Sturgeon on the Columbia

[OlympicMtDoo]

My buddy just got a great new boat and we have been talking about taking up sturgeon fishing on the Columbia. Anybody out there know anything about that fishery?????? I used to fish sturgeon on the Chehalis many years ago but it has been longer than I even want to admit, gotta be some PNW on here that know a bit about the Columbia.

[mash rookie]

They fish for sturgeon everywhere on the Columbia. The Lower Columbia near Portland used to be where everybody went. I would try to find a guide to go out with you.
I fished in the Chehalis once for sturgeon. I caught one.
It is a damn funny story. I used to drag a 25' boat to Westport every July to fish for kings. I did it for ten years. I got to know the state biologist pretty well that worked the docks checking fish. An avid fisher and guide he spent a whole week one year convincing me that I could launch and fish my boat in the Chehalis and that he would sturgeon guide.
Finally convinced I agreed that on our way out of town I would stop to sturgeon fish. Mid morning the next day I nervously launched in the Chehalis. He was right. I did not run aground or foul a prop. We went about a mile before we anchored and cracked a few beers.
He show us how to bait with anchovies swimming backwards and we got our gear in the water and cracked a few more beers.

Okay, Here is the funny part. Several beers later he leaned forward and started whispering, here’s one, here’s one, that’s a sturgy, that’s a sturgy. Ya gota give it line, ya gota give it line as he fed out line. Then he said they have a tough mouth you really have to set the hook. When he felt he had given enough line he carefully and slowly reeled in the slack with his tip right down to the water. Standing up he yelled and yanked back on his pole to set the hook. He yanked back so hard and far that he hit my fly bridge behind us. The pole snapped in half. With the top half sliding down the line into the water he handed it to me and said reel! I was laughing so hard I almost dropped the broken stump in. It was a sturgeon. Two inches short. I guess you had to be there.

[cob]

chicken liver and a spark plug ? cob

[Bushman]

I have fished the Columbia for Sturgeon, what haven't I fished for in the NW? Last time out we caught 18 and couldn't keep a one as they were either too small or too large. Boy they sure regulate that fish. If you haven't fished sturgeon before I can give you a few tips but I fished above Portland towards the damn. The fish tend to lay in depressions and wait for their bait to swim over kind of like halibut. Also you need to keep moving until you find them, I've been known to pull anchor and move quite a few times in a day to find fish. The other key is having good fresh bait as in any fishery. Sturgeon like sand shrimp, fresh anchovies, smelt to name a few. MR is right you should first go with someone that has experience or higher a guide as it is a bit tricky dropping anchor and then keeping your boat in line running a kicker to fish a spot.
My first impression eating sturgeon was they had no taste until a chef told me they love cooking the fish because they have very little taste they absorb the flavor that you cook it in. Really improves the fish for eating.

[OlympicMtDoo]

That's pretty funny MR, I can see that happening, I think we probably need to go with a guide the first time down on the Columbia to get things figured out. I have eaten sturgeon several times and I really like it, my mom used to sort of cube it then batter and deep fry, damn it was good and no bones, I like that. Anybody know a reputable guide service for the columbia?

[Bushman]

Here is a couple I would recommend.
Steve Leonard’s Guide Service

360-609-1902

http://www.stevesguidedadventures.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

This guy would be my second choice:

Dan Ponciano Guide Service
360-573-7211

360-607-8511 cell
http://columbiariverfishing.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[OlympicMtDoo]

Thanks Bushman, Steve has a great web site, I ran out of time watching video, I'll go back later.

[OlympicMtDoo]

Got an e-mail back from Steve and the fishing is open right now but it's no good, he said that it opens above the dam Jan 1 and that is the time to go.