Sturgeon Video's: Willamette River 11/6/11

[craig]

Like Jammer said, it was epic.

It seemed like I would be getting bit constantly.  I had my first bites within 2 minutes of the bait hitting bottom. I was either hooking up, or loosing bait.  They apparently didn't seem to mind the leftover sandshrimp I froze after my last Columbia River trip. I missed several and lost a lot of bait because they were constantly nibbling.  Total, I caught six.  So, that was landing about one fish per hour in the size range of about 42-54 inches for me. 

Unfortunately, my camera was aimed too high on my head so all you see on my videos is the rod bent over.  I did get some shots with the other camera mounted in my mast hole up front.  It is cool to see how long the battle actually takes.  I had one fight that I swore was 10 - 15 minutes and it towed me down stream quite a ways.  When I looked at the footage, it was only about 8 minutes. 

I had the first one swim really fast to the surface and jump fully out of the water. At first,  I thought it was a shaker. Then, I thought I lost it until it did the aerobatics.  Then it peeled out about 100 feet of drag from by biggest saltwater spinning reel and went back down to the bottom.  It was awesome.  I  am still sore from reeling.

Here is a short video click to view



Here are a few that I was able to pull some stills of from the front mounted GoPro.







Jammer getting some bendo action early in the morning. 





And a little later on...




And the "almost" grand finale, click to view

[kardinal_84]

SUH-WEEET!!!!  Love the BEND!  Looks like an Amazing fishery! JEALOUS!  And we think we have big fish here in Alaska!  That is just awesome! 

[DTS]

Nice report, and Cool Vid and Pics.   I'm not so sure it would of been as nice on Saturday.    I went out on Hagg lake with the kids Sat.  Only caught a 5" Trout and a 12" smallie. It was cold.  Mostly because it drizzly rained all day and with the breeze my hands were freezing!    I had to put my hands in the lake to warm them back up.    I was amazed at how the lake is still fairly warm.   

I had full intentions of hitting GR for Sturgeon Sat but Dicks were out of live sand shrimp.       Wish they had a way of getting stocked up for the weekends.  I asked about it and they said that they have to just wait for the guy who brings it in.  No way to control it, and there is no specific day that he arrives with it.

[Spot]

That's looks like an awesome time!!!  And sunshine too?  You guys scored.

DTS - Don't get stuck on sandshrimp.  Sturgeon will eat almost anything.  You could have converted that trout and smallie into some serious sturgeon bendos.

-Spot-

[CastIronTrout]

That was awsome guys. Some great looking fish and the clarity on the Go Pros is really nice. Looks like way to much fun.

[Canceled]

Wow I thought your trip and Jammer's day was amazing after his post, but it was even better than I thought!!! It looks like you had a great time fighting those big fish. I am still waiting to have my first sturgeon jump during a fight. That must be incredible. It is really impressive that you all caught so many big fish, I have only been getting shakers.

[kardinal_84]

I was thinking after watching the videos again that sturgeon fishing has the remote chance of being a pretty dangerous affair from a kayak.  Not enough that I still would be doing it every day I could if I lived close by though!

The reason being that I have noticed that in kayak fishing, the battles are MUCH closer to the vessel.  The kayak just gets pulled over big fish.  If you've watched my videos, especially with the leaping cohos (one actually jumped into my yak) that if you hooked an oversized sturgeon and they jumped, like many do, that an oversized or even the size you guys caught could literally turn into a HUGE missile.  I've handled struegons (dead ones) when I was at Quinault and those scales can be razor sharp. 

A risk reward scenario where I would DEFINITELY take the risk.  I can't wait to see one of you guys video tape a 9 footer leaping within feet of your yak or even over your yak! Oooooo!  The whale vids are dramatic, but they are "accidental.  But an oversized sturgeon on the end of your line clearing the water close by would be incredible!  KEEP FILMING!!!!!

[Jammer]

DTS - Don't get stuck on sandshrimp.  Sturgeon will eat almost anything.  You could have converted that trout and smallie into some serious sturgeon bendos.

-Spot-

.....so so true on the bait. I ended up foul hooking a 14" sucker that was mortally hooked thru the stomach. I decided to put him down and donate his body to science, so I chunked up the body right there using my Outback as a cutting board and dinner was served.. "Fresh local Sucker Medalions served with just a hint of Oil"

[pelagic paddler]

I was thinking after watching the videos again that sturgeon fishing has the remote chance of being a pretty dangerous affair from a kayak.  Not enough that I still would be doing it every day I could if I lived close by though!

The reason being that I have noticed that in kayak fishing, the battles are MUCH closer to the vessel.  The kayak just gets pulled over big fish.  If you've watched my videos, especially with the leaping cohos (one actually jumped into my yak) that if you hooked an oversized sturgeon and they jumped, like many do, that an oversized or even the size you guys caught could literally turn into a HUGE missile.  I've handled struegons (dead ones) when I was at Quinault and those scales can be razor sharp. 

A risk reward scenario where I would DEFINITELY take the risk.  I can't wait to see one of you guys video tape a 9 footer leaping within feet of your yak or even over your yak! Oooooo!  The whale vids are dramatic, but they are "accidental.  But an oversized sturgeon on the end of your line clearing the water close by would be incredible!  KEEP FILMING!!!!!

