Sturgeon

[ted1]

I'm curious if anyone has cought sturgeon on the fly? Either by accident or consistently. I've never heard of it on the fly.

[wjorg]

hooked one on accident at the log hole

[Tony Buzolich]

Funny that this should come up as one of my buddies is planning trip soon to the Columbia to specifically target sturgeon with his Cam Sigler 16/17w.

As for now though, the only listing for sturgeon on the fly comes from Lake Superior. The sturgeon weighed out at 11 lbs. 2oz. and was caughton 4 lb. tippet.
TONY

[Mr T]

Back in the 80's or so I recall reading an article in STS about Dave Vedder going for sturgeon with a 10 or 12 weight. Lead core with a thick wooly worm soaked in smelt juice was the ticket.

He caught a couple around 40 punds and then hooked an oversize and that was that.

[dpentoney]

While not caught on a fly, I know a guy that years ago caught and released an oversize on the Klamath at Terwer riffle fishing for steelhead with single eggs on his fly rod. Over six feet long on 8 lb. test........

[Mike R]

There are certain times of year that sturgeon move into Honker Bay to feed and are basically tailing like bonefish. I think a giant fly soaked in scent may work. Good luck after that.

Mike

[bait fisherman]

Using sent is out of the fly fishing realm isn't it? It would be quite a battle on a fly rod though.

[Dan Harrison]

I have been thinking about this for quite some time believe it or not and honker bay sounds like it has potential. I could go out tomorrow and catch a sturgeon on my 12wt in the delta but that wouldn't really be fly fishing. I would have to use alot of scent or bait. Now in June of 1947 the first Bonefish was deliberately taken on a fly by Joe Brooks. Up until that point no one thought it was possible. There were ealier catches but on accident and there is a difference. If a sturgoen is tailing in the shallow and you could place it just like you would for a permit bonefish or carp no scent would be needed. I believe it is totally possible if one could find the time and place. Man this make feel warm and fuzzy inside. :nod:

[Darian]

Zen,.... Meaning no disrespect,.... I'm curious. Have you ever seen a Sturgeon tailing in the shallows :?: :?: Or, is this just speculation :?: :?:

[ptychocheilus]

so one of the premier baits for white sturgeon in the lower Columbia are (used to be?) Pacific lampreys... why wouldn't a big ol' bunny leech work almost as well? I've worked with lake sturgeon, and they're more active foragers than folks give them credit -- put something in front of one's face and it'll eat...

[Scott V]

Zen,.... Meaning no disrespect,.... I'm curious. Have you ever seen a Sturgeon tailing in the shallows :?: :?: Or, is this just speculation :?: :?:

I have in Hog's Slough, thought it was a big beaver until it jumped out of the water.

[Darian]

OK!!! If the water's clear, targeting Sturgeon might be doable. :nod: Of course, once you hook one, there's the problem of landing it.... :lol: :lol:

[Feisty Fish]

I did hook one last year on my fly rod, but it broke off. I used downriggers to drop the bait down to the bottom of the river. I was using pileworms... What a kick!!!

[medfly]

wait, pileworms on the end of your flyrod with downrigger weight?

[Feisty Fish]

It was a BLAST!!! I know it's not your typical thing, but I really wanted to hook a Sturgeon on my FLY ROD... I used the downrigger to drop my fly line down to the bottom of the river, when the Sturgeon hit, the fly line popped of the rigger clip and Sturgeon on!!!!

[Ed Wahl]

FF, I like your style.

Ed

[Dan Harrison]

No Darian can't say that I have, that is more of a dream than anything. I have however been with pods of sturgeon in 6 feet of water. This is in honked bay and San Pablo. The fish cause swirls and movment to the water so it would be a complete guessing game as to where the head is. If the water were clear it would no be a problem to see a six foot fish six feet down but this as we know is not the case with the bay/delta so will remain a pipe dream. Visibility is really the problem the cast would have to be right in the vaccum track.

[Darian]

Hmmm,.... Maybe we're limiting our chances by letting water clarity dictate our choice of fly/lure.... :confused:

Sturgeon are used to operating in turbid water and still being able to feed. So, they must have a very developed sense of smell. Why not try a fly/lure with an attracting scent :?: :?: Set up with a fly rig that would handle the largest fresh water fish, a large (weighted :?: ) fly, some shrimp or anchovy spray scent and let 'er fly..... :D Smoked Sturgeon is YUMMEEEEE!!!!! :unibrow:

[Dan Harrison]

Hmmm I may be spending some time in honker bay next October have had some great sucess for striper in the bay that time of year. I will be out and have my 12wt ready for an oportunity. Hey crazier things have happened!!