Astoria Sturgeon please help

[6 point]

The wifes Buggin me to take her for keeper sturgeon, Im limited on time an looks like Saturday I can go...The Tides are -0.8 to +6.4 would it be best around John Day or the below the bridge?.... I'd appreicate an info..a happy wife keeps the sled full of gas :dance:

[6 point]

?

[dawhunt]

I've always been told to fish the outgoing tide,so thats what I try to schedule my trips on.
I do know when you go from a minus tide to a fairly high tide it can get pretty rough up there.
The wind seems to come on pretty strong on an incomeing tide and that doesn't help at all.
Bob

[Jennie@ifish]

I don't know where we went, really, but we fished this morning from 7ish till 1.

I guess you wait out the low slack, until the water starts moving in. It's then, when you hold your breath, put on your lipstick, and wait for Mr. Sturgie! :smile:

Oh, and you just have to have a Salmon Master hat!!!

Jen

[SeaRunner Jim]

There's a lot of folks on here that know more about this than me, but I've probably caught as many fish on the flood as the ebb. The one advantage of the flood is that if the NW wind comes up it's blowing the same direction that the tide is running so you stay in one spot better without swinging around. The lower river (below the bridge) should start picking up from now on, especially using fresh anchovies (available at Tackle Time Bait Shop in Warrenton). In fact there's already been some pretty good days. On the other hand there's more spots to get out of the slop above John Day if the wind comes up. We fished the flood above Tongue Point last Mon. and had a few shorts, and 45" keeper and a 67" oversize. Look back through some of the past posts, there is a lot of valuable info that has been posted. We are going Fri. so might have a little more to report then.

Good luck. Jim

[Steeliehunter]

The bite is picking up in the lower river but like it was said in the earlier post it can get pretty rough down low. On the flood down low I like to go straight out of Hammond to the sands marker amd fish in 8-10 feet of water. If you start getting robbed by poggies move. From there I would move into the slot which is due east once again go shallow.
The good part about the John Day ramp is that you can hide from the wind alot easier in the islands. Up there I lilke due north of marker 3 in 5 feet. Also out in the main river up by red can 50 in 5-10 feet can be good. You just have to be willing to move to find the fish and once you find them it will be all over. Good luck I will be chasing salmon in the morning and the back inside for sturgeon as soon as we limit.

[greenbuttskunk]

what's the best way to get to John Day ramp from portland? i'm hitting the river sunday.

[fishingfirst]

GBS,
Hwy 30 is probably your best bet, the John Day boat ramp is approx. two miles from Astoria (before you get to Astoria) on Hwy 30, pretty well marked, just be careful coming out, if I remember it was on a corner and you are pulling out up hill.
Also if you have a prop be careful coming out from the channel at the boat ramp, it can get pretty shallow at low tide.
Scott

[ 05-29-2003, 11:05 AM: Message edited by: fishingfirst ]

[Duckie]

I'm planning to fish Tongue Point this weekend, can anyone recommend a reasonable place to stay in Astoria that is close to the John Day ramp or Hwy 30? I'll be pulling a boat so...I need a little bit of space to park my rig. Thanks!

[rags]

Steeliehunter,
Iam heading down to the John Day area on Saturday with a few friends for Sturgeon. I saw your post on marker 3. Is that area just off the north channel. Iam looking at the map ( pink and blue Columbia map). It looks like when you come out around Mott Island you turn right and go up the north channel to the marker. Is this correct? I've only been in this area once with a friend in his boat and taking mine out Saturday. Any help would be appreciated. E-mail me if you want. Thanks.

[SeaRunner Jim]

Duckie, the closest motel at the east end of Astoria is The Crest Motel (1-800-421-3141). Don't know if you are looking for a motel or camping?

Jim

[Phishin Phool]

The last two times I've been there both times I've put in at Warrenton and both times I've taken out at the east morring basin in Astoria. Then called a Cab to take me to my truck. If your not off the water by noon expect a rough ride home. John day probably isn't that bad. Last saturday the river was like glass up around tougue point when the lower river was getting quite rough. Managed a 41"er measured it 5 times trying to get 42" but no luck.

--Russ

[Born to Fish]

Jen, thanks for the advice - my son's and I will be hitting the Astoria area in a couple weeks. Okay, so I need to find a Salmon Master hat - I can handle that. :smile:

But the lipstick, well, I just don't know about that. :blush: What color? :grin: :laugh: :laugh: :wink:

[Up-4-Air]

Rags, I've seen others post information about marker 3. I think the place they are talking about is about 5 mile upstream from Tongue Point. Look at the bouy located at the east end of Rice Island. :smile:

[SeaRunner Jim]

You've got it right Rags.

Jim

[invader]

ok then thats 5 miles upstream from john day.. but are you still towards the oregon side or the washington side?

[Steeliehunter]

Rags you are correct about making the right turn past Mott island. Marker #3 will be the first marker you will come to. I don't think it is five mile up river maybe 2 at the most. If you can get there and get the last bit of the eb you might have a very short day. I will be in the area black alumaweld with teal letters swing by if you have any qiestions. Good luck.

[rags]

Thanks Steeliehunter, I'll look for you. I have a teal Alumaweld with an Evinrude.

[greenbuttskunk]

try off the tip of Tonque point. 60' of water on the low slack and beginning of incoming. Worked for us.

[rags]

Thanks for the info. We fished marker 3 until 9:00am and got two fish. One was an inch short and the other two inches. A lot of fun for the guys in my boat because they were Sturgeon virgins. Moved around a little in that area but no hookups. We moved inside Tongue Point latter and got another but still to short. Great day and good company. I looked for the black Alumaweld Steeliehunter but didn't see you. Thanks for the tips. Going back Thursday and Friday this week to learn some more spots. I'll try that spot GBS. Thanks. If any of you Ifishers are going to be out there let me know and maybe we can hookup on the VHF and share some hot spots.

[greenbuttskunk]

Rags,
I will likely be back out this weekend. Don't mind sharing my location although it's no secret, I just worked hard moving around till I found the right combo of bottom structure, depth and current. Marked fish on the bottom too. I think the tips of points might be good also as the fish move off the flats and pass these spots as they move to deeper water in the main channel. It's a great fishery down there, but moving every half hour (max)without a bite made a huge difference for our success.