2006 Sturgeon photo’s with comments

Hey Dave did you ever find out the info on the tag number you wrote down from that fish? If you still have the number let me know, it would be interesting to find out the info on it.

HEY Audemp! Where’s your hat!?

Those are some awesome photos. I use to think catching a sturgeon was a very rare thing but I’m amazed at some of the catch rates I see reported… 20 – 30 fish some days.

Can somebody please give me a few pointers about what type of structure or water I should be looking for? Based on some comments I’ve read, it seems like some of you guys are fishing pretty close together so I assume there are a few “community” spots.

It seems like a lot of you use cut bait. I trapped several dozen creek chubs last week. Do you think these will work? Should I cut them up or put them on alive?

The St. Croix seems so expansive with deep water all over. I really don’t know where to start my search.

Thanks for any help. I think I’ll have to get some heavier gear.

Boone

If your looking into gear.. check out Moores bait, he has an awesome selection of rods/reels for sturgeon fishing. He can help point you in the right direction for what he, and other people are using from tackle to bait.

I really dont want to post the *community holes* to the public, but it probably wouldnt be that hard to find an open boat seat, or fish a little info out of private messages. There are a couple more known locations on Lake St Croix, but lots of water that doesnt recieve any attention.

In all honesty, I dont think there is much of anywhere over the deeper water(30’+) that has shad around that a person wouldnt eventually catch a few fish right now. I know people are getting fish in other locations in about 15′. Structures or areas concentrating baitfish for whatever reason is a good place to start.

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HEY Audemp! Where’s your hat!?

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Oh that was the day I forgot both my hat and sunglasses and we started around 11am so I suffered big time with the sun and then the rain. I was with FisherDave and DTRO that day. It turned out to be a great day as soon as the sun went down.

Fisher Dave or Any Other Sturgeon Anglers,

What length rod and line weight rating do you recommend? Also, do you prefer baitcasting or spinning reels?

Also, does bringing sturgeon up from deep water (over 30 ft) injury them in any way (assuming I’d be lucky enough to hook one). That’s always a big topic of discussion for the walleyes guys in the winter/spring but I’ve never heard of anything like this for sturgeon. When I was joy riding with the family last weekend on the St. Croix, I saw some areas that looked interesting on the sonar but it was in 46 ft of water.

Thanks,

Boone

I have been running 7.5-8.5 foot catfish rods and both 25lb mono and 80lb braid. I’ve got to admit I like the mono better. You could get by with lighter-weight braid, but that’s what I have spooled for cats. I have both spinning and baitcasting, but I prefer the baitcasters. Mine are Abu 6500C3s.

Slow action rods and soft tips are best.

I haven’t had any problems releasing fish. Bigger ones can take a bit to revive, but they usually give you a nice slpash in the face when they’re ready to go.

Boone..

as for hurting the fish coming up from the depths… I know they have no problems up to 40′ of water.. in fact, sometimes they are jumping out of the water by the time you set the hook. They go up, down, all over with no signs of pressure stress(depth). They will occasionaly burp when you get them in the boat, they seem to efficiently release pressure as needed.. unlike crappies/walleyes, etc.

The gear most of us are using is comparable to light saltwater gear(cat gear). Glass or graphite rods from 7′-8 1/2′ lengths with a top line weight rating from 25#-50# line. Spinning or baitcasting is your choice, and can be efficient either way. Dont skimp on a reel and you will be happy. Spinning reels of choice are Okuma Epixor 50 and 65 series reels.. larger line capacity and lower gear ratio make these reels very capable large fish handlers.. and they are well built. Baitcasters, Abu 6500’s work ok, 7000’s are considerably better, or move into rolling class reels like Penn or Shimano Tekota reels. Stay away from large cheap reels.

Rods.. there are lots out there, trick is to find them. That is why I recommended Moores because he has everything on hand. Boss rods are casting rods, 1 piece, 7 1/2′ length, and the #3(17#-30#) is about perfect. The tiger rods are an excellent choice(casting or spinning), glow sticks and nigt sticks both are very capable.. there are choices.

The Quantum Big Cat rod in MH power has also worked very well for us.

Here’s a 54-incher that Mr. Special’s buddy caught. I’ll let Phil tell the story (if there is one).

Thanks Ryan for posting da pix.
It was my bud Tee’s 1st strugeon outing. Most of the fish we caught that day was in the 35″, n one fish at 40″. He was totally impressed with how much a 40″ fought. We weren’t able to stay out to long, only till about noon. It was about 11ish when the ThunderCat got a tap tap. I told Tee to pick up da rod, feel the fish and give her a jerk. When he 1st set the hook it fought a little, n he said it’s a small one don’t worry about da net. It was the imfamous sturgeon leap. With about 5′ of line left she cleared water right at boatside. I wish I had a Pix of Tee’s face when he saw how big it was. Then she dove down for the bottom. Tee yells wat do I do??? I said “nothing just hang on and enjoy the fight, it might take a while”
So after about 5mins she comes back up. Tee yells “she’s comin up, get da net ready”. Nope, wrong again bro. She was just showing off and dove for da bottom again. Finally after 10mins she surfaces and we get her n da net. Tee was shaking for about another 10mins after da fight. Before this his biggest fish to date was an #12 channel, so there a huge difference.

I do want to say big thanks everyone for showing me sturgeon fishin, so I had a chance to show others.

…and yet another outbreak of the “sturgeon shakes” on the St Croix! Must be the water!

Good story Phil!

Thats a sweet story Mr. Special

I gotta get out and try that

I took my dad out sturgeon fishing Saturday. He caught is first three sturgeon.

His first fish 34in.

2nd fish 36in.

He was impressed by the fight and he is looking forward to doing it again.

It was a rough day out there the wind was kicking out butt. I had a 25# richter out the front with 85FT of rope out and a 20 # out the back and we were getting pushed right along.

I think I need another 25# richter out the front.

So that would be 70lbs all together. I will need a good anchor man.

Aqua Joe…

I have a few different lead plates (pie pan size or similar) between #10-#30 the best I could guess. I can put a welded eye bolt in one and they will stick in the muck big time. My guess is you would have to cleat them to get them out of the bottom.

Let me know if you want me to rig something up. The smaller one would work great to put in front of a water-spike type anchor or rictor if your fishing wih tornado’s around.

I am going to rig one fr my rear anchor for windy days. I dont have a problem holding in place, I just sway all over.

heres one from sat.

48″er.

Nice fish guys! You’res too Gary.

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You’res too Gary.

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Thanks Brian……oh forgot to tell you I dropped your card reader in the St. Croix……

Are you fishing the contest Gary?

48″er

Nice shirt…..

What tha??? You two swapping cloths???

Ralph you have way too much time on your hands

Nice fish – both of you. You are now to be known as Daryl and his other brother Daryl.

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Nice fish – both of you. You are now to be known as Daryl and his other brother Daryl.

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Nice fish – both of you. You are now to be known as Daryl and his other brother Daryl.

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OH oh…… better leave Larry out of this one.

Great Pics!

Here is one that I caught….63″

Holly moley Rocky…….

Rocky, Where did you hook into that TITAN!!