Musky vs. Sturgeon

[Jmeyers]

So I'm heading up to the Rainy River the first few days of April to do my first ever sturgeon run. When asking my friends, although the fishing technique is very different, they say that the fight is very similar to a musky. Was just wondering if this was true? They seem to have similar size and build, but i always thought sturgeon may fight longer and maybe a bit harder. Are there any techniques you guys use to help land a sturgeon unlike landing a musky? just curious...

Sorry if this should be in the sturgeon forum...just wanted tips from my fellow musky go'ers

[hanson]

Your friends have never fished sturgeon.

A big one will sit on the bottom and not move for a half hour, even with a Heavy/X-tra Heavy 8' rod with 80lb braid.

Your back will start to hurt and you wonder what you got yourself into.

They may jump a few times on you but back to the bottom they go and then its hold on again for awhile.

[AWH]

Haven't fished sturgeon, myself. But everything I hear is like Chris said. I talked to someone that was up there a few years ago and they caught 25 that day. His comparison to muskies was that it was like catching the 25 biggest muskies of your life, all in one day.

Aaron

[bobbymalone]

Sturg are a lot heartier a creature than a muskie. Always respect the animal, but you don't need to baby it. You can even take them out of the water to unhook them.

Once you get to the point of landing it, it isn't complicated. Net it. Pick it up, they aren't slimy and you don't have to hold it by the gill. Have your buddy take a picture like you're an olympic power lifter. Release back into water. Rinse. Lather. Repeat.

If you get tired with the olympic power lifter picture try a Jimi Hendrix imitation or the classic looking down the barrel shot. I love that one.

After having a fantastic first fall on the croix, I would love to tangle with some of the real beasts up north. Good luck to all.

[slipperybob]

I get the unlucky Sturgeon that likes to run...for a long time of 15-20 minutes a shot. I have never found out how big...One day, I'll have to learn to get a floating bouy for the anchor line and just come back for it.

[DTro]

The only similarity between Muskies and Sturgeon is that they are long. That is about where anything and everything ends. Muskies are predators and will strike with vengeance and force. Sturgeon will bite like a sunfish. Muskies will trash your gear in an instant, Sturgeon will do it over time. Once in the boat, Muskies will beg to get back in the water and Sturgeon will ham it up for the photos a bit.

Consider one a Corvette and the other a H1 Hummer

As far as pure strength, stamina, and size, IMO the nod has to go to the Sturgeon, but on the other hand, Sturgeon won’t eat small puppies swimming across the surface of the lake and there is always something about that factor that will always keep the Muskie on that upper echelon of fishy creatures and will keep the legendary stories rolling on.

For anyone that has ever battled a 60+” Sturgeon, it is something you won’t soon forget and will dream about the day you can do it again.

[Jmeyers]

If you get tired with the olympic power lifter picture try a Jimi Hendrix imitation or the classic looking down the barrel shot. I love that one.

Ha I'll make sure to do that.. Thanks for all the info fellas, can't wait to get up there and hook into one of these monsters!

[fishinfey8]

It's funny and ironic that a little perch bite can end up being a 50-80lb. fish!

[Shawn Kellett]

Consider one a Corvette and the other a H1 Hummer

I'd say more of a Corvette and a John Deere tractor!

I use my muskie trolling equipment and it seems to work just fine. You'll know when you have a big one on because it'll start taking you upstream.

Here's a pic of a 62"er I got a few years ago.

[jwmiller33]

Consider one a Corvette and the other a H1 Hummer

As far as pure strength, stamina, and size, IMO the nod has to go to the Sturgeon

+1 Love the Hummer reference

Once you feel the tug of a 50 inch sturgeon for the first time, you will wonder why you didn't start targeting them sooner. When your up at Rainy, it's hard to balance the time between chasing trophy walleyes and trophy sturgeon. Some would rather spend time chasing the eyes but I think that's cuz they don't know what they are missing!

It's hard to beat the presentation for sturgeon too. You put a big hunk of crawlers and dead minnows on a circle hook with a big weight and put it in the rod holder, kick back and enjoy a beverage of your choice. Then all of a sudden you will see your rod tip start to bounce and it is game on. The best part about using the circle hooks is you don't even have to mess around with a hook set.

It starts to get really fun when you go out on the St Croix and can use 2 lines/guy. This fall, I'd go out at night with 2 other people in my little boat. 6 lines, 2 anchor ropes and all in the pitch dark! Now THAT is fun!

[RK]

Hiya -

Agree with the other statements here for sure.

I use my muskie trolling gear to fish sturgeon too. I can whip a 52" muskie in about 4 minutes with it. The same size sturgeon will take 10 minutes at least.