Nothing really to worry about, even with the big ones. No real risk involved, maybe a little when you unhook them but I often just cut the leader (on oversized) as close to the hook as possible  if they are hooked anywhere tricky. When they do jump its when they are first hooked and are away (downstream) from the kayak, once they have been on for a bit (first couple minutes)they just hunker down and stay deep.

[kardinal_84]

I was thinking after watching the videos again that sturgeon fishing has the remote chance of being a pretty dangerous affair from a kayak.  Not enough that I still would be doing it every day I could if I lived close by though!

The reason being that I have noticed that in kayak fishing, the battles are MUCH closer to the vessel.  The kayak just gets pulled over big fish.  If you've watched my videos, especially with the leaping cohos (one actually jumped into my yak) that if you hooked an oversized sturgeon and they jumped, like many do, that an oversized or even the size you guys caught could literally turn into a HUGE missile.  I've handled struegons (dead ones) when I was at Quinault and those scales can be razor sharp. 

A risk reward scenario where I would DEFINITELY take the risk.  I can't wait to see one of you guys video tape a 9 footer leaping within feet of your yak or even over your yak! Oooooo!  The whale vids are dramatic, but they are "accidental.  But an oversized sturgeon on the end of your line clearing the water close by would be incredible!  KEEP FILMING!!!!!

Nothing really to worry about, even with the big ones. No real risk involved, maybe a little when you unhook them but I often just cut the leader (on oversized) as close to the hook as possible  if they are hooked anywhere tricky. When they do jump its when they are first hooked and are away (downstream) from the kayak, once they have been on for a bit (first couple minutes)they just hunker down and stay deep.

Wow!  Could you ask for a more perfect Kayak fish?  Eats anything, grows huge, leaps (safely at a distance), and pulls like a freight train the other times!   Oh...and good eats as well.  Loved the smoked sturgeon I had while in Washington. A little oily (in a weird kind of way) but delicious!

SIGN ME UP!

[craig]

That's looks like an awesome time!!!  And sunshine too?  You guys scored.

DTS - Don't get stuck on sandshrimp.  Sturgeon will eat almost anything.  You could have converted that trout and smallie into some serious sturgeon bendos.

-Spot-

It was a beautiful day.  Unfortunately for me, I chose the shady side.  I only had the sun for a couple hours. I forgot how low it would be in the sky this time of year (damn Earth axis tilt thingy).  However, I sure wasn't going to move for as much action as I was getting. 

I was thinking after watching the videos again that sturgeon fishing has the remote chance of being a pretty dangerous affair from a kayak.  Not enough that I still would be doing it every day I could if I lived close by though!

The reason being that I have noticed that in kayak fishing, the battles are MUCH closer to the vessel.  The kayak just gets pulled over big fish.  If you've watched my videos, especially with the leaping cohos (one actually jumped into my yak) that if you hooked an oversized sturgeon and they jumped, like many do, that an oversized or even the size you guys caught could literally turn into a HUGE missile.  I've handled struegons (dead ones) when I was at Quinault and those scales can be razor sharp. 

A risk reward scenario where I would DEFINITELY take the risk.  I can't wait to see one of you guys video tape a 9 footer leaping within feet of your yak or even over your yak! Oooooo!  The whale vids are dramatic, but they are "accidental.  But an oversized sturgeon on the end of your line clearing the water close by would be incredible!  KEEP FILMING!!!!!

Nothing really to worry about, even with the big ones. No real risk involved, maybe a little when you unhook them but I often just cut the leader (on oversized) as close to the hook as possible  if they are hooked anywhere tricky. When they do jump its when they are first hooked and are away (downstream) from the kayak, once they have been on for a bit (first couple minutes)they just hunker down and stay deep.

Kardinal, you made me scared to go back out there.  Luckily, Pelagic Paddler made me feel all safe again.  Phew!  It is the unhooking that has me the most worried as well.  Every once in awhile, some one gets a good slap across the face(or close to it) to remind them there may be an element of danger.

From a previous post by Jammer
http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,6259.0.html

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[Jammer]

Did you see the lead from my line floating around in front of my face? There's definitly some risk involved

[kardinal_84]

Always some kind of danger!  That's what makes it cool...right?  I've been smacked across the side of the head with a 8oz cannon ball several times when bottom bouncing kings.  No fun.  One time I was dizzy for a few minutes.  Would not be good on a kayak.  The THRILL of the hunt!

Too cool!

[DTS]

DTS - Don't get stuck on sandshrimp.  Sturgeon will eat almost anything.  You could have converted that trout and smallie into some serious sturgeon bendos.

-Spot-

.....so so true on the bait. I ended up foul hooking a 14" sucker that was mortally hooked thru the stomach. I decided to put him down and donate his body to science, so I chunked up the body right there using my Outback as a cutting board and dinner was served.. "Fresh local Sucker Medalions served with just a hint of Oil"

Wasnt thinking about that. good tip.  Hey I have some old trout in the freezer. I just might give that a try. 

[Rory]

Frickin awesome vids. I love seeing the monster come up from the depths.