Ictiobus cyprinellus
Bigmouth buffalo are a large, long-lived sucker found in prairie lakes and rivers. They're one of the longest-lived freshwater fish in the world (some over 100 years old), and they fight hard. They're...
📷 Photo: Wikimedia Commons / D. R. Muse
Bigmouth buffalo are a large, long-lived sucker found in prairie lakes and rivers. They're one of the longest-lived freshwater fish in the world (some over 100 years old), and they fight hard. They're often caught incidentally while targeting other species.
Large, deep-bodied sucker. Dark olive-brown to grey body. Large, thick lips with a terminal mouth (pointing forward, not downward like other suckers — the key distinction). Long dorsal fin. Forked tail. Can grow very large — over 30 pounds.
Bigmouth buffalo prefer warm, turbid lakes, reservoirs, and large rivers with mud bottoms. They're found in Lake Winnipeg and prairie river systems. They filter-feed on plankton and small invertebrates in the water column (unlike other suckers, which feed on the bottom).
Bigmouth Buffalo can be found across these provinces and territories:
Regulations vary by province and zone — always check the local rules before fishing. Browse detailed guides: Manitoba.
Matching your bait to the conditions is one of the biggest factors in catching Bigmouth Buffalo. Here's what works when:
| Weather / Condition | Best Bait & Lures | Technique |
|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Summer (lake) | Worms, dough bait, corn on the bottom | Fish muddy bottoms in lakes. Buffalo filter-feed but will take bait on the bottom. |
| 🌸 Spring spawning | Worms, corn on the bottom in shallow vegetated areas | Buffalo move shallow to spawn in spring — fish vegetated backwaters. |
| 🌊 River | Worms fished on the bottom in deep holes and eddies | In rivers, fish deep holes with worms on a slip rig. |
| 🌙 Night | Corn, dough bait, worms on the bottom | Buffalo feed more actively at night — bottom fishing after dark. |
| 🪰 Fly fishing (incidental) | San Juan worms, small nymphs | Occasionally caught while fly fishing for other species. Not usually a fly-rod target. |
Buffalo are caught primarily in summer (June–August) in lakes. Spring spawning (May) brings them shallow. Most buffalo are caught incidentally by anglers targeting walleye or catfish.
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