Fun day sturgeon fishing on the Willamette
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 1:04 am
Well, a new era has dawned. One in which I was able to actually fish two days in a row. I woke up this morning and thought about shutting my eyes and drifting back to sleep. But, I had the hall pass to go fishing again, and I didn't want to blow it. I got to George Rogers Park about 9:00 am and was anchored by about 9:30 am on the east side. At about 10 am I caught what would have been my first keeper sturgeon ever. It was a little over 39 inches. Unfortunately, he didn't cooperate and I was unable to get a photo with the tape measure. I needed both hands to hold him still. Also, when the scutes started snagging into my drysuit, I felt it best to release him ASAP.
I had several other bites, and missed a few fish. I also hooked two others and lost them. One still may have a hook in its mouth
.
As I was kicking back all happy that I had just caught the biggest fish of my life, Bam! Fish on! This one did not want to come up. After about a ten minute battle I got it up to the surface. I wish I had an extra pair of hands to help measure it, but I did the best I could. I let my soft tape drift downstream along side its body until it got to the fork. The fish was moving its tail so I estimate it was between 45-49 inches. I didn't have any need for an accurate measurement since it wasn't for any competition so I didn't want to stress it anymore. I have to admit though, if I would have had a camera man, I would have loved to have been holding it with an ear to ear grin on my face. I would have finally had an avatar worthy fish.
I pulled these photos from the video.
A few minutes after I let this one go, a giant sea lion popped up behind me and scared the crap out of me. It stayed in the area for a bit, then I saw it downstream by the rock island with a fish in its jaws.
I was getting ready to quit at about noon when a couple of other guys came out. They said they usually fish the ocean for rock fish, but had seen my post on the Northwest Kayak Angler's Forum yesterday and wanted to give sturgeon fishing a try. They asked a couple questions about rigging and anchoring and this was the result:
They measured it and it was 44 inches.
I decided to stay since I now had company, and hopes of catching another big one. Unfortunately, I had a hook up with another good one and lost it.
I had several other bites, and missed a few fish. I also hooked two others and lost them. One still may have a hook in its mouth
. As I was kicking back all happy that I had just caught the biggest fish of my life, Bam! Fish on! This one did not want to come up. After about a ten minute battle I got it up to the surface. I wish I had an extra pair of hands to help measure it, but I did the best I could. I let my soft tape drift downstream along side its body until it got to the fork. The fish was moving its tail so I estimate it was between 45-49 inches. I didn't have any need for an accurate measurement since it wasn't for any competition so I didn't want to stress it anymore. I have to admit though, if I would have had a camera man, I would have loved to have been holding it with an ear to ear grin on my face. I would have finally had an avatar worthy fish.
I pulled these photos from the video.A few minutes after I let this one go, a giant sea lion popped up behind me and scared the crap out of me. It stayed in the area for a bit, then I saw it downstream by the rock island with a fish in its jaws.
I was getting ready to quit at about noon when a couple of other guys came out. They said they usually fish the ocean for rock fish, but had seen my post on the Northwest Kayak Angler's Forum yesterday and wanted to give sturgeon fishing a try. They asked a couple questions about rigging and anchoring and this was the result:
They measured it and it was 44 inches.
I decided to stay since I now had company, and hopes of catching another big one. Unfortunately, I had a hook up with another good one and lost it.