Keeperless NO MORE

wannacatchem · 02-07-2004, 08:49 PM

3rd trip fishing for sturgies. Been following all the threads about where to, how to, what to use. BIG thanks to Tacklebuster,

5 Cents,

and the biggest thanks to DIPNET

for the pickling recipe. Mixed up some of that two days ago.

First two trips were freezing cold or torrential downpour. Got a few shakers each time and one that may have been keeper size but he shook the hook.

This trip started as a beautiful day. Got my middle daughter a one day ticket (she's visiting from NM) and put in at Scapoose Marina. Went up the MC aways, threw anchor and holy cow, there was a bunch of logs and stuff coming down. We were out of the current a bit so I baited up a DIPNET pickled smelt and chucked 'er in. While baiting up my wifes pole, mine started dancin. HAdn't been two minutes. Pulled in a 43 inch!!!!

1st keeper!. Tossed the wifes bait in and got mine back in the water. Few minutes later, her pole went off. I then noticed that there was a 30 foot log about 50 feet in front of the boat and it wasn't going to miss us. I tossed the anchor rope and fired up the kicker. Sure was a chinese fire drill there for a while. She fought hers for about 20 minutes. Second keeper, 49 inches. Did a couple shakers after that then my daughters rod went off. She set the hook, and had a long fight. This one was 56 inches

I was fishing in 35 feet of water just abouve a 55 foot hole. Later on we dropped into the hole and didn't get a nibble. Moved back up and caught a couple more shakers. Saw a boat in about the same depth catch a few keepers.

Took heed on the cooking techiques and had some great fried sturgy tonight.

Thanks Jennie for this great web site and to all that post fishing info here. Ya'll ROCK

[ 02-07-2004, 10:07 PM: Message edited by: wannacatchem ]

Ivana Fishalot · 02-07-2004, 09:01 PM

That one had to be a peeler :shocked: . I love it when they take off! :grin:

I am thoroughly hooked on sturgeon fishing (pun intended). I like watching them eat. I usually count about 8 tugs and then I tug HARD!! I only missed one last time out of 5 that I had biting in about 3 hours of fishing. That combined with the fact that a little Western Pride batter ensures a really tasty meal makes them my favorite catch.

jokester · 02-07-2004, 09:02 PM

Congrats wannacatchem!!

I'm still keeperless, so this means there's still hope for me!! Nice gators!

-jokester

Dipnet · 02-07-2004, 10:19 PM

Whoa, how cool is that!!!!

I'm glad I was able to help!! Congrats on the fine keepers!!!

Dipnet :grin:

NorthRiverRick · 02-07-2004, 10:35 PM

WOW! :shocked:

Great Gators! I better get some of those Dipnet squidies in the brine

Thanks for sharing the encouraging pics.

Rick

wootersen · 02-08-2004, 12:36 AM

Well Done Amigo !!!

Congrats on your Keeper !!!

Shaker-King · 02-08-2004, 06:25 AM

wannacatchem,

Congratulations! Were you in a green Alumaweld? Your story sounds similar to a boat that was near us.

Our story is similar with respect to being in the channel, playing dodge-a-log, and getting a first ever KEEPER. What was different was that we only had two bites all day. The first bite was mine and resulted in a 50" fish that was a great fighter. I would get it close to the top and it would go straight for the bottom. What fun! This is the biggest Sturgeon I have caught, so I am a happy boy.

A couple of hours pass without a bite but the nice weather is compensating for the slow fishing. Carolyn's rod starts bouncing and she has a fight on her hands. The fight goes on and she is holding the rod with both hands above the reel when the fish decides it isn't time to come up, yet. Well, we get it in the boat and it is a fatty. Carolyn's first keeper is 53" long way too wide.

I was just amazed at how much bigger her 53" was compared to my 50". So for a day with only two bites I got my longest one yet, Carolyn got her first keeper, and her first keeper makes my biggest look like a baby.

