Sturgeon Excursion

[harvey lee]

The time is getting near and I cannot wait. I alwys have picked up my crawlers but this year due to the weather, I had to purchase mine.

If anyone needs crawlers, Moore's bait has them for sale by the flat but I would call them very soon to reserve some.

See you all next week.

[Cove]

I'm from SE Minnesota and don't fish for sturgeon but tell me, how do you use the crawlers? Stick em on a hook and use a bell sinker on the bottom? Is this a river thing?

[Scott M]

It's a river thing, specifically the Rainy. A wad of crawlers, a bank or no roll sinker, and you're in business. To quote Hanson, "this isn't exactly rocket science"

[crazyice]

I waited till the last minute to make a decision, but I finally decided that I would build my rod for this trip. I picked up my custom ordered st. croix blank, guides, reel seat, and handle tonight, and I have my handle drying with the first coat of epoxy and I have the guides and hook keeper all tied up on the bottom half of the rod. Man I can't wait to see that thing doubled over with a 50+ incher!!

[Larry FlatCaster]

Here is another video,

My PB from last year. Hope to top it or see some one in our boat get one bigger.

[Shack]

God, I would love to go. I should go, but will not (this year).

Maybe next year.

I still do not know why I am not going, but I just feel the sturgeon up their are not big enough for me.

If you believe what I just said, you must be nutz!

Good luck guys.

[Tim_Anderson]

I was short on crawlers(and ran out) so wound up using mostly minnows. 78 sturgies boated in the past week while trying for them on and off in-between walleye trips. Got to admit though, the "crawler sandwich" seems to be the best...minnow, crawler, minnow. The combination of scent seems to be something they find irresistable! Try it!

[Cove]

Appreciate the comments, folks. Rainy is quite a stretch from Rochester. Hope there are still Sturgeon around when I retire. By the way, how is the population, the sturgeon fishery, holding up? Is the St Croix a viable option?

[Flaco651]

The Croix is good. The season don't start 'til the fall though.

[dps]

I've been making up some cat and sturgeon rods lately too... I just got a call from WWG last night twisting my arm to head up to the excursion and I finally gave in.

I guess I will be up there too this year with a stack of rods to give a test run.

I havent had enough coffee to get excited yet(reality of going hasnt set in yet)... Looks like the weather will be in the 50's.

[crazyice]

I just put up the pictures of the rod I just finished for this trip. Here is a link.

Sturgeon Rod

[dps]

Thats a really nice rod! I like the laser engraving, do you know someone who does this?

I use/make the wood handles myself, I have a really good line on exotic hardwoods. I will try to get some pictures up in the next few days as I complete a few more rods.

Its a fun hobby.. but its an expensive hobby!

[crazyice]

 Originally Posted By: dps

Thats a really nice rod! I like the laser engraving, do you know someone who does this?

Its a fun hobby.. but its an expensive hobby!

The guy that makes the handles for me has the machine that laser etches things. And it is indeed fun, and indeed expensive. That rod was $150. And that was only the blank, guides, and handle. Add in time, thread, and epoxy and I gotta believe that rod should retail for $250

[wastewaterguru]

Looking forward to playing with a couple of those custom rods.

I got a peek at a couple already and the handles look and feel awesome. I sure hope we get to put a couple of those rods to the ultimate test......

[aanderud]

Might as well go on a limb and start calling shots here. Dick and Bert call home runs all the time for the twins that don't come through, so I'll give an attempt...

Our boats best on Friday will be a 59 incher by Brian. Saturday we'll have 2 fish in the 60s, by Dave and John. The high 50s will no longer be looked upon as "big ones". John just edges out Dave by an inch, 62 to 61. Then on Sunday morning we put in for a couple hours and Brian catches a 65 incher. Total fish for the weekend, no less than 20 a day.

Forgot to add girth measurements. Dave's 61 incher somehow beat out John's 62 incher by 3 inches on girth, and there's a big controversy about which tape measure was used and who did the measuring. In the end, those 2 fish were deemed a "tie". Brian's 65 incher was a st-croix sized fish that weighed less than both of the shorter ones.

[DTro]

Well I have two scenarios.

Dave's the "new" guy, so it's almost guaranteed that he will get the biggest.

However, the shuttle driver is due........

[harvey lee]

I would bet the shuttle driver will pop a rather large sturg.

[DTro]

yeah, but now that I think about it, WWG and Bob haven't been up there yet either.

I'm doomed. I think my 60" streak ends this year

I ready to go right now.

[RBM]

I am not sure who we are talking about when you say "shuttle driver". I know Dave will catch alot of fish, he can see a bite looking the other way, even without clean glasses. I just hope the other two in my boat will put on a show, between grilling and what have you. This should be fun, getting a chance to upgrade on my PB.

[ec30_06]

Pretty sure papa grump is the one and only shuttle driver. Sounds like our cabins will be plenty full huh. I can't wait to get up there!

[Tyler Holm]

I cannot wait to dig my hands into 500 slimy crawlers and just grab a wad. That's quite an ordeal.

[crazyice]

The weather looks like it is really shaping up to be nice as well. I can't wait. I am sooooo ready for a big fish trip!

[Ralph Wiggum]

The days are c r a w l i n g by here Can't wait much longer!

[wastewaterguru]

Did we decide if we need some cots?? I have a couple basic ones that are pretty comfy if needed.

[dps]

 Originally Posted By: dtro

I ready to go right now.

If I didnt have to watch wood chips fly and wait for some glue to dry.... I would go right now

I dont really care who catches the biggest fish... I will be happy seeing a few big fish. I have little doubt our boat will get our fair share of fish overall.

From my source that is already up there right now, the largest he put in the boat yesterday in the evening was a mid 40" fish, and the suckers are biting like crazy.