When to start sturgeon fishing?

[Grits]

I just started sturgeon fishing last year and it seems like I started fishing the Lower Willemette at in Oct/Nov but I can't remeber specifically.

Can anyone give me advice as to when it would be productive to start fishing Kelly 6 and the Portland area for sturgeon?

Thank you.

[Dogfish]

I was wondering the same thing about the Chehalis river.

[Pilar]

Grits, I go a couple of weeks earlier every year. Last year it was Halloween. As soon as the rivers come up a little the fish move up to the mouths of the tribs to the Columbia and feed on floater salmon.

There are fish there now, but the closure is until Oct. 1.

At first you will find the fishing to be pretty spotty. There are just a few fish at first (mostly residents and a few migrants) and no one chasing them. Try up by Bonneville early (mostly big dogs) and then down by Kelly Pt. later in the fall. Once you boat those few, it takes a while for more to show up. By late Nov. you can get them everyday most everywhere. By January you can hook up on 50 or more a day per fisher with the right bait and location.

[Tacklebuster]

Grits,
If you just want to go catch a few, go right now. I have been throwing smelt on one rod at Frenchman's bar the last couple of trips waiting on a salmon bite. We have been getting into them everyday. The gorge is still good for the big boys. You can catch sturgeon year round down around the T-6 area. It's not red hot but a 10 to 15 fish day is not out of the question. Just don't keep any unless you are in the big W.
If you realy want a shot at a keeper in the big W, drop me an e-mail and I will put you on the right track [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]