Willamette Sturgeon Report

Sorry to hear the Chum-a-thon was a bust.  Thanks for posting the pictures...still nothing wrong with a great day of kayaking.

Saturday was rough on the Willamette with the volume and debris so I only spent a couple of hours on the water.  I spent half the time struggling with cross current and re-setting anchor and had no luck when I did finally get to soak some bait. 

Sunday was much better.  Calmer water and less debris.  The first two hours on my favorite deep hole produced only a few taps.  But they started jumping like crazy on the other, calmer, shallower side of the river.  So after about 2 seconds of deep thought (um) I moved to where the fish were.  After I set up in about 30 feet of calmer water, I got struck as soon as the bait hit the bottom An hour later I had landed 7 sturgeon ranging from 20 to 35 inches.  Not huge but great fun indeed.

I had success with sandshrimp wrapped with nightcrawler.  And a boat near me landed a 48 inch keeper using anchovy. 

Took a picture to post - although my wife keeps wondering why I keep taking pictures of my feet.  I'll have to figure out how to take better pictures of kayak fish...right after I learn how to take a leak on the Hobie. 

Nice work DC and way to keep at it. Nice dino action. Thanks for the pics and report!

Z

Nice report and picture.  I've heard that sturgeon can often be found shallow esp. this time of year.  I guess it's not until the really cold winter water starts flowing that they seem to hunker down in the deep holes.   But for some reason I keep heading to the deep holes and I need to get out of that rut.

What part of the Willamette did you fish?

Brian

Thanks for the report! 

I still can't believe that my boys chose bike riding over sturgeon fishing on Sunday.....    Sounds like you had some decent action.

I've only fished a couple of times now for Dinos.  Each time right off of George Rogers park, off 43 in Lake Oswego.  The access is really easy there.  Drive as far downhill as you can and park at the small oval field.  Avoid the stairs at the South end of the field, instead head over to the restrooms near the old iron smelter.  There is an old boat ramp there which is not used anymore.  Perfect for wheeling down to the water and launching a kayak.  And never a line or a crowd.  Directly across the river from the launch is a deep hole.  And the shallower hole is on the near side right where Sucker creek spills water from Oswego Lake into the Willamette.  And I've seen boats anchored for Sturgeon all the way up river (South) past an old large concrete building, where I know there is another deep hole that I'll get to one of these days. 

I'll let you know when I'm heading there next in case anyone wants to join me.  Maybe the Friday after Thanksgiving if I can swing it.

DC

This may seem like a naive question.....but how do you land a 5 foot beast in a kayak?

I've got big plans   

Jay

This may seem like a naive question.....but how do you land a 5 foot beast in a kayak?

I guess it depends on whether you want to keep the fish or not.  You should be able to get you hand in their mouth and keep them still enough to remove the hook in which case a release is pretty easy.  To measure the fish, I've marked the side of my kayak with a start line and then the slot limit with 1" increments.  Now, if you want to keep the fish, then you'll need to get a game clip or something attached, bring the fishes head out of the water and apply some punishing whacks with your club until it is subdued.  From there lifting the beast on to your kayak is a matter of strength and balance.

At least that's my plan.  It should be interesting.  Down in San Francisco Bay where guys have been kayak fishing for sturgeon for awhile now they use a snare.  I'm not sure how legal those are up here because you don't seem them in the big tackle shops up here like you do down there.


Brian

I'm not sure how legal those are up here because you don't seem them in the big tackle shops up here like you do down there.

I've seen snares at shops here in Wa.

Z

This may seem like a naive question.....but how do you land a 5 foot beast in a kayak?

I've got big plans   

Jay

I've always found that once they hit the air, they calm right down.  In boats, we just pulled out keepers by their gill plates and shakers either by the hook or by their tale.  Oversize I like to keep in the water.  The hooks come out really easily if they're not too deep.  If they're hooked deep, just cut the line.

I've had a couple that were only inches short of the slot.  I had no problem sliding them onto my lap for a quick hook removal before they were returned.   

BEWARE THE SMALL SHAKERS!!!!!!   The little guys are covered in what look and feel like razor sharp cat claws.  I use a gardening glove when handling these and don't let them near my breathable waders.

BTW: Tail snares are legal in Oregon. 

Don't dinos "fall asleep" when laid on their backs?

-Allen

I'm not sure how legal those are up here because you don't seem them in the big tackle shops up here like you do down there.

Brian

Joe's and Fisherman's has them in the net section.