Muskie fight is short, violent, visual and spectacular. Sturgeon are a drawn-out endurance contest/slug fest. I don't think there's a fish in fresh water in NA that compare to sturgeon for sheer power and endurance. I also don't think there's a fish in freshwater that compares to the visceral thrill of a muskie hit.

Love 'em both.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[mainbutter]

Pound for pound, muskies are pretty much the weakest fish in the water, and they have next to no stamina at all. They're top echelon predators in the north simply because they've got the equipment to efficiently eat prey and grow FAST and BIG. Please take my comments at face value, since I spend more money fishing for muskies than any other fish, and LOVE chasing them

There is no comparison between a sturgeon and a muskie, except that you can use similar equipment to target both.

[Musky Buck]

Weakest fish I'm thinking the only 3 rods that we've broken on a fish during the fight some of it was reel related but muskies. I think I get your drift but we've had some crazy musky battles.

[pureinsanity]

I have by no means caught large muskies. Ive caught some decent size ones. I have had a 5 lb channel cat fight harder then a muskie. I have also caught sturgeon in the same size category as the muskies I've caught.

Hands down sturgeon take the win here.

I agree with both Dtro's post.

Darren are you comparing a Coverette to an H1 for strike factor or towing factor?

if its towing power, I know which fish is the H1

[Jospeh]

Sturgeon by far. I have got a couple muskies over 50 in my day, and have only caught probly 5 sturgeon total in that same time frame, biggest one probly 40 inches and the sturgeon by far takes the cheese. I have talked to crappie/bass guys on local lakes that accidently catch muskie on light gear and say the fight does not fit the size!

[DTro]

Well if you want to get right down to it, part of the problem with comparing fights is that most musky fisherman are equipped very well to get that fish back to the boat, unhooked and back in the water ASAP.

I can’t think of any other fish that is not an esox that will take a bait at the boat faster than a blink of an eye and get you soaking wet in the process due to the thrashing. I trust that with the right size line and drag set to not move a big musky could easily pull you into the water upon boatside hookup. That sure doesn’t sound wimpy to me.

Plus, have you ever heard of a Sturgeon attack at a local beach?

[PierBridge]

Obviously the sturgeon is a stronger fight..... but comparing the 2 fish is like comapring catching a sunfish or Quilback. Ones abundent, easy and requires little skill or effort and one takes time and massive effort.

If I had to pick between catching a 50 inch Sturgeon or Muskie....the muskie wins hands down!

[pureinsanity]

Comparing the 2 fish is like comapring catching a sunfish or Quilback. Ones abundent, easy and requires little skill or effort and one takes time and massive effort.

If I had to pick between catching a 50 inch Sturgeon or Muskie....the muskie wins hands down!

So you are saying sturgeon are everywhere and muskies are rare?

just curious

[DTro]

I think what he is saying is that any Joe Blow can put in on Rainy River in April and catch a 50" Sturgeon and maybe even have 20 fish days. Not gonna happen with Musky.

[pureinsanity]

Gotcha, fair enough.

if muskies thrived in certain bodies of water it could be the same for them. 50" fish. Id like to catch any 50 inch fish!

[jwmiller33]

If I had to pick between catching a 50 inch Sturgeon or Muskie....the muskie wins hands down!

Good it leaves more 50 inch sturgeon for me!

[cjac]

The muskie is like Anquan Boldin in the 100 meter dash and the sturgeon is like the hulks you see in the semi pull in the strongman competitions.

I had two low 50 inch class fish and a 60+ all in about a 45 minute span last year on the Rainy. It was like playing hockey and hitting the bench for a breather between shifts. If I had tied into another good one I would have been tempted to hand off the rod 'cause my arms and back were burning. Amazing power and stamina, pectoral fins the size of a coffee saucer.

Granted I've never had three muskies in a day, let alone an hour window, but there's no comparison. Three skis in an hour and I'll look for the lightening bolt to strike me like the priest in Caddyshack!

[RK]

Most muskies I've ever caught in one day personally is 9. Other than tired arms from casting (16 hour Canadian mid-summer day) I could have reeled them all in again no problem. A morning's worth of fighting sturgeon will leave you with sore forearms and lower back.

With muskie fishing, fishing for them wears you out, and catching them wakes you back up. With sturgeon it's the other way around.

That having been said - there is one area in which muskies fishing is vastly superior to sturgeon fishing.

No worm dirt in the carpet.

[jwmiller33]

With muskie fishing, fishing for them wears you out, and catching them wakes you back up. With sturgeon it's the other way around.

I completely agree!

[cbrooks]

I've only been sore once from actually catching fish and that was Lockport catfishing. I wouldn't mind trying lake sturgeon. I heard there the #1 fighter for freshwater fish. Kind of nice you don't need to baby those fish for a good release either.