05-30-2020, 08:34 PM
Finally I was able to purchase an Idaho fishing license and make my first (of hopefully many) sturgeon trips of the year. My cousin Randy joined me. Last year we were told about a new place that was often good in the spring. Last year it provided great action on early trips. We had hopes that it would be good again this year. Unfortunately, no sturgeon seemed to be in that area and I was surprised that the flow rate was lower than expected (that may have been the reason the sturgeon weren't where they were supposed to be). Speaking of flow rates the flow varied from a high of 19,000 cubic feet per second, on Wednesday, to a low of 9,500 cubic feet per second on Friday. Ideally, the flow rate is fairly constant, but such a rapid huge swing often leads to less bites.
That first day, we managed to land 5 sturgeon (also lost three others) and strangely, we caught 5 sturgeon every day, for a total of 15 sturgeon. Even more odd was every day I landed 3 sturgeon and my cousin landed 2 sturgeon. Nothing large this trip, but my cousin did catch his personal best of 7'6".
Where we fish the floating seaweed can make it difficult and often impossible to fish. It has been my experience that the seaweed isn't a big issue until later in the year. Unfortunately, this year was an exception and the seaweed was as bad as I have ever seen it. I sure hope it doesn't get even worse later in the year. It got so thick that yesterday we were not able to fish the hole that we had fished the two days before.
While reeling my rods in a couple times the lines crossed while dragging huge balls of seaweed. I was concerned that my Power Pro line might get weakened on either or both rods, as a result of friction on the lines as they slid along each other. Later on I found out that my concern was valid. I got a monster hit and my rod bent over and then snapped back, while my rod was still in a rod holder. I grabbed the rod and my line was slack. My line had snapped, apparently where it had rubbed on the line on the other rod. Very frustrating and I hate leaving a hook and some line in a sturgeon.
I enjoyed using my new fish finder; however, I need to get better at recognizing sturgeon from carp on my side imaging. It is extremely helpful to know the areas that aren't holding any fish, so no need to waste time fishing there.
It was a hot trip. The temperature varied from a low of 58 in the morning to 100 when we headed home on Friday. We typically never see temperatures anywhere near that high in May. It was great to get out with my cousin again and hopefully it was my first of many great sturgeon trips this year.
That first day, we managed to land 5 sturgeon (also lost three others) and strangely, we caught 5 sturgeon every day, for a total of 15 sturgeon. Even more odd was every day I landed 3 sturgeon and my cousin landed 2 sturgeon. Nothing large this trip, but my cousin did catch his personal best of 7'6".
Where we fish the floating seaweed can make it difficult and often impossible to fish. It has been my experience that the seaweed isn't a big issue until later in the year. Unfortunately, this year was an exception and the seaweed was as bad as I have ever seen it. I sure hope it doesn't get even worse later in the year. It got so thick that yesterday we were not able to fish the hole that we had fished the two days before.
While reeling my rods in a couple times the lines crossed while dragging huge balls of seaweed. I was concerned that my Power Pro line might get weakened on either or both rods, as a result of friction on the lines as they slid along each other. Later on I found out that my concern was valid. I got a monster hit and my rod bent over and then snapped back, while my rod was still in a rod holder. I grabbed the rod and my line was slack. My line had snapped, apparently where it had rubbed on the line on the other rod. Very frustrating and I hate leaving a hook and some line in a sturgeon.
I enjoyed using my new fish finder; however, I need to get better at recognizing sturgeon from carp on my side imaging. It is extremely helpful to know the areas that aren't holding any fish, so no need to waste time fishing there.
It was a hot trip. The temperature varied from a low of 58 in the morning to 100 when we headed home on Friday. We typically never see temperatures anywhere near that high in May. It was great to get out with my cousin again and hopefully it was my first of many great sturgeon trips this year.
