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John's Journal... Entry 92, Day 2

Where and How to Fish for Sturgeon

click to enlargeEDITOR'S NOTE: Outdoorsman Thayne Barrie, an experienced sturgeon fisherman, owns the Sunset Sport Centers in Boise, Idaho. He and the employees who work at his store can help anglers obtain information on sturgeon fishing on the Snake River.

Question: Thayne, how do you fish for sturgeon?
Answer:
Once I've located a possible sturgeon hole by looking for narrowings of the river and those deeper slots, I'll drop anchor and use a chart recorder or a fish finder. The easiest way to see the fish is to use bottom track because they are on the river bottom. They'll show up as bumps and look like logs on the bottom. I'll pull up about 20 yards above the fish, drop anchor and cast out after I've rigged our rods and put on the bait. In Idaho, you can get a two-pole permit and use up to two rods apiece. If we have two guys on the boat, we'll have four rods out. Sturgeon fishing can be fast and furious, or we may catch only one or two sturgeon a day.

Question: Do the sturgeon come up to the bait?
Answer: Yes. I'm trying to get the bait fairly close to the sturgeon, but these fish haven't gotten that big by passing up a meal. They're constantly looking for food, and they try to find food by using their tentacles at the fronts of their noses that attract scent. Sturgeon can really get a fix on food, and if they're in that hole, they'll find the food.

Question: What happens when sturgeon take the bait?
Answer: Well, the rod may go straight down, or you may have action like a trout bite. If you're getting those little trout bites, you want to have your rod in your hand. When you feel that little bump, bump, bump, wait until you feel a little bit of pressure weighed against it. Then set the hook as hard as you can. If you think you can break that rod setting the hook, you try it.

Question: Once you set the hook sturgeon, what happens next?
Answer: The first thing a sturgeon will do is scream downstream, and you may as well not try to stop the fish. Be prepared by fishing with quality reels with good drags, and just hold on, because you're not going to stop those fish.

Question: How far will sturgeon run?
Answer: Anywhere from 100 to 150 yards.

click to enlargeQuestion: What if a sturgeon doesn't stop?
Answer: Then you better lift up anchor real quick and chase the fish downriver. If you're on the banks, have a good knife with you, because losing your line is better than losing your whole rod and reel set-up.

Question: How far have you ever run a sturgeon down a river?
Answer: A couple or three miles.

Question: How big was that sturgeon?
Answer: That one was about 7 feet. The fight is a lot more fun if you can stay anchored and fight them up to you. The fight is quite a bit easier if you drift with the sturgeon, but it's not as much fun. I really prefer to stay anchored and try to bring the sturgeon back to me.

Question: What happens when you get the sturgeon up?
Answer: Plan on spending a minimum of 30 minutes fighting the fish. Sometimes you'll get a 20-minute fish, but generally it's a 30-minute fight. With bigger sturgeon, fighting the fish may require an hour of your time.

To learn more about sturgeon fishing on the Snake River in Idaho, call the Idaho Department of Fish and Game at (208) 334-3700, or click here to contact any of these sporting stores in Boise, Idaho.

TOMORROW: Thayne Barrie's Greatest Sturgeon Trip

 

 

 

 

Check back each day this week for more about Thayne Barrie -- Sturgeon Fishing on the Snake River ...

Day 1 -Sturgeon Fishing on the Snake River
Day 2 -Where and How to Fish for Sturgeon
Day 3 -Thayne Barrie's Greatest Sturgeon Trip
Day 4 -Hiring a Guide for Sturgeon Fishing
Day 5 -Fishing for Sturgeon at Night

John's Journal