sturgeon setup

[riverrat]

am anxious to get out with my new to me 13'6" rod and 50dh reel.....put on 30# berkley big game line, have plenty of 8 and 10 ounce weights and 7/0 gamu hooks.....i need help with the set up, swivels, weight placement and bait attachment.....probably smelt or squid and any other suggestions would be appreciated....i will be plunking downriver from portland.....i searched the archives but found nothing......thank you in advance.......tom

[steelheadslayer]

rat, I slide a bead about 1/4" diameter on my line and follow that witha swivel rigged up as a slider, then another bead or two and then tie on a my bottom swivel, I like a McMahon type snapswivel. I have leaders about 18-20" long, 50-80 lb. dacron tied to my hook with either a uniknot or egg loop, tie a loop knot on the free standing end of leader. Then you can get a bait threader and run the loop through the baits head, smelt, anchovy, herring, whatever you choose, and run it out their rear. Half hitch a couple times to the tail and then hook it up to your bottom swivel. Put your weight on the slider and then get at em. You can inject scent or spray scent of your choice. Earthworm, sturgeon cocktail, shrimp, anchovy etc are all good scents. You might want a couple larger size weights if you run into a current problem and can't hold bottom. :tongue:

[Matt H.]

Riverrat,

I'm a firm believer in the KISS principle (keep it simple stupid).

I tie my main line to a 3 way swivel.
I make a short leader for my hook with some dacron.
I use a 2-3 foot dropper for my weight. I use lighter line for my weight dropper so I dont lose all my gear on a snag.
Tie the hook leader and weight dropper to the other 2 loops in the 3 way swivel. Doesnt get any simpler than that.

I mainly use sand shrimp for bait. Pretty cheap and you get 2 dozen in a container. That usually lasts me all day. Wrap it up good with stretchy thread so it doesnt fall off and yer fishing.

[lucky man]

From the bank I use 40# mainline, a double eyelet swivel no snap rated 150#. Tie #7 Gami baitloop & short as leader as possible, (approx 2") using big game leader material tie to top loop off to side of top loop tie mainline to top loop, tie mainline to center of top loop. Use bottom loop for dropper,approx 24". use crappie for bait. (fresh) Swan island or under St. Johns Bridge. Use Small sliver & tie w/ stretchy string. You will outfish everybody not using crappie. Sounds wordy but quick and simple rigging. I have watched time & time again everyone not using crappie not getting a single bite while those fishing next to you are hammering them. I know been there before.

[Mojo]

I use a sinker slider, then a bead, then tie a barrel swivel to the main line. I run a 24" 80lb. Dacron leader to a 7/0 Gammie. I use about a 12" dropper (12 lb test) to my weight off the slider. Cast it out and once it settles reel tight and hold on.

I like worms with a little piece of Lamprey for bait. The lamprey holds the worms on when you cast with a 12 oz weight. Works when everything else won't. (That and a little sturgeon feast).

[Wood Shampoo]

Lucky Man,

Do you use a whole Crappie or do you cut it up and use cunks? Thanks,

WTB

[riverrat]

it's amazing the many ways to set up for the ancient ones.....keep them coming.....thanks

[wetaline]

I've been sturgeon fishing for 16 years and have never heard of anyone using a "dropper".... i actually had to go check the title of the thread again to make sure i wasn't going crazy :shocked: Why are you using a dropper? you want your bait on the bottom?

Riverrat - the simplest and best set up in my mind is as follows....

Take a Ocity slider (the type w/ the swivel w/ the tubing thrue it)... replace the snap w/ a McMahon snap - this will keep you from loosing lead - put you lead directly to the snap..... then your main line goes directly to a large swivel w/ heavey duty snap (I either buy the good ones from cabelas, or just buy a large swivel and add another McMahon snap) - you dont need any beeds because you should be using large enough swivels and toughline...

Now for your leader.... see post above about threading smelt, shad, shrimp etc.... but whatever bait you use, leave the leader long enough so theres at least 15 inches between the tail and your main line snap....

ummm ok this is for a boat set up - maybe that 13ft rod means your from the bank... so disregard... maybe somebody else can use this info... dohhh

[Sneaky One]

Riverrat Matt H has the most commmon setup used by bank fisher man. the droper is used one to save on hooks and swivels. when you get a fish your lead will break off. I also use diferant lenths of leader depending on the amout of curant i am fishing, fast curant longer leater, no curant short leader, the amount of cuert will determan the size of belly in your line, all wase keep the belly to a min.
keep your bait apx. the size of your littel finger, this will help you cast, it is to hard to cast a hole smelt/crappie A large bait will act like a wind sail and cause you to back lash
hope this helps.

[lucky man]

wtb, use small pieces of crappie, start at tail like you are going to filet the fish but just use pieces big enough to tie on a small leader. One side of a small crappie could be 5-10 baits. You want to catch'em not feed em. Good luck.

[Pete]

There's a ton of good information at Don Larson's Sturgeon Site . Don was a great sturgeon fisher until his recent, untimely passing ... but his site lives on as a memorial and testimonial to his dedication to the old diamond backs! Check it out!

[verysweepy]

What is the best time to bank fish for sturgeon as far as tides go?