OK, I know I'm wasting "Cyber Ink," but here is how I rig for Sturgeon with Shad.
I cut off the tail, that's all the cutting I do. Then I wind my hook through the body, as close to center as I can, about 5 or 6 times. Then, on the last pass through nearest the head and mouth, I poke the hook through its head, OUT HIS MOUTH, turn the hook upside down and run the point through its bony little snout so the point protrudes about an inch. I stuff the shank back into his mouth and snug up all my surgical skills. Toss the slimy, stinky, scaly, smelly, scale stickin' sucker overboard with appropriate weight and "HOLD ON TIGHT" for the action that's bound to come!!!
That's all...It takes about 30-60 seconds to rig one up...Otherwise, I just slice'em into about 3 steaks, toss the loose stuff overboard, cut each steak into "halves" at the backbone, and have approx. 6 gobs of smelly, slimy, etc. bait which have caught sturgeon bigger than my friends little ol boat (10'). Sometimes, size really doesn't matter a whole bunch. As long as there's a tempting morsel secured firmly on the end of the line, and hungry sturgeon in the river, you'll see some fish!
Can't wait!!!
:cheers: