Sturgeon frustration in Astoria

[CP Inlet Isle]

I said that I would post a report, so here we go!It's embarrasing anymore for me to say how I do in the estuary.The only thing that I can count on for sure is that the wind will blow in the afternoon.The usual spots that have produced over the years are no good.I guess it's true that 10% of the fisherman catch 90% of the fish.I would like to get back in that club.The first couple of years that we went down and fished the Tongue point area we did very well, that would be 97' and 98.The weather turned so bad with the wind on Friday that the run from town to Warrenton was a drencher.We did see a charter boat on Sunday knocking the hell out of them anchored in the shipping channel off Tongue point in 65 feet of water.We ended up coming home with a couple keepers, so it wasn't a complete loss.The fish check guy at the John Day ramp said the catch ratio for the day Sun. was one keeper for every three rods so we were average.I think I'll be fishing the morning tide from now on and taking a rest when the wind picks up in the afternoon.I hope everyone had better luck than we did this weekend.Can't wait to get out kokanee fishing.Bye for now, [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[Hookset]

CP, know exactly what you mean about shallow water fishing. It's the ONLY type of sturgeon fishing I like. When I think sturgeon, I always look shallow. Except in my last trips, I found shallow to be 16 to 25 feet instead of the usual 6 to 12 feet. I heard of a guide constantly getting keepers early in 40 feet on shrimp. For this time of year, that's usually not the case. That in itself tells me this won't be a normal lower river bite.

You also have to reset your expectations. Instead of hammering fish everywhere. You'll have to move several times to find fish and HOPE to locate one good bite. An exapmle of this is watching a guide I know. Starting out in the morning, he traveled to at least 7 different locations and only caught a few shakers to show for it and traveled 10 miles to boot. Not until apx. 3 1/2 hours later and another 3 miles did they finally get a keeper. It still took him a full day to catch enough keepers. I really don't see people catching the numbers of fish they're accustomed to this year. This year is shaping up like last, where fish were hard to locate and limits are not always the norm.

If your able to catch 2 to 3 keepers and about 10 to 15 shakers, you had a great day for this season. And the kicker is, you'll still go through just as much bait as catching 40 fish with all the crabs and sculpin.

best of luck,

hook

[OR Coast Range]

Leave it to hey_yall to apply his bass fishing skills to our obviously better and more elite anadromous species. [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

[CP Inlet Isle]

Hey Yall, it does appear that you are from Oly, eh!!We must be applying some of that Black Lake know how to the ol sturg! Just ribbing you a bit, any little tidbit of info is appreciated, I will be studying for my next trip down for those illusive buggers in August.Take it easy, and good fishing. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Fish4Fun]

CP,

I was there a week ago and the shallow water bite was what I had expected. Started at high tide and 16 feet of water, fished the same spot without moving until low water 9 feet. Did this both days (same GPS point) and had 20 to 25 fish on with 8 keepers for Saturday and Sunday. I really think the bigger the tide swing the better the shallow water bite is. That is why I only fish the big tide changes out in the shallows. I go to the same GPS point, every Sat./Sun. on this type of tide and will almost always come home with limits. Been fishing this same place since 1994 and it produces each Summer. The warmer the water and bigger tide swing, the better the bite gets is my experience.

[Bobber Down]

It also seems as that there is allot of feed in the lower river. You see terns, seagulls ect. diving in the deep water, and in the shallow water along the edges on the incoming tide.
What I found out that works for me is to down size your rod, I use my Salmon rod. The reason for this is because, the Sturgeon are bitting real soft because of the feed. They are bitting so soft that at times you would think they are "little" bull heads. If the wind is blowing and the boat is moving side to side some, I hold my rod. I hope this helps..........Bobber Down

Fishing is tuff, but I have to provide food for my family.

[Pilar]

Yes, light gear is the ticket. I use either a Loomis 1025 or a Loomis 932C. You will definitely get more action and see more of the tentative bites. Use the old "location, location, location" rule. If it isn't happenning for you, move till you find something to catch.

[Hookset]

This is a strange year, much like last year.
The difference this and last year is the lack of fresh water in the spring.

I'll share a couple of my observations.

The lower river presently is more salt water influenced. The upper river flows will be warmer. Thus creating similar conditions to last year where crabs and sculpins create numerous problems and shallower flats seem empty and void of sturgeon. I believe sturgeon avoid warmer water, and will travel in deeper water this year, much like last year. With the low fresh water flows, the temps will increase making fishing tougher.

Our best lower river fishing follows high snow packs and large spring run-offs. Keeping water in the 50's, lots of fresh water keeps the crabs down river and sculpin under control.

The most successful boats last year seemed to stay in deeper water. Shallow may work at times depending on tides, but the deeper water seem to carry more keeper size fish.

As the temps warm up into the summer, think on fishing the deeper areas. With all that said, I'll still try a few shallow locations just in case. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Rules are meant to be broken.

Good luck on the kokanee.

hook

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

Something that I've also thought about and it goes hand in hand with Greg's theory is metabolism, not to mention the oxygen levels of the warmer waters.

Seems the little critters really spike in warm water. They may have always been there, but have gone unnoticed? [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] The warmer water raises their metabolism so they are digesting food and consuming more energy than normal. Therefore, they are out looking for food to fuel their bodies. Put them in really cold water, and they are almost dormant.

Could be the same reason the sturgeon aren't in the lower, warmer waters. Their metabolism would increase and the food in these warmer waters isn't enough to keep up. Soooo, they move to the colder water and this lowers their metabolism and that scramble to scour for food like they would in the warmer waters. Remember especially with fish, they thrive on homeostasis. Whereever it's easiest for them to thrive is where they'll be... (no duh, right?)

Just a thought I've been thinking [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

[AngleThis]

Definitely the patterns of where the gators are and when, have changed due to reasons ranging from the smelt run, to water flow and temperature, to gill netting is forcing us to look harder for the keepers, with a lot more hit and miss days.

If you really want sturgeon, I can tell you that keepers are being taken in rea; good numbers from the bank below Bonneville, and a fair number are being taken, along with plenty of peelers, at the Fishery.

Mid sections of the river doesn't seem to have any particular area with good keeper/shaker ratio that I've been able to find, but larger keepers are definitly up in numbers. I got one 54" off Kelly point about a month ago, which was the only keeper taken for six boats that afternoon...would have expected 42-44.

[CP Inlet Isle]

Thanks guys for your input.That is very insightful and naturally, I hadn't considered the warmwater, freshwater equasion.I did find it unusual that the shallow water fishing was not more productive and there did appear to be a lot of boats fishing deeper water.More so than in previous years, anyway.The bite was aggressive in that 60 plus water. I guess in my mind , and judging from recent reports on this web page, I was looking forward to some shallow water, light tackle fishing.Perhaps I need to be more flexible, and not be too stubborn to get out the Kalama gear when the shallow bite doesn't materialize.Interesting, good stuff, thanks [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]