A night with AQUAJOE (photos added)

I had the privilige of spending last evening with an outstanding sturgeon guide–AQUAJOE.

I had made plans to sturgeon fish with Fisher Dave. I met him, AQUAJOE, and MRKEB at Moore’s Bait. Dave and MRKEB hung around a bit for Brandy to show up, so Joe and I hit the river. This was my first time sturgeon fishing and Joe had only been out a couple of times and gotten one fish, so I didn’t have too high of hopes for this trip, but we had dumb luck on our side

We got to our spot around 5:15, and I set up my rods with shad, Joe with sucker. Buy 5:30, I had missed a bite or two and Joe missed another. Buy 5:45, I had my first sturgeon in the boat, at about 31″. Dave came out to throw us some shad and fish for a bit while still waiting on Brandy

Well, shortly thereafter, we trekked abck to the landing to grab some nightcrawlers as the action had slowed considerably. We set up in a new spot on our return, and we spent the rest of the night camped there, with me schooling my guide on the art of sturgeon fishing

When we pulled up anchor at 10:30, we came up with a total of 15 sturgeon for me, one for Joe, and I also nabbed my first eel. I had fish from 24 to about 38 inches. Joe’s fish beat me out at 42 inches. The eel came in at 34 inches, I think (not the easiest thing to measure ).

I just wanted to take the time to thank Joe again for his hospitality and netting skills. His boat will never smell the same!!!

Edit: Photos added.

Me and a sturgeon



A little guy with a friend on his head



Close-up of the lamprey (It was disposed of)



Joe struggling with the eel (thanks, Joe!)



Me and another sturgeon



Joe and his 42-incher

Kewl!

Ryan, you didn’t take any pictures!??? Oh, I ‘spose you didn’t think you were going to need it.

Glad you got into some fish!

Wait until you get into a sturgeon that runs into the 50’s…HOLD ON!

Yup, the 50 is what I want next (not that I can complain about the night I had ).

There’s plenty of photos, but it was late when I got home and my camera is sitting at home. Look for them later this evening.

AH LUCKY!!!!
I’m so jealous.

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AH LUCKY!!!!
I’m so jealous.

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Me too. That sturgeon fishing sounds like fun. Marc said they put up quite the fight and JUMP? Like fighting a bigger, meaner fish than those bass I used to pursue. I don’t know if I can handle rejection from another species of fish.

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AH LUCKY!!!!
I’m so jealous.

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Who’s Ralph Wiggum?????

Phil when we going???????

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Who’s Ralph Wiggum?????

Phil when we going???????

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What? I get the boot now???

OK, you can be the guide and bait our hooks, plus I don’t do Eels….

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Dave came out to throw us some shad and fish for a bit while still waiting on Brandy

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Thanks Ryan(Ralph)!! Gotta love sittin’ in stopped traffic on 35W!

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plus I don’t do Eels

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I guess this is what people mean when they tell me to grow up.

Pug…there’s men…and then there’s boys.

Hey, way to go Ryan. Glad to hear you got on some fish last night. Wish i would have been so lucky. Dave and Brandy brought a few in, but none here. Anyways, It was good to meet ya. We’ll see ya around.

Okay, wanted to share my experience earlier, but when you have to minimize every time the boss passes your desk, it makes it difficult!

First, nice job Wiggum on all your fish last night!
We went out on Saturday night with Dave and AquaJoe and Bob in the boat next to us. Keb and I didn’t get there until about 10:00, but as soon as we all got settled in the boat, MrKeb and I both had a fish on! Our first sturgeons that ranged from 31″-36″. I caught two more that night, my biggest being 42″! I couldn’t believe how much of a fight they put up! I thought cats put up a good one! These things are ridiculous! So much fun to catch though! I know Dave caught some that night too, but I think most were caught before we got there, so I don’t remember the numbers!
Last night when I finally got there! We missed a few, than MrKeb brought one in, not long after, Dave brought in a few,than myself. ranging from 33″-41″. Than I thought I might have another one, but couldn’t really tell. Turned out it was an eel!! Lucky me! Well, since Dave is a pro with those now, I thought I would let him take it off. Well it ended up falling in the boat, so that was all kinds of fun! Karl was afraid of what Dave might do with it, so Karl’s exact words “Brandy just stay between me and Dave”. Oh, thanks, cause I really wanted to be closer to the eel! Well, after Dave clubbed it on the head with his spotlight, 5 gallon bucket and his foot about 10 times it was still skwirming around. So, finally Dave said **** it, grabbed it as fast as he could and threw it out of the boat! No one was harmed and it was a good laugh! In closing, it was a great time and I can’t wait to hook into a 50 either! Although, I had a tough time trying to hold my 42″. It’s a lot easier to hold on to the squishy channel catfish!

