Willamette River report 10-2-2011 and a couple of questions

I fished out of GR park again today. It was a day of several firsts for me. It was the first day of poor smallmouth bass fishing. I fished for smallmouth for 4 hours with one dink and I lost a pretty nice fish near the kayak. It was the first use of my anchor (similar to the bsteves system). The anchor worked great. Even more importantly I had my first successful un-anchoring when it was time to leave   It was also my first time using my new sturgeon rod (thanks for the advice that led to the purchase). Finally, I caught my first sturgeon ever!!!! I did not try and measure it but I would guess it was close to 30". Thanks for all the advice that led to the capture of my first sturgeon!

Now a question or two. I had a lot of bites. Some were clearly small but some of the bites felt pretty good (like the one I caught). I was using circle hooks. Do folks prefer octopus hooks? I was wondering if the circle hook was not a good match to the sturgeons mouth. Second question has to do with weight. I picked 6oz and that had no problem holding the bottom. Should I have kept tried some lighter weights? Does this help with the hookups (assuming I can still hold bottom)?

For the record, the fish was caught on a worm wrapped sand shrimp. I had meant to buy some scent but I forgot. It did not seem to matter. I would get bites shortly after hitting the bottom.

I use octopus hooks. I have never had success with circle hooks. I let the fish hook itself, and don't mess with setting the hook until it is clear the fish is on (really tugging or a really slack line). My experience with sturgeon is that the smaller fish hit the hardest. I think the bigger fish are either smarter or lazier :-)

Great report and nice first sturgeon. 

Congrats on your first sturgeon.   I used circles last season and had no problems hooking up.  The secret with them is not to set the hook, let the fish take it then slowly add pressure. 

I fished out of GR park again today. It was a day of several firsts for me. It was the first day of poor smallmouth bass fishing. I fished for smallmouth for 4 hours with one dink and I lost a pretty nice fish near the kayak. It was the first use of my anchor (similar to the bsteves system). The anchor worked great. Even more importantly I had my first successful un-anchoring when it was time to leave   It was also my first time using my new sturgeon rod (thanks for the advice that led to the purchase). Finally, I caught my first sturgeon ever!!!! I did not try and measure it but I would guess it was close to 30". Thanks for all the advice that led to the capture of my first sturgeon!

Now a question or two. I had a lot of bites. Some were clearly small but some of the bites felt pretty good (like the one I caught). I was using circle hooks. Do folks prefer octopus hooks? I was wondering if the circle hook was not a good match to the sturgeons mouth. Second question has to do with weight. I picked 6oz and that had no problem holding the bottom. Should I have kept tried some lighter weights? Does this help with the hookups (assuming I can still hold bottom)?

For the record, the fish was caught on a worm wrapped sand shrimp. I had meant to buy some scent but I forgot. It did not seem to matter. I would get bites shortly after hitting the bottom.

pdxfisher, Congrats on your 1st. You are having too much fun!  Can't wait for my opportunities in the water for sturgeon.   

Do folks prefer octopus hooks? Yes, from my experiences.
6oz, is good.   I use 8-9oz.   dependent on the current.


From experience, the shakers take and run, while over size are "lazy" and sometimes I think it's squad fish. 

Thanks for the info guys. Two other things that I meant to mention in the original post and a few more questions.

1. I saw quite a few salmon jumping while I was fishing (maybe on every 10 minutes or so). I know these fish were in deep open water but would it be worthwhile to troll a spinner or plug back and forth even thought it is not holding water?

2. The seaplane (I think that the actual seaport is downstream a ways) came flying up the river only about 30' off the water. It did a touch and go in the river upstream from me a ways. I was worried it was going to crash since it was pretty low as it cleared the island (Hogg island?). I was also worried about the size of the wake if it did land beside me. Anyone else ever see this before?

Question about when to try and hook the fish. I had a lot of hits where I would feel: tug, tug tug or the line would pop slack. I kept waiting for a steady pull but should I just be setting the hook (or starting to reel with circle hooks) when I get these bites? What is your trigger for trying to hook up? Is getting bit constantly and only hooking up once normal? I probably dropped bait about 10 times and did get bites each time.

Sea planes are very common in that stretch.

If I were you I'd lose the circle hooks.  They work and I sometimes use them, but they make harder then it needs to be for someone just starting out.  8/0 owner cutting points on dacron leaders (100-120lb) with a slider and just enough weight to keep on the bottom is what I use and haven't "gut hooked" one in a decade.  When you're getting a solid "committed" tug tug tug tug (not tapity tipity tapity  ) set the hook and reel em in.

Wash up good, 300,000 gal of raw sewage dumped in W.L.

http://westlinn.katu.com/news/environment/443327-300000-gallons-sewage-goes-willamette

Wash up good, 300,000 gal of raw sewage dumped in W.L.

http://westlinn.katu.com/news/environment/443327-300000-gallons-sewage-goes-willamette

Maybe that explains why the bass fishing was so sh*tty

Wash up good, 300,000 gal of raw sewage dumped in W.L.

http://westlinn.katu.com/news/environment/443327-300000-gallons-sewage-goes-willamette

Maybe that explains why the bass fishing was so sh*tty

 

Wash up good, 300,000 gal of raw sewage dumped in W.L.

http://westlinn.katu.com/news/environment/443327-300000-gallons-sewage-goes-willamette

Maybe that explains why the bass fishing was so sh*tty

 

The good news is, if it came from W.L. or L.O. it doesn't stink.

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The good news is, if it came from W.L. or L.O. it doesn't stink.
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Back-up generators anyone???
Hysterical comment LB.

hopefully the sealions that have been hanging out all summer get hepatitis , herpes, hemroids. scabies..whatever
 It is very frustrating that stuff like this happens over and over. Its hard to change peoples opinion about the Willamette and get them to care more about it when its treated like a suburban sewer year after year.

Without calling anybody specific a liar, you've got to figure when there is a spill they probably under-report the hell out of it too.

If the DEQ or EPA comes down with a fine on a municipality for things that could have been prevented, those waste water managers don't want elected officials and auditors to say "Jim in water treatment is the reason this city $xx million in the red."

Pelagic, you are right, from a PR standpoint it's a morale killer. People and businesses in Portland have paid through the nose for the "Big Pipe" projects, and then to hear about a bunch of turds getting dumped upstream is aggravating.

Oh well, Rome wasn't built in a day, I guess that's why it's called a progressive "movement."

BTW- sorry about the threadjack!