how to fish for sturgeon

Tight Lines. The Lower Fraser is comprised of the non-tidal portion of the Fraser River from Hope down to the Mission CPR Bridge, as well as the tidal portion which flows from the Mission CPR Bridge down to the Strait of Georgia in Vancouver. The catch and release season runs May 8th – May 15th and Oct. 1 – April 23rd. Sturgeons are hardy fish and are rarely bothered by parasites. Start for fishing: Before going for fishing you have to be ready with equipment and preparation. A sturgeon rig is an 18″ snell with a 5/0 circle hook loaded with a combo of nightcrawlers and frozen emerald shiners. Over time, knowledge and confidence grows leading to even more sturgeon success. Most anglers have some success their first couple of times out. If … Guidelines for Angling Sturgeon in BC. -A pen or pencil and a pad of paper to record numbers from tagged fish that you catch. String the right hook on the end of your line.

Use strong rods, reels and line. Lake sturgeon fishing is starting to become more and more popular, and for good reason.

Basically, a no roll sinker combined with a sturgeon rig will get the job done on the tackle end.

See MN DNR Fishing Regulations for more info.

Lake sturgeon fishing is starting to become more and more popular, and for good reason. Basically, a no roll sinker combined with a sturgeon rig will get the job done on the tackle end. With this in mind, Sturgeon fishing is like fishing for big Channel Cats. Sturgeon are almost always hooked in the mouth. -Device to accurately measure the length of a long fish. The Lower and Middle portions of the Fraser River provide the only recreational fishery for white sturgeon in all of British Columbia. Most anglers have some success their first couple of times out. I tried sturgeon fishing once in Freddy but was unsuccessful.

Note, keep in mind the current is way down this year vs last year when considering spots and techniques. Over time, knowledge and confidence grows leading to even more sturgeon success.

The Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society (with support from the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Province of B.C., Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Rick Hansen Foundation) has also put together a video that covers these guidelines in more detail: Can you Handle It?

Good water quality with plenty of dissolved oxygen is vital for the … Heavily armored and scaly skin grow 20-24 ft. weigh 1,500kg. The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (with support from the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, Fraser Valley Angling Guides Association, Recreational Sturgeon Anglers of BC, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada) has developed guidelines for catching and properly releasing sturgeon. Slide the bell sinker on then put a small slit-shot about 3 feet from the hook. -Use tackle that is suitable for landing a fish that weighs 100 pounds, or more Bait shops also have the necessary bait and tackle to catch a sturgeon. If you are going to use your own boat and tackle, some ideas. This means from May 16 – June 30, no sturgeon fishing. This lets the weights slide freely up and down the line and doesn't affect the sensitivity of when a … They basically eat anything edible that they find on the bottom. Several species provide caviar from eggs.

Local bait shops and resorts are a great resource to get you started. Copyright © 2003 - 2020, Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC. Please remember to follow these guidelines when setting up your tackle, fishing for, and handling white sturgeon on the Fraser River. Fried Sturgeon - II. I plan on catching one next season for sure and I will be using your techniques. The fish are plentiful in the Rainy River, they eat a lot and are can be caught with consistency and the fish can grow in excess of 100 lbs which is fun! Heavier gear will allow you to pull in the fish quicker, which puts less stress on the sturgeon and ultimately is better for releasing.

See MN DNR Fishing Regulations for more info. -Device to accurately measure the length of a long fish. Sturgeons predate many fish species, appearing in the fossil record approximately 200 million years ago. Most species live in the ocean and ascend rivers to spawn in spring or summer; a few others are confined to fresh water. -A pen or pencil and a pad of paper to record numbers from tagged fish that you catch.

A sturgeon rig is an 18″ snell with a 5/0 circle hook loaded with a combo of nightcrawlers and frozen emerald shiners.

Over time, knowledge and confidence grows leading to even more sturgeon success.

A sturgeon fishing rod should be 6 to 9 feet (1.8 to 2.7 m) in length and made of a... 2.

I certianly have seen others in boat fishing sturgeon with different techniques than described here with success, so one size may not fit all! Use strong rods, reels and line. Bait shops also have the necessary bait and tackle to catch a sturgeon. One option is to get a guide from a local resort.

One option is to get a guide from a local resort.

The Middle Fraser includes the section from the confluence of the Fraser River and its Williams Lake River tributary in the Cariboo, down to the city of Hope in the Lower Mainland. Be sure to check the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis for specific area and seasonal openings and closures. If you are going to use your own boat and tackle, some ideas.

I'm usually an artifical-only enthusiast when it comes to catchin' walleyes...but sometimes you gotta bust out all the tricks when it comes to out-fishing yo... Official Commemorative Handbook advertising, http://lakeofthewoodsmn.com/rainy-river-fishing/, Employment Opportunities… Work Where You Play. Lake sturgeon fishing is starting to become more and more popular, and for good reason. Sturgeon is not used in any quests.

The harvest season runs from April 24th – May 7th and July 1 – Sept. 30.

