If you want to go fishing for something as prehistoric as the mighty dinosaurs themselves, then Sturgeon is the right fish for you. These mighty creatures have been around for around 135 million years, and they haven’t changed much. So wouldn’t it be fantastic if you could catch one yourself? Well, maybe you can.
Catching one of these magnificent beasts will give you immense satisfaction because they’re notoriously powerful, massive, and rare. It may sound intimidating, but it’s pretty straightforward. So if you’re confused about how to catch Sturgeon in the Columbia River, this guide will help you understand all the ABCs of catching one.
Top 10 Tips On How To Catch Sturgeon In The Columbia River
Catching Sturgeon can be both intimidating and exciting all at once. But as soon as you catch one, all the anticipation seems worthwhile. So, here are ten terrific tips to help you catch Sturgeon in the Columbia River.
- Learn to Identify A Sturgeon
The first lesson in fishing is understanding your fish. You need to be able to identify Sturgeon to ensure you catch the right fish. Otherwise, if you don’t know what you’re looking for, it’s nothing but a wild goose chase.
There are two species of Sturgeon you’ll find in the Columbia River, Green and White Sturgeons. All Sturgeons have a few things in common. Like a shovel-shaped or conical snout, barbels hanging from their mouths, and shark-like fins. Some people even go as far as to say that they look like armored torpedoes. The significant differences between the three are their colors, sizes, and life spans.
White Sturgeon
The White Sturgeon has a total life expectancy of around 100 years. The average adult White Sturgeon you’ll be able to find can be over 5-ft in length and can weigh well over 65lbs. However, White Sturgeon is one of the largest species on earth and can get to 18 feet long.
You can tell it apart from other species by its gray back and bright white belly, also they have a blunt rounded nose.
Green Sturgeon
The Green Sturgeon is smaller than the White species. They can live for around 70 years. Commonly, an adult Green Sturgeon will average 4-ft in length and weigh around 50 pounds.
The unique olive-green back and light green to gray belly make them easy to spot. Green Sturgeon are endangered and are not allowed to be retained. If you identify one while fishing you should immediately do your best to release them without harm, even if you must cut your fishing line.
- Fish in The Most Favourable Season
Sturgeon are among some of the world’s most endangered fish. And so you can only fish for Sturgeon at specific times. Most Anglers claim that September is the best time of the year to go Sturgeon fishing. However, others swear that July and August are the best Sturgeon fishing months.
But while that’s up for debate, one thing’s for sure. No one would recommend you to go Sturgeon fishing during the cold winter days. From November to March is generally the most unfavorable period of the year to look for Sturgeon.
Oregon department of fish and wildlife along with the Washington department of fish and wildlife set seasons for catch and release or retention seasons based on population numbers. The retention days are normally single days so they can prevent over-harvesting.
- Fish in The Waters populated By Sturgeon
While looking for places where Sturgeon might be having a town hall meeting is impossible, there’s still a way to grab hold of these extremely mobile fish.
You should turn to technology to find a fix for this problem. A high-end fish finder will save you many failures. But, no matter what you buy, the ultimate goal can only be achieved if you know how to use your gadgets.
Digital fish finders are complicated yet fruitful devices. Read the manual to understand the device and maybe take it for a test run before the fishing day. This way, you’ll be able to resolve any issues you might have overlooked before.
Look for large fish located close to the bottom or holes and channels in the river bottom that sturgeon might frequent. Sturgeon do migrate during different times of the year for food and to mate.
Late spring might be a good time to find them near the ocean for lots of clams and shrimp. While early fall should be a good time to find them moving upriver in deep channels.
- Use The Right Equipment
Knowing your hooks and leads might save you a lot of trouble later. Understand the different types of hooks and leaders, and pick out the best ones to catch Sturgeons.
Experts recommend the use of anodized hooks. You can find them in blue, red, and black colors. It’s especially great while fishing in saltwater because a standard nickel hook won’t last long before being destroyed by rust.
As far as the leader is concerned, two of the most popular choices are Dacron for leaders and braided for mainline. Dacron is by far the best for leaders because its overall diameter will work better with bait. When you use smelt or squid you can make half hitch loops and not cut through the bait.
On the other hand, a braided line is super strong and lasts for ten years or more. These characteristics make it a perfect mainline to fight a huge White Sturgeon.
For a pole consider a short saltwater combo or a budget-friendly tuna rod combo. A Shimano Saltwater combo is a great starter combo, with a series 25 reel and a 6-foot heavy-duty rod.
- Use The Right Bait
The right bait is key for getting a sturgeon to bite but they do have a large variety of likes that can change depending on season and location. A shortlist of baits includes smelt, squid, shad, and rollmop(pickled herring rolled with a pickle).
These baits are some of the sturgeon favorites but don’t forget others like sardines, anchovy, herring, and clams. Sents that mimic these baits also make a great addition to smelt or squid, but Ultra Clam Smelly Jelly is the best.
And lastly, your bait should always be fresh. You wouldn’t want to eat anything that smells, right? It’s the same deal with fish. If your bait isn’t fresh, no Sturgeon will come near it. However, don’t forget pickled baits or baits frozen with juice can work well, like smell frozen in clam juice.
- Watch Out For the Best Tide
Sturgeon are sturdy fish, and a tide is nothing that would typically hold them back. However, there are a few windows during the day that Sturgeons get most active in. The best time to fish for Sturgeon is during an outgoing tide, specifically the last two hours of an outgoing tide.
The logic behind the outgoing tide is because the fish will be near the bottom and the sent of your bait will travel downriver to them. Also, because the water is moving faster they will strike faster to prevent the bait from getting away.
- Follow The Law
The Sturgeon is among the list of endangered species. About 23 of the total 27 species are considered nearly extinct. So the government has strict laws for fishing Sturgeons. Among the three we mentioned earlier, the Green Sturgeon species is to be returned to the water unharmed by government orders.
There are many other similar laws enforced, like single-point barbless hooks. So you should always stay updated.
- Don’t Fish in Just One Place
The worst mistake people make while fishing for Sturgeon is staying in one place for far too long. These fish are agile species. They keep on moving all over the river.
So whatever you do, don’t stay in one place too long. As a rule of thumb, we like 15 to 20 minutes per location without a solid hookup then you should move.
There are bound to be Sturgeon munching somewhere along the river, so keep moving around.
- Use Light Resistance Rod
Sturgeon are intelligent fish, and they’re very light biters. Once they bite onto the bait, they can sense resistance. If they feel there’s too much of it, they’ll probably let go, and you’ll be left empty-handed. The Sturgeons at the Columbia river are giant, so you’ll need a heavier rod. But make sure you get one with a light tip.
- Keep First Aid On Hand
Fishing accidents might happen no matter what sort of fish you look for. However, Sturgeon can grow to be a large species. So you should keep a first aid box on hand, so you’re prepared for any hook cuts or other injuries during fishing.
Conclusion
Sturgeon is a mighty creature of the sea. Some might even dub them as the sea dinosaurs. Who wouldn’t love to get their hands on one of them? And now that you know the secrets of how to catch Sturgeon in the Columbia River, it’s time you made your catch.
