2011 Sturgeon Excursion April 14-17

[iceman16]

wheelers looks a lot better. was up there yesterday and you could just about walk across the river over the icebergs and trees that were coming down. Monday night we were using 14 ounces to hold to the bottom and alot of debris. had to pull up every 10 minutes to clean the line. lost two big fish on Monday. wish i was coming up this weekend. good luck guys. fished Saturday- Monday with ten guys we ended up with 15. biggest was 65.5 and all but 3 were over 45

iceman

[DTro]

Thanks for the report iceman, it's appreciated. I was getting a little discouraged with all the doom and gloom, but your report made me feel a little better!

[Eric Wettschreck]

Thanks iceman. too bad I won't get a chance to see ya up there.

Team SC rednecks will be at Wigwam. Anyone who want's to swing on through and have a howdy, come on by.

See ya all in a couple hours!!!!

[Gordie]

Just got off work and I'm finishing up the packing probably forget a bunch of stuff but I'm ready bring on the drag screaming sturgie's Game on

See ya soon guys

[hugonian1]

Boy!

I hope everyone brought their long underwear.

Can't wait to see the reports.

[iffwalleyes]

Boy!

I hope everyone brought their long underwear.

Can't wait to see the reports.

What report. Slow, cold, strong current, lots of debris, and snowing. Oh ya plus on Fri and Sat the sturgeon decided not to bite for us.

[Capt. Quicksteel]

Just got back from the weekend at Wheeler's Point Resort. We wore ALL of our duck hunting clothes and went upstream to stay out of the wind as much as possible. We got 4 nice ones and lost a few. We looked around at Wigwam and Wheeler's on Friday night but didn't run into too many people. Either you're way tougher than me and were still out on the lake or you were already in bed! If someone tells me how to do it, I'll post a couple of pictures including shoveling snow out of the boat Saturday morning, something we don't do every day!!

[aanderud]

We had a tough go of it. Slowest sturgeon excursion I've been at, but still VERY good time. We had 9 guys in the one cabin at Wigwam, so it was an adventure.

Average size was near 50 inches in the bay (smaller fish in the river, from what we witnessed). The 60s were elusive. wastewaterguru got a 60 on Thursday afternoon to start off his weekend and won the big fish pot.

We had the cover on the boat friday night, so we didn't have to shovel on Saturday -- however, this lack of snow put us at a disadvantage for the snowball fight out in 4-mile bay mid-morning. We were outgunned by Matt's Alumacraft 195 (nice boat, by the way). First (and hopefully last) time I've ever had a multi-boat snowball fight in 30 degree temps while fishing.

[DTro]

Always a good time as usual. It was cold and windy and brutal, yet we still found a way to catch fish and have some fun! Nice seeing everyone and thanks for the good times!

I will post a full report with pics and videos in the Rainy River Reports Forum.

[Barbelboy]

I was up with quicksteel. Here are a few pictures from last weekend.

[GrizzlyAdams]

This was mine and my girlfriends first time ever sturgeon fishing and it was a blast. We were invited up with harveylee and it was amazing. We got up there late thursday morning and were fishing by 1:30pm. Melanie got the first fish not too long after we got set up and man was it a beast. It measured 59inches with a 25inch girth and weighed 56.7lbs. She was worn out for two days after but still kept fishing.

I landed my first one a little bit later. This one was 45 - 46inches. Looks little compared to Melanie's fish

Her and I each landed one more fish in the 40's on Friday. It was tough fishing for us. We watched one boat land 10+ fish in a couple hours and we were only a few yards away from them. We just could not get on the spot but still caught fish. I lost 2 nice fish to the anchor ropes. Tried like crazy to turn those fish but they were going where they wanted no matter what I did. The second one knew what it was doing I think because when I set the hook I thought it had come off. But after reeling in a little more I realized it was still there and the fight was on, so I thought. It swam directly to me and right into the anchor ropes. I still think it did it on purpose. It felt like a pretty nice fish and would not turn for anything. Oh well, it was still fun fighting it for a minute.

As others have said already the weather was nuts. Cold, windy and wavy but when you drive 6+ hours to get there you make the most of the trip and get out and fish and that's what we did. We prepared for cold and rainy and we are sure glad we did. Didn't expect to wake up to 3 inches of snow on the ground but oh well. Memories were made and good times were had.

We stayed at Wheeler's point resort. Surface tension (Frank) and Big country (Mark) it was a pleasure meeting you guy's. A BIG thank you to Harveylee for inviting us along and teaching us how to do this sturgeon fishing. Always a pleasure fishing with you. Melanie and I are already talking about next year. Hopefully the weather will cooperate a little better .

[ducksnbucks]

We fished Thursday afternoon through Saturday evening, boating 16 sturgies total. 5 fish were over 50", 6 were between 45-50", with the largest being 59".

The wind and waves definitely effected our catch rates as it was hard to tell what were bites and what was waves/wind/debris. Overall a fun weekend of fishing as always.

[DTro]

WTG Melanie, that is a super fish! Congrats

[Gordie]

I was with team South central redneck and the fish didnt cooperate at all with us we did get a few I got my biggest it was 53 inches the weather was a BIT BREEZY TO SAY THE LEAST. Eric and I kept asking for just a bit more breeze and we got it now all we needed was a MORE COW BELL

I had a blast and I was great Finally meeting Eric and Justine,Bunt2k and his wife along with Lonnie. It was also great seeing Surfacetension and Big country and all the other guys that stayed at wigwam. This is a trip that will not soon be forgotten and my sides still hurt from laughing all weekend.

Oh forgot mention that the cabin was awsome and I hope thast Eric brings the soft glow of the quail lamp back year after year

[FearNoFish]

First timer on the rainy for me, Thurs arrived wheelers point resort 2:30 caught 3 fish that night 43" 48" and 50". Friday Caught 4 more 51" was the biggest smallest 41" Elwoods boat caught our anchor and fought if for 20 min before relising it was our anchor. Saturday only one fish 48' was so COLD and WIIIIINDY was hard to fish. Very Nice to meet folks that you see posting on here, I will be back to make this a annual event.

[Capt. Quicksteel]

We did one of those too. Fish on in the back, up around the anchor rope, then when you try to pull it up there's a ten foot log on it. Gave a couple of other boats a good laugh watching us try to undo it all in a 3 mph current!!

[DTro]

I think the majority of us learned a bit in anchor management this weekend and it sure was nice to see everyone getting along and understanding that things like that were gong to happen.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Agreed. I'm glad peoples spirits were high when Justine caught a nice lund by the anchor. She says her arms are still sore from playing it.

Fearnofish, thanks for being cool about the anchor rope thing. Good times.

[Gordie]

FNF you guys rock and have some great fishing storys as well great to meet you guys

[Big Country]

Frank is working on a post with pictures, but I would like to say even though the weather was brutal we had an awesome time. Great to see all of you once again. Once a year does not seem to be enough. Although next time it snows we will make sure to load up on ammo. Sheesh, the games some people play Our sons were on their third Sturgeon Excursion and it was such a joy to see the maturity and patience levels go way up. Both caught quality fish. Another great thing about this yearly trip is knowing the boat is dialed in and waiting for soft water to arrive on local lakes. Take care everyone, we miss the commraderie already. BC

[Mrs Boilerman]

FNF, that was your anchor I caught? Wow, you guys were hard to land! Thanks for being so great about it. Eric is right, my arm sure got a work out. Next time I'm going for a bigger boat, but will have to work on my upper body strength.

[Surface Tension]

I have a report in the Rainy forum but wanted to drop in and say our crew had a lot of fun.

As always its was nice to see old friends and meet new ones.

The wind, cold, and snow I could do without but it does add a certain flavor not to mention a trip

I won't soon forget.

Been home for two days now and I want to go back.

Next years SE can't come soon enough.

[Matt C]

As always its was nice to see old friends and meet new ones.

The wind, cold, and snow I could do without but it does add a certain flavor not to mention a trip

I won't soon forget.

Been home for two days now and I want to go back.

Next years SE can't come soon enough.

Could not have said it better myself.

I'm on a boat, and I got my flippy floppies!