The only sucker I’ve caught that was easy: the Shorthead Redhorse.

Species: Shorthead Redhorse (Moxostoma macrolepidotum)
Location: Caledonia, Ontario, Canada
Date: July 16, 2018

I live in Oregon, a place where half of our native suckers are threatened or endangered, and the other half can be difficult to locate and catch. Apart from Largescale Sucker, none of the sucker species we have are caught very often.

Oh how strange this is when compared to the rest of North America and the 100 or so sucker species found there. Suckers are not only common, but they can be downright easy to catch in certain places outside of our wonderfully strange state.

Take, for instance, the Shorthead Redhorse.

On a tip from Ken Tse (read his blog here), I headed outside of Toronto proper to a semi-rural community on the Grand River. He put me just below a small dam in a scenic, grassy park. There were obviously fish around, and I quickly caught a small Smallmouth Bass.

I could see a few micros, but the fast current and skittish nature of those particular micros only held my attention for 20 minutes or so. When I finally caught a micro, it was another smallie, so I opted to pursue the redhorse I’d actually driven there to catch.

Several species were on the table, though Shorthead Redhorse were supposed to be the most common.

My intel proved correct, and after about an hour of sitting on half of a nightcrawler purchased at the bait shop up the hill, my first rod bounced.

Given the strange angle I was fishing below the dam, I had one rod out perpendicular to the shore and another sort quartering away downstream.

Without going into the science of it all, and the fact that there was so much water to cover, it would’ve been nearly impossible for me to hit my target with just one rod. There had to be a second rod.

I reeled the second rod (or was it the first?) as a small, unsuspecting crowd watched from picnic blankets on the grassy knoll.

The last thing they expected was for my shot to ring out over the din, my splitshot, that is.

Unfortunately, I was in the process of retying my micro rod and spilled splitshot all over as I fumbled towards my bouncing rod.

Regardless, I connected.

I was stoked. Not only had I caught a new species, but it was one of the most beautiful fish I’ve ever caught in freshwater.

Knowing at least enough to snap pictures of the fish in profile as well as pictures of its mouth, I released it. I knew it was a Shorthead thanks to a particularly helpful infographic I found online.

Know Your Redhorses! If only someone could make one of these for Pacific Northwest freshwater sculpins…

The bite died, and I decided to move, instead going to the less accessible side that required a minimal hike down.

While the first fish had taken an hour or two, the second took less than five minutes.

The river on the other side was more conducive to fishing for suckers, which tend to prefer transitional zones between current and slower water, specifically behind current breaks.

Lo and behold, a redhorse was waiting behind the first rock I cast to.

I was pretty stoked at this point, thinking I’d figured them out. Also, this is a pretty good picture of me. At least, 1-in-50 women in Tinder think so.

Again, I took the profile and mouth pictures even though I knew at first glance this was a Shorthead.

My other rod bounced while I was taking this picture, and I had Fish No. 3.

Don’t be jealous of how pretty my fish are.

At this point, I was having fun, but I realized I had a long drive back to Fort Erie, the Canadian town right across the border from Buffalo, where I was staying.

I hopped in the car and drove on.

***

After spending my evenings chasing the fish that surpassed Common Carp as my favorite “rough fish” for the next few evenings — Species #159 — I tied into something else.

I battled it to the bank against the current of the staunch Niagara River and landed it with some impressive acrobatics while flagging down a passerby to take a picture for me.

I originally identified this fish as a Golden Redhorse because it didn’t have the red tail I’d seen on the other Shortheads I’d captured, but I was later told it was another Shorthead.

Cross-referencing the infographic above confirmed it was a Shorthead — just a monster. The notched dorsal fin and 44 lateral line scales were enough to overshadow the lack of red tail.

Still, it was a beast of a Shorthead at 25″ and 4.6 pounds.

Just a pound shy of the world record. Too bad. It would’ve been my first international record.

I was targeting something else, but when this bad boy hooked, I wasn’t disappointed. Notice Buffalo in the background. Also notice the flexing right bicep. Don’t notice that this shirt was too small.

I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the evening and an incredible trip.

I’d really enjoyed Canada, and I smiled when I got to get my redhorse on and ride into the sunset.

#SpeciesQuest // #CaughtOvgard

Read the next entry in #SpeciesQuest here: Species #159 — Freshwater Drum.

