High Water Willie Sturgeon

Right on. PM sent. Will definitely report back!

I'm stoked to see some folks made it out there. It is a different sturgeon fishing location for sure. Often noisy, sometimes smelly and zero current. I go there when the river is blown-out but I prefer to fish in current, when it is not moving above 2 fps.
The Willamette is crawling with sturgeon now and there were so many at Swan I. that my sonar couldn't even lock on the bottom at the spot I was fishing on 2/28. A fellow yak angler an I each caught around 50-60 fish apiece on that day. That was a bite that happened in 30 seconds or less for a few hours. Interestingly, in that spot, if I casted off one side of the boat I would get zippo, but if I casted off the other side, instant fish-on.
Having said that, I don't understand why the fish behave that way at Swan I, but here are a couple of pointers that have helped me bring so many fish to the boat there:
Small baits/small hooks- make your bait as small as possible. I use half a herring, but even smaller would be best.
Short leader- it took me awhile to figure this out, but at Swan I, with no current, I hook up infinitely better on a short leader (this was counter-intuitive for me). Bait less than 12" from slider.
Move a lot- if your not catching in one spot, move. Don't let your FF mess with your emotions. Sometimes a move of a few meters can make all the difference.
I'm no fishing expert and I have learned tons on this forum, so I hope that I can help someone catch a few more of these High Water Willie Sturgeon. Be nice to them.

I'm stoked to see some folks made it out there. It is a different sturgeon fishing location for sure. Often noisy, sometimes smelly and zero current. I go there when the river is blown-out but I prefer to fish in current, when it is not moving above 2 fps.
The Willamette is crawling with sturgeon now and there were so many at Swan I. that my sonar couldn't even lock on the bottom at the spot I was fishing on 2/28. A fellow yak angler an I each caught around 50-60 fish apiece on that day. That was a bite that happened in 30 seconds or less for a few hours. Interestingly, in that spot, if I casted off one side of the boat I would get zippo, but if I casted off the other side, instant fish-on.
Having said that, I don't understand why the fish behave that way at Swan I, but here are a couple of pointers that have helped me bring so many fish to the boat there:
Small baits/small hooks- make your bait as small as possible. I use half a herring, but even smaller would be best.
Short leader- it took me awhile to figure this out, but at Swan I, with no current, I hook up infinitely better on a short leader (this was counter-intuitive for me). Bait less than 12" from slider.
Move a lot- if your not catching in one spot, move. Don't let your FF mess with your emotions. Sometimes a move of a few meters can make all the difference.
I'm no fishing expert and I have learned tons on this forum, so I hope that I can help someone catch a few more of these High Water Willie Sturgeon. Be nice to them.

Thanks for the tips. I got a variety of baits to throw at them so hopefully I can find something they want.

thanks for the input, minnowmagnet! do you have favorite hook size for the smaller baits (1/2 herring, etc...)?

That's great advice. I have found I get more hookups with shorter than recommended leaders for sturgeon in all water types, fwiw. In the last 15 years I started at 4ft and right now I'm down to 12-16 inches.

I also move frequently (search & destroy style) unless I'm very familiar with where I'm fishing. Sitting and waiting for them to come to you can be effective as well it just seems to take longer.

I wish I could join you this weekend but I have an obligation on Saturday night.   I want to go fishing!!!!

thanks for the input, minnowmagnet! do you have favorite hook size for the smaller baits (1/2 herring, etc...)?

I use 5/0 hooks which are the smallest Brad's pre-tied leaders I can find at Bi-Mart. They are cheap and easy and good quality.
I mistakenly said on this thread that a friend and I clobbered tons of fish on 2/28. I was mistaken. The day was Sunday, 2/25 (editorial note).
Here is a photo of how I rig up my tail section of the herring. I have been asked this a bunch. The head piece is pretty much the same as if you do a whole fish, just with less half-hitches. I use stretchy thread only if the bite sucks or I am running out of bait. I don't think what you are using matters as much as your location as long as it is a known standard official sturgeon bait like anchovies, squid, herring, sand-shrimp and many more. I only use herring, all year, either river, no matter what.

You guys rock. Really appreciate all the advice.

Is there a specific benefit to using dacron leader material over identical lb-test braid, fluoro or mono?

You guys rock. Really appreciate all the advice.

Is there a specific benefit to using dacron leader material over identical lb-test braid, fluoro or mono?

Dacron leader is easy to grab with your hands and doesn't cut into the fish as much when it's spinning around and freaking out. It is soft and the fish does not feel it while sucking on your bait. Don't waste your money on fluoro for sturgeon. Those fish are not line-shy. I go mainline braid to dacron leader, but mono to dacron is fine too.

I like the braided nylon Sturgeon leader made by Western Filament.  It too, is soft and supple.

I never go above 16 inches in leader length. I also snell tie the hook. The knot gives me a better hook set.

My preferred bait method is to thread the leader through the mouth and out the anus. Two half-hitches around the tail and you are done.

Wobbler

You guys rock. Really appreciate all the advice.

Is there a specific benefit to using dacron leader material over identical lb-test braid, fluoro or mono?

Dacron leader is easy to grab with your hands and doesn't cut into the fish as much when it's spinning around and freaking out. It is soft and the fish does not feel it while sucking on your bait. Don't waste your money on fluoro for sturgeon. Those fish are not line-shy. I go mainline braid to dacron leader, but mono to dacron is fine too.

Exactly - they'll wrap up the leader really quickly (especially small ones in current) and it's nice to have a "handle" to manage them with boatside. I'll also add that their "scutes" or hard scaly armor will reportedly cut mono and other materials - dacron is pretty tough stuff. (No personal experience with that happening, but a few have put some nicks in my 100lb. dacron.) And finally, I'll 2nd the "not line-shy" part.