RIPPLE · 02-08-2004, 06:42 AM

Way to go Wannacatchem! We came late and saw you release for that nasty log with your fish on, then anchored below you in the hole after all the debris cleared. We caught a couple of shakers, then did some exploring. What a great day to get the boat out. Were you right accross from us Shaker-King? You just never know if your fishing next to an IFISHER. Nice work on the gators.
:grin: RIPPLE :grin:

Shaker-King · 02-08-2004, 07:09 AM

Ripple,

Yes, that was us next to you in the blue & white Bayliner. When you came up we were getting our first fish to the boat. We had a log coming down at us at the same time. So I was worried about needing to get out of the way of the log or getting the fish to the boat. Fortunately, the log went to the side of us and the we got the fish into the boat. It was a really nice day to be on the water.

NorthRiverRick · 02-08-2004, 07:09 AM

Good job Shaker King and Carolyn

Nice Gator, sure is a fattie!

Rick

RIPPLE · 02-08-2004, 07:21 AM

Way to go shaker-king! Yep, we wanted to fish that area, but we were about to pass through when we saw wannacatchem hook up and then you! Definitly was looking fishy. Surrounded by IFISHER'S and keeper sturgeon, with a little bit of sun on our backs. A fine day indeed.
:grin: RIPPLE :grin:

p.s. - Wannacatchem I saw your kids trying to hold up three sturgeon as you passed by. "look what we caught! we can't lift em'" giggles and big smiles all around - That made my day.

[ 02-08-2004, 08:32 AM: Message edited by: RIPPLE ]

Marc400 · 02-08-2004, 08:23 AM

That sounds like what is going on here in St. Helens off the docks there has been 8 keepers off there in 3 days......not for me as it is was down there for 4 hr and got nothing but shakes 37" was the big one for me LOL

wannacatchem · 02-08-2004, 08:38 AM

Hey guys...yep, thats my green Alumaweld. Wonder what caused all the logs floating? Something must of shook loose or somebody cut loose a floating tree farm. After the log I had to de-anchor for there wasn't much else. I did See Shaker king pull in that last fatty. Nice feeesh. Gotta get stickers for the boat, nice to hear of all the Ifishers that were out there. What did you guys think of the stern dragger going 15 knots and seeing how close he could get to all the boats in the channel?

[ 02-08-2004, 09:40 AM: Message edited by: wannacatchem ]

Tacklebuster · 02-08-2004, 09:23 AM

Good job guys and gals

I can't stress enough about fishing the flats just above or along side a deeper hole or slot. A lot of big quality fish cruise that type of area. You may not catch thirty plus fish like you do more times than not fishing the deeper slots but the ones you do get are usually the rope hangers.

I should have followed my own advice Friday [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

Wannacatchem- Sorry I didn't reply to your PM but I didn't get it until well after you were on the water. Looks like you faired pretty well on your own

5-Cents · 02-08-2004, 09:52 AM

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Way to go guys

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

KingFisher85 · 02-08-2004, 10:05 AM

Them are some nice big fat Sturgeon you got yourself there! Nice fish!

fishchaser · 02-08-2004, 10:18 AM

I WANT ONE!!!

GOT2FISH · 02-08-2004, 12:34 PM

live to fish · 02-08-2004, 01:23 PM

nice fish guys.Aaron if it makes you feel any better i am still keeperless for this year.

Raven1 · 02-08-2004, 02:57 PM

Nice going you guys, I'm jealous !

TillamookChinook · 02-08-2004, 03:48 PM

Congrats to Wannacatchem and Shaker-King. Great reports on a fine day's fishing.

All you folks who are still looking for that first keeper need to contact GreenButtSkunk. He has a lucky rod that has only caught keeper-sized sturgeon. He might auction it off to the most desperate gator chaser. When he loaned it to me for my first sturgeon trip I had no idea it was a virgin rod. I have only caught the one sturgeon, ever, and it was a keeper. Gotta be the rod!!

TC