2011 Sturgeon Excursion April 14-17

[Mrs Boilerman]

Yep, Eric asked me today if I wanted to do something for our 25th anniversary in March or do the sturgeon trip. Can't afford both with the youngest kid graduating this year. I chose the Sturgeon Excursion. All of you can feel free to buy me a drink some time that weekend for putting up with 25 years of wedded, um, bliss, with the boilerguy. I'm sure looking forward to the trip! Last year was my first attempt at catching the monsters, and I got a "baby" 42-incher as my biggest. Can't wait to try again!

[harvey lee]

I will buy you both one Justine.

[Matt C]

Yep, Eric asked me today if I wanted to do something for our 25th anniversary in March or do the sturgeon trip. Can't afford both with the youngest kid graduating this year. I chose the Sturgeon Excursion. All of you can feel free to buy me a drink some time that weekend for putting up with 25 years of wedded, um, bliss, with the boilerguy. I'm sure looking forward to the trip! Last year was my first attempt at catching the monsters, and I got a "baby" 42-incher as my biggest. Can't wait to try again!

Justine, you can roll in my crazy boat if you like...Jamison just sent me a txt saying put him on the 'short list' that means..hes in. We need you Tom and Eric to float peanuts over again...

[harvey lee]

I have been practing and I can really float them well now.

1 bag for the peanut races.

Matt, I believe Eric & Justine will be fishing in their boat this year. Maybe some moon lit evening fishing for the love birds.

[Matt C]

Matt, I believe Eric & Justine will be fishing in their boat thjis year. Maybe some moon lit evening fishing for the love birds.

I almost threw up on my laptop!

[Eric Wettschreck]

I'm quite the ladies man. Couple years ago for the anniversary I took her fishing on URL. This year we're going to try and wrangle up a few sturgies. I got game.

I still have to make reservations. We may be bringing one other dude with us. I still have to get his answer. With all the southern MN crew headin nort, we should meet up somewhere in the middle and convoy. This way, we can either drive past or watch cake attempt to change a trailer tire.

Good times. Lookin forward to it. Maybe this year I'll actually catch one.

[Matt C]

This way, we can either drive past or watch cake attempt to change a trailer tire.

+like

[Team Otter]

I will confirm my presence, hopefully, by mid to late March. This is definitely a trip I enjoy.

[CrappiesNCats]

I will confirm my presence, hopefully, by mid to late March. This is definitely a trip I enjoy.

holy cow. hope you and yours are doing well TO!

[Eric Wettschreck]

My reservations are all in. Team redneck SW Minnesota will be in the Fireside cabin at Wig Wam!!!

[Larry FlatCaster]

Good times. Looking forward to some wrestling again!!

Oh oh... That's always good for a laugh. Till Surface puts the finishing move on you..

[TravP]

I'm assuming most guys are using circle hooks in around a 3/0 size. Are the heavy duty needed or are the standard hooks fine?

[wall_eye_assasin]

TravP, I have been using 4/0 or 5/0 gammi circle hooks for catching these monsters. I might try a J hook this year just to see if they will work better, I have never lost a sturgeon due to the hook but sturgeon bite so light and I believe a J hook will work also. I am going to try both this year but for five years now we have only used gammi circle hooks. I do not know what heavy duty standard hooks you are refering to but nothing is better than gammi circle or J hooks IMHO..........Kirk

Oh by the way 3/0 is a little small in my opinion......

[TravP]

Thanks wall_eye_assasin!

[TravP]

Is this the best weekend to go to get on sturgeon, or would the weekend of the 7,8,9,10th be just as good, as we could fish walleyes to if we wanted? Any guesses if the ice will be off to 4 mile by then?

[wall_eye_assasin]

Every year the ice out and the fork break is a guess, I like the weekend after walleye opener so you do not have to deal with an additional 50 boats. The last five years we have fished the river when possible and the bay when needed so take it as is. It is a guessing game. Just remember, night crawlers and patience and you will get them............Kirk

[TravP]

I know about the zoo of people, I've been up there a few times in April, but we normally ice fish eyes out by Long Point. I wanted to try something different this year though.

Thanks! Any info is appreciated.

[harvey lee]

Is this the best weekend to go to get on sturgeon, or would the weekend of the 7,8,9,10th be just as good, as we could fish walleyes to if we wanted? Any guesses if the ice will be off to 4 mile by then?

Trav, it's a shot in the dark when the ice is out on the river and 4 mile bay. There have been years when the bay is frozen but the river and gap is open.

Typically the sturgeon fishing is pretty good and some years later can be better.

For me, the last 2 years have been a bit slower and my bigger fish came 3-4 years ago. Either way, it is always a great time. I would not miss it no matter what the date is.

[iffwalleyes]

Is this the best weekend to go to get on sturgeon, or would the weekend of the 7,8,9,10th be just as good, as we could fish walleyes to if we wanted? Any guesses if the ice will be off to 4 mile by then?

You'll be dancing with ice on the lake then. But that doesn't mean you can't go up river and find open water. I personally don't like circle hooks. They will work but what I prefer are just a 3/0 or 4/0 Gamakatsu Octopus Hooks. They are a little smaller shape but are still pretty heavy duty. Sturgeon have pretty small mouth for their size. 12" leader material, at least a 100# swivel. 65-80 lbs superline, and no rolls selection from 2 oz-5 oz depending on current. Two years about we need 8 oz to be on the bottom last year 3 was plenty depends on the flow of the river.

[FearNoFish]

Room is booked at wheelers point for a newbie to the rainy and sturgeon fishing. Hoping ice is off the river April 14-17. Also for those that have been up strugeon fishing have they caught other spieces of fish. Have a fish spices contest between boats in our group. Do walleyes and or suckers sometime a bycatch to the sturgeon or are those the only monsters in the river at that time?

[fiskyknut]

There should be plenty of open water upstream on the river anyhows. The bay and lower river could very well still be locked up solid though??

Lot's of different incidental's could show up.. Eyes and a variety of Suckers as you mention are kinda common bycatch. Pike, Smallies, Crappie, Sauger, and/or Burbot may show up. There are some plain WHOPPER Bullheads in the system and every now and then a Mooneye may eat the worm.

[pushbutton]

Ahhhhh did someone say crappies? Fisky, if they did happen to be in there, what type of structure/depth would they be holding in?

[DTro]

Rest assured that the hardcore eyeball anglers will have that river free of ice for us. Even if it takes some "manipulation". LOL

[fishuhalik]

So my group of guys coming up with me to stay at Wheelers is now 11. Should be a blast up there! Can't wait to see some of the monsters coming out of the river this year, seems every year they just get bigger and bigger! BTW dtro, my cousin has been studying sturgeon in the lotw system for 5 years now and is just publishing his findings, there's an answer in there for why they're so much bigger in this system than the croix. Can't tell ya on here since it hasn't been published yet but I'll tell ya if I see ya at the gtg. And he should be there with us if you have any questions you wanna ask him.

[DTro]

Anyone else getting the itch as bad as I am? Can't wait to get up there and hit some open water!