I've seen the tail snares. In San Francisco Bay they use a different kind of snare which I haven't seen here.   I guess if the tail snare is legal, this other snare should be too.



Here's a post from the NCKA sturgeon master Erik "KzReelRods" Kunz.. including a figure for a DIY snare.  I've highlighted the section on landing a sturgeon..
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,34.0.html

Note that following refers to San Pablo Bay in California and some regulations down there are different then up here (slot size, hook allowance, etc..)..

With the winter rains and big minus tides around the corner, I thought give some pointers on how to rig up and find success targeting sturgeon from a kayak in the San Francisco Bay.  I?ll comment on techniques that I've found to work but, as with everything, there's more than one way to skin a cat.

Safety:

It should probably go without saying that tangling with a large sturgeon from a kayak in heavy current and cold water can be dangerous.   Aside from those safety precautions called out elsewhere in this article, I'll offer the following basic recommendations. 
- Wear a PFD at all times. 
- Tie all of your lanyards off to one side of your kayak to give you a clear route off the yak in case you do indeed tip over. 
- Keep a knife within easy reach on your person in case things go sour.
- A GPS and a VHF marine radio are nice in the event of fog or trouble. 
- Dress warm and in such a fashion that you can stay as dry as possible... it gets cold sitting there waiting for Mr. Dino to bite.  I recommend a farmer john wet suit for safety in the event that you dump your yak.
- Above all else, be prepared and take the time to thoroughly consider and prepare for all of the possible scenarios you might face in this type of fishing.

Anchor:

The photo below shows my anchor rig that has proven to work in San Pablo Bay but may not be big enough for deeper water.  I recommend a folding style anchor with four-prongs and at least 40 feet of anchor rope.  For a small anchor like I have, you may need to add weight to it by attaching lead to the anchor itself or using a sort length of chain before attaching your rope. 



You will need to have a hook of some type that will allow you to easily release your anchor with one hand if you hook up to a big ?un.  Crab net floats work well to keep your line afloat until you return for it. 

If you have a GPS, it comes in very handy to mark your fishing spot so you can more easily find your anchor upon return.   You?d be surprised how difficult it can be to spot an anchor float if there is a little chop on the water. 

Rod / Reel:

I recommend a live bait style rod in the 25# range made of either E-Glass or Glass/Graphite composite.  As for rod length, my preference is 7-feet.  You could go shorter or longer depending on your preferences but for me, a 7-foot rod is comfortable and allows me to get the tip around the end of my kayak if necessary.  I use a Shimano TR200 reel coupled with 25# P-Line CXX-Tra Strong monofilament line.  Momoi is another excellent brand of monofilament.  Spectra would work well too if that is what you prefer.  You don't need a lot of line capacity but you do need a good drag.  Mr. Sturgeon will tow you around if necessary, and most of the kayakable sturgeon haunts are quite shallow? we?re talking less than 15 feet in most spots. 

Attributes of a good sturgeon rod include:
? Powerful Butt section.
? Sensitive Tip section.  Some prefer a soft tip so they can see any action that may be occuring on the bait.  I personally prefer a little stiffer tip that is fairly light and sensitive so I can feel EVERTHING that is happening down there.  For me? feel is more important.
? Fairly lightweight... you'll be holding it in your hand for long hours.  This is where glass/graphite composite blanks such as Calstar Graphiters and Seeker Black Steels have the advantage.  Lighter weight and still very durable and powerful.
? I recommend a dense grip material such as high durometer EVA foam or cork.  A dense grip material is more effective at transmitting vibration to your hand and will enable you to detect more strikes (which can feel like almost nothing sometimes).  A squishy Hypalon grip does not transmit vibration very well.

There are many good sturgeon rods on the market from makers including Seeker, Calstar, G.Loomis, Lamiglas, and others.  For starters, I'd recommend looking at a Seeker or Calstar 270 or 870 in fiberglass.  Seeker also make the 270 and 870 in their Black Steel composite series which is lighter in weight and still very durable.  A Calstar Graphiter 700 XL, 700 L, or 800 L in Graphite /Glass composite would be excellent choices as well. 

If you build your own rods or are using a custom builder, I'd recommend a spiral guide placement (aka. Acid Wrap) for maximum sensitivity and fish fighting power. 

Terminal Tackle:

See the diagram below for a typical sturgeon rig.  This consists of a typical sliding singer rig.  For a leader I recommend at least 40# monofilament.  Spectra type line in 50 - 80# is preferred by some because it is more difficult for a sturgeon to detect on the bite.  I like monofilament for abrasion resistance? I usually use 40# Maxima.  I don?t like wire leaders? just a personal preference but many sturgeon anglers use them successfully as well.  Some anglers theorize that a lighter leader will lead to more strikes since it is more difficult to detect by the fish? this may be where spectra type leader materials play in.



Leader length should not be any more than about 16 to 22 inches.  The longer the leader, the higher off the bottom your bait will run.  You want to keep your bait ON THE BOTTOM. 

I use dual outward facing 6/0 Octopus hooks with two or three beads between them to keep the hooks separated on a loop at the end of my leader (not sure what the knot is called).  Buy good hooks... they should be sticky sharp... it's worth the money to buy good hooks such as Gamagatsu, Owner, or Mustad.  I generally don?t use the khale style hooks because I like the ultra-sharp Japanese hooks available in the Octopus style.

Be prepared to chuck as much as 8 ounces of lead during heavy currents... pyramid sinkers work the best in heavy current.  Also, bring some 3/8 to ? oz rubber core weights to add near the end of the leader to help keep your bait ON THE BOTTOM during times of heavy current.

Bait:

In San Pablo Bay... live ghost shrimp and grass shrimp produce equally well.  I prefer Ghost shrimp because they stay on the hook a little better and you can tie them on the hook with thread if necessary.  With ghost shrimp I recommend one shrimp per hook? maybe two if they are small shrimp.  With grass shrimp you can load as many as fit on the hook.

Freshness is important.  Sturgeon (like sharks) can detect the weak electrical signals given off by living organisms.  I believe that live fresh bait maximizes your chances of Mr. Dino finding that delicious bait offering. 
Lamprey eel is king in the delta and has the side benefit of deterring those pesky mitten crabs.  During a herring spawn, herring fillets are the ticket. 

Detecting the Bite:

I?m positive that most people miss sturgeon because they didn?t feel them hit or weren?t paying attention or reacted too slowly.  I always hold my rod in my hand and concentrate on feeling and watching the rod tip.  A sturgeon bite may vary considerably? when in doubt? take a swing.  The classic bite is a slow pump, pump, pump of the rod tip but in actuality most sturgeon I?ve caught did not bite that way.  Sometimes it?s a tick,tick like a bullhead.  On several occasions I?ve set the hook because it felt like something brushed up against my line and had a dino on the other end.  Then there is the single slam which is common as well.  In any event, don?t wait for that second bite? swing hard on any suspected bite and don?t hesitate.  Check your bait often as well because all that hook-setting will cause your bait to go bye-bye a little faster too.

Tides:

Sturgeon seem to bite best during the last hour or so of a big outgoing tide and the first hour or so of the incoming.  That's not to say they won't bite any other time, but it seems that the muddier and more stirred up the water is, the better your chances of success.  Sturgeon move with the current.  As the tide goes out, the sturgeon move down from the shallows.  You'll find yourself fishing in 3 to 5 feet of water sometimes... don't worry... they're in there.

Plan your trip ahead of time so that you don't wind up paddling into the current to get back home or find yourself stranded by a mud flat where when you try to land on the beach.

From China Camp, I usually plan to head out during the last part of the incoming tide and paddle north to my chosen fishing spot... then I can come back during the end of the outgoing tide so I will not have to fight the current. 

Locations:

I mostly fish the flats north of China Camp... anywhere from China Camp proper to the duck blinds to Shell Bank... which is between the duck blinds and the Pumphouse.  You can launch at the beach at China Camp but it will be a mud flat on a minus tide? get out before it goes minus or you?ll be in for a mud fest.  Buck?s landing just north of China Camp offers another suitable launch site with a channel going into the bay so you don?t have to worry about being stranded in a minus tide.

If you have a fishfinder, any dips, channels, or changes in bottom type (shell bank vs. mud bottom) are good things to key on.  Also, the fast-moving side of rip lines can be a good bet.  Obviously, if you are marking fish? that?s something to key on as well.  If you see jumpers? fish there.  Sturgeon often travel in groups so if the boat ahead of you is hooking up? you might be in for some action as they work their way down current.

Etiquette:

Sturgeon can spook easily, so it?s best to fish where everyone else isn?t.  As Keith Fraser of the Loch Lomond Bait Shop says, ?Find where all the boats are fishing and then fish elsewhere?. 

Be aware of boaters fishing nearby and downstream of you.  Never paddle or throw your anchor directly upstream of another anchored boat.    Always be gentle with your anchor? don?t make a big commotion.  Leave some distance between yourself and the nearest boat downstream of you.  Be mindful that when you hook up and throw your anchor, you may drift a considerable distance downstream.  Try to leave a clear path for such an event.  It's a big Bay... leave some space and minimize the noise and commotion.

Playing and Landing a Sturgeon:

This is where safety becomes very important.  Particularly if you hook into a 55 inch or larger fish, you?ll need to play the fish until he is absolutely, beyond a shadow of a doubt, flat out exhausted.  You may think the fish is exhausted after you pull him up to your yak the first time or two but do not be fooled.  Give him a firm poke in the nose with your club and you?ll find out very quickly if he has any pep left in him. 

Once you are certain the fish is completely spent, then you?ll need to land it.  For fish up to about 50 inches or so you should be able to grab the fish by the gill plate or use the heavy leader to slide the fish up onto the kayak.  You can also use a very large net to land such moderate sized sturgeon.   Much bigger than 50 inches or so and you will likely need a snare or noose to land the fish properly and minimize the risk of capsizing.  Sturgeon are a bit odd in that they don?t float.  If you have a large sturgeon, it?s likely that you?ll only get the head to the surface and have a heck of a time accessing the fish?s tail.

I?d suggest wearing a glove on your ?landing? hand so that you can maneuver the fish without being cut by the sharp scutes on their back and sides.

The following are plans for making a very good and inexpensive sturgeon snare.  A simple noose made of coated aircraft cable will suffice as well.  I?d steer clear of using rope as a noose because those ultra-sharp hooks tend to find their way into rope very easily, causing considerable difficulty and potential danger in getting the rope around the fish?s head and trying to free it from the hooks one-handed (speaking from experience here). 



With a noose or snare, you?ll feed it over your rod and down the line and around the head of the fish.  Pull tight and in one slow and smooth motion, slide the fish?s head up onto your kayak, kicking the tail up to the bow of the boat.  It?s important to not pull too hard when pulling a fish up onto your kayak.  The shift in weight as the fish slides up onto the deck can cause you to tip over backwards? not what you want to happen.  I?ll stress again? pull the fish up in a slow and smooth motion.  Once you?ve determined legality, waste no time or energy in subduing the fish with your club. 

Never land a fish that you intend to release.  If you aren?t going to keep the fish? let it go while it is still in the water.  Certainly never use a snare on a sturgeon that you intend to release.  Snares can cause substantial internal damage, resulting in not-so-good prospects that the fish will survive. 

Measuring:

Measuring a sturgeon accurately on a kayak can be difficult.  Because they don?t float, you?ll have a difficult time measuring a medium to large sturgeon while it is in the water unless you have help.  I have hash marks on my kayak to measure fish and I usually make them ?generous? measurements so that I know if it?s at the line, it?s legal.  This is definitely where teamwork can be helpful.

After the catch:

For the best meat quality, it is very important to bleed any sturgeon that you catch.  This should be done immediately after the fish has been subdued with your club.  Make several deep cuts in the gills and even removing a few gill rakes if necessary.  I usually tow the fish around for a while to assist in the bleed-out process.  If not bled well, blood will pool and settle in the meat and make for a gamey flavor.  If bled well, almost all of the meat will be white in color and mild in flavor.  You'll know if the fish has been bled well if the fish appears really white with not much red flush in the skin.[/img]

Go Get 'em

For those too lazy to make a snare..

Promar sells one just like it..

http://www.charkbait.com/cs/csrPromarNETS_gaffs.htm

and I think the tail snare would also work.


BTW, the reason I wasn't sure about using a snare on sturgeon can be found at the bottom of page 8 of the 2008 Oregon fishing regs... 

Unlawful to... 
2. Attempt to snag, spear, gaff, net, trap, club, shoot or ensnare any game fish.
   A net may be used to land legally hooked fish.

Sturgeon are considered gamefish.

F.Y.I. it's illegal in WA to use lamprey as bait.

For those of us who target willemette sturgeon, and wish to eat them, there are valid concerns about toxicity, but "most" of these fish move around a lot.  I have caught three tagged fish in the willemette near Oregon City in the last five years and all were tagged in the columbia within a year of my catching them. Not to say that the columbia is any cleaner than the willemette but to not eat one just because its from the willemette may not be taking the whole picture into account.

I fished Sunday for sturgeon, we had one keeper and lots of shakers.  The bait of choice was the tried and true highwater worm and sandshrimp cocktail with garlic scent. It out fished smelt and herring 2 to 1. We fished in under 20 ft of water all day.