FYI: States adopt winter sturgeon season for Bonneville pool

http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/dec/18/states-adopt-winter-sturgeon-season-bonneville-poo/

Since the guy is retired I guess nobody takes his opinion seriously anymore. :-(

Lance Beckman of White Salmon urged that sturgeon retention stay closed and that fishing be catch-and-release only.
Beckman is a retired sturgeon research biologist who worked for the federal government.
“The Columbia River white sturgeon populations are in deep trouble,’’ Beckman said.
He also said it is time for sturgeon hatcheries on the Columbia River.
“I have a strong feeling there’ll not be a viable recovery until there’s a strong supplementation program,’’ Beckman said.

This may be a bonehead question, but where are the Bonneville, Dalles, and John Day Pools?  I assume these are areas above the dams, not below the dams?

This may be a bonehead question, but where are the Bonneville, Dalles, and John Day Pools?  I assume these are areas above the dams, not below the dams?

Correct, the pools are upstream, behind the dams.

Honestly I wonder if the populations above Bonneville are capable of sustaining harvest or if they are just doing to it maintain interest in the fishery. I've never retained or eaten sturgeon but it is something I'd like to do once.

Honestly I wonder if the populations above Bonneville are capable of sustaining harvest or if they are just doing to it maintain interest in the fishery. I've never retained or eaten sturgeon but it is something I'd like to do once.

I feel very much the same. And not that it's open, but i'm pretty sure I, and my children's children's children would glow in the dark were I to consume a resident Swan Island fish.

Honestly I wonder if the populations above Bonneville are capable of sustaining harvest or if they are just doing to it maintain interest in the fishery. I've never retained or eaten sturgeon but it is something I'd like to do once.

I ate a ton of sturgeon as a kid. We used to go down to deep river...the thought was that they were not as contaminated...then friends started getting cancer....no joke.

I haven't eaten sturgeon in 20 years.  The studies just haven't been done to confirm/deny the safety of consumption.  The story is the same...unless we start taking care of the resources, they wont be there anymore.

With the many keeper sturgeon caught over the last couple decades (despite my slim success from a kayak so far), I've only kept one.  I just had a hard time keeping those particular fish that could easily outlive me, and maybe even provide some sport for the grand kids!

Just me - I don't begrudge those that do keep sturgeon caught within the rules - they are good eating - but I enjoy catching them more.  I would have enjoyed fighting a larger one at the sleigh ride - OH - and thanks to Uplandsandpiper for organizing that event!

Honestly I wonder if the populations above Bonneville are capable of sustaining harvest or if they are just doing to it maintain interest in the fishery. I've never retained or eaten sturgeon but it is something I'd like to do once.

You could target them on the upper Willamette instead, just a thought. IIRC they are not native above the falls.