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[font "Calibri"]It was quite an adventure! Final tally was 6 sturgeons landed, one lost, and a new life-time best. I didn’t land an eight-footer yet, but I got closer to my goal, and I may very well have lost one over 8 feet long. The weather was cool and the wind was brutal every day. Not exactly ideal sturgeon fishing conditions, but we were persistent. Bass fishing was fantastic, as it seems like it almost always is, with about 75 bass, ranging up to 14 inches long, in about 2 ½ hours of fishing. [/font]
[font "Calibri"]This was the first trip that we landed several up and coming sturgeon, with three of the sturgeon measuring 26 inches or less, which is good to see, because it means that they are reproducing, which helps insure the future fishery. On Saturday Paul landed a 63” sturgeon, which would weigh approximately 74 pounds. [/font]
[font "Calibri"]Early Saturday morning, I hooked one that I knew was a good fish. It went between at least three other lines, before we could reel them in, without hanging up on any of them, which was truly amazing. We weren’t quite as lucky with it not getting wrapped around the anchor rope. That was only a momentary problem, because it merely pulled so hard and fast that the Dacron fishing line cut off the anchor rope like a knife cutting through salami. [shocked] Problem solved, except that I lost two anchors (doubled up to help keep the boat from swinging in the breeze), but I will gladly sacrifice a couple anchors for a new life-time best sturgeon. We battled the fish for around 15 minutes before being able to get it to the boat. It measured 92 inches, which would make it approximately 41 years old and 235 pounds ] One of my goals was to catch a sturgeon that weighed more than I did and this one accomplished that goal.[/font]
[font "Calibri"]A few hours later I hooked my third sturgeon of the day, and this one took off like a bullet. The drag was screaming with no signs that the fish was going to slow down before spooling me. I knew that if I didn’t slow it down it would break off before we were able to get the boat moving to catch up with the fish. I had to try to slow it down to buy a little more time. I started tightening the drag as tightly as I could get it to go, when the fish broke my leader. I guess that I need to get stronger leader, but one would hope that 80’ test Dacron for leader would be adequate![mad][/font]
[font "Calibri"]It was a pleasure meeting and fishing with Paul and Bren. You couldn't ask for two nicer guys to take fishing. They are experienced anglers and have landed many large fish in their day.[/font]
[font "Calibri"]The quest continues, probably this fall, to land my first eight-footer. With a little luck I will leapfrog over the eight- footer and land a nine-footer instead.[/font]
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Kent, I am glad you had a good trip. Where along the river did you find the best bass fishing? That wind can be brutal up there. Did you use the same bait as usual? It looks like you are using some new weights on your lines. Thanks for the report.
Rob
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Kent, It was great meeting and fishing with you. Sturgeon are certainly an impressive fish (the one the broke Kent's leader nearly spooled him before Bren or I had a chance to even clear one rod). I knew I was in for a new experience when Kent suggested using 80lb line and I was not disappointed. I was able to catch my largest fish to date in freshwater. If anyone has a chance to fish for sturgeon with Kent, jump at it - he is great company and knows how to catch these fish.
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[cool][#0000ff]Congrats on the biggie. That battle could have turned out a lot differently. Glad you got the fish to boatside for the measuring festivities.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Too bad about the wind. That is just about always a factor there...from one direction or another.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]At least you didn't lose any tents...or did you?[/#0000ff]
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The best place for bass (although we didn't try very many places) was in the large pool south of camp on the east shoreline. We tried many different baits for sturgeon, but the proven bait was the only one that caught a fish. Learned that freshly opened roll mop herring is far better than herring that isn't quite as fresh, and also better than the herring that is in wine sauce. Paul and Bren used railroad spikes, but in hindsight it was a mistake, and they likely would have caught more sturgeon had they used the proven method. The problem with railroad spikes is that they were heavier than necessary, and they would frequently tangle in the leader, and would often break off on the hookset. It was amazing how many bites that Bren got and they would only bite once. We decided on the way home that they likely either felt the weight or that the weight pulled it right back out of their mouths.
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[quote TubeDude]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]At least you didn't lose any tents...or did you?[/#0000ff][/quote]
No tents blown away this trip. I didn't take any chances -- I slept in the Suburban.
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Sounds awesome Kent! Glad you could hook into such a good fish!
