Willamette Sturgeon Thread - Fall 2010

I'm hoping to get out a few times in Nov and Dec, and I hope some of you are too, so I thought I would start this up to keep track of reports.
 
First chance is Nov. 4th, Thursday.  I'll be launching at George Rogers at daybreak (7:30 or so?) and welcome company.  Craig is a possible.
 
At least I'll have a fish story for the PDX Meet Up that night.  Whether it's true or not is in the hands of the fish gods.  Anyone else up for Thursday? 
 
Now where the heck is that anchor?

You got my attention here, I would really like to make a Willamette River trip this year for sturgeon.  I have not made the attempt yet and really would like to learn a section of river for a change of venue.  I'm keeping watch on this thread as it develops with reports!                     
-Scott                             

I'll be waiting for pictures of a couple keepers

Has anyone fished for them near the grain terminal by the Steel Bridge?  A co-worker told me they feed on the spilled grain in the water.


Match the hatch with some Dave's Killer Bread??


-Craig

Get to know the willy... rumors have it some of you will want to brush up on willy sturgeon...

There are dozens of sturgeon holes, I'm just curious to see what happens with the water levels this year.  I know I went through a few anchors last year as the water levels increased.  In the last month river levels have nearly doubled, which is still pretty low and do-able.

I've not fished the steel bridge, but have fished a half dozen or so other holes last year.

Has anyone fished for them near the grain terminal by the Steel Bridge?  A co-worker told me they feed on the spilled grain in the water.

-Craig

This is one of the most challenging places to achor in Portland.  It's min 80' in the slot and you'll need to scope out some serious line to hold.  The actual drop occurs up near the bridge.  This'll put you about 30' to 40' down from the bridge when your anchor finally reaches the bottom and bites in.  If you can pull it off you'll be rewarded for the effort. 
 
That said, you can launch pretty close to there along the East bank.
 
-Spot-
 
 
 
 

Thanks.  I don't know that area of the river real well.  I may have to paddle by there and scope it out one of these days.

I'll be out there like clockwork when it opens.  I hate to say it but I'll be in the sled....with the top up and the heater on.... I'll wave as you paddle by  

I'll be out there like clockwork when it opens.  I hate to say it but I'll be in the sled....with the top up and the heater on.... I'll wave as you paddle by

 
Don't be too ashamed I just put the top on my new boat and fished this last weekend.  First boat I ever owned that had a top and I have to say it will be easy to get used to. 

When I grow up, I'm gonna have somewhere warm to fish.   

Near 70 and sunny on Thursday.  That sounds like somewhere warm to fish to me.

What do you suggest for bait.  Not all of us have a magical piece of bluegill

Probably the most popular bait is the live sandshrimp and nightcrawler combo.  I've caught a bunch this way but mostly undersized shakers.  A poster on ifish.net mentioned that the stores are sold out of these baits right now because of the opening weekend coming up - but buy 'em if you can find 'em.  If not, pick up some pickled and frozen squid.  Other's like to use shad, herring and more too, so ask around.  And I'm always willing to share some of the magic if that's what the fish want that day.  PM me with your cell phone number and we can talk more.

A large variety of baits work..  But if you want to keep things simple and catch fish 90% of the time Squid is your answer.  Its cheap at local ethnic markets, freezes well,  can be refrozen over and over without much loss of effectiveness, stays on the hook, is not greatly effected by heavy current, and it takes scent well.  I'm picking up my 25lb case tomorrow afternoon    I break the case down and vac pac it in 5-8 squid bags.  I end up using 1-3 bags a trip per rod. 

The greatest dino fisherman I know fillets out the floater salmon (bring a clothespin or some Vick's vapor rub for your nostrils, or just dry heave, that's always fun too). Then he has a tube and a plunger (similar to a tampon applicator) that he packs the rotten mushy meat into. Then he pushes it into a cheesecloth sock, and wraps the hook and first 6"-8" of leader up the length of the sock and ties it off. Bounce that down the hole, they absolutely can't say no to that offering, and it's free of charge.