Trophy Sturgeon fishing is popular on the Columbia River.
Oversize Sturgeon are released but the fight is fun and the Columbia River is
the place to catch large Sturgeon is you "know how to catch trophy Sturgeon".
White Sturgeon Facts
Sturgeon in the Columbia River can live to be over 100 years old.
Sturgeon downstream of Bonneville Dam grow about three inches a
year. Male sturgeon mature at around 4 feet or 13 to 14 years of age
and female sturgeon mature at around 6 feet or 24 to 26 years of
age. Sturgeon spawn in the late spring when water velocities
historically peaked and temperatures reached 46 to 50 degrees. The
eggs take about two weeks to hatch and the larva are disbursed
downstream by the strong flow. Sturgeon have been tagged during
research since the mid 1960s. Since 1982, a large scale tagging
program has taken place in the lower Columbia downstream of
Bonneville Dam. This has allowed researchers to determine abundance,
harvest rates, and migration patterns. Sturgeon tagged in the
Columbia River have been recovered as far north as the Fraser River
in Canada and as far south as the Sacramento River in California.
This tagging program was recently expanded to Washington and Oregon
coastal areas. The future of this resource is in your hands. Please
remember to handle any released oversize or sublegal sturgeon with
care. It is especially important to keep all oversize fish in the
water to prevent internal injuries.
thanks to trophy Sturgeon fishing
guide Kelly Short for the photo above.
The Columbia River for Trophy
Sturgeon Fishing
The area affected by the states’ action extends from the mouth of
the Columbia upriver to the Wauna powerlines near Cathlamet. As of
July 11, when the initial 11-day extension ended, anglers had taken
only about 3,900 sturgeon from that area.
As during the regular season, the daily catch limit is one white
sturgeon, with a fork-length measurement of 41 inches to 54 inches.
All green sturgeon must be released.
Sturgeon fishing guides
fish the Columbia River where Trophy Sturgeon fishing in Oregon at Bonneville dam
is very popular. Many local area fishing charters offer half day
trips and gift certificates for Sturgeon fishing trips. If you want
to learn the most popular Trophy Sturgeon fishing tips you should
contact a knowledgeable Oregon trophy Sturgeon fishing guides
service and learn how to catch Trophy Sturgeon.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
April 29, 2010
Release sport-caught sturgeon between
The Dalles Dam and John Day Dam
Action: The sport fishery for white sturgeon between The Dalles Dam and
John Day Dam on the Columbia River will close to retention.
Effective date: 12:01 a.m. May 6 through Dec. 31, 2010.
Species affected: White sturgeon
Location: The Columbia River and tributaries from The Dalles Dam
upstream to John Day Dam.
Reason for action: The closure date for retention of sturgeon was
adopted because Washington and Oregon fish managers estimate that the
harvest guideline of 300 fish will be reached on May 6, 2010.
Other information: Catch and release of sturgeon will still be allowed
between Bonneville and McNary dams except that the sturgeon spawning
sanctuaries from the Rufus grain elevator upstream to John Day Dam in
The Dalles Pool and from the Highway 395/I-82 Bridge upstream to McNary
Dam in John Day Pool will be closed to all sturgeon angling May 1
through July 31.
Anglers get another 18 days to catch
sturgeon in Columbia River estuary
This year’s recreational fishery for white sturgeon in the
Columbia River estuary has been extended for the second time, giving
anglers 18 more days of fishing.
After closing July 11 at the end of the first extension, the fishery
will reopen from July 15 through Aug. 1 under a new agreement
reached by fishery managers from Washington and Oregon.
That extension, like the first one, is based on data that show this
year’s catch is still well below this year’s 9,600-fish harvest
guideline.
"Both the catch and the number of anglers fishing the estuary have
fallen short of expectations this the season," said Brad James, a
fish biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
(WDFW).
"As a result, we feel we can safety extend the season for a
second time, while holding the total harvest within the annual
quota."
Oversize Sturgeon Fishing by Jon Ball
Trophy sturgeon fishing, or
oversize sturgeon fishing as it is called here, is as
exciting as anything you will ever fish for. Our
world-famous trips here in the Columbia River Gorge, just
minutes from Portland Oregon, offers you the fish of a
lifetime - the largest white sturgeon population in the
world. You will see sturgeon after sturgeon that will
average 200-400 lbs. and they can get up to over 1000 lbs.
