Who loves fishing ?

[Ramjet159]

They have incredible strength and stamina and often jump clear of the water.

They are protected and have been for decades, so I'll likely never taste one. They don't spawn until they are 15-20 years old so are quite vulnerable and need protection.

The population is recovering and opportunities are increasing but catching a sturgeon is still quite rare. Finding them, and having the appropriate gear and skill, take some doing and some patience. I'm getting it figured out, slowly.

That’s what makes it all the more rewarding when you finally do catch and release the elusive ones . There’s plenty of species around my waters I’m yet to catch . Some just aren’t as agile and plentiful as others so you literally have to get lucky and drop the hook right on its nose . Harlequin fish are much like that .

 

[Mim Towls]

Inspired by Hugh's ass-kicking day of catching fish and winning contests I went to the river this evening.

And I'm pretty damn happy that I did. Started getting hits right away and landed a good-sized goldeye on the 2nd or 3rd cast. A while later I set the hook on a good walleye for species 2. Changed up presentations and nailed a decent pike for species 3.

I brought another chunky goldeye in after an acrobatic fight and then it slowed a bit. I was getting the odd light hit but nothing I could put steel into.

Then the rod tip did a fast little flutter. I took it from the holder and waited, feeling the weight increase before sweeping the rod up. Fish on, feels like a good one. Oh shit, a real good one. Is it? Is it?

Oh hell yeah! First dinosaur of the season!
Not big for a sturgeon, it's under 40 inches, but I cherish every chance to interact with these amazing creatures. They are so strong, and so absolutely unique.
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That is awesome. What did you catch that dinosaur on?! That is one that I'd love to catch someday.

 

[Ramjet159]

That is awesome. What did you catch that dinosaur on?! That is one that I'd love to catch someday.

Accidental hooking I’m guessing . One in a million chance it took a breath just as the hook breezed pass .

 

[Amarok]

That is awesome. What did you catch that dinosaur on?! That is one that I'd love to catch someday.

Thanks, Mims. It slurped up a big ol' dew worm.
I've caught them on worms and minnows in the past.

 

[Psychobilly]

Maybe I wasn't super clear on this so I'll reiterate :

We have enough that you are allowed to keep one a year. So if you're wondering about the flavor.... LOL I can't Believe I get to say this!

"Michigan! Where weed, mushrooms, moonshine, AND Sturgeon are on the menu"

 

[Amarok]

Accidental hooking I’m guessing

Just because that's how YOU catch all your fish, it doesn't mean that's how the rest of us do it.

 

[Psychobilly]

Thanks, Mims. It slurped up a big ol' dew worm.
I've caught them on worms and minnows in the past.

Is that a Lake Sturgeon ? The kind we have ?

I know in Washington State, and Oregon, they use Cut bait a lot, or live bait, as White Sturgeon are more predatory.

 

[Ramjet159]

Just because that's how YOU catch all your fish, it doesn't mean that's how the rest of us do it.

You telling me I’m the only one ?
I never considered it being an exclusive talent . Kinda feel special in a messed up kind of way .

 

[Mim Towls]

I wonder how many different species we could all catch this year if we put them together. That would be kinda neat, given our different locations etc...

 

[Psychobilly]

I wonder how many different species we could all catch this year if we put them together. That would be kinda neat, given our different locations etc...

I know that most of what Amarok catches are available here, except we have Musky too. Makes more sense to just do it here LOL

 

[Ramjet159]

Is that a Lake Sturgeon ? The kind we have ?

I know in Washington State, and Oregon, they use Cut bait a lot, or live bait, as White Sturgeon are more predatory.

Wonder what kind of speed they can generate on the hunt ? Pelagic are king of salt . Wonder what fresh water species can deliver ?
That’s two random thoughts in one night .
I think I’m having an episode ?

 

[Ramjet159]

I wonder how many different species we could all catch this year if we put them together. That would be kinda neat, given our different locations etc...

Realistically I’m guessing because I can fish from 3 feet of water to around 100 feet of water within a 30 mile range opening itself up to a number of species and summer bringing more migratories through maybe 10 fairly easily and possibly if I tidied up my knowledge on targeting other species another 4-5 .
But fishing is fishing and nothing is a given as we know .

 

[Psychobilly]

Wonder what kind of speed they can generate on the hunt ? Pelagic are king of salt . Wonder what fresh water species can deliver ?
That’s two random thoughts in one night .
I think I’m having an episode ?

Depends on the Fresh water

Piraiba can capsize boats in the Amazon. Big ones are usually caught with a Shimano Tiagra 130 half spooled to generate more drag (Apparently 87 pounds isn't enough....) but like, a White Sturgeon ? I mean....What would you try to catch one with, given they can jump and be over 1,000 pounds...

A little farther down are Blue Catfish; They are in fact Pelagic, and some guys can tell it's a Blue Cat because it hits like a freight train. Imagine well over 100 pounds that swims in direct current hunting slamming a bait.... I'd love it

 

[Ramjet159]

Depends on the Fresh water

Piraiba can capsize boats in the Amazon. Big ones are usually caught with a Shimano Tiagra 130 half spooled to generate more drag (Apparently 87 pounds isn't enough....) but like, a White Sturgeon ? I mean....What would you try to catch one with, given they can jump and be over 1,000 pounds...

