Sturgeon Excursion, April 18th and 19th 2009

[Team Otter]

25 days.

[PDOGG]

2 dozen baby!!!!!!!

[Crickschop04]

Pretty excited about my first SE this year! Can't wait to see some of the dinosaurs that are boated!

[OTCBigBass]

just got the ok to go I'll be up there from the 17th - 19th alng with 2 others.

[Team Otter]

23 days.

[riverrat56]

Alrighty guys, I found a deal on a rod, there is two of them, one is a 7'10" MH the other is a 9' H, which would be a better choice?

[hanson]

What kind of rod? Brand? Etc?

You want a somewhat sensitive tip on the rod, these fish don't bite with reckless abandon, rather a very slight tap, tap, tap. You have to watch the tip or feel for the bite. For as big as they are, they sure bite subtely.

[hanson]

Any more info on those rods yet?

[YourBobersDown]

I am still interested if anyone has room for a big ogre (a friendly one) I am still trying to get Dietz to go but I think he is gonna wimp out

[Matt C]

22 days!

[riverrat56]

Hanson, I'll go back to the store and look!

Both had sensetive tips in them, I think the Heavy action rod was acctually supposed to be for Dipsy divers, but it had a good back bone to it. I would say the MH heavy rod was more designed as a casting rod for heavy baits.

I'm by no means stuck on these two choices, any other recommendations for a rod under $50 would be appreciated.

In general would something I would use for catfishing be heavy enough for sturgeon?

[hanson]

In general would something I would use for catfishing be heavy enough for sturgeon?

Yes. Something like an Ugly Stick UglyCat 8' MH or a Cabelas King Kat 8' MH are about perfect. I know the UglyCats are around $35 or 40. You can go heavier as well, just make sure there is some tip sensitivity.

I think a great rod would be Catfish Safari's "Flathead" rod. Its an 8 footer with fantastic action. Should be able to find that at Moore's Bait and Tackle or order online direct from Catfish Safari. I think these rods are around $60 some bucks.

I'll be using my 8' Heavy St Croix Classic Cats this year. These rods should be the absolute cat's meow for these fish but good luck finding one.

[ec30_06]

The ugly stick tigers in medium make nice sturgie rods. Any muskie rod with some give in the tip will work too. I like something that is comfortable to hold onto all day. My flathead rods don't matter so much since they usually sit in a holder. Channel cats and sturgeon I like to hold the rod.

[OTCBigBass]

what size sinkers and hooks are the best to use?

[wastewaterguru]

One to two ounce with a 3/0 or 4/0 circle hook seemed to be the ticket for most folks last year.

[fiskyknut]

I think with the way this spring has been coming along so far we don't have to worry much about open water on the bay this year for the Sturgeon Incursion dates.

[ec30_06]

Good to hear. Can't wait to get up there.

[Tyler Holm]

One to two ounce with a 3/0 or 4/0 circle hook seemed to be the ticket for most folks last year.

3oz in the river. Might be able to get away with a 2oz in the bay.

[Matt C]

21 days!

Took my kids to underwater world yesterday....In the first part they have many, many Sturgeon. I was drooling...

[hanson]

I think with the way this spring has been coming along so far we don't have to worry much about open water on the bay this year for the Sturgeon Incursion dates.

Not sounding good up there for ice out, is it Norm?

I can tell by the eagerness in the Rainy River Forum.

[fishuhalik]

If you guys haven't looked in the Rainy River forum recently, you should. It looks like it might be a waste of time going up there this year.

[hanson]

If you guys haven't looked in the Rainy River forum recently, you should. It looks like it might be a waste of time going up there this year.

Definitely keeping an eye on it. The Excursion is still 3 weeks away so conditions now are just postponing the bite. When the river settles down, I bet she'll go nuts. Now I just hope that happens the weekend we are all heading up.

[harvey lee]

We WILL have open water. Faith baby.

[setterguy]

I'm not concerned in the least about us in 3 weeks. Unless something really weird happens we will be just fine. I was actually worried that it might be opening up too quickly and have the best bite gone by the time we are going up.

60's and sunshine for 4 days is all I'm looking for. Is that too much to ask after the winter we've had?

[fiskyknut]

Ya Chris this weather has been wierd. Bay will for sure be open for the event this year, gobs of water pushing thru the system right now. Adrians closed the bay road to traffic a coupla days back. 4 gates open at Rainy lakes dam apparently now also.

Hopefully things will settle down for the folks that wanna come up for that spring Walleye thing on the river??

Chris take a look at the guage at the Manitou rapids.