New Sturgeon Regs for Willamette 2014

By now, we all know that retention for sturgeon is prohibited in the Willamette River 2014.   Today however I got an update from ODFW.

Angling for sturgeon, including catch-and-release, is prohibited seven days per week during May 1 through August 31 from Willamette Falls downstream to the Lake Oswego-Oak Grove Railroad Bridge.

In other words no sturgeon CnR fishing at George Rogers between May and August.

Is this because this is when they spawn?  They have similar regs just below McNary dam in that time frame.

I noticed that in the 2014 regulations as well. Affects my "home water" unfortunately but I'll have other fish to chase by then.

Wow! I guess I will focus on bass and beer at night while I am enjoying the tepid waters of the Willamette in the summer.

That's lame but we can still fish lower, Sellwood for one.

There is no women's rowing team practicing down there.

I forgot about your love of....rowing

That's lame but we can still fish lower, Sellwood for one.

There is tons of great sturgeon water below the train-trestle. I would suggest that all you sturgeon anglers try some spots below the train-trestle that you haven't been to before. I fish right upstream from Elk Rock quite a bit and have caught dozens of oversized there. Sellwood area has some great reliable holes, and if you haven't fished the Swan I. basin when the big ones are there, oh my! The lower W. has so many good sturgeon holes, it is amazing. I personally like below George Rogers for the ease of anchoring in less current, less snags because the bottom isn't rocky, and the holes I fish are typically 80ft or less. Having said that, I know that the fishing can be insane above the train-trestle, having done plenty myself and I will miss fishing Meldrum Bar in June because last year was ridiculous for me there with giants every time out.
If you enjoy sturgeon fishing from the kayak, check out this video I made. It is filmed right below the train-trestle deadline Nov 2013 and it features one of my top 5 biggest dinos ever. It is a little goofy, but if you like to fish, you might like it.

That is one nice Sturgeon and the video does not lie!

Man I get so fired up when I see a good fishing video like that! Makes me want to cut out of work and go down to the river NOW!

Don't apologize... there's a lot of kindred souls that like posting videos, and it's not all self-indulgent, it gets other people stoked up to go out and fish. You're practically a missionary!

Btw completely agree with "tons of great sturgeon water." I've never understood the attraction to fishing in the most difficult places possible when there's great fishing just down the way, especially with the anchoring challenges presented by a kayak (notably the lack of leverage when trying to retrieve it). Anyway, good points all and nice fishin'!

I never found GR Park to be difficult.  You drop your anchor in 25-40 feet of water on the shelf above the hole, scope out until you are over the 100-140 foot hole, and catch fish.  You don't have to drop the anchor in the hole itself.  Some days you don't even need an anchor when the current is slow.

I never found GR Park to be difficult.  You drop your anchor in 25-40 feet of water on the shelf above the hole, scope out until you are over the 100-140 foot hole, and catch fish.  You don't have to drop the anchor in the hole itself.  Some days you don't even need an anchor when the current is slow.

Good to know! I have no experience anchoring there (in the kayak), I'm just going off of what I read here. Everyone talks about losing anchors there, and people insist you'll never hold without big lead anchors, etc. I am really not trying to start another anchoring thread! Opinions are like fish stories... everybody's got one.

Great video!  Thanks for sharing.  I will definitely be pedaling down below the bridge next time I get out there.

I never found GR Park to be difficult.  You drop your anchor in 25-40 feet of water on the shelf above the hole, scope out until you are over the 100-140 foot hole, and catch fish.  You don't have to drop the anchor in the hole itself.  Some days you don't even need an anchor when the current is slow.

Just make sure you scope enough rope out that when you're anchor drags and drops over the ledge, you don't lose everything when disconnected -- right!?!?!   

-Sam

MinnowMagnet...Crap!  Nice!!...