Sturgeon, anybody want to take me out?

There are a few fishing threads getting mixed in here. Here's my summary of trips I'm seeing planned:

Monday 11/21 - iHop is hoping to get SteveHawk out from Camas on the Columbia to scout the holes around the Power Lines for Sturgeon (catch and release).

Friday 11/25 (Black Friday) - several guys planning to launch from either Camas, WA or Chinook Landing, OR and meet around the Power Lines for AOTY support for Craig.

Saturday 11/26 - another group planning to fish the Willy or Big C for AOTY Sturgeon points.

Thursday 12/1 - iHop planning to crab and fish at Netarts or Nehalem and then attend the Hillsboro seminar Kayak Fishing 101 put on by Spot. At this point not sure if anyone else is coming on this one.

I'm going to post this as a new topic so we can keep these straight.

I'm down for 2 days of fishing, I'll just need to figure out where I'm staying (hotel wise).

Good summary iHop.  Anyone who joins us Saturday, 11/26 on the Willamette (if that's where we end up) should know that there is no retention right now for Sturgeon.  You won't get any AOTY points but you'll have a good chance of ridin' the sleigh.

Great job deepcolor! I ended up with 7 shakers - all around 2' long. I could not find anything bigger and the bite was pretty slow. The bait would sit for quite a while before any kind of tap, tap, tap.  I caught 5 from the deep hole then I moved off of the deep water spot and tried fishing 3 other places but did not get a bite. I went back to the deep hole briefly and caught 2 more of the mini-sturgeon.

The other thing that was odd was that I had a lot of bites that chewed on it for a few seconds and then let go.

There are a few fishing threads getting mixed in here. Here's my summary of trips I'm seeing planned:

Monday 11/21 - iHop is hoping to get SteveHawk out from Camas on the Columbia to scout the holes around the Power Lines for Sturgeon (catch and release).

Friday 11/25 (Black Friday) - several guys planning to launch from either Camas, WA or Chinook Landing, OR and meet around the Power Lines for AOTY support for Craig.

Saturday 11/26 - another group planning to fish the Willy or Big C for AOTY Sturgeon points.

Thursday 12/1 - iHop planning to crab and fish at Netarts or Nehalem and then attend the Hillsboro seminar Kayak Fishing 101 put on by Spot. At this point not sure if anyone else is coming on this one.

I'm going to post this as a new topic so we can keep these straight.

I really could grow to hate the Regulations. Not that they exist or are enforced, I'm all for that  What I can't stand is reading them four times and then five minutes later, wondering what I just read Current example and If I'm comprehending what's in print, Oregon is C&R only on the Willy, but the Columbia is still open to keepers through the end of the year, or until big brother says its time to shut it down for the year, due to quotas. Is anyone else getting the same message? 

Sturgeon on Columbia can be retained ONLY Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It's catch and release on other days. Size to keep is 38-54".


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Here is how you measure them. http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/fishing/docs/sturgeon_angler_notice_flyer.pdf

Quick question, I'm headed to the store here in about 2 hrs.....

What size hook with what # leader should i buy?

What sinkers should I get?  Cannon ball?  How heavy?

This will be for both the Columbia and the Willy trip.

Thanks all!

Sturgeon on Columbia can be retained ONLY Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It's catch and release on other days. Size to keep is 38-54".
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Sturgeon on Columbia can be retained ONLY Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It's catch and release on other days. Size to keep is 38-54", but only if your ring finger exceeds the length of your index finger on your non dominant hand, while casting at a 285 degree angle when facing north, except Saturday when your rod may not exceed 2.5 cm as measured 75 cm above the greatest thickness of said rod and while holding your left foot 47.6 degrees from your right in a squatting position and only if your right foot remains at a 90 degree angle to a straight line, dissecting the stern of the watercraft you intend to use while the ambient temperature is between 35 and 60 degrees farenheit.
AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Quick question, I'm headed to the store here in about 2 hrs.....

What size hook with what # leader should i buy?

What sinkers should I get?  Cannon ball?  How heavy?

This will be for both the Columbia and the Willy trip.

Thanks all!

My suggestions:
Hooks: 7/0 to 9/0 Octopus
Leader: Dacron 80 lb. to 150 lb.
Weights: 6, 8, 10, and 12 oz. ~2 of each (you could get away with two 6's and 10's or two 8s' and 12's) Pyramids or cannon balls.
Also weight sliders and bead chain swivels

thanks rawk,

also, will 65lb braid be ok for my main line?

I have found the pyramids seam to roll less and cause less tangles.  Also, I believe they are cheaper/oz.  I have found that the 7/0 Gamakatsu octopus hooks have increased my hook-up rate (over the pre-tied Brad's 8/0's I bought awhile back) and they work great on the sand shrimp/night crawler combo.  Tie up your leaders with an egg loop knot.  It will hold the shrimp on very well.

thanks rawk,

also, will 65lb braid be ok for my main line?

That might make things a little hairy in the event you need to break off, especially since you're not in a Hobie.  I would suggest adding a ~15 ft. topshot of something a little more forgiving... say... 30 or 40 lb. mono.  Just make sure to tie good knots and that'll work just fine.

Here is what I am using:

Sinkers: I have been using pyramids at Craig's suggestion and they seem to hold well. 6oz was barely adequate to hold in the main current yesterday. 8 would have been better. If flow goes up then of course more weight. If you fish out of the main flow you can use less weight, although I have not had a problem with using more weight in less flow. A lot of knowledgeable folks never go below 8.

Line: I am using 30lb braid. I had to break off yesterday. I wrapped it around my pliers handle and it was pretty easy to break it. Still i am not sure how hard it would be to break if it was twice as strong.

Hooks: I have been using 7/0 Circle Octopus hooks (I think I have some Gamakatsu and some Eagle Claw). I am a fan of circle hooks. Plenty of folks like the regular octopus.

Leader: I was using 30lb, but you need to check it often. Yesterday I used 70lb test and it never showed any wear. I did have more fish pickup and drop the bait but they may have been more related to the cooler water and heavier current rather than the leader thickness.

Sliders: There is a standard sturgeon slider that most folks use. It is a plastic tube for your line with a snap for the weight.

Swivel: High quality, big swivel for between the main line and the leader.

Beads: I put a bead between slider and swivel.

Scent: I am new to the scent game. I bought some "Sturgeon Cocktail" and the fish seem to like it pretty well. I do not always use scent, but it does seem to help the fish find the bait some days.

Bait: Do not listen to Craig if he says to store it in your kayak

Also, if you forget something or can not find something I would certainly be happy to give you any terminal tackle you might be lacking.

 

Crap, went to the store yesterday and they didn't have anything that I needed.... argh!  I'm going to check another store today.

Since we are looking at 2 different trips, should we start a Friday Thread and a Saturday thread to keep things straight?