Fishing for Sturgeon
Catch and release fishing for sturgeon continues to be more popular in Idaho every year. As the number of anglers increases, so does the importance of treating hooked fish properly to insure their survival. If you decide to try your hand at this exciting sport, please use the following tips to ensure you are practicing “low-impact” sturgeon fishing and treating these ancient fish with the respect they deserve:
HOOK ‘EM RIGHT: (Keep the fish from swallowing the hook.)
Use non-offset circle hooks-sizes 7/0 to 13/0. Non-offset circle hooks offer a tremendous advantage over traditional J-hooks because fish are almost never hooked deeply when using them. An additional advantage of these hooks is that fish rarely become unhooked during the fight. Circle hooks are very different than J-hooks and require a couple of different techniques to hook a sturgeon. First, let the fish mouth the bait a few seconds longer than you would with a J-hook, and second, don’t set the hook. Instead, simply start reeling until you come tight on the fish. The hook will catch on the corner of the mouth as you smoothly tighten the line. For those not yet ready to make the switch to circle hooks, it is especially critical to hook the fish quickly before it has a chance to swallow the bait.
Pinch the barb-(It’s the law). Pinch the barb down on your hook to ease hook removal and minimize the damage to a sturgeon’s fleshy mouth.
Rig it right. Tie your sinker to a dropper line on a sliding swivel, using at least ten pound test lighter line than your main line. This will minimize the chances of leaving a baited hook rig snagged to the bottom if you break off. We suspect that this “ghost gear” is getting to be a real problem in some popular fishing holes.
PLAY ‘EM FAST: (Avoid overstressing the fish during the fight.)
50-80 lb test monofilament lines are preferred over the superbraid lines because monofilament has much higher abrasion resistance and its thicker diameter is less likely to cut into a fish’s body. Additionally, monofilament’s stretch makes it much more forgiving when fighting large fish. If you insist on using the superbraids, please use at least 120 to 150lb class lines.
Use heavy gear properly sized to fight powerful fish weighing up to 400 pounds and land the fish as quickly as possible. Lactic acid can build up in the fish’s muscles during long fights. A good sturgeon reel needs to be very well built, have a very smooth drag, and hold at least 250 yards of the proper line.
Choose your fishing spot carefully. Be realistic about the chances of landing a large sturgeon when choosing a fishing hole, especially when fishing without a boat. Ask yourself if you will be able to follow the fish if it leaves the hole. Try to avoid having to tell the story of being spooled, leaving 200 yards or more of expensive line hooked to a fish.
RELEASE ‘EM EASY: (Ensure the fish will survive to fight another day.)
Keep the fish in the water-(It’s the law). Don’t pull the fish up on the rocks for a photo. Pulling the fish on the rocks will remove the fish’s layer of protective mucous and often will open cuts in the fish’s skin, which can lead the way to an infection. The best way to get a great sturgeon photo is to get in the water with the fish. In cold weather, this usually means having some waders handy. Keep water flowing over the gills at all times when removing the hook or snapping a picture.
Don’t tie the fish by the tail. A tail-roped fish can easily be injured, especially if it starts thrashing.
Revive a played-out fish by holding its mouth open in the current so water flows over its gills until it wants to swim away. A tired sturgeon will almost always remain calm when you hold them by the mouth upside down in the water. Keep your hands out of their gills at all times.
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