81 Replies

  1. Hello caughtovgard.com webmaster, You always provide great examples and real-world applications, thank you for your valuable contributions.

  2. I have been browsing on-line more than three hours today, yet I never discovered any fascinating article like yours. It’s lovely price sufficient for me. In my opinion, if all webmasters and bloggers made excellent content as you probably did, the internet will be a lot more helpful than ever before.

  3. Hey there this is somewhat of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding skills so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!

  4. What Exactly is Tonic Greens? Tonic Greens is a dietary supplement that has proven effective in helping many people manage the herpes virus and boost their immune systems without adverse effects.

  5. Hello my family member! I wish to say that this article is awesome, great written and include approximately all important infos. I would like to see more posts like this.

  6. I was very happy to search out this internet-site.I wanted to thanks to your time for this excellent read!! I undoubtedly enjoying every little little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.

  7. Hello there, I discovered your blog by the use of Google while looking for a related matter, your website got here up, it looks good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.

  8. It’s really a great and helpful piece of information. I’m happy that you simply shared
    this useful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this.
    Thank you for sharing.

  9. Whats up very cool website!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds additionallyKI’m happy to search out numerous useful information right here in the submit, we need develop more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  10. Oh my goodness! a tremendous article dude. Thanks However I’m experiencing challenge with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anyone getting equivalent rss drawback? Anybody who knows kindly respond. Thnkx

  11. I like what you guys are up also. Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the superb works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my website 🙂

  12. You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I find this topic to be actually something which I feel I would never understand. It kind of feels too complex and very huge for me. I am having a look ahead to your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!

  13. Superb site you have here but I was wondering if you knew of any community forums that cover the same topics talked about in this article? I’d really like to be a part of group where I can get suggestions from other knowledgeable people that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thank you!

  14. What does the Lottery Defeater Software offer? The Lottery Defeater Software is a unique predictive tool crafted to empower individuals seeking to boost their chances of winning the lottery.

  15. This piece really captured my attention! The points made were compelling and well-articulated. I’d love to hear what others think about this topic. Click on my nickname for more interesting reads and discussions.

  16. When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get three e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Bless you!

  17. I like what you guys are up too. Such intelligent work and reporting! Carry on the superb works guys I?¦ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my site 🙂

  18. Whats Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively helpful and it has helped me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & help other customers like its helped me. Good job.

  19. I’m impressed, I have to say. Actually rarely do I encounter a weblog that’s each educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you might have hit the nail on the head. Your concept is outstanding; the issue is one thing that not enough persons are speaking intelligently about. I’m very joyful that I stumbled throughout this in my search for something referring to this.

  20. I’m really impressed along with your writing talents and also with the layout for your weblog. Is that this a paid subject or did you customize it your self? Either way stay up the nice high quality writing, it’s rare to look a nice weblog like this one today..

  21. Just desire to say your article is as astounding. The clarity on your post is simply cool and i can think you are an expert in this subject. Well together with your permission allow me to seize your feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thank you 1,000,000 and please carry on the enjoyable work.

  22. Only wanna remark on few general things, The website design and style is perfect, the articles is rattling fantastic. “Taxation WITH representation ain’t so hot either.” by Gerald Barzan.

  23. I just like the helpful info you supply to your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and take a look at again here regularly. I am rather sure I’ll be told lots of new stuff proper here! Good luck for the following!

  24. Thank you, I’ve just been searching for information approximately this topic for ages and yours is the best I’ve came upon till now. However, what about the conclusion? Are you sure concerning the source?

  25. Hi, i think that i saw you visited my web site so i came to “return the favor”.I am trying to find things to enhance my website!I suppose its ok to use a few of your ideas!!

  26. The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.

  27. I like what you guys are up too. Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the superb works guys I?¦ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my site 🙂

  28. I beloved up to you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish. nevertheless, you command get bought an impatience over that you would like be handing over the following. sick indisputably come more before again as precisely the similar just about a lot ceaselessly inside of case you shield this increase.

  29. Hiya, I’m really glad I’ve found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossips and net and this is actually frustrating. A good website with interesting content, that is what I need. Thank you for keeping this website, I’ll be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can’t find it.

  30. Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I will definitely comeback.

  31. We are a gaggle of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your web site offered us with valuable info to work on. You have performed an impressive activity and our whole group will likely be thankful to you.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *