Sturgeon tips and webpages

[iceman16]

i have been goin up to the rainy for a couple years now and have done well each year. last trip up there we had 4-5 over 50". but we have always gone up there and just found a spot and fished near other boats. i really want to learn why the fish are there and give us a better chance to hook more and bigger fish. is there any web pages on sturgeon fishing? thanks for any info.

iceman

[DTro]

After about 6 years under my belt, I'm about as knowledgeable now as I was then

On the Rainy river, you have lake fish and you have river fish. The river fish will be there all year long, the lake fish will move up river in the spring and then back into the lake after spawning.

Basically the best tactic is to fish funnel areas, bottom structure changes (silt/mud to rock/gravel) heads and tailouts of holes, and mouths of creeks/rivers. These areas are more like ambush spots and not necessarily areas that hold fish. These fish move around a lot, so you should too.

Don't be afraid to try different baits. The old standby is a wad of crawlers, but my better days have been with 4 or 5 pinched fatheads.

Bite detection is the most important part of the formula. Use a soft tip rod and if possible, hold it in your hand (especially on windy days) instead of rod holder. You will be surprised how many fish you might be missing.

Can't help you with any resources, but if you have specific questions, there are a lot of folks here that can probably share some thoughts with you.

[Tim_Anderson]

Just about every day now, I've been thinking about those whiskery devils.

Each season, I try to learn more and more about them - and sometimes they are a tough nut to crack.

I will tell you this... after over 10 seasons of being at it, the best sturgeon fishing I have ever experienced has been consistently right as the ice is breaking up on the river. I've fished them from March, throughout April, and into May. Breakup has always been best from late March through about mid April. There's usually a lull in the fishing when the water gets dirty and full of debris. And by the time it clears in late April or May, my personal opinion is that they are very dispersed - and it's much harder to have a good numbers day.

The river has always been better to me than the lake, for whatever reason.

I usually fish a combination of holes and gravel runs. I move around - until I find them (rarely sit for more than 30 minutes without a fish or two). Sometimes a move is only a cast length away, but sometimes you find the "sweet spot", and it makes all the difference in the world. I zoom way in on my gps, and use it to make sure that I have worked over a hole really good. I also "scout" the hole before I fish it, and drop an icon on spots that look interesting to me. Good spots within the hole are the head of the hole, or perhaps the deepest spot in the hole. Sometimes the bottom is also "hilly", providing small current breaks here and there, which hold fish. I think the fish hold and gather up in holes - perhaps to rest. And, I think they are on the gravel flats to feed, and when they are migrating further upstream. In both cases, when you find the sweet spot, you can really whack em.

I almost always use a combination of minnow and crawler for bait. Wherever I anchor, I always work the downstream half of the boat - from directly underneath, to way out behind and at angles to the right and left.

I don't like to hold my pole - that's just my opinion and the way I have learned to fish. Instead, depending on how many fishermen are in my boat, I prop up as many poles as I can all around the perimeter, with the poles way up high against the skyline. Then, everyone in the boat gets down low, and focuses their constant attention on the pole tip.

Lots of fish are going to ding around with your bait. We catch lots of walleye, sucker, and even eelpout. Sometimes it's tricky to decipher when it's a sturgeon, but those smaller fish will usually go "ding, ding, ding" while the sturgeon will go, "whomp, whomp, whomp." The flexion in the rod tip is much slower and has much more authority. Best way to tell for sure is to just pick up the pole carefully and lift slightly to see if there is weight. Once the bait is in their mouth, I think it's unlikely they are going to just spit it out. Especially if your using a circle hook.

One thing that happens often is when your pole moves big time. You really feel that something is there, but when you check... nothing. I think sometimes you get into a good school of big fish, and they are moving about. Some might be trying to home in on your bait, while others are just plain swimming around. You know how long they are, and how much their tails move left and right. It just makes sense to me that their tails are going to brush against your line on a regular basis, and give you some false bites. Good to know that they are in the area though. Then it's just a matter of time.

Most guys that go early are after walleyes, but I am seeing more and more anglers that fish the sturgeon early. My observation - most fishermen that target sturgeon go after the walleye season. I won't say it's a mistake, but in my opinion, it's just not the best time to go. Try it early once and see what you think. I've seen days when we were on par to catch 75 or 100 fish. There just seemed to be no end to the number of sturgeon that were milling within casting range of our boat. Thing is, we didn't follow through because the anglers were just plum tuckered out. And, they were distracted by big walleyes.

Not that it's a no-brainer or anything. Last season was the slowest that I have ever seen. I have no explanation for it as I was up there for over two weeks. But, every year prior to that has been pretty amazing.

Timing is the biggest thing for fishing the Rainy. It's dang hard to plan a trip and hit it right consistently. Thank God for sites like clementsonresortdotcom and the forums on fm, so a guy can make his best educated guess with the time off that he has. I'm usually up there for a good stretch, and like to help people succeed up there. Problem is, I wind up spending an hour or two on the phone every night, reporting, talking and texting.

Ahhhh, but it's a good life, and I can't wait!

[iceman16]

thanks Tim. ill be up there april 8-12 for a trip for sure but and gonna watch the fourms and maybe make a couple other trips before or after depending in the reports. i cant wait i am pumped. i got a new boat this winter and cant wait to go where i wanna go and try things that i wanna try. good luck up there maybe ill see ya up there. you still have the green 620?

iceman

[Tim_Anderson]

Yes, same boat. Swing in and say hi if you see me.

[iceman16]

will do. where do you stay when your up there? and where is a good place to get good maps of the river and at the mouth of LOTW? i am starting to do my homework now and hope to catch more and bigger fish then the other two boats in our group. they just go out and fish by other people. i am not a fan of fishing like that.

iceman

[Tim_Anderson]

I usually camp out in a fish house or my truck camper, and live right on the river. But, I have also stayed at ClementsonAccessOnRainyRiver Resort, The Baudette Motel, The Walleye Inn, The Americinn, and some of the resorts out on Wheelers point like Adrians, Sportsmans, etc. I've even stayed at the Roadrunner on the Canada side.

As far as maps... I have no idea to be honest. Someone else may be able to help me here. I tend to work from memory, and fish "areas" and structure which is pretty similar from year to year. My GPS tends to be not so accurate up there. I use it more to keep myself in fresh water, to mark spots with icons, or to follow trails. I don't use it at all for maps or contours.

Again, perhaps some other fishermen have discovered some reliable paper maps, or more up to date GPS mapping that has been helpful to them?

Holes and runs are relative to the area you are fishing. Holes are usually on the outside bends and sharp corners. Runs are on the long straightaways. Both are great places to look for fish, and they are present for the entire length of the river. In my opinion, you don't really need to have maps to find your way around, or find good spots. It's more that you need to scout and keep moving and trying different things until you you succeed. Pick a 2-5 mile stretch of river, and have at it.

Finding fish on your own and fishing by yourself is fun and rewarding, but my advice would be not to avoid or disregard crowds or small groups of anglers. I have always got my eye open for guys that are catching sturgeon, whether they are targeting them or not. When you are flying up or down the river, and you look over and see 50 boats fishing walleyes, and six or eight of them have guys with rods loaded up fighting sturgeon, that should be telling you something. The sturgies are there, and they are concentrated enough so these guys are either snagging them, or catching them on some very small gear. I ALWAYS stop and fish these areas, regardless of the crowd, and can say that my best sturgeon fishing has often been right in the midst of a crowd of walleye guys.

Good luck. I imagine the river is doing some melting. Nice to have some of it going on now, while it's early, to spread out some of this snow melt so it doesn't all happen at once, and screw up the river during our best window of fishing opportunity. I think it's a good, positive sign!

