Just checking before I order some line, seems after doing a search, the line of choice for sturgeon rigs is Power Pro line ???
Any particular color?? Line weight?
Thinking because our set ups may be a bit on the light side using 60# test?
tia
al
Take time to check one of Johnny P’s posts earlier this year about sturgeon/line. I switched back to mono (40#) from braid (80#) after reading about what he noticed in his boat during a couple of outings. Hope this helps.
I heard about that post, and I’ve heard just as much evidence to the contrary… personally (based on my experience catching a total of 4 sturgeon in my entire life heh) I can’t see how it could possibly matter since sturgeon have poor eyesight and are scent feeders like catfish.
My very strong recommendation after several successive years of experimentation is Courtland Masterbraid, in 80#. Granted, you can bring a sturgeon in on 8# mono, but that’s gonna be harder on you, your gear and, most important, the fish. With 80# line your chances at landing it, and the chances that everything’s gonna work out for the best, are highest.
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Take time to check one of Johnny P’s posts earlier this year about sturgeon/line. I switched back to mono (40#) from braid (80#) after reading about what he noticed in his boat during a couple of outings. Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Might make ya wonder I agree, but not a fan of heavier mono, but that’s more for lures/live bait ect.
I keep coming back to the Cortland lines, Musky Master is what I usually use, (for musky’s ) but wondering what the difference between that and the Master Braid is?
I see I can get Master Braid in colors other than black which might be nice.
Al
Al, if you’ll be fishing at night (it’s suggested), hi vis is you’re friend.
Also, I’ll place a 1 inch wide band of reflective tape at the end of my rod.
I’ve been getting lazy an using the “beacon” lithium lights that Dean’s been carrying. They clip on to the rod tip and can be turned off for the next trip.
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Al, if you’ll be fishing at night (it’s suggested), hi vis is you’re friend.
Also, I’ll place a 1 inch wide band of reflective tape at the end of my rod.
I’ve been getting lazy an using the “beacon” lithium lights that Dean’s been carrying. They clip on to the rod tip and can be turned off for the next trip.
Night?????
As in DARK????
Hummm…better start making sure I have enough lighting on the boat and pick up another couple headlights…didn’t know we fished at night.
I’ll pick a few of the lights up at Dean’s, maybe this weekend if I can find someone who wants to go fishing pool4.
I see I should probably buy you a beer and get a list of what’s needed for the trip, Ma gets pretty unhappy when I mutter them famous words…Oooops, I forgot to bring it..:)
Al
Al, the masterbraid as I understand it from my Cortland Rep…is just a tighter weave when making it. Be happy to mail those lights. 
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Al, the masterbraid as I understand it from my Cortland Rep…is just a tighter weave when making it. Be happy to mail those lights.
Thanks, I can’t make it this weekend, I call ya.
But your ruining a perfectly good excuse to tell the wife why I need to go fishing…er…to Red Wing..
Al
Just a side note…if your talking the April Excursion up to LOTW’s MANY as in most people only see darkness when leaving Wigwam’s Bar.
Most fish in the light.
I was referring to the St Croix season that opens this weekend.
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Just a side note…if your talking the April Excursion up to LOTW’s MANY as in most people only see darkness when leaving Wigwam’s Bar.
Most fish in the light.
I was referring to the St Croix season that opens this weekend.
Ah…I see…:)
Ok, now just to find a place that sells master braid in at least 500 yrd spools, much less at a discount..sigh…
Al
Silly idea I know…but you need a reason to go to P4 anyway.
Just bring your reels down and let Dean do the work of filling them. Only pay for what you need and keeps him from picking on me. Might get some fishing in too.
After putting something in the neighborhood of 300 sturgeon in my boat in the past three years, I have never used anything but 30# test braided line. I have used different brands, but never needed anything stronger. Your reel and rod will not take any more pressure without breaking down so why the heavier line? I do use 30# Fireline camo for leader material because it is very difficult to cut and is soft and flexible. Sturgeon have both a strong sense of smell and touch. I think heavy mono line is so stiff they can detect it. Just my 2 cents, but it has been proven over time. I do dearly love to sturgeon fish. 
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Silly idea I know…but you need a reason to go to P4 anyway.
Just bring your reels down and let Dean do the work of filling them. Only pay for what you need and keeps him from picking on me. Might get some fishing in too.
Probably get the lights too huh? 
Al
Could a guy get away with using bells for strike indicators. 
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Could a guy get away with using bells for strike indicators.
Might work better during the day too…:)
Al
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Could a guy get away with using bells for strike indicators.
We have a special place for people like you. 
From what I’ve seen, comparing only 14#,20# mono against 20# Fireline and 65# Sufix braid. The mono’s usually get a hit and run, bait is also more often ingested deeper into mouth cavity. Fireline/braid, I usually get more taps and sturgeons just seem to be nibbling on bait. I give hookset and usually get lip hook.
When I tie a 20# mono snell to braid, I start to get a little better hit and run.
There’s too much variables to take into consideration, but the one constant I’ve seen is the all mono line, will get a lot more hits. A huge difference, some days ten fish and not even one on the all braid. 14# test will get about twice as many hits over 20#. Things change a lot if I’m holding the rod with braid, then I can detect the light nibbles and give a hookset to find a sturgeon hooked up. Sometimes that may be the only sturgeon of the day.
From ice fishing, if the fish rubs up against a braid line, they seem to scurry away a lot faster as compared to rubbing up against mono line. Thus I will speculate that the fish are more likely to miss out on the bait tied to the braid line if it’s just set on the bottom where they may encounter the line before the bait.
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From what I’ve seen, comparing only 14#,20# mono against 20# Fireline and 65# Sufix braid. The mono’s usually get a hit and run, bait is also more often ingested deeper into mouth cavity. Fireline/braid, I usually get more taps and sturgeons just seem to be nibbling on bait. I give hookset and usually get lip hook.
When I tie a 20# mono snell to braid, I start to get a little better hit and run.
There’s too much variables to take into consideration, but the one constant I’ve seen is the all mono line, will get a lot more hits. A huge difference, some days ten fish and not even one on the all braid. 14# test will get about twice as many hits over 20#. Things change a lot if I’m holding the rod with braid, then I can detect the light nibbles and give a hookset to find a sturgeon hooked up. Sometimes that may be the only sturgeon of the day.
From ice fishing, if the fish rubs up against a braid line, they seem to scurry away a lot faster as compared to rubbing up against mono line. Thus I will speculate that the fish are more likely to miss out on the bait tied to the braid line if it’s just set on the bottom where they may encounter the line before the bait.
You go after sturgeon with 20# test?
Can you get the big ones in with out exhausting them to the point they may not make it??
Not sure if that’s true with sturgeon, but with musky’s it is, least imho
al
Nah it’s all shore fishing, they usually break the line…if I can’t turn them around. It’s really for channel cats, but the sturgeons will play with the bait. LOL’s. So far only about a 48″ juvenile has come to. I’m sure if I play them out, I will haul in bigger, but it’s not the thing to do on shore.
I haven’t chase sturgeons, since sturgeon endorsement stamp came out, but still have that 80# braid set up for them. I know there’s a +60″r hanging around Bayport that I hooked into under the ice. Got a boat, now, but just haven’t found time to really chase them.
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