Let’s talk about the last first. Holding the fish and the release. Unfortunate for the Lake Sturgeon, their gill covers make good handles.
Take care of your catch. Use a net if you want to weight them. Sturgeon are very hardy, but keep them out of the water long enough to get your measurements, take a few photos and then make sure she’s ready to swim before the release. With the larger fish it’s easier to “revive” them in your net than hang over the side of the boat. Some larger fish in the 50 inch or better class will take a bite longer to bring around. Watch for them to “belch”. Shortly after that they will be ready to go.
Hoky doke…TERMINAL TACKLE
For terminal tackle many will be using a 2 or 3 oz No Roll Sinker, a swivel rated above 80 lbs and a 3/0 Team Catfish Double Action hook or equivalent. Twenty pound mono or super braids like Tug O War.. in the 40 to 80 pound range will work fine. 80 pound is over kill, but if that’s what you have spooled, don’t be afraid to use it.
I get a little nervous around 20 pound mono, but there are some that use it all the time and catch some heavy sturgeon.
Sturgeon are not leader or hook shy, no need to worry about color or trimming the ends of your knots.
BAIT
Most will use crawlers. Two to five on a hook. Some cut them first…while others warm them in there mouth. There are so many different ways to get the “edge” on sturgeon…well, each can decide.
Fathead minnows are used too. Same hook, just place 3 to 5 fatheads on the hook and cut one or two in half…you’re good to go.
Slices of suckers or creek chub is another top choice. Key word here is “fresh”.
RODS
A heavy bass rod works on most fish, but if you get into a biggie…well I’ve heard some pretty strange cracking come out of them! Please do not bring under powered walleye or bass rods. You won’t be doing yourself or the fish any favors by taking an hour to land one.
The perfect rod will have a very soft tip for detecting bites. Seldom will you get a bite that bends the rod over. Most of the time it’s what I call a “sunfish bite”. Soft tips are good for detecting this…but the rod also needs to have the backbone to land fish in the 20 lbs and up size.
Me? My boat is set up with the Team Catfish I-Cat carbon fiber rod. Perfect for detecting bites and bringing in the big guys.
If you’re planning on using a flathead rod, I would suggest holding it to detect bites. It’s really amazing how light of a bite sturgeon have.
REELS
I use the Garcia 6500’s. A reel in that class will work great. If you are using the circle hooks…and I strongly recommend them…the reels do not need a line out alarm. Once there’s a nibble, just sweep the rod back and FISH ON!
There are some that keep the bail open and their finger on the line. Once they feel that little something…it’s fish on!
BOAT and ANCHORS
Wind is not your friend while sturgeon fishing. Many will have two anchors along to keep the boat from swinging. I recommend it.
Rod holders make fishing more enjoyable.
Two rods is allowed per angler.
When anchoring…remember the next boats anchor is likely to be 50 or more feet a head of the boat. I generally ask permission when I anchor. I remember the last time I asked…they said SURE want a beer?!
NETS
Now that you have your 50 pound fish to the boat, how will you get him IN the boat!? All of the cat guys have large nets…some have HUGE nets…although a net make life more pleasant, running out any purchasing one isn’t really a financially sound decision since you might only use it once a year.
When the fish is up next to the boat, put one hand just ahead of the tail then use your other arm to cradle the fish and support it’s middle weight…then just lift him in. If you run into a REALLY big fish, it might take two of you to do this. The good thing is that most of the time when a sturgeon comes to the top…she’ll be tuckered out and will hold still enough to bring ‘er aboard.
Please do not lift these guys out of the water buy their gill plates.
RECORDING YOUR CATCH
A camera is a must have.
Many have seamstress tape measures that go to 72 inches..at least (about $3 at Fashion Bug). Take a length and girth (at the widest part of the fish, normally the belly).
Clothing
Don’t forget the PFD’s!
Clothing. Be prepared for COLD and you’ll be ok either way.
TAGGED FISH and THE DNR
Our MN DNR guys have been working hard at tracking these fish.
If you see a (most of the time) yellow tag on the back of a fish, please do not remove it. Record the numbers on the tag, the length and girth of the fish. The DNR isn’t real exact on location.
THE STURGEON DANCE
I hope many of you see your rod tip shake and have the opportunity to see a 50 inch OR longer fish go from 30 feet of water to airborne in a matter of seconds…and then back down to the bottom again. I get goose bumps just thinking about the last one that did that.
You might wonder how a fish can do this without blowing it’s swim bladder. Sturgeon are of a few fresh water fish that are physostomus, (don’t ask me to pronounce it, I can barely spell it!) meaning their gas bladders are connected to the gullet by a duct. Walleyes, crappies and perch are physoclistous, they use their blood to put gas into and release gas from their swim bladders.
With this duct, they can release the gas in their bladders much faster, hence the 30 foot depth change. Many times when reviving a sturgeon you will see a “burp” of bubbles coming out of the gill area. Generally it’s because your hand is supporting the bladder area under the fish and pushing the air out.
Although the above seems cut and dried, there are many variations to sturgeon fishing. There are others with a huge amount of experience to draw on. I’m sure they will share if a question is asked. No dumb questions here!
One word of caution while fishing the St Croix in daylight or darkness. It’s everyone’s responsibility to watch out for boats heading in your direction. Every year there’s talk about how close a fisherman has come to being hit by another boat while anchored.
I keep all my nav lights on and the spotlight is never far away and ready to go.
Good luck the rest of the season.
Stay safe and stick a bigun!
One heck of write up BK 