A little farther down are Blue Catfish; They are in fact Pelagic, and some guys can tell it's a Blue Cat because it hits like a freight train. Imagine well over 100 pounds that swims in direct current hunting slamming a bait.... I'd love it

It’s the reason you make sure you have the correct gear rigged the right way .
You guys mention that once or if lucky twice in a life time fish .
Nothing would be worse than gear failure on that big hookup you’ve waited years for .
On the less technical side of fishing I recall as a kid the tuna fishermen using bamboo poles to catch tuna up to 80-120 lbs back in the 60s and 70s
To test the poles for stress tolerance they’d tie a couple car tires on the end of the trace and dump them in the water , let the tyre walls fill up with water then heave the tires with the pole back onboard . If the Bamboo had any faults theyd soon find out . The 80s fibreglass poles came on the scene .
Some of the older traditional guys stayed with their Bamboo poles though as they preferred the flex of it .

 

[Ramjet159]

San Diego back in the day . You guys used to catch some absolute monsters .

 

[Psychobilly]

That is exactly why I'm only ever in Freshwater, and have two Penn Fathom Lever Drag Reels LOL. A 15 and a 25, both of which can handle whatever may grab my bait, and, hopefully, I'd be able to hang on haha. I've had people at the River that catch Sun Fish and Crappie and whatnot saying I'm using Shark gear, but Sharks can't swim backwards or upside down....Catfish can.

 

[Mim Towls]

Saw a smallie feeding and couldn’t get it to bite any of my go to lures, so I figured I’d try out the Keitechs I’ve been carrying around. Boom

 

[Hugh Jass]

Saw a smallie feeding and couldn’t get it to bite any of my go to lures, so I figured I’d try out the Keitechs I’ve been carrying around. Boom
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Which size is that you're slaying with? Do you get caught up very much using those swimbaits? Can you Texas rig them? You're killing it!

 

[Amarok]

Back to the river this morning.

A ~24" pike slammed an inline spinner about a foot off shore shortly after arrival to kill the skunk.

Action was slow, lots of little hits and a couple better ones but no hookups. I moved around a bit and finally got a decent strike. I took up the slack, set the hook and said "sturgeon!"

Then I said "this ain't no 30-some incher" as the rod bent in half. My heart started racing.

As is common, it came in heavy but easy until it realized it was hooked. Then it was a couple short runs, including one toward the beaver lodge, and for the first time I said "there's no way I'm going to land this"

Steered it out of the brush(who am I kidding, it went where it choose to go) and then it got serious. The fight was already over 5 minutes in when it took the first serious run. I just watched helplessly as the line peeled off the spool as the dinosaur went straight across the river.

Finally turned the head and put a little line on the spool before it turned again and just peeled drag, heading straight for the massive bridge support, nearly 100 yards away. I saw my line go around and disappear behind the support and knew I'd never land this fish.

But I'm too dumb to quit. I ran upstream to get a better angle and I slowly started gaining line until it came back around the support. Yes!

Then the sinker snagged on bottom. Fuck!!!!

I gave it a few minutes to see if the snag would come loose before making the choice to force it. The weight broke away clean, just as designed. I felt the dinosaur start pulling, but it was tiring out.
We were now 20-25 minutes into the battle and I still haven't seen my opponent.

A few minutes later I landed an approximately 4 foot long sturgeon(estimated). We were both exhausted and I had no desire to cause further stress, so I made no attempt to get a photo out of the water. It swam away and I stared up at the sky and released a primal scream of pure animal triumph. What an incredible feeling.

This is the only picture I have of the fish that gave me the greatest experience I've ever had while fishing.

Be strong and make lots of little sturgeon babies, you wonderful creature. Thank you.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Back to the river this morning.

A ~24" pike slammed an inline spinner about a foot off shore shortly after arrival to kill the skunk.

Action was slow, lots of little hits and a couple better ones but no hookups. I moved around a bit and finally got a decent strike. I took up the slack, set the hook and said "sturgeon!"

Then I said "this ain't no 30-some incher" as the rod bent in half. My heart started racing.

As is common, it came in heavy but easy until it realized it was hooked. Then it was a couple short runs, including one toward the beaver lodge, and for the first time I said "there's no way I'm going to land this"

Steered it out of the brush(who am I kidding, it went where it choose to go) and then it got serious. The fight was already over 5 minutes in when it took the first serious run. I just watched helplessly as the line peeled off the spool as the dinosaur went straight across the river.

Finally turned the head and put a little line on the spool before it turned again and just peeled drag, heading straight for the massive bridge support, nearly 100 yards away. I saw my line go around and disappear behind the support and knew I'd never land this fish.

But I'm too dumb to quit. I ran upstream to get a better angle and I slowly started gaining line until it came back around the support. Yes!

Then the sinker snagged on bottom. Fuck!!!!

I gave it a few minutes to see if the snag would come loose before making the choice to force it. The weight broke away clean, just as designed. I felt the dinosaur start pulling, but it was tiring out.
We were now 20-25 minutes into the battle and I still haven't seen my opponent.

A few minutes later I landed an approximately 4 foot long sturgeon(estimated). We were both exhausted and I had no desire to cause further stress, so I made no attempt to get a photo out of the water. It swam away and I stared up at the sky and released a primal scream of pure animal triumph. What an incredible feeling.

This is the only picture I have of the fish that gave me the greatest experience I've ever had while fishing.

Be strong and make lots of little sturgeon babies, you wonderful creature. Thank you.

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Dude - Congrats! What a fucking battle and a great account - felt like I was there!