WHO,S CAUGHT STURGUIN?

[crossineye]

HEADING UP TO THE SNAKE AGAIN. WAS WONDERING HOW MANY OF US HAVE DONE THIS. AND WHAT BAIT WAS USED FOR YOURS. IF YOU HAVENT DONE THIS YOU DESERVE TO!!!!! HOLLY BIG FISH. THE SUNDAY WILL BE FISHING EYES ON HARD WATER WITH THE GUIDE I THINK HE SAID SOMETHING LIKE PALASADES. HE SAID BIG EYES SO I SAID IM IN !!!!! ILL POST WHEN I GET HOME TUESDAY. WILL BE LOOKING FOR REPLIES ON BAIT . LAST TIME I USED A 9 INCH RAINBOW.
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[Kent]

I caught about 25 of them last year (2004) so I think I qualify as having caught sturgeon. All were caught on The Snake River from my boat, and I caught them with herring as an attractor and then several crawlers to seal the deal. I tried cisco and other fishies and got some bites but no hookups.

Here is the report on one of my three trips last year:

[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=159385;search_string=sturgeon;#159385"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/...ing=sturgeon;#159385[/url]
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[fairwayphilly]

I've never done it, but after looking at kents pics I've definately put in on my "to-do" list. Wow those were some huge fish.
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[fishin4fun]

I too have caught the big ol' boys in the Snake. We go up near Lewiston, Idaho where the Snake and Clearwater converge. Usually chasing Salmon or Steelhead, but take a day and chase sturgeon. We go up the Snake about 25 miles or so. I've gone with a guide (1st time) and on our own the next.

Sturgeon aren't very picky. Our #1 bait was a salmon gut pile, herring worked well, along with hot dogs! []

Look DEEP. I'm talking 60-100' holes and let it just sit there. The guide is nice for this. Show you some holes and how to work a bait deep with a huge current. Also teaches how to beach them for good pics. [sly]

I must say, if you are a diehard, you really need to cross one of these babies off your list of to do's before I die!! It is simply an awesome experience.

Here are a few pics from last year. Most were around 4' long with the biggest going 7 1/2'. We fought him for about 45 mins. Hooked into another that may have went 8-9' feet. Goto see him, but he ran on us and go off. What a ride!

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7 1/2 footer

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Sturgeon Baby

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Another mug shot of me

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And one of the bigger boys....


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Uhh.. ok.. maybe this one! [cool]

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F4F
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[fishnate]

I went with Kent last year and had a great time and one other time to the Columbia. We used anchovie on the Columbia and worm and herring on the snake. I've heard the small rainbows are the guides choice on the Snake though. Hope you nail a few!
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[Sollly]

Pickled Herring here. Wrapped with Kwikfish stretchy thread to hold it on better. Big hook, big weight, big rod, big reel, big line.
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[wiperhunter2]

Kent and I fished with Lundman a couple of years ago and caught a few. One of mine broke off but I was able to get a smaller one in. We were using the same thing that Kent posted. The guide can really help, good luck on the big eyes, we look forward to your report. WH2
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[crossineye]

TRYING A PIC FROM LAST YRS TRIP.
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[Lundman]

All the information provided above is great and correct. The sturgeon just like other bottom feeders change their diet with the time of the year and the current run of fish/eel/etc.. Just go up to the Columbia when the shad are running and put a whole shad on and fish for "gators" (oversized sturgeon) or catch a fresh eel out of the creek and watch how effective they are.

I know most of you sturgeon fisherman haven't fished for them in the winter months but the winter months require more patience and allowing your bait to sit on the bottom longer.

One bait that tubedude mentioned was herring - I rely on this as a key bait but only "Pickled Herring".

So the key to success is time of year is-
1) A good fire
2) Patience
3) Persistance
4) Warm Clothing & Boots
5) fortitude

Good Luck & stay warm
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[crossineye]

IT WORKED COOL. HERE R A FEW MOORE
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[Kent]

Will you please quit making these sturgeon posts? It will be a few months before I will be able to go after them again, and you are making it hard to wait!
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[BrianID]

I like to use the pan sized trout for bait but mostly because they are cheap and sturgeon normally aren't too picky. Sometimes they will bite one bait better than another and then the trick is to use something that the other guys haven't been useing or use what the sturgeons natural food for that area is. Everyone else has already given some good suggestions the only other suggestion that I would make is to use some smaller stuff wadded up in an egg sack. Some of the natural foods for sturgeon in the upper parts of the snake river include crawfish, snails and insects they can suck off the bottom, dead fish including trout, bass, suckers, carp, pikeminnow(squawfish), sculpine, shinners and other species of fish that I just can't remember right now. The way I see it sturgeon are just like catfish. Anything that smells and is on the bottom normally works but I have heard of guys catching suspended sturgeon as well.
I think the biggest trick to sturgeon fishing is location. Since it only takes a 2 or 3 guys to make most holes crowed you'll find that most sturgeon fisherman won't share their holes with just anyone otherwise when they go back there to fish it will be too crowded and they will have to either go somewhere else or go home. So if most sturgeon fisherman seem to have tight lips about their fishing holes try to understand.
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[Kent]

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[crossineye]

THANX FOR THE INFO!!! HAVE TO TIP MY HOOKS WITH SOME CRAWLERS SOUNDS LIKE. WONDER WHAT MY FREIND BILL THE GUIDE IS GOING TO SAY WHEN I DO THAT? O WELL IF IT PUTS AN EDGE IN MY FAVOR I AM DOING IT... THANX AGAIN CROSSINEYE
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[Kent]

I tip mine with anywhere from 2 to 4 crawlers. Then I put on a cut piece of thick rubber band (keeps the crawlers on the hook until a fish takes them off).
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