WOW! Is the best way to describe the 2008 Sturgeon Excursion!
The weather cooperated, more and larger fish were caught and the smiles were just as large as the fish!
Where else can a person take the family and in one very short day of fishing, have 14 fish in the boat and end up with smiles like this one on my Favorite Daughter?
This is fishing in it’s finest form.
It’s all catch and release, maybe that’s why when I anchor next too someone I don’t know and ask them if it’s ok to fish within 60 feet of there boat they always say "SURE"! The friendliness is something I have never witnessed in any other type of fishing. There are no "secret spots", no "my spots"…just everyone helping the next person get into a big fish.
I asked my Favorite Wife and Daughter what’s more fun? Catching your own fish or watching someone else catch a big sturgeon. They both agreed, it’s even. Watching someone else dance with a sturgeon is just as much fun as dancing yourself.
Because of the constant (darn cold) wind on Saturday, it was hard to detect bites in the "chop" on the water. Holding the rod in your hand meant many less missed bites.
This photo is of my Favorite wife that detected the light nibble of a Lake Sturgeon, swept the rod back to let the circle hook do it’s job. She then kept as much pressure on the fish as she could until it was netted next to the boat. This is the first fish my wife has held since I’ve known her…and I love the expression on her face!
As I was taking the girls out to our little fishing spot in the bay, it seemed like every other boat had a rod bent over the side.
Once anchored a person could tell when someone hooked into a good fish by the hooting and hollering going on!
In this photo, the Favorite Daughter is taking a break from her hooting and hollering! I know at least 3 times she said "if it goes down again, I don’t want to do this anymore". These fish peel off line from the reel like the drag was broken. Niki was using a St Croix 6’10" Med Fast graphite rod. I prefer using graphite over fiberglass and PowerPro line because of it’s bite detecting sensitivity on the windy days.
I’m willing to bet there are plenty of "Sturgeoners" that have sore backs from the weekend!
IDO’s St Croixer put together an award program for the top three largest sturgeon. Here are the winners.
1st Place: Aqua Joe with a 67 incher
2nd Place: First timer Ethan with his 65 incher
3rd Place: Another first timer, Maggie Voit with a 62 incher. Note: Maggie is also 62 inches tall!
Many "Thank You’s" need to be handed out.
Tom, Judy and the rest of the team at Wigwam Resort for the great food and hospitality. Special thanks to Lisa in the Cabana Room. (wink wink) Yes, there are folks making reservations for the 2009 Excursion now!
St Croixer, Jarett Buxtell for his work on the madallions
LakeMaster for having the new 2008 mapping chip ready in time for the Sturgeon Excursion. If you fish Lake of the Woods or any part of the Rainy River from the lake to International Falls, this is a must have!
A HUGE thanks goes to all the members that helped answer the first timers questions. You guys are the best!
There will be more "how to" talk going on in the Catfish/Sturgeon Forum.
If you have Sturgeon Excursion Photo’s please post them in this thread.
See you all next year!