Willy Sturgeon Season

I had a great time fishing with everybody Friday and Saturday.  I caught two shakers 36"+ on Friday and nothing on Saturday (I had to pull off the water about 12:30 to head home).  It was great to meat some more NWKA'rs and see some familiar faces.  Willbd I guess you were right I should have hung out longer you did catch a nice keeper.

Congrat's to everybody that caught a keeper.   

Noah your dad has to be one proud and happy dude.   

Yaksurf,

I saw the PB put up a rod and I thought they were packing it up to go home. That's why I tried to convince you to stay.
One of the guys in the PB just took a nap. They left at 3 pm and I backed into their hole and had a fish on in less than a minute.

It was nice to meet you on the river. hope to see you some time in the future out fishing.

willbd

I had a great time fishing with everybody Friday and Saturday.  I caught two shakers 36"+ on Friday and nothing on Saturday (I had to pull off the water about 12:30 to head home).  It was great to meat some more NWKA'rs and see some familiar faces.  Willbd I guess you were right I should have hung out longer you did catch a nice keeper.

Congrat's to everybody that caught a keeper.   

Noah your dad has to be one proud and happy dude.   

Yaksurf,

I saw the PB put up a rod and I thought they were packing it up to go home. That's why I tried to convince you to stay.
One of the guys in the PB just took a nap. They left at 3 pm and I backed into their hole and had a fish on in less than a minute.

It was nice to meet you on the river. hope to see you some time in the future out fishing.

willbd

That was one hell of productive a hole those guys were in. I think they said they landed 11 keeper sized fish on Friday and probably a similar number on Saturday.

50.25"...  I saw a lot of really nice fish caught.  At least 1/2 dozen+ fish in the 50's in the immediate area I fished.  I rolled the dice and released a just legal fish (40") in hopes of a bigger one. Folks around me had some real hogs in the box and I wanted a big one too! A little over three cold wet hours (and a few shakers) later it payed off.  Smoked it today, canning it tomorrow.. I'll save you a jar for the ORC!

Dang!  I felt like I should have rolled the dice with the one that I caught since there were so many fish being pulled in there.   

Knowing my luck though, it would have been... CRAPS!! 

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That was one hell of productive a hole those guys were in. I think they said they landed 11 keeper sized fish on Friday and probably a similar number on Saturday.
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Noah,

I wanted to scream at all of the NWKA folks to come over and join me, but I forgot my VHF radio at home!

willbd

Hey all.  Thanks for the fun time over ther this weekend. Too bad I was fishless

I'll try to put some pics up once I get them off my camera.

Game over -

Managers cancel final weekend of Willamette sturgeon retention

Feb. 21, 2012

SALEM, Ore. – Fishery managers announced today that the Willamette River downstream from Willamette Falls, including Multnomah Channel and the Gilbert River, will not be open to sturgeon retention on Feb. 24-25. In January, fishery managers had announced a possible four-day retention season to include Feb. 17-18 and Feb 24-25.

In just two days, anglers caught 1,535 sturgeon, almost 90 percent of the 1,768 allowed for the Willamette -- in large part due to the number of anglers.

According to Steve Williams, ODFW deputy administrator for the Fish Division, the catch rate (number of fish harvested per angler) was about equal to last year, but daily angling effort was over twice that observed in 2011.  Managers estimated over 2,400 boats participated in the fishery.

“Based on the number of anglers and catch last year, we hoped there would be enough fish for four days of fishing,” Williams said. “Obviously we did not count on such a huge increase in effort.”

Staff predict an additional 700-800 fish could be caught with an additional day of fishing, which would exceed the harvest guideline.

This year’s harvest guideline for the Willamette was down 30 percent from last year, due to continued declines in the abundance of legal-sized sturgeon.

“Reduced quotas combined with high effort make it challenging to structure suitable fisheries,” Williams said, “If this trend continues, ODFW will have to reconsider how it structures future sturgeon retention seasons on the Willamette.”

The Department intends to host a series of public meetings this fall to present new population information and let members of the public weigh in with their ideas.
 Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is still allowed on the lower Willamette River, and retention of white sturgeon is permitted on the Columbia from the mouth upstream to Bonneville Dam and in The Dalles, John Day, and McNary reservoirs.

Anglers are reminded that all sturgeon fishing in the lower Willamette River, including catch-and-release, is prohibited between the I-205 Bridge and Willamette Falls from May 1 through Aug. 31 because that section of the river has been designated as a sturgeon spawning sanctuary.
 
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I had a feeling it was only going to be a 2 day season.  Looks like my AOTY sturgeon is going to come from somewhere else. 

I had a feeling it was only going to be a 2 day season.  Looks like my AOTY sturgeon is going to come from somewhere else.

Ditto

Stupid sturgeon anyway   At least springers are on there way   Yummy springers!!!

I had a feeling it was only going to be a 2 day season.  Looks like my AOTY sturgeon is going to come from somewhere else.

Ditto

Likewise

I had a feeling it was only going to be a 2 day season.  Looks like my AOTY sturgeon is going to come from somewhere else.
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The next step is a draw system like elk hunting. Make a season like from Feb- June on lower Willy one you have tagged your fish your done. It would help the fish out and reduce the number of Zoo fisherman. Just sayin.

I had a feeling it was only going to be a 2 day season.  Looks like my AOTY sturgeon is going to come from somewhere else.
[/quote
The next step is a draw system like elk hunting. Make a season like from Feb- June on
lower Willy one you have tagged your fish your done. It would help the fish out and
reduce the number of Zoo fisherman. Just sayin.

+1

I like the draw concept, but doubt I'd bother drawing for it.  Odds are slim I'd take home a fish from the Willy even if it was legal.  They are probably safe to eat as they are just passing through, but I wouldn't take a perfectly good cheese burger and dip it in my toilet and then eat it, either.   

Now that was dang funny

I like the draw concept, but doubt I'd bother drawing for it.  Odds are slim I'd take home a fish from the Willy even if it was legal.  They are probably safe to eat as they are just passing through, but I wouldn't take a perfectly good cheese burger and dip it in my toilet and then eat it, either.   

I am with ya, who like a soggy bun?