Holding a Lake Sturgeon 101

Since we’ve been seeing a number of new folks out on the river, thought I would start a new post on holding one of these creatures.

Bringing them in the boat.

Smaller fish are easy to bring in. Just grab them by the tail and lift. The only worry here is that the smaller the sturgeon…the sharper the “scoots” which is the sharp bony objects on their sides and top. Once a fish gets into the high 30 to 40 inch range they don’t need these any longer for protection and they smooth out.

I prefer to net the fish from 45 inches up. However if you have the luck of having a big fish 50 inches or more next to your boat and there’s no net around, don’t worry. Generally by the time these fish are top side they are tired.

Grab the fish just ahead of the tail…then put your arm around it mid section as close to the head as posible. It’s better to have a friend use two arms to help scoop her out of the water.

Photos… Please cradle the fish like you’ll see in most if not all of the on line photos. The bent gill plate photos just look crappy and aren’t doing the fish any good.

Have everything, camera, tape, scale and pliers ready to go before you catch a fish.

Speed in getting the fish back into the water is very important in most cases. It’s not uncommon to be hanging over the side of the boat for 10 to 15 minutes before they swim away on their own.

These creatures take forever to reproduce…we all need to do our part to take care of them.

What am I missing guys?

This fella caught a 63 incher…I spoke with him a few years back and asked if I could use his fish for a what not to do photo. He was like all of us at one time…just didn’t know any better.

Here’s Dan’s 57 in a one person hold.

Here’s Ryans 58 in a two person hold.

Thanks for posting that Brian. Every time I talk to others about sturgeon fishing I try to always make sure they now not to hold them by the gills. I am glad you take the time to inform others to protect the fish.

Another good tip for pics is to make sure the wiskers are hanging down. In my opinion it makes the fish look better!

Good luck to all!

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Another good tip for pics is to make sure the whiskers are hanging down. In my opinion it makes the fish look better!

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Glad you clarified that. I let my whiskers hang down and it doesn’t help

Very good tips Brian, the only thing I would add is while handling large fish, do it with authority. They can and will be a hand full. When you do grab and hug make sure you know who has who, it will help both you and the fish.

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Generally by the time these fish are top side they are tired.

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I’ve noticed that in this warmer water, they tend to “hang on” a bit longer and are still pretty green at times.

Yesterday, when Dan picked up that 57, he looked like he was ‘rastling a big gator down in the bayou.

A couple times, I think the fish actually had the upper hand

….and while we’re at it. I have yet to find a real good way to put these big fish on a scale. So I would highly recommend putting a tape to her for length and girth and use this:
Weight Chart

Dan, looks like your fish was 47lbs

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Dan, looks like your fish was 47lbs

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Going strictly by the Rainy River length/girth conversion chart, I see 57″ length x 21″ girth = 42lbs. I felt the fish was a solid 40 pounder and the chart confirms that.

I keep saying that the St Croix fish are, “for the most part”, not as girthy (heavy) as the Rainy fish and if you look at the chart for 57″ length, 21″ is near the bottom of the girth range calculated on the chart.

I asked Dan if he wanted to weigh the fish and he wanted to get it back in the water. I was going to weigh it in the net but Dan overruled me. Good call man!

oops, yeah 42lbs

I agree 100% that the rainy fish are fatter, but that shouldn’t skew the weights too much as it should be factored in.

Now if you told me a 57″ Croix fished weighed more than a 57″ Rainy fish, that’s a different story.

I just saw a 58.5 that weighed in at 45 pounds.

Not too far off…

The only way to weigh a sturgeon is to weigh them in the net…then subtract the net weight. If they are to be revived in the net, using a scale just before releasing them would be the best.

Another way that I just found for releasing a large sturgeon is have the person that caught it help. Sound simple enough but I worry that some fish get released too early when only one person is hanging over the boat. It’s too easy to get tired and let them go too early.

Just my 2 cents.

nice fish

If it is a real big one like this you could just saddle it and ride it to shore.

Fish on!

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If it is a real big one like this you could just saddle it and ride it to shore.

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See….good photo

The wiskers are down

Nice white sturgeon though!

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Dan, looks like your fish was 47lbs

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Going strictly by the Rainy River length/girth conversion chart, I see 57″ length x 21″ girth = 42lbs. I felt the fish was a solid 40 pounder and the chart confirms that.

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Hanson, Here you are over ruling the DNR Data again!!!!
Just to be a smart Arse…. when was the last time you held a 40+lb fish????
Funny how those fish stories can get so big so quick.

You know I’m teasen Mate!!!

Bumping this up for some good info

I love grabbing them by the tail. You don’t get that opportunity with those other slimy fish. It’s a fun way to land them.

Kinda give ya a manly feeling huh Pug.

Yeah, until I realize he has a 5″ lamprey that I just put my hand on top of grabbing the tail! I may let one of those buggers latch onto me this year. If it is small enough and I have enough brew in me!

Wasn’t it last year you latched on to one of them?

Poor thing.

When are you getting out?

I meant to. One was on Jarret’s boat seat and when I pulled him, it sounded like Velcro. So I chickened out. I think I posted a picture I found online of a biologist who did it.

I’ll check with the ward administrator about when I can get out. I might miss the first 2 weekends. Tomorrow sounds like a washout. Ron is going next Saturday, but it’s my daughter’s birthday is next weekend.

walleyehunter2 that I went out with yesterday has some good stories of the big whites he caugh while living out in Seattle and chasing them with the big HughsCraft.

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some good stories of the big whites

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…like fishing near telephone poles….that swam away??

Can someone post the proper Sheephead hold for Pug…..

I may be going out Saturday AND Monday!!!!

(goose hunting Sunday)

Best I could do on a short notice…

Got measurements or weight on that one? That’s a dandy.

Is this close?

26.5 pounds by Greg Vandamark…

http://www.vandysguideservice.com

Pug…that’s close…but just a few inches higher would have been better.

I’ll work on that.

Why reinvent the wheel?

How to hold a sturgeon 2009!

I still feel bad for the sheepie. Pulled it up from 30-40+’ of water and his air bladder was in his throat. I tried popping it but it didn’t help. Too bad it wasn’t a fish I could eat.