[Boar]

Good read an lots of interesting tips. Hope ya dont me chiming in on this, i havent fished sturgeon alot, but have done it on the rainy before from time to time. one thing I do is set my rigs exactlly as i do for cats in a river. I like to use a flat no roll slip sinker an fish the head of a hole, allowing the scent to drift down in the pocket. I slide on the no roll an the a large swivel then tie on no more than 6 inches of heavy mono to hook, IMO any more than 6 inches allows the bait to fly around in current an give the fish harder time locating the bait. Keeping the bait grounded on the bottom is a key factor. Man I gota do this again. Good luck boar

[Trouthunter]

Looking to buy a rod dedicated to these fish for Rainy in the spring time - What should I be looking at? Length, Weight, etc

King Kat, Whuppin Stick or Ugly Stik?

[FBMH]

Looking to buy a rod dedicated to these fish for Rainy in the spring time - What should I be looking at? Length, Weight, etc

King Kat, Whuppin Stick or Ugly Stik?

It all depends on what you like and all that good stuff. But, typically for me this is what i use. Sometimes even a heavy muskie rod does the trick!Sturgeon are tough, durable monsters. For rods, i use a 7-7.5ft rod with a more sensitive tip for feeling those bluegill like bites. dont get rods that are too long, but not too short. The sensitive tip backed up with a durable backbone in your rod is the recipe for reeling in monster sturgeon!

[elusivecrappiecatcher]

I have a 7ft Medium heavy Guide Series GSX Titanium rod I will be using. Good backbone with a sensative tip. BTW get your minds out of the gutter lol!

It is comparable to the Ugly Stick I use for catfishing. As durable, we'll see after the weekend of April 15th. I will be up fishing Rainy River then.

Using 30lb Suffix braid The new stuff. I looked at the power pro, but for 2 bucks more I will try the Suffix.

Can't wait!

[pureinsanity]

I have a 7ft Medium heavy Guide Series GSX Titanium rod I will be using. Good backbone with a sensative tip. BTW get your minds out of the gutter lol!

It is comparable to the Ugly Stick I use for catfishing. As durable, we'll see after the weekend of April 15th. I will be up fishing Rainy River then.

Using 30lb Suffix braid The new stuff. I looked at the power pro, but for 2 bucks more I will try the Suffix.

Can't wait!

Good luck hope you don't get too big of one on the new braid

[Tyler Holm]

Tim, outstanding info. I've seen you on the river 2 and 3 years ago on several occasions. I'll catch you one of these times and say hi.

[WasteManagement]

Did not want to start a new thread. I know there is a specific sturgeon season. Can you target them out of season if you just catching and releasing? I would not even hold them out for pics just the catch and fight.

[fiskyknut]

Hey all, the Sturgeonfish season is closed to any fishing from May 15 until July 1st.

They need a little peace and quiet so they can make baby Sturgeonfishes.

[pureinsanity]

LAKE Sturgeon

April 24-May 7 and July 1-Sept. 30

1 per license year. (Fish must be 45-50", inclusive, or over 75".) immediately upon reducing a fish to possession, you must validate and attach your sturgeon tag. Harvested sturgeon must be registered within 48 hours. See page 55 for more details.

May 8-May 15 and Oct. 1, 2011- April 23, 2012

Catch-and-release only. (No tag needed.)

[Ed Carlson]

7' or 8' Berkley Glow Sick

Muskie/Cat Class Bait casting reel with 50# braid (Heavy Spinning also works fine)

4 - 5 O/T circle hook

2 - 3 oz no-roll sinker

8" to 24" 30 leader in low-vis mono or fluorocarbon.

Big juicy Wad-O-Crawlers, douched with a dose of Gulp Spray.

[iceman16]

for the leader do you need mono or fluorocarbon? we used braid and did ok. but the water was kinda dirty. im gonna try that this year. how big of floro would you use?

iceman

[Ed Carlson]

I used both #30 mono/floro and #50 braid.

[elusivecrappiecatcher]

So it might be a mistake to use 30lb braid? Maybe I am going about this the wrong way. I just made some leaters with 75lb ball bearing snap swivels, 30lb braid (8" - 10")with #3 circle hooks. I got 11 days before I leave so i can always change up if its advised.

[Ed Carlson]

30 may be fine. I am more comfortable at #50, or even #65 braid. That is also what I most commonly use for catfish.

Rods are very important as are the reels. Rods need to be soft tipped with the ability to take absorb a lot of punishment.