It is not for the faint of heart. A guided trip with us will
certainly get your heart pounding and your adrenalin
pumping. While doing seminars and shows, I invite people to
come and dance with a sturgeon. When hooked up, they will
bolt straight out of the water and dance on their tail then
dive to the bottom faster then we can say "Fish On."
The peak time to
fish for these giant sturgeon are from mid May through the
summer. At this time, the oversize sturgeon are coming up
from the ocean and show up below Bonneville Dam on the
Columbia River, eating shad as they are heading up to spawn.
So, we often do shad fishing in the morning for bait, then
go after trophy sturgeon by mid morning, using a 3-pound
bait. It's the way to spend a day here in Oregon.
Before one of the TV shows we did, the host told me that he
was not really looking forward to fishing for these trophy
sturgeon. He had fished all over the world and he was sure
that these sturgeon were just going to be a lazy lethargic
fish. But he told me how impressed he was with their fight.
He told me that these trophy sturgeon were one of the
best-kept secrets in the fishing world.
In May the trophy sturgeon come up out of the salt water and
are heading up to the gravel bars below Bonneville Dam here
on the Columbia River to spawn. So from May 1st to August 1,
we have a sturgeon sanctuary that is closed so that the
sturgeon can spawn without being harassed. So since these
fish have not been messed with for 3 months, you can bet
that I'm up there in early August chasing fish. We continue
to fish trophy sturgeon through August and September. We
cannot retain sturgeon until October 1st but it is sure fun
getting a lot of bent rods. And you don’t want to miss that
October opening for keeper sturgeon either. It is like the
opening of the sanctuary - these fish have not been touched
for a few months and there will be a lot of keepers to be
caught.
Read the rest of this story by popular Northwest fishing
guide, John Ball at his
Sturgeon Salmon website.
trophy sturgeon fishing guides
Jordan Smith of
Bent Rods Fishing is who you want in the boat with
you when it comes time to haul in your sturgeon. Jordan
Smith knows everything there is to know about sturgeon.
Fishing isn't just a business to him, it is his life. Plan
your next angling excursion with Bent Rods Fishing and
you'll head home with some trophy catches!
Sturgeon are the largest game fish in North America.
Sturgeon come in various sizes, with the largest being
upwards of 12-15 feet in length. Sturgeon are divided into
three classes: shakers, keepers, and peelers--also known as
trophy sturgeon. Shakers are under 42". You know you have a
shaker on the line because your line will shake vigorously.
It is great fun to have a spirited shaker on your line and
reel in this energetic acrobat. Per fishing regulations,
shakers must be returned to the water. Keepers are between
42" and 5 feet in length. The keepers will slowly shake your
line, then take a quick run. These make for an interesting
fight, and they are delicious eating.
A trophy sturgeon, or peeler, is the Goliath
of sturgeon. They will usually jump at least once, and it
might take the effort of you and Jordan to haul one of these
giants in. Peelers of 1000+ pounds have been reported. For
reservations, please call us at 360-910-214.
Jordan fishes out of Hood River, Oregon, among other choice
spots he's come to know about over the years. To get to Hood
River from Portland, take 84 East and drive for 61 miles.
Then take Exit 64 into Hood River. The boat launch is just
under the Hood River Bridge.
February 22, 2008
Recreational smelt and sturgeon
fishing to close on Tuesdays
Action: Closes Columbia River sturgeon
and smelt recreational fisheries on
Tuesdays from the Hayden Island west
powerlines upstream to Bonneville Dam.
This action effectively closes this area
to recreational fishing of all species.
Effective dates: Begins the week of
March 24 and runs through April 30,
2008.
Species affected: Sturgeon and smelt.
Location and time: The area from the
Hayden Island west powerlines upstream
to Bonneville Dam will be closed to all
recreational fishing on Tuesdays (from
one hour after official sunset on
Mondays through one hour before official
sunrise on Wednesdays).
Reason for action: Washington and Oregon
have adopted these regulations in an
effort to minimize
commercial/recreational interactions due
to the reduced fishing area and limited
boat ramp access.