Oh, AquaJoe, sorry I couldn’t give you that “good luck” you needed !

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Oh, AquaJoe, sorry I couldn’t give you that “good luck” you needed !

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I offered but he said it wouldn’t quite be the same coming from me

For your sake, I hope it wouldn’t be the same! Nice of you to offer though!

Sounds like you guys had fun last night! Can’t wait to see pics!

Oh, and Karl… whatta man you are. Putting Brandy between you and the “danger”. Sheesh!

Wish I coulda been there! Tyler and I are out here in PA till the 22nd. We went fishing with Grampy yesterday. He’s not used to these little fish out here. On the way to the bait shop my dad asked Tyler what kind of bait we should buy and he replied “SHAD!” My dad rolled his eyes. Then , at the lake, he handed Tyler his rod and Tyler looked at it like it was some sort of joke. Then he said “We’re using BOBBERS???” They ended up getting into some little Sunnies, which was fun for Tyler once he got used to it. Tyler challenged Grampy to a fishing contest, but Grampy ended up winning it. Final score… Tyler-2 Grampy-6. But he had fun!

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On the way to the bait shop my dad asked Tyler what kind of bait we should buy and he replied “SHAD!” My dad rolled his eyes. Then , at the lake, he handed Tyler his rod and Tyler looked at it like it was some sort of joke. Then he said “We’re using BOBBERS???”

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That’s so funny! Those are exactly the type of things Dave told me he would be saying when I asked if he would be doing any fishing there! Guess that’s what happens when you start a kid on catfish!
We did have a good time last night, but miss you guys! Especially the digital camera! I think we’re just going to have to get them developed and forget about over half of the film that’s still left! Say hi to Tyler for me! Look forward to seeing you when you get back!

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I think I would’ve made like George Kastanza and pushed the old lady out of the way while yelling FIRE!

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LOL, that’s pretty much what I did

Well what can I say that hasn’t been said. Ryan you are always welcome. I am glad you had a good evening.

It was amazing at one point it took me almost and hour to get my second line in the water becuse I kept having to net Ryans fish.

I could almost set a watch on his fish. He would get a bite on his king Kat rod which he would miss then within about 3 minutes or so he would have ” Fish On” his other rod. That went on all night.

He was on fire. Good thing we had charged batteries in the camera.

Dave thanks for turning us on to Sturgeon fishing. It is a blast.

Now to the eel, that was our first run into one of those. Most people say we cut our lines and don’t even let them in the boat. Well now I understand why!!! Those things are nasty. Slimmed up my net something aweful. Then the bottom of my carpeted boat and last but not least my gloves. Never again.

Brandy,I would hope the good luck thing would not be the same as yours Brandy. If it was that would just be wrong!!

Between all the sturgeon and the eel my carpet is a mess. I think I will need a Rug Dr.

Cool Report Guys.
Sounds like its a blast out there with pleny of non-stop action.
Great Pics.

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Never again.

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And to think I was just going to congradulate you on being the best eel wrangler around.

I don’t mind grabbing them I just won’t net them or let them slither around the carpet.

They are tough to hold on to.

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They are a tough to hold on to.

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Ok, I take it back. You are the eel whisperer.

Very nice fish guys. Read this link on the American eel. You won’t believe where that fish you caught was hatched…

American eel

I know they spawn in the Sargasso Sea… And they are really ugly

Arent I special.. amphibians swim 24000 miles to find my line several times in a week.

Amphibians Dave? You catching frogs by hook and line?

Thanks for sharing Tim_!

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American eels may live longer than most Minnesota species. One American eel lived in captivity for 88 years.

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Do you think this is because of better health care or the indoor smoking ban?

Hey Joe that buggar (EEL) looked like he was going for the bite! I cant believe you grabbed on to him…no wait yes I can!

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Amphibians Dave? You catching frogs by hook and line?

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I thought about changing my name to exactly tat for a few days

And yes, I have caught many frogs on hook and line, its very easy!

Put a small mepps bucktail(0 or 1) on the end of a fishing pole and let it hang about 1′ away from the tip…. slowly approach a frog and put it in front of its head… they quickly will forget about you and the tongue will come out and wrap around your lure, the frog will retract its tongue and pull itself onto your lure and bite it.

One neatly hooked frog stuck on the end of your line trying to get off the hook. Its a very fast way to catch frogs.. and doesnt take much energy.

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small mepps bucktail(0 or 1)

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So they are good for something.