Crappie sturgeon report

[Kent]

Got back last evening from my earliest ever sturgeon trip. Took Rick, a sturgeon virgin, along with expectations of reeling in many large sturgeon.

The weather forecast was for windy conditions on Thursday and much calmer conditions on Friday and Saturday. The hope was that it wouldn't be too windy to take the boat out on Thursday and that anything we got on Thursday would be a bonus to the improved catching on Friday and Saturday, in calmer conditions. Well, the weather forecasters got the wind forecast correct, except that the wind was even calmer on Friday and Saturday than the forecast. Fortunately, we were able to fish on Thursday, and guess when we were getting sturgeon bites, and also fortunately that most of the sturgeon bites were aggressive bites.

After moving to two different spots without success, we tried a place that I have often caught one sturgeon and at the most two. After fishing for a short time, Rick's rod started bouncing and I yelled that he was getting a bite. For some reason he seemed to not believe me and took a long time to get to his rod. By that time it wasn't pulling much, but when the sturgeon jumped out of the water he was finally convinced that he was indeed getting a bite. Despite the drag being set way too loose we were able to get that sturgeon landed and little did we realize, at only 58 inches, that it would be the largest of the trip. Just a pup, but still large enough for Rick to get a feel for the power of these wonderful fish. Rich managed one more 40ish sturgeon from that hole and that was it.

Moved back where we started the day, because it is often the "money hole" and Rick caught a 3 footer.

Relocated again and I was finally able to get on the board with a 57 inch sturgeon.

Awoke Friday to zero wind and great expectations. Long story short, despite ideal conditions on Friday and Saturday we were unable to locate the sturgeon. I am not even sure that we got a sturgeon bite on either day. Really strange and frustrating. Tried casting the shorelines for both bass and crappie with only two lost bass for our efforts. While attaching my lure to my lure holder (or whatever it is called down near the handle of my rod) my bass and crappier fishing rod snapped near the center of the rod. It must have been weakened earlier because I didn't put that much pressure on it.

Noticed on Saturday that there were several boats anchored up in about 20' of water catching crappie. We put my rod back together using a pencil and Rescue tape. Joined the other boats, and the crappie and perch fishing was steady for the next two hours, with one bluegill thrown in. Had we started fishing earlier for them I am confident we could have filled a bucket full of perch and crappie (there is no limit on them). At the end of the two hours I managed to snap the rod just below the repair, so that signaled the end of the trip.

Final tallies for the trip:

4 sturgeon
3 channel cats (one 26", one about 20" and one baby)
At least 35 perch and crappie combined
1 bluegill

Disappointing that we couldn't catch more and larger sturgeon, but grateful that we caught some. A pleasure to meet and fish with Rick -- he is a super nice and generous young man.

Hopefully, Rick will post up a few pictures.

Can't wait for round two, for this year, on my quest to finally personally land an 8' or larger sturgeon.
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[TyeDyeTwins]

So cool, so cool!![cool]

Perch and Crappie too, now I am getting jealous!!
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[albinotrout]

Kent I am not sure about your luck when fishing. Yes you catch fish but you seem to have more issues than most. []
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[Ktrout]

[quote albinotrout]Kent I am not sure about your luck when fishing. Yes you catch fish but you seem to have more issues than most. [][/quote]

If only one small rod got broke, that seems like a fairly uneventful trip based on what's typical for Kent.

Too bad on the slow sturgeon catching. Seems like the perfect time of the year to really get after them and with dead calm wind for two days, can't really ask for better. Wonder where they might be.
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[doggonefishin]

[quote Ktrout]
If only one small rod got broke, that seems like a fairly uneventful trip based on what's typical for Kent.
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Now that you mention it, this past year had indeed been a bit rough on Kent in that department. The only thing I don't get is usually Kent has everything in triplicate and he would have a spare rod readily available. []

Better a small panfish rig than busting a nice sturgeon rod on his 8 footer.
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[Kent]

[quote doggonefishin]

The only thing I don't get is usually Kent has everything in triplicate and he would have a spare rod readily available. []

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You can rest assured that I had plenty of spare sturgeon tackle. The primary purpose of the trip is fishing for sturgeon. Having a rod for other purposes is just to catch something else if sturgeon aren't biting. One can always catch something with the wide variety of fish that are available. Bass fishing is usually almost a fish a cast, but I guess it is a little early for them. Next time I will throw an extra lighter rod in the storage area meant for bass rods. Never had a place specifically designed to hold rods until I got this boat.
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[Kent]

[quote Ktrout]

If only one small rod got broke, that seems like a fairly uneventful trip based on what's typical for Kent.

[/quote]

Lost my small ice box out the back when the waves pounded the boat while under power. Found the ice box, jar of herring and the blue ice, but lost my floating Fish Grip Fish Holder. Oh well, I liked your smaller ones anyway, so I will replace it with the smaller one.
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[smittyts]

I always enjoy your reports Kent. Great detail, and almost always an adventure. we need to get together soon and catch some fish.
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[Kent]

[quote smittyts]

we need to get together soon and catch some fish.

[/quote]

I'd enjoy that, been a long time. Have your folks contact my folks and work out the details.
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[luckybob]

Glad you caught a few Kent. Also glad the wind let you enjoy the water.
Did you have deluxe accommodations in Bruneau ??
Many others launching on the special ramp ??
Thanks again for introducing me to sturgeon fishing.
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[Kent]

Yes we stayed at the 1 Stop again. After you get used to the lumpy mattress (and I do mean lumpy) and the buckled floor it isn't bad.

I have launched my last time at the old ramp. Getting my new boat back on the trailer was an ugly situation. Saturday we launched from the new boat ramp and experienced taking a wrong turn and ending up in 1 1/2' of water. Now I know the path to take to stay in the slightly deeper water. I can get from the new ramp to our favorite fishing hole in 10 minutes by boat. Skimming across the water at over 40 MPH sure is nice. I just hope I never encounter a strong wind that I have to fight all the way back to the boat ramp.
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[Kent]

Plenty of boats launching at all of the ramps on Saturday. On Thursday and most of the day on Friday we hardly saw another boat.
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[rctalbot]

Here are some pictures of the trip. A huge thank you to Kent for teaching this rookie how to catch a sturgeon. I had a blast!
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[smittyts]

Thanks for the pics. Makes my mouth water. I too was a recipient of Kent's tutelage. He taught me everything I know about ice fishing.
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[dtayboyz]

You should let me know when your around I'd give you whatever Intel i have. How'd you like the swap meet at the one stop? Weird year we're having, all the fishing is kinda strange and water is warmer than usual. They're working on shoshone falls power plant so a June release is not possible. I hear good things farther downstream near kuna, but have never had gertrude there. Nice work improvising, adapting and overcoming.
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[Kent]

I appreciate the offer of any information you have. I also want to get up an chase the sturgeon with you sometime.

I was impressed with the fancy bath tub that they had for sale at the swap meet, but not sure where I would put it on my boat.[] It wasn't open while we were there (likely open during the day on Saturday, but we were fishing).
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