IDO Sturgeon GTG (unofficial)

IDO Sturgeon GTG (unofficial)

When: Saturday January 11, 2020
Where: Bayport area on the St. Croix River

Since so many people responded that they wanted to go Sturgeon fishing I thought I would set up a unofficial get-to-gather. Come and go when you please. I plan to be there at 9 am Saturday morning and most likely be staying to 3 am again. I don’t have all the details worked out but lets at least get a date on the calendar before it is full.

I am thinking of doing some kind of pot luck / cooking thing for dinner. Please help with ideas on what you guys want to do.

I’m in.

Does your potluck include any Spam?

Count me in. Will bring some veni stew.

9am- 3am. Oofda, the liver is gonna love you Sunday

Just blocked it out on my calendar.

I’m at about 80% right now. I wouldn’t be there until about an hour or two before dark and would stay until around 3am as well.

I’m sure I can convince Bearcat to join as well.

I’ll be checking with the FW tonight to see if I have any plans.

I can bring the Frying Saucer for Spam and anything else that goes in a deep fryer.

I’ll be located next to the biggest ice house fishing for sturg. Where ever that is.

I will try to be there for 3rd shift. I don’t get off work until 10pm but should be able to head straight over.

404 ERROR wrote:

I’m sure I can convince Bearcat to join as well.

I talked to him and he said that the date is too far out to know for sure but he is in.

Could make it after 8pm or so. Would be good to meet some of you in person. BK I’ll bring a suitcase of Hamm’s

I would be in also if it isn’t on my FW’s weekend to work! Sounds like a great time. I’ve always wanted to try for them on the ice but want to go out the first time with people who know what they’re doing so I don’t get wet. Perfect plan.

Damn…too many conflicts that weekend but I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on the thread here for some pictures and reports. I’m primarily a Pool 4 guy but wouldn’t mind making a few trips to the St. Croix for ice fishing and for some experts’ tips and pointers.

Awesome…the great Mooneye get together…LOL.

Good luck to all. I may be there, I may not.

Used to be the old Eastman Ice Cube shack, but now it’s an Eskimo 949i now.

I might be down, even more so if the ice is good for trucks and wheelhouses

I’d have to trade one of you guys some Busch Lattes or Miller Lites to pop some 10″ holes in the shack though (no 10″ auger)

I got permission to pencil this in. Thanks for organizing!

I will likely make up chicken wings and bring an assortment of hot sauces to sample.

B-man wrote:

some 10″ holes in the shack though

No 10” auger needed. I use my 8” and drill 3 holes together. But that might be hard to do in house.

Rodwork wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>B-man wrote:</div>
some 10″ holes in the shack though

No 10” auger needed. I use my 8” and drill 3 holes together. But that might be hard to do in house.

I’ll probably need to drill 4 holes together.

Crap!

As I was putting this date in my calendar, I have the Annual Free Kids fishing going on at Lake Rebecca in Hastings put on by Carpenters Nature Center.

Well, that doesn’t last all day… but I’ve declined to a “maybe” now.

@Andy @Bushman see messages.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

I’ll probably need to drill 4 holes together.

Planning on going scuba diving?

biggill wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>eelpoutguy wrote:</div>
I’ll probably need to drill 4 holes together.

Planning on going scuba diving?

Polar Plunge!

Ok I have never done this, will there be people to help?

Kid and some friends considering this.

Sharon wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>biggill wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>eelpoutguy wrote:</div>
I’ll probably need to drill 4 holes together.

Planning on going scuba diving?

Polar Plunge!

If that’s the case it will have to be triple that.

travis mccolley wrote:

Ok I have never done this, will there be people to help?

Kid and some friends considering this.

Yes, Equip might be the biggest hurdle though.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>travis mccolley wrote:</div>
Ok I have never done this, will there be people to help?

Kid and some friends considering this.

Yes, Equip might be the biggest hurdle though.

What type of equip?

We ice fish quite a bit and have both flip and hub houses, as well as electronics.

Rod and reels we may need to get heavier gear

Yup, the rods and reels.
We did catch a Sturgeon thru the ice on LOTW on a walleye rod but took 45 minutes to get it in, it would of been nice to have something with as bit more backbone.
Other than that, no roll sinkers and circle hooks.

BK could chime in on what size sinkers and hooks work best.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Yup, the rods and reels.
We did catch a Sturgeon thru the ice on LOTW on a walleye rod but took 45 minutes to get it in, it would of been nice to have something with as bit more backbone.

Wolfram Custom rods makes a nice XXH sturgeon rod in spinning and casting. It is very similar to the one I make. Theirs comes with a 9” rear grip and 3” fore grip at 40” long. You will like having a longer rear grip with it comes to fighting the fish. I made my smaller sturgeon rod at 42” long with a 10” rear grip. My son loved using it this summer open water fishing. I can’t wait to try it on the ice for sturgeon. For a reel I used a 2500 size with 25lb braid. I have heard of some people using up to 65lb.

https://wolframcustomrods.com/product-tag/sturgeon/

I just plan on using a shorty trolling rod, baitcaster.

Big jigs are what many use while icefishing do they not?

Again, i swear this was a large write-up on this in the archives if anyone wants to dig around.

Yes, larger spoons with upgraded hooks and split rings or just a circle hook. I have heard of people using the short trolling rods with great success.

Rodwork wrote:

Yes, larger spoons with upgraded hooks and split rings or just a circle hook. I have heard of people using the short trolling rods with great success.

That’s what I use for Lake Trout, works awesome. I sanded the trigger off and use a 4000 Sienna spinning reel on it.

It’ll be perfect for sturgies too.

you can count on 4 of us

Eelpoutguy wrote:

BK could chime in on what size sinkers and hooks work best.

“Best” is a very tricky word. I use 4/0 circle hooks with a 2 oz slip weight. I know some use less weight and treble hooks. Either way, pinching the barbs down will help release the fish faster and I can’t say never, but you’ll never lose a fish with a circle and barbless.