shown around the 7 minute mark?
Thanks for sharing, John! Sounds like we find interest in chasing/researching some of the same species.
And to answer your question--I'd say you're right. It definitely is better to support the fish at more of a horizontal; I just felt that the light weight of the fish and my two-hand hold wasn't going to cause spinal injury and/or break any jaw bones.
Will they roll on top of the water from time to time over top of your bait pile like carp do??
Yeah, you'll see some action at the surface. And definitely when they start feeding it'll knock up some gas bubbles from the benthic--though that's harder to see on a moving system (like a river.)
Good information thanks
You're very welcom, Malon. Thanks for watching!
You mentioned 2 hours for the fish to come in, does the pack bait last the 2 hours or do you reset lines after 15 mins? 1/2 hour? Hour? Do other fish hit the lines? When you are targeting the buffalos how many common carp do you catch? What about catfish? I would like to know, so I don't get super excited and think "this is it" on the first strike. One more question, how do these buffalo fight? Are they like a common carp or redhorse with strong runs or like catfish with a steady pull? Please advise. Fan for life~
Heya, I'll do my best to answer your questions here. 1) The bait on the method lead I use stays on for a good 30-45 minutes, depending on the current. I usually check it after 30 min and reset. If I get a quality hit and no hookset, I'll wait 5 min then check/reset to see if the corn got snapped off the hair rig.
2) Yeah, other fishes were hitting but once I switched over to this rig. It was all hooksets on buffalos except one small common carp. I was surprised I didn't get a catfish on it though, like bullheads.
3) I'd say these buffalo definitely fought more like common carp. There were definitely strong bursts and all of them except one has surfaced trying to jump and shake the lure free.
@@KNFishingSmarts Thank you for the reply.
that White Sucker looks allot like a Common Barbel without the barbels
It’s such a shame so many people are uneducated about these fish comparing them to carp. They’re definitely understudied.
Yeah, I definitely agree that these species do not get nearly as much attention as most of the other gamefishes.
Oh oh oh, 1 more question...What is the best time of year to target? Does it matter? Have you fished all the seasons?
These are year-round fish except during the spawn. Spawn is usually late April and into June when the water temps hit 64-68 F. It'd probably be 90% harder trying to land one during that time. Down south I know of Texas anglers that go for 'em in winter but I haven't tried that in the midwest yet. I had all my success this year during the mid and late summer. I would expect now, this late part of the fall transition, to be an ideal time to get 'em as they're making that last push to fatten up.
@@KNFishingSmarts Thanks for the info~
Do you think you’ll ever make a video like this for redhorse suckers?
"those black and smallmouth buffalo... SUCKERS" lol
Poor fishes got a super cruel last name 😢
btwi hope TH-cam wouldn't censored off my comment for saying the fishes' namesake
"two of the top three largest SUCKERS in the world"
What hav they done to deserve this?? 😅
these fishes really suck lol 😂