Sturgeon

Mike is right about the hot sturgeon fishing today. The bait he passed me caught at least two limits and those left overs passed to Raven may still have a chance to catch some more.

The other great thing about yesterdays fishing was that Larry put the first legal aboard the Helen O. I'm not sure but Mike may have helped Larry a bit too. I know he shared his fishin hole. It was great to have Larry get into a fish since I couldn't get one with him on the Lynn Marie.

For an impromptu C-Brat gathering it turned out to be a wonderful fish festival.

Tim
 
We got two keepers out of Baker Bay in the boat, only fished for a short bit before the wind started blowing us around. We got a late start on the sturgy fishing...cuz.....we blasted out to the ocean for the salmon opener. It was a beautiful day on the big pond, flat water & good fishing. Lot of folks limiting out on some decent sized Coho, us included...twas a great day
 
What a great weekend! Thank you Tim & Judy and Mike & Kay for being so hospitable.
The trip down there was fantastic! In my opinion, the section of river between Cathlamet and Warrenton is the most beautiful and interesting
I caught my first Keeper sturgeon at 53". Wonderful dinner & companionship with Tim & Judy. Anchored next to Tyboo Mike & Crew and watched them put on a sturgeon clinic. Went for nice walks through the harbor and town..... very enjoyable.
We're already wanting to go back.
By the way, Mike. The smoked sturgeon you gave us was terrific. Helen has never been much of a fish eater, but she's eaten most of it already. :thup
Thanks again guys, you're the greatest.
 
Nice job on the pics. :idea Hey, I think we should make this a full blown C-Brat gathering next year. If our C-Dory bretheren knew how much fun this was, they wouldn't miss it for the world. The parking lot was less than half full and there were plenty of empty slips... and lots of sturgeon. What do ya think?
 
Sounds like a great idea to me. Fairly easy fishing that doesn't take to much talent or gear, and not a long fuel burning run to the fishing grounds. The TyBoo, Raven, Heron, Lynn Marie, and an unnamed gray 22' cruiser will be there already. Larry, looks like you're signed on so all we need is a couple more brats to sign up. Maybe a few of those northern or southern folks. Warrenton Sturgeon Festival 2005. I like it. I'd even haul someone along as crew for the day on our boat. And a Washington license is good here since it's a joint managed fishery. Just need a tag.

Tim
 
Hey guys, you've gotta try this.
I just enjoyed the best breakfast of my life. If you love bacon and eggs for breakfast, try substituting smoked sturgeon for the bacon.
A little olive oil in the skillet.... throw in the smoked sturgeon... remove sturgeon when hot... cook your eggs and enjoy!

Tyboo Mike, you can probably tell what I think of the smoked sturgeon you gave me. Oh ya, I'll be firing up the smoker this week. :thup
 
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Contact: Ann Snyder, 503-947-6010 - Toll-free within Oregon:
800-720-6339 (ODFW)
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us Fax: (503) 947-6009


For Immediate Release Wednesday, June 30, 2004

Retention of sturgeon in Columbia River estuary ends Saturday

SALEM - Sportfishing for sturgeon in the Columbia River below the Wauna
powerlines will end at 11:59 p.m. Saturday, July 3, when anglers are
projected to reach the season's catch guideline of 15,000 white
sturgeon, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today.

Catch-and-release sturgeon angling may continue below Wauna for the
remainder of the year.

The current angling regulations for the lower Columbia River are as
follows:

In the mainstem Columbia River from the mouth at Buoy 10 upstream to
the Wauna powerlines at River Mile 40, including Youngs Bay; and all
adjacent Washington tributaries:

* Sturgeon retention is allowed seven days per week through Saturday,
July 3, 2004.

* The size limit for retained sturgeon is 45-60 inches.

No changes will take place in the ongoing fishery above the Wauna
powerlines to Bonneville Dam.

Joint staff reports, fact sheets, and Columbia River action notices are
available at:
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/Inf ... Index.html.
 
Larry":yy13uao3 said:
...you can probably tell what I think of the smoked sturgeon you gave me.
Click to expand...

Well tell me this: Which batch did you like better, the first with no salt taste, or the second with a bit of salt left?

The next batch will be closer to the first, I think, salt wise. I'm also going to try it at a lower temperature for the first three hours, and then up to 225º for the last hour. Staying at 225º for the full time dries it out too much.

Other than the curing salt sprikled on and then rinsed off five hours later, there was no seasoning whatsoever on that fish. The only taste besides sturgeon was from the crabapple wood. No brine, no sugar, no nothing.

If I get it perfected, I will bring a half ton or so to Blakely. It goes real good with beer and Ritz. Oscar will love it, too.
 
B~C":173kmdph said:
poop...I guess we knew it was coming
Click to expand...

I don't think you're supposed to say "poop" on here.

I got my daughter (and maybe K) talked into going out for a short trip Saturday morning before daylight. We have to be home by 10:00 to pick the kids up from camp. But, the last time out we did real good real fast on the end of the ebb early in the morning. If the little rascals talk me into it and the wind ain't blowing, I might run the kids out for an afternoon trip. Shoot - somebody has to go with me, because my piddly little five fish tag is full.
 
OK here is the story for sturgeon on the lower Columbia today. I took my brother and another friend out this morning and we went back to where we caught fish on Sunday and limited the boat. Went today because I've expected the closer. We drop the anchor about 6:30AM which was low slack water and drifted back and forth almost an hour. We ended up catching 5 fish in an hour and a half which included one 36" and four in the last year legal class which is 42" to 45", then nothing. No difference from Sunday except that I had store bought smelt from Tackle Time.

I may go again Saturday if my good luck crew will go and if not I may need to go to Plan B.

Tim
 
Mike

I had the salted version today. Next I'll try the other, the same way. Will let you know.

FYI.... I couldn't take it any longer. :mrgreen: I hear sturgeon calling me from the estuary. Lyle T. is coming down Thursday evening. We'll be headed down there Friday morning to fish.... probably spend the night on the boat and fish Saturday also. See ya there!
 
Hey Larry - Beautimus!! We'll be leaving the dock at 4:00 am Saturday to try for a repeat of last Sunday. I also got my bro-in-law signed up.

I will bring enough of the special bait for you and my old friend Lyle, and Tim's crew too. I think there is enough left.

I'll try to get down to say howdy on Friday evening after work. Might even stay on the boat myownself.

I'm thinking real hard about anchoring in the river Sunday night to watch the Astoria fireworks with the kids. Something to consider if the water is calm.
 
Yo Larry,
I am not sure what to bring with me. :?: I have a bunch of frozen smelt, a couple heavy duty poles some 5-o and 6-o hooks. I have 80 lb tough line on my reels. I have some 3-4-5-8 oz weights what else should I bring? I got my appointment moved up and will call you as soon as I am done. We may get a sooner start than you and I thought. No I am NOT excited. :lol: HEE HEE. Hope to hear back soon Lyle
 
Lyle - sounds like you got the gear covered. I like to use 30lb. mono and a fairly limber pole, myself. Most folks use a phone pole for the sturgeon, though. Larry will fix you all up on the tackle technique. Just be sure to use barbless hooks. If you want, you can step into the back of the TyBoo down there at the Warrenton dock and help yourself to the rigged hooks and the weights that are there. The hooks with the rusty points have been sharped up a few times, but I think there are a few shiny ones yet that have only been used one time. Any of them are good if you hit them with a file. Larry won't let you throw one out without sharpening it, anyway. I keep the used rigs outside because the nylon leader gets to stinking after being shoved through a smelt or two. My favorite hook is a 7/0 Gami.
 
Lyle

I have everything we need, but if you have some 5-8 oz. lead, bring em'. I don't have the molds to pour the big weights yet. We'll be fishing in 10-20 ft. of water, so I think my 4 oz lead balls will work fine. Bring your rod or use mine, 80 lb. tuff line does the job. This is gonna be fun. :mrgreen: I've still got some BC smelt. We're set!
 
The other thing that happened yesterday was a fella from down the dock that stopped to ask how we did and after I told him he proceeds to tell me about this fellow on the TyBoo. Said his friend was out last Sunday and didn't do much but was along side the TyBoo and watched them put on a sturgeon fishing clinic for about an hour till they limited and left. I nodded and said I heard he was pretty good at catching those guys.

Tim
 
Hey Mike,
Thanks for the bait offer. I'll take you up on it if there is a few spares but I won't arrive till about 5:30. If you have extra and want to stick them in the port lazaret I'll find them and put them to good use.
If you see Larry and Lyle say Hi for us and thank Larry for the Plan B offer. Got a crew so won't need his kind hospitality.
See you all on the river.
Tim
 
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