My first Sturgeon!

Matt H. · 03-19-2001, 11:44 PM

My brother took me up to Ainsworth(sp?) Park on Saturday, and I managed to bring in my first ugly fish =). Just one small inch short of legal, but I was happy to have caught it.

However, earlier in the day I had quite the experience. Looked up from my chair to see a MONSTER sturgeon roll just 10 yards or so behind the boat. A mintue or two later, I saw my rod bend very deep, and jumped to get it. Cripes, but at first I thought I must have snagged on a drifing submerged log or something. Then it started to swim away. I was only using my steelhead rod, so I started working the drag back and back. I was having serious fears that my rod was going to explode into many graphite pieces. Thankfully he spit the hook after about 10 minutes. I dont know if I could have handled anymore or if my rod could have, either.

But it was a great experience =). Now im dying to go out again, but will have to wait another two weeks for a boat trip with my brother. Anyone know any bank spots that are close to Portland that I can fish in the meantime? Also, I'd really like some info on hooking these guys. I was whiffing on bites left and right. Can you use double hooks? Any way to tell when you should set the hook for these guys? Its unlike any other bite I've ever experienced.

Thanks in advance, and good luck to all of you!

Matt

Killertraylor · 03-20-2001, 07:30 AM

I'm sure you'll get many different answers on this subject. When I started sturgeon fishing, I was told to wait until they pulled three times in a row, and then set the hook as hard as you can. That method almost always works when I take new people on the boat, but when you've cought a few thousand of these critters, you tend to get the feel of when they've got it and when they don't - and even then you miss 10% of the bites and even higher some days. I still try to be patient and follow the three tug rule and it works 90% of the time. That's rule 1 on my boat. Rule 2 is if you see a sturgeon jump with a leader sticking out of its mouth, set the hook - I've seen it happen more times than I can count!

THE REEL HEY_YALL · 03-20-2001, 10:02 AM

Congrats, Matt. As far as a tip for setting the hook, here goes: When you see you are getting a bite, slowly slide the rod out of the holder because these critters can feel vibration like a ****. Lower your rod down while winding in some of the slack to really have a tight line, and then set the hook like a machine. The key is to wind in immediately when you yank back. We didn't miss any fish the weekend we went out on the Columbia following those instructions given to us by our guide. Also, are you using smelt as bait or anchove, etc? If you are, are you using that nylon leader stuff to keep vibration to a minimum, plus a couple of half hitches to hold the bait on the leader and hooks?

Son of an Okie · 03-20-2001, 10:11 AM

Matt,

As far as sturgeon go, I have found that they're pretty stupid... move the bait and they'll find it again... and again... and again for the most part. When they're hitting light, I've found that taking a turn on the reel to tighten the line and feel if they're there before setting the hook works well. If not, put the rod back down... he'll be back most times, sometimes more aggressively than before. Good luck!

Matt H. · 03-20-2001, 01:15 PM

Thanks for all the tips =).

Hey_yall, we were using smelt as bait. I use a dacron leader. What I do to keep the bait on is run the hook thru the gills from one side of the head to the other, then once more to make a simple cinch loop, then I run the hook thru the back of the smelt just below his dorsal fin, and pull in any slack.

Could this be the cause of all my misses? Is there a better way to rig your bait? Also, I saw on the Hot Tamales episode with RT, that the guide WAS using a double hook setup. Does anyone know a good way to rig double hooks?

Thanks,

Matt

P.S. If RT reads this.. which guy was you on that show? hehe =)

Mr. Fisherman · 03-20-2001, 01:49 PM

Way to go [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

The tips above sound good. What has worked for me is this,

When you get a bite or your line tension changes pull out a couple of strips of line then remove your rod from the holder. Slowly reel in the slack. If you feel tension, RIP THEM LIPS.

If you miss, pull out a couple of strips and set the pole back into the holder for a while.

I have used double hooks in T-bay. Just the standard slider rig. Check the regulations. I'm not sure if you can use two hooks in the Columbia [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] .

I should have my boat back this weekend! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Maybe we can get out there soon.

Later dude, and congradulations again,

Ray
aka Mr. Fisherman [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

[ 03-20-2001: Message edited by: Mr. Fisherman ]

hawgcatcher · 03-20-2001, 03:49 PM

Congratulations on that sturgeon. They can be a ball to catch. I read the feedback but no one seemed to suggest a place to fish close to Portland. I used to fish the Columbia River side of Sauvies Island at Reeder's Beach and managed to get a few legals there. It will cost you a couple of bucks for an island pass and probably a couple at Reeder's. You might call them and see if they are getting any caught there. If you can find a spot on the Willamette up near Oregon City, you will find some good ones there. Call Fisherman's Marine at Oregon City and ask for Tim Rooney. He has been fishing that area for 50 years and knows places to go. Good luck.. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Navigator · 03-20-2001, 09:34 PM

Matt:

RT was the ugly guy [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] (Sorry RT - just too wide open to pass up ....).

