Pool 4 Lake Sturgeon Tagging Party

Attention Sturgeon Anglers!

The MN DNR is looking for your help in catching Lake Sturgeon below
Lock and Dam #3 near Red Wing MN
Friday, June 23
starting at 5:00 PM until dark.
Launch at Everts Resort.

The dam rollers have been lower and has slowed the water flow just in time for the Catch and Release Sturgeon Opener on June 16.

All licensed anglers are welcome to join in giving the MN DNR a hand in radio tagging these fish.

Everts has waived the $3 launch fee for this event and will have crawlers available for bait along with anything you might of left at home.

The DNR would like to place radio tagging transmitters in 5 larger sturgeon. They will be tagging other Lake Sturgeon as well with the “dangler” tags. Because it’s a catch and release season, we can not “hold” the fish.

Once a Lake Sturgeon has been hooked, have someone flag down the DNR transport boat to take the fish from you via net after your finished taking photos. They will then transport the fish to the “surgery” boat and implant the transmitter or tag and release it.

Please make sure your boat registration is current as always.

These transmitters have tracked one flathead from Pool 1 in Mpls to the head of Lake Pepin this spring. It’s with information like this that the DNR can better manage our Lake Sturgeon populations.

The DNR would like to have a rough count of the number of boats that are planning on attending.
Post here or private message me if you are planning on attending.

Questions? Fire away!

Anyone have an open seat?

We have Sharptailer marked as IN.

Pretty sure I’m out, but I’m let you know when those fish pass through Prescott

Andy, we’ll be waiting for those Prescott fish to come down here too.

Gotta love acoustic tagging.

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Will there be Aquavit and sausages afterwards?

Spam out of the can, will that work?

Of course. Aquavit is already in the boat- strictly for celebratory purposes only

I think myself and my daughter, the young biologist will be down to assist. We may need some direction, BK.

Not a problem Francis. If I’m not out on the water already, I’ll be near or at the bait shop.

Marine Radio users monitor ch 68.

Sounds like fun! I’ll be there!

I’ve never gone sturgeon fishing but that sounds like fun. What is needed for tackle?

A rod with a backbone yet a light tip to see the bite. Think of sunfish bite.
A reel with a good drag that has at least 50 pound braid. There’s a few that use 20 pound mono…

A 4 oz sinker, a good swivel and I would recommend the Team Catfish 3/0 or 5/0 double action hooks.

Fill your hook with crawlers…and cast.

There’s many ways to catch sturgeon but this is the basic set up.

Please don’t bring heavy walleye gear. Seldom is it heavy enough unless you happen to catch walleye size LS. Heavy bass rods work I’m told.

Ps I use 4oz No Roll sinkers available at Evert. I discourage the use of barrel sinkers as they roll around too much in my opinion.

This Friday Folks!

An oldie but a goodie!!

Count on us for sure…

If we are in Wisconsin we can use cut walleyes for bait, right?

You may follow the WI laws, yes.

Rods 4-6 oz, 7-9′
Reel 15-25# drag
80-100# braid or 30-50# mono
100#+ swivels
2-4 oz weight
Soft bead for knot protection
5/0-8/0 circle hook

Keep on the bottom and keep a tight line. Bite detection is not hard with a tight line. I do not worry about any ‘soft tip” rods. Heavy musky gear preferred.

Can’t put to many night crawlers on the hook, especially if they’re giving them away.

Musky net, or grab tail and cradle belly to lift over boat.
Fish can be weighed in a net.

Never lift by gills. Never weigh any method besides in net or in a cradle.

Have a camera ready before you catch a fish.

Circle hooks pull out the same way they go in. Rarely a pliers required.

Don’t be afraid to muscle them in.
Fish recover faster from a Sprint than a marathon.

Fish with one anchor on the bow and toss out a 20″ sock out the back to keep boat in a solid position.

Respect the fish.

So how did it go? I was bummed I couldn’t make it. Hopefully a bunch of fish got tagged and I can meet them later…

Results and photos have been posted here: https://www.in-depthoutdoors.com/community/forums/topic/sturgeon-tagging-party-pool-4/