Sturgeon in Snake - Idaho Falls

[duksnfish]

So two of my neighbors were fishing the Snake at Gem Lake last week and they did pretty good. First neighbor landed about a 3 lb brown. So after that, not much happening so they pulled into a cove just up from the boat launch near the south end of the cemetery and anchored. About 15 minutes later, my other neighbor thought he had a bite, so he set the hook, so he thought. According to both of them, the one setting the hook said, it must have been a snag as it didn't move. So any how, he kept realing in his hook and snag. About an hour later, after he realized it was a real fish just sitting on the bottom, he lands this 4ft sturgeon. He just cut the line and let it go.

So back he goes throwing his line back in. Now keep in mind, he is using power bait to try and catch trout. So, about another 30 minutes go by and again, he gets a bite and he sets the hook. Once again he thinks its a snag, but this time, his line starts running towards the boat so he reals as fast as he can. They said all of a sudden, the fish stops and up and out of the water it goes dancing on it's tail. Supposedly it does this 3 more times. this time, after about a 45 minute run, the fish comes to the boat and YEP, another sturgeon. This one is about 2.5 ft long. Able to get the hook out and let it go. So that was the end of sturgeon fishing even though neither one was intentionally fishing for them. I've heard of folks fishing and fishing intentionally for sturgeon and getting skunked time after time, but, this time 2 in about a 3 hour time span.

Anyone else have such luck or fished for sturgeon in this section of the river?
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[hookedlikeu]

I've had pretty good luck above the 3rd power plant for them. Also landed one just under the falls. Good fun, and the way they tail dance on the water is awesome. Our biggest is 54 inches. Can't wait till they get big!
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[Kent]

I've tried about everything else to catch them, but never PowerBait. Who would have thunk it?
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[idahoron]

Have you ever tried a sponge soaked in sweet pickle juice?
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[Kent]

No, but once we were in fishing with roll mop herring and we ran out of herring so I put on the pickle and caught one.
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[Steelie30]

Are you serious on this? Because if so, that is awesome.
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[idahoron]

That is how you catch them on a fly. You use a 10/0 hook and make a parachute Adams with the sponge coming out the top. Soak it in sweet pickle juice send it down.
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[Steelie30]

That is pretty cool. I have seen some strange things work for steelhead too. I watched a guy cut a piece of denum off of his levis and hook a fish. I would have though he snagged it, but sure enough, it was in the mouth. There were so many fished stacked up that day, they'd of hit almost anything, but it was crazy. I have never fished for sturgeon so I am not too familiar to their patterns and habits. It would be fun to figure out. I am close enough to a few good sturgeon haunts but the Steelhead, Salmon, Trout, and Smallies get a lot of my attention. I bet I'd like it though.
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[idahoron]

Have you seen my Sturgeon video's?
Here is my youtube page.


https://www.youtube.com/user/idahoron?feature=mhee
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[Steelie30]

That looks like a lot of fun! I bet it is intense fighting those guys in the inflatables. Pretty cool fish.
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[idahoron]

Very intense
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[idaagman]

The sturgeon you are catching at Idaho Falls came from a program that is a collaboration between the IDFG, Idaho Power and the College of Southern Idaho. The CSI hatchery was the first to successfully spawn Snake River White sturgeon. The fish you are catching are approximately 10 years old. They were raised at the CSI hatchery and released by the IDFG above Shoshone falls all the way to Idaho Falls. If any of you would like a tour of the CSI facilities they are located in the Rock Creek canyon just south of Twin Falls. The CSI Aquaculture program trains students in the rearing of Rainbow Trout, Sturgeon and recently Burbot. Some of the students end up working for IDFG at many of their hatcheries and or pursuing higher degrees at Universities. Just thought I would let you know from where the fish originated.
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