Sturgeon through the ice? PICS ARE UP!

[SKIHUNTER]

Caught a sturgeon through the ice Monday morning. 35 minute fight. 58"x27" on 10# power pro line with ultralite rod. Crazy fun, but I never realized these things would bite in the winter. Largest fresh water fish to date for me. Anyone else ever get one like this through the ice. Barely fit through the hole.

[riverrat56]

Heck of a fish man! Thats a beast even in open water!!

Lake of the Woods I assume?

I'd love to see some pictures if you've got them

[SKIHUNTER]

I can e-mail them to you if you want to put them up. Been a long time since I posted a pic.

[riverrat56]

I can do that for ya, [email protected]

[thedeadsea]

I haven't but a buddy's group landed a 46" and a 54" in mid December on LOW in the same house on the same day.

Sounds like an awesome experience!

[PlagueWielder]

I had a much smaller one last year out of the St. Croix. Mine was only 4 lbs or so but lots of fun. Great fish! Congrats!

[PiedmontAngler]

Monday morning in Duluth harbor. estimated 44" 17lbs (from a chart on lake sturgeon)

15 minutes to get it up through the hole.

[thedeadsea]

Those fish are so cool! Someday I am going to have to try and catch one.

[JAR JAR]

thedeadsea,

just head down to the harbor by the airport and fish walleyes and I almost can garentee a sturgeon down there.

Jar Jar

[mrklean]

nice job guys i still want to try and catch one on open water

[thedeadsea]

thedeadsea,

just head down to the harbor by the airport and fish walleyes and I almost can garentee a sturgeon down there.

Jar Jar

Hmm, may have to stop chasing crappies and lakers and try that out!

[riverrat56]

Sorry for the wait SKIHUNTER, glad you got them up on your own.

[Burnham]

i personally think the pics look fake! haha kiddin, congrats!! boy would that be fun to catch, does anyone know how old a fish like that would be? i heard they can outlive humans. once again congrats, hope i catch a sturgeon in that neighborhood some day in my life.

[PiedmontAngler]

According to the chart I have from MN DNR the age of the 44"er I caught would be 14-17 yrs on average.

[buckhunter21]

Wow that thing is a horse! Congrats guys those are some nice fish.

[marine_man]

If anyone's interested in catching these open water... checkout the Sturgeon Excurision that happens up at Lake of the Woods every April... it's a great time, and quite the experience to pull 60" of sturgeon out of the water.

marine_man

[icehousebob]

It bothers me a bit to see a gaff sunk into a fish that's going to be released, but that's just me.

[bak2MN]

It dont look like it is stabbed in it just mouth hooked. I dont see a issue with it.

[Surreal Deal]

Wow nice fish gentlemen, congratulations!

[splakeshaker]

looks like a hoot!! Love to have an opportunity to catch a sturgeon!!

[freezincold]

Great catch!! They are one very neat fish. Never go one thru the ice over 24" so that must be a blast getting one that big!

[StillwaterAaron]

It bothers me a bit to see a gaff sunk into a fish that's going to be released, but that's just me.

[FrontenacPike]

SKIHUNTER just atta curiosity were you using a flasher and jigging him or did he hit a dead stick. What kind of bait did he hit. I go to LOW a couple times a year and have never, but always wanted to catch one of those. The pics are awesome, can you update with the story.

[Hibbing]

I have to agree with Aaron on this one. Gaffing a large fish that has to be released is not necessary. Holding it up by the gaff is also not healthy for the fish. Fish that size need to have their body supported to avoid damage to internal organs.

[JimBuck]

Well said Aaron, I agree. Larger game fish simply aren't built for supporting that much weight on one part of the body (gills, gaff hook in the shnozz etc.) They are incredible animals and should be handled accordingly.

No doubt this is a fantastic catch and I appreciate you sharing. But the gaff in the shnozz of such a dinosaur out of season is going to ruffle the feathers of a few here.

If you get a chance to fish for them in season, don't be afraid to handle these beasts. They are quite docile and I promise they won't bite.