Photo Credit: Dale Wilson. This year has been very much a learning experience and I've learned a ton, especially with sturgeon fishing at our local hotspot called "Sturgeon Alley". The rest of the year, you can fish for sturgeon.

The population of white sturgeon in these two portions of the Fraser River is currently considered healthy enough to support a catch-and-release sport fishery.

Jonathan Wright/Bruce Coleman Inc. Sturgeons are readily overfished, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) lists more than half of the remaining species as critically endangered. When the walleye bite isn’t at its prime, sturgeon fishing is a fun and exciting option. This helps calm the fish. Where do I start? The first time sturgeon fishing is always the most intimidating. The rest of the year, you can fish for sturgeon. Muskie gear or your strongest freshwater gear is a good choice.

Why I Love Kayak Fishing in New Brunswick, How to fish for Shortnose Sturgeon in New Brunswick. Once your line is rigged up you want to get some nice juicy nightcrawlers on your hooks. Sturgeon Seasons.

There are two sturgeon seasons on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River, a catch and release season and a harvest season in which you can keep one fish per calendar year. Excellent read and info Joe. First quest once completed increases capacity from 1 to 3. -Large landing net

Economic value . When landing Sturgeon use its the easiest to use a large Musky net and leave in the water while taking the hook out of the fish. Get the right tackle equipment.

-Pliers to remove hooks from fish. All other white sturgeon populations in British Columbia are protected under the federal Species at Risk Act, and are closed to recreational angling.

Some old-timers …

When the walleye bite isn’t at its prime, sturgeon fishing … The fish are plentiful in the Rainy River, they eat a lot and are can be caught with consistency and the fish can grow in excess of 100 lbs which is fun! Local bait shops and resorts are a great resource to get you started. Unlike other fish, Sturgeon starts with an initial capacity of only one .

Through fish pond quests the capacity can be increased to 10. Heavier gear will allow you to pull in the fish quicker, which puts less stress on the sturgeon and ultimately is better for releasing.

This is an easy way to use heavy duty sturgeon gear you might not own, be introduced to the right set ups with sturgeon rigs and of course, have the opportunity to fish some of the best sturgeon hot spots on the river. Add boiling water to make a sauce, and cook until thick, stirring constantly.

Steps 1.

In short anything that emits a strong smell works great. Bugs, crayfish, dead fish, dead animals, snails and worms that are washed into the river are all on the menu. An easy rig to use is a bell sinker and a hook. Many anglers are drawn to these magnificent fish, which can reach over three metres (10 feet) in length – the largest freshwater fish in North America. Muskie gear or your strongest freshwater gear is a good choice. Sturgeon Health. Fish pond & Fish Quests. Hunted to near extinction … This is about a 40 mile stretch of ideal sturgeon habitat.

The Chinese sturgeon is thought to be the species most at risk, because its population declined nearly 98 percent … Anyone who fishes – or plans to fish – for sturgeon on the Lower or Middle Fraser River is encouraged to read and follow the Guidelines for Angling White Sturgeon in BC. Note, keep in mind the current is way down this year vs last year when considering spots and techniques.

When the walleye bite isn’t at its prime, sturgeon fishing is a fun and exciting option. To take the fish out of the net you can grab the Sturgeon behind the head for smaller fish or just above the tail fin for larger fish. Fish this set up on the bottom much like you would fishing for carp or catfish. I'm usually an artifical-only enthusiast when it comes to catchin' walleyes...but sometimes you gotta bust out all the tricks when it comes to out-fishing yo... Official Commemorative Handbook advertising, http://lakeofthewoodsmn.com/rainy-river-fishing/, Employment Opportunities… Work Where You Play.

-Gloves, especially for handling small sturgeon that have razor-sharp projections (scutes)

Add the right bait to your hook.

The harvest season runs from April 24th – May 7th and July 1 – Sept. 30.

Although sturgeon do roam the vast waters of Lake of the Woods and are often caught by unsuspecting walleye anglers, the best stretch of water to fish for sturgeon is at the mouth of the Rainy River called Four Mile Bay all the way up river to the falls near Birchdale. Sturgeon is the common name for the 27 species of fish belonging to the family Acipenseridae.The earliest sturgeon fossils date to the Late Cretaceous, and are descended from other, earlier acipenseriform fish who date back to the Triassic period some 245 to 208 million years ago.

Fish this set up on the bottom much like you would fishing for carp or catfish. Many sturgeon fishermen recommend a hook size of 5/0 to 9/0, depending... 3. -Camera

Sturgeon fish grow in the Atlantic coast, Caspian Sea, Pacific Ocean. The family is grouped into four genera: Acipenser, Huso, Scaphirhynchus and Pseudoscaphirhynchus.Four species … Anglers typically choose areas to anchor just upstream from a deep hole in the river.

If you continue to use our site, we assume you consent to the use of such cookies. With the large number of anglers partaking in this fishery, it is imperative that the fish are handled correctly to minimize impact and ensure that the fishery is sustainable.

The key to sturgeon fishing is to get the bait down to the bottom, so I use the snap from another snap swivel to put a pair of 1 ounch triangle weights onto the braid above the snap swivel.