2017 Sturgeon Pictures

If the mouth is open that will work too, but most of the time they pucker up and that doesn’t work (plus now you have the chance of hooking yourself). Obviously you don’t want to jam a hand into the actual gills, but just like a pike there is a jaw bone there to grab that will do no harm to the fish.

99% of the time I aim for the area just above the mouth. Between the mouth and nose. I only grab this area to get their heads above the waterline and them slide them out of the hole. This works well and have never been hooked. You usually have time to identify where the hook is before grabbing them. Their mouths suck right back into there head so this area gives a nice ledge to grab hold of. Even the big’uns..

I attached a picture. This is the dark area behind the barbels. Easier to access than the gills and safer for the fisherman than going for the mouth.

Great tip! I’ll try that next time. Thanks Joe

On Monday I just grabbed their wings. Of course they were less that 15# though.

This is how I’ve been doing it.

BTW, nice fish guys!! Biggill, its good to see you caught a couple.

I have always thought about getting a small get together in place one of these days. Do a little money pot for big fish and side pot for biggest puppy We only have till march 1st so if you guys would be interested we would have to do it by the 25th or 26th maybe. Just a mid day deal. Does not have to be an all night thing. The mid day bite is a luck of the draw deal so anyone would have a chance at it. Anyways even if not this year if guys were interested raise your hands and we can try. I am out of town this weekend but should be on the river the next couple weekends.

Here is one from last weekend.

Man I’m happy to see your guys handling techniques. I’ve had serious concerns of Gill grabbing but so glad to hear people using other methods.

My last 70# I couldn’t get into my net so with one hand on the rod I used my other hand to grab her nose and lift her up enough where I could drop my rod and get around the belly to lift her up and over the boat safely…I have big hands so the nose grab worked, you basically get your fingers right Infront of the mouth.

I would definitely do a get together

Another topic for fish care, what have you found to be the best hook?

I was using a Gama wide gap finesse hook. Worked fine but I had to cut the line on the second fish because it was hooked too deep to remove. When I tied back on I put a circle hook but wasn’t able to test it out. I don’t want to do that again.

If it was me I’d run 8/0 circles… But I’ve never iced a sturgeon either… But I’d also show up with big baits and nothing you’d hook to a walleye jig… But again… Amateur here on ice… Also not interested in small Sturgeon either

dont worry andy i’ll handle all the light duty wrk for ya. lol

from what i know which is very limited ice fishing for them 2/0-4/0 circles is what most run

Got this low 50 incher last weekend. Going to be out there again tonight.

Okay, so what brand and model rods are you guys using? Where do you buy them? This post has peeked my curiosity. Think maybe giving it a go.

I’ll be using a TUCR’s 44′ Sturgeon Rod. I haven’t been out with it yet, but the FW boated a very nice size soft shell turtle with it last summer…well, it wasn’t exactly boated…

I know for hooks there some that use trebles…I watch the videos. I won’t be a fan of them unless the barbs are pinched down and then I would have to see them in action for myself.

I know for hooks there some that use trebles…I watch the videos. I won’t be a fan of them unless the barbs are pinched down and then I would have to see them in action for myself.

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Don’t even mention trebles! 4/0 circle hook.

Circles definitely work better. iFish Pro works good too.

We were messing around doing some Facebook Live vids the other night. Found a few nice fish to pose with:

Might have to bring out the heavy no rolls to catch a fish next week…. just seen the Stillwater river gauge forecast for next week.. Wow. That will make it tough to get on the ice.

buschman wrote:

Might have to bring out the heavy no rolls to catch a fish next week…. just seen the Stillwater river gauge forecast for next week.. Wow. That will make it tough to get on the ice.

That’s what we’ve been doing.

First open water sturg of the year at 57″. In FEBUARY!!!

Charlie Vaughan wrote:

First open water sturg of the year at 57″. In FEBUARY!!!

Haha. BAM!!

Oops. Forgot the pic.

Nice!

Not going to lie, I was really disappointed this wasn’t a channel cat when it hit the surface!

I wasn’t…

Taylor and Sharptailer. Son-in-law’s first sturgeon, 40″, St. Croix.

Javin’s first.
55″
Heck of a job at that!

Dan Schriver picked up his PB yesterday. A 55″, 41pounder

Re-posting. Taylor’s first sturgeon 40″, courtesy of Sharptailer.

It was kind of quiet until a party broke out. 66″, 63 pounds.

Nice Dino!