Holy cow those sturgeon fight!

Thought I heard of a record sturgeon from Yellow Lake within the last couple years. Think a guy from MN, a muskie angler went to Yellow with his kid specifically targeting these big sturgeon. I think this is the link to the story. So I don’t think it was an official record. Anyway, awesome catches. Very curious about this Yellow Lake and how and why it holds these large sturgeon.

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/outdoors/fishing/3840616-13-year-old-hauls-whale-sturgeon-burnett-county-lake

Yes they do! Good way to start catmando

I went out targeting them for the first time this weekend also. I picked up 5 of them with the biggest one 44”. It was a great battle.

Many times people ask me prior to a trip “how does a sturgeon fight”. Since most people are smaller fish people, how do you explain a sturgeon fight to them?

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Tuma wrote:

I went out targeting them for the first time this weekend also. I picked up 5 of them with the biggest one 44”. It was a great battle.

That’s an incredible success rate for first time. Were you on Yellow Lake too?

A report from Saturday evening came in with 33 landed in something like 5-6 hours.
I of course canceled my client’s trip because of the reported storms with hail, lightning and high winds…non of which ever showed up.

Man that looks awesome.

I love the composition of that first photo BK. That guy really knows how to employ the rule of 3rds.

Brian Klawitter wrote:

how do you explain a sturgeon fight to them?

Usually I’ll just explain to them that at some point I’ll be calling you a girl…

Because…

Most people after the first minute complain about their back, or suggest that they cannot pull any harder when they can’t lift the rod off the rail.
Either way it is entertaining for those watching!

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LOL I know that spot Andy.

Catman, you look good with the beard and the Sturg!

Who’s better looking? Lol.

I got in on my first sturgeon action this last weekend too! Went out with Luke Hentges on the St Croix and pulled in 6-7 of them. My best being a 47 incher. The way that one fought I can’t imagine what a 60-70 incher would be like.

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Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

That’s an incredible success rate for first time. Were you on Yellow Lake too?

I was on the Mississippi river between pool 3 and 4.
That day my buddie that came with me also picked up his first one.

Brian Klawitter wrote:

Many times people ask me prior to a trip “how does a sturgeon fight”. Since most people are smaller fish people, how do you explain a sturgeon fight to them?

Its like being hooked up to a TORPEDO sometimes.. and sometimes its like being hooked on to a Submarine that wont budge.

Nice looking fish mahto!

Thanks, yep fished yellow lake. Gotta try the river now, been pulling cranks and Poppin the walleyes lately.

catmando wrote:

Thanks, yep fished yellow lake. Gotta try the river now, been pulling cranks and Poppin the walleyes lately.

Check the regs closely, last I checked it is a pretty short season to target sturgeon over there.

Actually they’re closed as of last month.

I have a Minnesota fishing license. I should be able to catch and release? On the Croix.

catmando wrote:

I have a Minnesota fishing license. I should be able to catch and release? On the Croix.

Yes MN or WI license works. I talked with you up on Yellow and fish lower Croix often. Hope to see you out there I have the Triton bass boat.

catmando wrote:

I have a Minnesota fishing license. I should be able to catch and release? On the Croix.

Oh absolutely! It only gets better and better from now until you can’t get through the ice on the lower Croix. I haven’t even started chasing them yet, but very soon.

Just that darn Wisconsin that hasn’t opened up the catch and release much more than just the month of September for those select inland waters. They do like the spear though

Hi Jpb, wish I could have pick your brain thanks for the tip. Question when you graph them and their semi vertical their feeding? Ever try to stay on them with bow mount? Thks.

I have ate a lot of fish over years,but taking a knife to something that’s older than you ,I can’t see it. DK.

Your on the right track when I mark fish on side scan try going back over with 2D to see if their kicking up silt. If you have spot lock on your TM it works well if you have a good wind.I think the russling of the anchor is good and put a bait close by. vertical rods are more sensitive I would loose the bobbers on the river. CPR I would never kill one for a meal saw so many being lifted by gills this year it made me sick no reason to ever put your hands inside gill plate.

I agree, I think a big cradle would be the ticket to land them easy. I was thinking maybe some kind of non slip glove for grabbing them by the tail?

Anybody having daytime luck on the Croix? Gonna head out tomorrow morning from Beanie’s.

dfresh wrote:

Anybody having daytime luck on the Croix? Gonna head out tomorrow morning from Beanie’s.

YEP! Croix went no wake crest on Tues.

catmando wrote:

I agree, I think a big cradle would be the ticket to land them easy. I was thinking maybe some kind of non slip glove for grabbing them by the tail?

I highly disagree, use a big big net. I do own a very nice cradle and I’m speaking from experience.