Sturgeon at Astoria

swampy · 06-13-2001, 08:34 PM

Fished Desdemona Flats today ...anchovies in 8 - 14 feet of water ....OK I'm hooked !!! What great fun ...took home 3 keepers for the three of us ... I managed 13 to the boat...my first sturgeon trip has me pumped to be doing more of that !! A guide near us was doing real well with shrimp on the ingoing tide on the west end of the flats in around 10 feet of water ...

rags · 06-13-2001, 09:42 PM

Swampy,
I've only done the shallow water Sturgeon fishing once. I went with a guide out of Chinook. Now that I have my own boat I would like to do more. Where is Desdemona Flats? Are you putting in near Hammond? Any directions and advice would be appreciated.

Hookset · 06-13-2001, 10:53 PM

Hi Rags, thinking about chasing estuary sturgeon? Word of warning, don't do it! Because if you go and catch some fish, you'll be hooked. Then it'll be every weekend to get your fix!!

The Desdomona flats is in the middle of the river, starting just upstream of the Astoria Megler bridge, then downstream till you get even with the Hammond boat basin. A large area of sand. The main ship channel follows the Oregon side and establishes the southern border of the flats. The northern edge of the flats is the Washington ship channel that follows the north shoreline. The whole middle part of the lower river is called the Desdomona Flats. A very large area with many sand bars and shallow channels even at high tide. The best time to visit is during a low tide when all the sand bars are exposed. This way you'll know where the shallow areas are. The fishing can be good around the flats just depending on crabs and sculpin and of course, if the fish are in.

You can reach the flats by launching from Warrenton, Hammond, Chinook and even the east boat basin in Astoria. It really depends on how much water you want to run in a day and what part of the flats your intending to fish. On average years, you can locate sturgeon in all areas around the flats.

I'd suggest you pick up a Lower Columbia river map from Buoy 10 to Bonneville for $5.95. They sell them at Fisherman's. This map has some good details and clearly marks the flats and average depths. Well worth the money and it'll help keep you out of trouble.

good luck,

hook

Finn-icky · 06-14-2001, 03:28 AM

I totally agree with hook. Good advice. I would like to add that if you choose to launch on the Oregon side, contact Tackle Time in Warrenton for bait. They are advertised on the ifish home page. Gene and Linda are real nice folks to deal with, and bait prices competitive. enjoy Astoria, its a kick.

rags · 06-14-2001, 06:36 AM

Thanks for the information. Hookset, that is what I am afraid of, getting obsessed with that shallow water Sturgeon fishing. The one time I have been motivated me to buy a new boat. Wonder what I'll do after the second time [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Any more tips would be greatly appreciated. What is the shortest run to the flats? I have been reading all the other post on Sturgeon fishing and will buy the map. Thanks again [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

swampy · 06-14-2001, 06:45 AM

Hey , Rags ...Hookset is right on in his descriptions ...we launched at Hammond ,went directly across the channel to the flats ...6-8 oz of lead ...I liked 8 best ...got kind of slow at slack tide ...we had a real nice map of the area and studied it well before heading out ...good idea , Hookset !! have fun rags and let me know how you do ..

WaterDog · 06-14-2001, 07:09 AM

The map is made by FISH-n-MAP CO. It's a must have.

I'll be down there tomorrow. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Hookset · 06-14-2001, 08:20 AM

The shortest run is from Hammond or Warrenton. From Hammond, just head across the ship channel towards the middle. You'll see a 3 pole dolphin marking the lower end of a shallow water point. When I say shallow, it just depends on the tide. Just keep your depth finder on at all times. Lots of people start fishing here and towards the middle and all along the the edges of the sand bars. When you go, you'll see boats scattered everywhere. The best spots usually will have lots of boats around. When talking shallow water sturgeon, most people are fishing from 8 to 35 feet. Up near the bridge, people often fish 50 feet of water off the ship channel. No one down on the lower river fishes the ship channel like up by Bonneville. I like to fish around edges of depth change with current. My rule of thumb is outgoing tide fish shallow, incoming tide fish deeper water. That's a rule that's broken every day very successfuly. Because as soon as you think you know everything, it'll all change. I've fished 8 feet of water on the incoming and done very well and fished 8 feet on the outgoing and done well. Then there are days you can't find a bite shallow and everyone catching fish are in 25 to 35 feet of water. Be prepared to move around to locate fish and keep your eyes peeled to see what people are doing around you. A good pair of binoculars really helps. Just give the boats room to cast in all directions. Lots of water out there, no reason to crowd anyone to catch a fish.

Now the other item that'll greatly improve your fishing is what I call fishing power or magnetic qualities. Simply stated, fish as many people and rods as comfortable. The more rods in the water the better. Meaning, more bait equals more scent to attract fish.

The fishing isn't hard to learn and become successful. Just use good bait, and move to locate fish. Sounds like the lower river fish are finally showing up. Earlier reports indicated the best fishing is farther upriver. I'd call Tackle Time for a current report and if you need anchovies, call the day before and reserve bait. Bait like fresh anchovies are sold only off the signup list, unless they have a litle extra, just don't count on it. Make sure to carry at least two kinds of bait, I like sand shrimp and anchovies and buy fresh each day. A pound of anchovies and 1 or 2 boxes (I like 2) of shrimp per rod is about right. On good days, you can run out of bait. And I hate to run out of bait.

hook

[ 06-14-2001: Message edited by: hookset ]

swampy · 06-14-2001, 08:57 AM

HEY HOOKSET ...ONE OF THE FISH WE CAUGHT WAS TAGGED ...ORANGE WIRE W/ NUMBERS ...'SUP WITH THAT ?? THE FISH WAS FORTY INCHES , I TOOK DOWN THE NUMBERS AND SLID HER BACK INTO THE WATER ...SHOULD I CONTACT SOMEONE OR DOES ANYBODY CARE ...ODFW ?? THX ..SWAMPY

Fish Hunter · 06-14-2001, 12:50 PM

Thanks for the details Hook. Got a four day trip planned. Leaving in a week. Staying in Warrenton. Getting real jazzed. Wish I wasn't working this weekend.