Sturgeon Contest Saturday Oct 14th

Moores Bait and Tackle is hosting the last contest of the year folks.

The same rules apply as the previous contest. Its strictly a catch and release contest with lenght + girth + photo to decide winning fish.

Participants must register at Moores bait by Friday October 13th. $15 entry fee. You can enter in person, have a friend stop in and register for you, or mail a check to Moores bait and tackle(>Link for directions and phone number to Moore’s Bait and Tackle<) along with your name.

Contest hours are 6 a.m to midnight Saturday October 14th.

Measurements and photos must be brought to Moores bait by 3 pm Sunday October 15th.

Number of payouts will be determined by the number of participants. 30 participants max.

All Minnesota border water laws apply to this contest.

The sturgeon fishing has been excellent in the last week with many large fish being landed. I suspect this will be a very close contest with lots of big fish landed. The fishing will only improve as the water cools.

Here is the winning fish of the last contest caught by Whisker Hooked. The fish measured 63″ x 24″ (87″ total)

THIS one I think I can make!

I wish you guys would plan these on Sundays!!! Good luck to all.

Of course I will be there. I am sure Bob Moore will be in too.. he is feeling pretty good after they put a bunch of fish in the boat including a 55″ yesterday..

now just to explain to them they dont need to finish the roll of film before developing pictures!

As long as I can find a seat in a boat, I should be there!!

I think Shamu is still outside scrubbing the grease off the boat from the last cookout in 40 mph winds

I think I got burger spatters in my boat 300 yards down wind! Let me know if the burgers are happening again, I will have to grab some more condiments.. I just threw the other ones away yesterday

Hey Brandy you and Carl are riding with me this time.

I need my bait blessed!!!

Oh and remember you may want to man up those ringtones!!

Those burgers were good though. Thanks again for the hospitality!!

Dtro, count me in. Shamu wants in I bet. Have to talk to him or send him the link. I’m guessing that he hasnt seen this yet.
Cool another contest!!!!

Way to go Dave and Bob!

Glad you liked the burgers. Have see as we get closer if we can do that again.

Hey Joe! I appreciate it! I have to talk to Karl and see for sure what we’re doing! What if my luck is in Dave’s boat??
We’ll see what we can do with the bait! Do you have alcohol on your boat?
I do still have to man up my ringtone, but didn’t we decide that I pretty much need to get a new phone?!!

I am already signed up. There will be more to choose from. Yes, dtro and Larry I am up for it. This will ba fun and if we are going to be cooking that much then I will bring the Big Grill for this time. I am excited!! I hope that the wind will die down alittle.

I Will be there as usual, Brian K already paid in, it sounds like Whisker Hooked is willing to come take our money again if possible… Mr Keb may be stuck working so he may not make it.

Who is 100% fishing this contest?

Right now we have..

Brian K
Fisher Dave
Whisker Hooked
Shamu
Larry Flat
dtro
Bob Moore will likely show after closing time.. maybe he can hijack Mr Keb after work?

Open seats??? I will start another post to try to locate open seats for those who would like to fish the contest, but need a seat to get out there.

I am normally a Bass guy, but would like to give this a try. A couple of questions:
I mostly have bass rigs, med action 20lb fire wire. What do I need for equipment?
Where are you launching, I have a WI liscence? I do have a couple of tackle boxes I got from my step dad, has some big hooks and weights.
I have fished for Cats and striped Bass in OK and TX

Thanks

U don’t really need super big hooks or weights.
Most of us are using 2oz bank sinkers, n a 2/0-4/0 Gami Circle hook, or 2/0-4/0 Gami Octa hooks, on a basic slip rig just like catfishing.
Bass gear will work, but it’s much better using heavier tackle. Like U would use for Big cats. Rods with long handles are a plus. For line I’d recommend atleast #30 or heavier. Most people are using #80PP
Good luck n have fun their a blast

There are a number of differant combo’s that will work…but let’s start with the rod.

Heavy bass rods will work for fish upto the high 40’s…a 48″ on a bass rod will give you a work out. If you plan on winning this contest…I’m willing to go as far as saying it’s going to be a high 50 to mid 60 incher. You will be out there some time trying to get her off the bottom. Most out there fishing regularly are using channel cat gear…like The Boss rod #3 from Moores Bait and Tackle for example. The ideal rod has light tip action to detect the light bites..(and you won’t believe how light they bite) yet a strong butt section to pull her off the bottom.

