Columbia River Sturgeon Fishing Guide

How I Fish for Sturgeon

Sturgeon rigs are simple, but specific. First, start with heavy gear. These fish pull….hard. Did I mention that they are the largest freshwater fish in North America? I prefer a rod with a soft tip and enough backbone to stop a wild horse with. I also use a reel with a lot of line capacity. Something than can hold 200 yards (600 feet) of 50 lb braid is a good choice. Big sturgeon regularly take out over 400 feet of line. The drag strength is a factor, but not as much as most people think. Any force you use against a fish is also being used on your arms. Try holding a 20 lb weight at chest height for a half hour and you’ll understand what I mean. I also make sure that I have a buoy system set up on my anchor line. This lets me quickly disconnect and chase a fish if necessary.

Tackle setups for Sturgeon fishing

The first thing to think about is the weight. I put a slider on the mainline that clips to a pyramid weight. This allows the line to move without picking up the weight and tipping off the sturgeon that something is up. The amount of lead depends on the current but I generally start at 6 oz and move upwards. 20 oz of lead is not out of the question if you are upstream in heavy current. I use heavy sliders like the VIP Line Locks. The laws of physics are not kind when a half pound or more of lead goes flying.

The business end

The bait rig for sturgeon fishing is simple, but getting it right makes all the difference. I use about 4 feet of 65 lb Dacron line tied to a 5/0 barbless hook using a bait loop. Sturgeon mouths are built like baseball gloves so you want a sharp hook. I prefer Gamakatsu Big River Bait Hooks. Single point barbless hooks are required in our sturgeon fishery, and you only get one of them per ODFW regulations. The Dacron leader provides abrasion resistance and is very supple. Sturgeon have sharp, bony plates called scoots along their sides and spine. For a young sturgeon, these scoots can be razor sharp and cut through monofilament or regular braid. The pliability helps improve your hookup ratio by fooling the fish. Having the extra length lets the bait move more freely. This gives you some forgiveness when picking up the rod for the hook set.

Sturgeon Bait

Fishermen often have their favorite bait when it comes to Columbia River Sturgeon Fishing. One person will “swear by” smelt while another will tell you that smelt is overrated and it’s all about shad. Another will tell you that they’re both wrong and you need sand shrimp. Even more will trumpet the virtues of herring and anchovies. Some will come up with modern art sculptures of mixed baits covered with scents and gels.

While it is true that sturgeon aren’t picky, they are also a bit lazy. If something seems off for their environment, they won’t make the effort to move over to it. These fish are bottom feeders and use a sucker like mouth to scoop up their food. This includes dead fish, shrimp, or whatever else they can get a hold of. Sturgeon feeding on tidal flats will prefer sand shrimp. Those further up tend to munch on shad, smelt, and other bait fish that wash into their areas. I always get a hold of the bait shop a couple of days ahead of a sturgeon trip. Live sand shrimp can sometimes be hard to come by. The advantage of being a sturgeon fishing guide is that I almost always have a source of good bait.

Rigging the Bait

I usually run the hook through the bait. I then either use half hitches on the line or elastic thread to make a slender bait. The bait should be attached to the first four to six inches of line. This is about the size of a green label herring. I usually pre-bait several leaders before each sturgeon fishing trip and have them ready in the cooler. I also like to keep 2 spares ready to go for a quick swap after we get bit.

Hooking a Columbia River Sturgeon

For such a large fish, sturgeon have a subtle bite. They will suck in the bait multiple times before swallowing it. When you see the tip of rod start to move, pick it up from the rod holder without pulling on the line. Wait until you feel the sturgeon pull on the bait again. When you feel that pull set the hook like you’re trying to pull the fish out of the water. A good rod will flex and then simply stop in mid swing as you feel the weight of the fish. Keep pressure on the line and start reeling. Sturgeon have tough mouths so you are unlikely to pull the hook. This is also when you usually see fish jump out of the water. There’s nothing like seeing 400 lbs of fish suddenly go completely airborne.

Getting One to the Boat

Sturgeon are big, agile, and strong. When a bigger one bites, it’s time to get everything else out of the way. Sturgeon like to circle the boat and wrap around anything they can to get free. Sturgeon can live to be over 100 years old. Many of these fish have been caught before and have learned a few tricks along the way. My number one sturgeon fishing guide job is to keep obstacles away from the line. If I can’t do that I will untangle things as we go.

Where I like to fish for Sturgeon

Outside of the estuary, the sturgeon will stake out areas where the dead or injured fish and other debris collect. This is generally deep water where there are eddies as well as large boulders. Deep areas with humps on the bottom that create dips can be good too. Side channels can also hold quite a few sturgeon. Sloughs often hold larger fish since sea lions typically don’t go there. Sea Lions are the primary predator of sturgeon in our area.

Estuary Sturgeon like it shallow

Most of my sturgeon fishing trips take place in the estuary. This is where sturgeon primarily feed off of small shrimp and other critters that live on the mud flats. The fish will move up on the flats during high tide and into nearby pools and troughs during low tide. It’s not uncommon to catch a 6 foot long fish in water that is 3 feet deep. In my experience, a little deeper tends to work better. When I am fishing with multiple people on the boat, spreading the bait out is a good tactic. I prefer to cast the lines at least 80 feet from the boat. Depending on water conditions, weather, and whether mercury is in retrograde, the sturgeon will feed in different spots.

How do I prepare for a Sturgeon Fishing Charter?

We will spend most of our time on anchor with a few runs between spots. This means that generally speaking you will want to dress for the days weather. Plan on it being a bit cooler than on land but not a whole lot. As a general rule I will try to keep the boat out of significant wind or chop but can’t always. Make sure you review my page on how to get ready for a guided fishing trip

Dress for the weather

Our weather is usually fairly cool in the mornings. It typically warms up around noon and then gets breezy and cool again in the afternoon. Having something to keep the wind off of you is always a good idea. Choppy water and wind in the afternoon will try to throw spray when we are moving. Breathable rain gear is best. A light raincoat or poncho will work too. A hoodie or sweatshirt over a t-shirt is OK for general wear most days in the summer. For early spring and late fall plan on rain. The glare from the water will intensify the sun and a lotion type sunscreen helps prevent sunburn. Sun-shirts are also a great choice. Sun glasses can help prevent eye strain from the glare.

Food, Drink, and Fun

Make sure that you are well hydrated before your sturgeon fishing trip. Bring water or other hydrating beverages along with you. Bring snacks and any meals you want to eat while we are on the water. We will spend a lot of time on anchor so it will be easy to chat with those around you. Bringing food to share with others is a great way to make some new friends. The boat does not have a microwave so things that you can eat cold are a better choice.

Sturgeon Fishing Guide’s pro-tip

If you use things like wrist or elbow braces for heavy work, plan on bringing them. These fish can pull hard. After a day of catching sturgeon, even experienced and in-shape anglers can find themselves with sore shoulders. Bringing along over the counter pain relief like acetaminophen, naproxen, or ibuprofen is a good idea. Did I mention that these are the largest freshwater fish in North America?

What to expect when fishing for Sturgeon near Astoria

This trip is very tide and wind dependent. If the tide and wind are right, we will not go very far at all before we start fishing. Other times we have to travel a little ways. When we get on them, expect regular bites. It usually takes some time for a large Columbia River Sturgeon to be brought to the boat.

Once we get on the fish, the action is some of the best around. It is not uncommon to have double hookups with fish weaving over and under each other’s lines. We usually spend more time reeling in fish than waiting for them to bite. In my opinion, catch and release sturgeon fishing is our most exciting opportunity in the Astoria area.

Sturgeon Fishing Guide’s Pro Tip #2 – When they’re too big for pictures

One other thing to note, we are prohibited from taking a sturgeon more than 54 inches out of the water. I will do my best to make sure that you get a great photo opportunity. It may mean leaning over the side of the boat if the fish is too big. This is a good problem to have!

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