Saw this new Low Impact Sturgeon Tips thing on the fish and game website and just wanted to share. It's pretty cool, making some new changes next year on regs and it's cool to see their recommendations on circle hooks. Also nice to see their pics to see what is acceptable and not when it comes to handling fish.
[url "http://www.fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish/wtSturgeon/sturgeon.pdf"]http://www.fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish/wtSturgeon/sturgeon.pdf[/url]
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Thanks for the update.
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Making the siding weight a law is a great idea - I just have never ever considered fishing any other way.
One thing that I did learn last year after catching a 7 footer from the boat and removing my circle hook - I found another hook (from someone that had lost there hook) in it's mouth the was embedded half way in. I took the pliers and removed it. The hook was rusting away where the hook was exposed but the part of the hook that was embedded was still bright chrome.
So remember when you lose a fish and say that the hook will rust off - that's only partially true - the hook that is impaled will stay with the fish MUCH LONGER.....
So use the proper equipment out there....
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thanks for the link. it will be interesting to see how they try and inforce this. i fish for cats at strike and hook sturgeon all the time . are they going to try and ticket me if i have a sturgeon on ? am i to cut my line ? i refuse to use barbless circle hooks for catfish. i use a 10 foot rod for cats. will i be checked for sturgeon rig violations even though i am catfishing ? it will be interesting.........
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Sounds fair and reasonable to me.
Windriver
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Thanks for the update and link!
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[quote hulapopper]thanks for the link. it will be interesting to see how they try and inforce this. i fish for cats at strike and hook sturgeon all the time . are they going to try and ticket me if i have a sturgeon on ? am i to cut my line ? i refuse to use barbless circle hooks for catfish. i use a 10 foot rod for cats. will i be checked for sturgeon rig violations even though i am catfishing ? it will be interesting.........[/quote]
Just to be on the safe side, it would not take that much for you to comply. You could just remove the barb from your j hook (circles are not required) and then use a dropper line for your sinker if you are not doing that already. I don't think that a barbless J hook would lower your landing rate that much, if any at all. I am sure you don't really expect to have to cut your line if you have a sturgeon on, since that would do more harm than good.
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i respect your opinion.............however i will not change my catfish set-up because there are sturgeon where i am cat fishing. i use a sliding egg sinker on my line and a big ol' barbed hook. if a sturgeon bites my nitecrawler and breaks my 20 lb test, i didn't put the hook in there mouth.... not trying to flame post but i feel like the f&g is opening a can of worms here . how do you prove you are sturgeon fishing? i have had lots of sturgeon break my line. i have shed no tears.........this summer my fishing buddy hooked two in one day on cut-bait perch fishing, and obviously broke his 4 lb test. are we to use 50 pound braid for perch ? not flaming this issue just bring a perspective from a bass-catfish guy. hope we don't turn sturgeon into a spotted owl .
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This is an interesting topic. I think these regulations are a good idea for those who target sturgeon on a regular basis. I think they will help the sturgeon last longer and it reminds us that sturgeon fishing a special thing that we are lucky to have in Idaho.
In your case I don't think the F&G will do anything if you are fishing for catfish and you happen to hook a sturgeon. We all catch things that we don't intend to when we go out.
I used to use circle hooks for cats on Utah Lake. I never had any problem catching them.
Windriver
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I would think that using standard tackle in sturgeon waters might cause problems occasionally, but people who poach sturgeon or fish for them without following the rules would be the cause of any real decrease in population.
If they ban fishing on those waters 10 years from now, people who fished for other species may be blamed even though they played a very small part.
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[quote hulapopper]i respect your opinion.............however i will not change my catfish set-up because there are sturgeon where i am cat fishing. i use a sliding egg sinker on my line and a big ol' barbed hook. if a sturgeon bites my nitecrawler and breaks my 20 lb test, i didn't put the hook in there mouth.... not trying to flame post but i feel like the f&g is opening a can of worms here . how do you prove you are sturgeon fishing? i have had lots of sturgeon break my line. i have shed no tears.........this summer my fishing buddy hooked two in one day on cut-bait perch fishing, and obviously broke his 4 lb test. are we to use 50 pound braid for perch ? not flaming this issue just bring a perspective from a bass-catfish guy. hope we don't turn sturgeon into a spotted owl .[/quote]
I don't think you're flaming the post, but don't use a 50 pound braid, if the sturgeon rolls it will cut them up. Use the 130lb braid please... [cool]
You bring up an interesting post, one that I've thought about as well. Especially with your setup you're using on the cats, 10 ft pole, circle hooks... I'd ask a F&G guy before you get too upset.
With it being a new regulation its hard to say how tight F&G will be and if they're looking to make an example out of anybody (I doubt that would happen, but you never know).
The new regs are good and done with the best interest of the fish, but really only amend 2 things, sliding sinkers and type of hook. How many years have you catfished where sturgeon are and been hassled for a barbless hook? Just because its more defined doesn't mean us cat guys are in trouble [
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im sure its not going to be to hard for a F&G officer to decifier if you are targeting catfish or sturgeon and if by some chance you do get hasseled by a guy who insists on writing you a ticket for it ( i seriously doubt would happen.) im sure it would be thrown out in court by the judge. unless of course they make it mandetory on that body of water you are fishing which they have not done so i think you are good.
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