OC Sturgeon

Steelie Ben · 05-26-2002, 06:54 PM

I fished in OC this afternoon for some sturgeon, man was it crowded! I have fished there a couple of times before and had no success but today was a different story. I had my sandshrimp and worms in the drink for about three minutes when my rod started bouncing. I picked it up thinking I had a shaker sucking on my bait, when I set the hook I was amazed at the tremendouse weight on the end of my pole. That weight didn't like being hooked and took off peeling at least 100yds of line in about 5 seconds. This was my first oversized fish ever and I didn't get the chance to see it, it popped the hook after about 10 minutes.

Oh well, I bait my hook again and launch it back out and low and behold before I even get my line set I am getting another bite. I set the hook and its off to the races again, I only had this one on for about two minutes before it to popped the hook, darn!

I lost the rest of my gear within the next ten minutes with three nasty backlashes.

Ok now, here for my questions, I snagged up on the casts I didn't hook a fish on, how do I minimize loss of gear when I do snag up? Is OC a good oversized fishery or did I just get lucky and win the fishing lottery? I was using a 6/0 hook, is this big enough? I have 40# mainline and a 25# dropper, does this sound alright to you guys? I was amazed at the power these fish have and really want to land one so I can say I did, any help you can give me is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Ben :grin:

Mofish · 05-26-2002, 07:44 PM

You should have been up at the Dam. 25 to the boat but not one keeper. 1 over size 7ft.

It to was very Crowded.

Jsail · 05-26-2002, 08:02 PM

Ben,
Sounds like yo had a busy day. You didn't say where you were exactly, but most of the area above the 205 bridge is all rock and that can make for loosing gear.
You said that you use a 40# main line. First I would get some Tuff line or Power Pro. I have 80lb on one real and 50lb on another. If the bottom is snaggy or there is a chance of oversized fish I go with the 80lb. I take 3 sizes of hooks 6/0, 7/0 and 8/0. Again if there are big fish or you are loosing them, go with the bigger hook. You said you use a dropper. That may be why you were hanging up. Try using a slider above the swivel.
The reason that the big fish ( all sizes) are there is becase of the shad run. It'll be great fishing through the shad run and then some. Try taking a steelhead rod and some brass Dick Nites and catch a shad or 2 for bait. You can use a whole shad 12" to 15" for the big boys. The gills are great bait tied on. A half a shad, cut long ways works too.
Have Fun!

Steelie Ben · 05-27-2002, 10:05 AM

Ok, the thing is I need to be able to cast really far and I am aprehensive about putting heavier line on . How well does that TUFF line cast, the mono I use is Trilene Big game and I found it casts real well but it doesn't have the abrasion resistance I like. Is the Tuff line fairly resistant to getting nicks and frays? For my last question, how do you run a slider for stugeon? I have had better success using a dropper cause it gets my bait a little off the bottom and I feel that it makes it a little easier to detect the soft bites. Exactly how do you rig a slider for off the bank and does it cast as well as a dropper rig? Thanks for any advice.
Ben

David Johnson · 05-27-2002, 10:37 AM

From what I see of the guys fishing from the bank up there they use mono, there must be a reason. I think it's because you loose gear.

Try just asking around with the locals that fish there.

Steelie Ben · 05-27-2002, 04:56 PM

Ok, I went back again today and fished the same spot the same way. First cast I hooked another oversized fish that I had on for about 5-10 minutes before he snapped my 40# like it was nothing. I managed a couple more shakers and that was it. I shortened my dropper to about 12" and used 15# line instead of 25#, I only lost one weight by casting to hard. I guess it just wasn't my weekend for the big boys. By the way, is it possible to land them big bruisers from the bank or am I just dreaming? Oh, my girlfriend Michelle had one solid strike from a nookie throwing a flame/black magwort with no added weight, I am suprised the trebles didn't dig in, oh well.
Ben

David Johnson · 05-27-2002, 05:00 PM

I'm surprised she didn't limit out, I've seen her in action

[ 05-27-2002, 06:06 PM: Message edited by: David Johnson ]

Shane · 05-27-2002, 11:09 PM

Stick with the mono line the braid is very expensive and will take the hide off your thumb in seconds. Just about all of us bank fishers have tried the braids and we all went back to 40# mono. The braids also increases backlashes. If your hanging up your hooks play with leader length and droper length also try big corkies staked in place. At Bonny alot of guys use 3ft. drop on sinker and a 3 inch leader seems strange but it catches fish and you wont hange up your hooks. play around with this for different bottom conditions.

Chris Nordling · 05-27-2002, 11:42 PM

Ben,

Most guys use mono there because of a gnarly cable that runs thru the hole, especially on the West Linn casting docks. There are also a few other snags that are pretty nasty as well.

As far a slider, grab a pack of red or black one from the tackle store. I believe Danielson makes them, and they are relatively inexpensive. I set it up so the short end nearest the clip for the lead is the furthest point from the knot to the leader. In other words it keeps like 2 inches from the lead to the leader. Enough to keep it out of the way when casting. If you take the belly out of your line, you should have no problem detecting even the smallest of bites. Just keep it taunt.

Hope this may help.

Chris