[ 03-20-2001: Message edited by: Navigator ]

scooby · 03-20-2001, 10:58 PM

Hi Matt, contrats on your first strugicle.

You might want to try and hook your bait a little different. Try running the leader through the body cavity via a wire baiter - run the leader ( non hook end) down through the mouth of the smelt and out the anus.Snug the thing down so the shank of the hook is down inside the smelt with the rest hanging out the mouth to one side of the smelt. then throw some half hitches on around the tail.

also try using short leaders to keep the bait right on bottom.

Matt H. · 03-20-2001, 11:28 PM

Thanks again =).

Hawg, I will definitly be giving Tim a call to find out some spots. Cant pass up getting advice from someone with so much experience.

Heya Ray, good to hear from ya. Maybe we can go fishing this weekend.

Scooby, thanks for that bait rigging advice. Makes sense to me to keep the hook close to where the fish would first grab hold of the bait =).

Oh, btw, I went up to check out the Sandy today, and the water was high, fast, muddy, and lots of junk in it. Didn't seem very fishable to me, but what do I know [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img].

Matt

[ 03-21-2001: Message edited by: Matt Huntington ]

Killertraylor · 03-21-2001, 07:22 AM

I think you're hook setup might have cost you some hookups - if I understand it right. If you are using smelt, anchovies, or fresh herring (my favorite bait for the mouth of the Columbia in August) I use one single barbless hook on dacron leader - hold the bait in your hand, belly down facing you, hold the hook in your other hand, point down and run the hook through the back of the head so it comes out on the top of the head just above the nose of the fish. Do 3 or 4 half hitches back down the bait toward the tail so that it lays flat - the half hitches come out when you set the hook. This puts the point of the hook at the end of the bait where the sturgeon picks it up. I agree with the picking the rod up very gently, reel in just a little bit of slack, wait for 3 good tugs and slam it as hard as you can - then reel fast and set it again. If you miss it, set it back down for a few minutes - if he doesn't come back, reel up and check your bait. 99% of the time sturgeon won't steal your bait when you are fishing with anchovies, smelt, or herring and it is half hitched. If the belly of your bait is chewed up, you have bullheads, crabs, or other critters chewing on it and you should probably move to try and get away from them. Good Luck!

Pilar · 03-21-2001, 07:36 AM

Another Gator slayer is born. All good advice above. It's a 'feel' thing, the bite is. I picture what the big ugly is doing to my bait down there. He's picking it up and spitting it out, trying to get it head first. You have to bust him when he's got it in his mouth. I wait until I see some action then carefully pick up the rod. Wind up the slack and don't jar the rod, they can feel it. I wait until I see tension and then slack. The next time I see tension I set him. As mentioned above, don't slack your line ever.

You can spot the experienced Sturgeon fisherman. He's the guy who is winding on the reel the whole time he's setting the hook. The foot or so of daylight under his heels as he sets the fish is also a dead give away.

The bend is your friend!

Matt H. · 03-21-2001, 08:37 AM

Well, I'm heading out to Mary S. Young Park to try out all the advice. Another bit of info that I got was to use a smaller piece of bait if Im whiffing on the bite.

I'll post my results when I get back =).

Matt

Matt H. · 03-21-2001, 10:29 PM

Well I had a fun day out a Mary S. Young park today. First off, it was just a great day to be outside. Sun shining, blue sky, not a cloud to be seen. Little bit of a breeze but nothing to make you chilly. Oh and the fishing was pretty fun, too!

I landed 3 shakers (around 30-36 in), lost one, and whiffed on at least half a dozen. I had a great time =). Starting to get a better feel for when to set the hook. Just takes a bit of getting used to, I guess. I got so excited when I hooked into the first fish that I slipped into the water a bit when I went to land it >.< Just got my leg wet up to my knee, nothing to stop me from fishing the rest of the day, though, haha.

Was planning on going back tomorrow to hopefully pull a keeper out of the water, and get some more "feel" for the bite.

Matt

new boat · 03-22-2001, 10:20 AM

As far as rigging the smelt, we have tried them all. I use a dacron leader, barbless 7/0 hood and tie on with an egg loop. Simply place the hook with the point coming out the boney top of the smelts head and then half-hitch around the body for the full length of the smelt. Works, we seem to get more than our fair share of hook-ups, but then again, life ain't fair!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]