I’m sure Jimmy’s has some rods that will fit this bill too.

I use 80 pound Power Pro…but that’s really over kill on the Croix as there isn’t any snags to speak of. I think most would agree that a good 30 lbs line would suffice.

For hooks, personally I use 2/0 Gamakatzu circle hooks. I believe lighter is better for these guys although they are not hook shy, I think they can “vacuum” a lighter hook up easier. Many use a 4/0 or 3/0 hook…and I think everyone uses a circle hook. Just lift the rod out of the holder and start reeling…Do NOT set the hook with circles…which for me was hard to learn.

Make a leader of about 8 inches out of the same line, a swival to help keep the twist out and some type of slip sinker to get it to the bottom in 30 fow. I use no rolls mostly in the 3 oz size. Bank sinkers work well too.

Everyone has their favorite bait…from cut sucker, 3 crawlers, whole shad, cut shad, 2 fatheads or any combination of the above. Creek chubs will work too. I will say that some days one bait seems to work better than others…then the next day it’s something else.

Personally, I carry suckers, shad and crawler as my ammo.

Give us a shout if you have anymore questions…

Your faster at posting Phil!

chico diablo..

these guys covered it well. I cant stress enough stepping up on line a little bit. If you want to use 20, I would go mono for the larger diameter, or better yet to take a step up to 50# power pro. I have 40# on one of my main rigs but its a bit hard on the hands if you have to grab the line for any reason(getting a fish out of the anchor rope!). Slightly larger diameter wont cut into you as quickly.

A rod with a very powerful butt section is highly recommended. These fish are heavy to get off the bottom, and bottom is generally 30′ below you.. thats a long ways to try to coax a large fish up with a fly rod.

A 6 1/2′ heavy action bass/pike/musky type rod rated for 30# line with a 6500 abu class reel is probably about minimum a person should use with expectations to land a larger sturgeon. A lighter rod you very well might break it, or just be helpless trying to raise the fish, a smaller reel you might be spooled before you know it (right Mr Special ).

But ur post was better Bud..

I would agree with Fisher Dave….heavier is much better!

I learned that lesson already this year and beefed up to 80 lb line. I just got to use it last night and I loved it. Whole new set up.

I have been using a shakesphere “tiger light” ugly stick with a spinning reel okuma epixor 50 with 65 power pro as well as the normal tiger med light action with a shimano tekota 500 baitcaster reel and 65 power pro courtesy of Moore’s Bait and tackle. Both have work outstanding they both have the backbone to pull the big fish up and the very sensative tip to detect those very light bites. I prefer 3 oz bank sinkers and a 3/0 gamigatsu circle hook.

Have a good time!

Brian I really like the boss rod also. The olny downfall is when the fish are biting very light. You loose the feel with the slow action but can usually see it pretty good. Thanks to Dave for showing me his I had to go get one. Great flathead rod too!!!! Its about the olny rod I have seen that has that much backbone but a nice soft tip. Lighter rods can get the job done but you hate to chance missing the fish of a lifetime because you are underpowered.

Here is a cool video of a white sturgeon being caught.

White Sturgeon video

Here is another one from one of our IDA members fireman1217. Very cool!! I wonder where they were?

BIG suprise

Just got back from the Hayward area, and thanks for all the tips on the equipment needed. Now I just need to know where you will be launching.

There’s a number of places to launch. Starting just north of Stillwater, Bayport, Hudson WI, Beanies, Windmill Marina in Afton, The Bluffs County park and Prescot. Directions to each are in C15’s post stickied to the top of this forum.

Saturdays coming up…you guys better get practising!

Thanks for all the help, if I do fish I will need a ride and we would have to put in on the WI side.

Chico.. I see your a WI resident. You dont have to launch on the wisconsin side. You are allowed to fish the entir river with your license by boat or shore. Where you launch makes no difference.

The only thing that would restrict you for this contest is you would have to abide by Minnesota border water regulations.. or only fish with 2 rods vs 3 allowed by your wisconsin resident license, and you cant use a bass for bait

Put your name out on the open seat section and you might be able to find an open boat seat for the contest.

Im in!! Aqua Joe and I will be hittin it hard!

Thats slightly intimidating… Aqua Joe is due for a really big fish!

Marc, you can get the eel!