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[#500000]Nice report.....Nice Fish....Are you talking about the herring in the roll top cans?........How many ounces are the wedge weights? WW[/#500000]
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No, these herring are in a glass jar, with the herring pickled in vinegar, onions, spices and wrapped around a pickle. Depending upon how strong the wind is blowing, I use from 4 to 10 ounces of lead in the pyramid weights. I use 6 ounces most frequently and this trip I never went over 8 ounces.
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Good job Kent. I tried to get out, but couldn't break free. After I get through recovering from my shoulder operation this upcoming wednesday, I'll get you in to my secret spot and get you your 8+ footer. You have definitley paid your dues.
Did you mark where you lost the anchor? I have a magnetic recovery device that may well retrieve one or both if we know where they are...
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Hold on a second...what were you using for bait? Herring in a jar? Did you hook the jar weedless? [crazy] I don't know the first thing about sturgeon fishing but those are some nice fish. Even the "small" ones. Do you have to keep them in the water no matter the size? Do they all have to be released? I imagine taking a fish that size out of the water would crush it. Awesome pics, do you mind if I send them to some friends of mine?
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is that a rail road spike used for a sinker!?
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[quote Mojo1]Good job Kent. I tried to get out, but couldn't break free. After I get through recovering from my shoulder operation this upcoming wednesday, I'll get you in to my secret spot and get you your 8+ footer. You have definitley paid your dues.
Did you mark where you lost the anchor? I have a magnetic recovery device that may well retrieve one or both if we know where they are...[/quote]
Joe, sorry to hear about your upcoming shoulder operation, hope all goes well, and I look forward to getting after them with you. I didn't mark the spot where we lost the anchors -- worrying about getting a sturgeon landed more than marking a gps spot. I was thinking yesterday why I didn't try to find it with my retrieval magnet. It is close to being straight out from the rusted car about 2/3 of the way across the river towards the east shore. Because the chains on both anchors are hooked together it will be a heavy lift.
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[quote fsh4fun05] Do you have to keep them in the water no matter the size? Do they all have to be released? I imagine taking a fish that size out of the water would crush it. Awesome pics, do you mind if I send them to some friends of mine?[/quote]
In Idaho it is totally catch and release, in fact one must not even remove sturgeon from the water. Barbless hooks are also required. They do allow treble hooks (barbless), which I would never use. Ok to share the pictures. Do a search under my name for "sturgeon" and you will find some better pictures than we got on this trip.
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It killed me to turn down that invite! Thanks for sharing the stories and the pics, it looks like you guys had a great time!
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Once again, it appears I "missed the boat" by not going with!!!
Congrats Kent, that in an awesome achievement! Sounds like it was a good trip all the way around.
I almost consider my anchors "expendable". I seem to find as many as I lose however, so I break even!
Randy
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I used to N.ot have E.nough T.ime O.ff to go fishing. Then I retired. Now I have less time than I had before. Sheesh.
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Good on ya Kent. Congrats on your new personal best! Maybe that 8 footer will turn into a 10'er,, then you have to put in extra effort for the 8' and 9er, [  ]
I keep telling myself I need to find an around-to-it and pester you during one of your Sturgeon runs
Oh btw, I see that boat is still RED [ ]
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Another great Sturgeon report Kent, our plans to go up there fell through but we haven't given up yet. Way to go on getting another personal best and thanks for sharing.
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[quote Coldfooter]
I keep telling myself I need to find an around-to-it and pester you during one of your Sturgeon runs
Oh btw, I see that boat is still RED [ ][/quote]
Don, it would be a pleasure to have you pester me on one of my sturgeon trips, just give me the word and you are in. Yep, the boat is still red. I must of been in a really weak moment or desperate or both to ever purchase a red boat.
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I failed to mention that while fishing for bass we also got into some schools of crappie. Nothing huge, but 9 inchers were easy to be had and provided fast action. Those bass are so plentiful that even three inexperienced bass anglers were able to catch them almost as quickly as we could get our lines into the water. One afternoon, because of the wind, we tried fishing from shore. It was really steep and next to impossible to get close to the water. I hooked one bass that went at least 14" and walked along the side of the steep hillside, at least 15' from the water, until I was able to get where Bren was close to the water. I think that guy is 1/2 mountain goat.
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