Where would it be better?

[LEECH21]

We are coming up next Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday to do some sturgeon fishing and have been hearing mixed reports. We planned on staying in Baudette and fishing around that area. Now we're hearing good reports around Wheeler's Point and the Frontier areas. Are there any hotels/motels around the Wheeler's Point area? We only have a 9.9 horse on the boat so we don't want to travel long distances on the river. So we only have a few days left to decide if we are going to try around Baudette or Wheeler's Point. What do you FM'ers think would be better from past experiences or from the reports you have heard? Please respond with any info as time is running out. Thank you.

[walleyejon]

I'll try to answer your questions from this post, and the other one. First off, Wheelers Point is right at the end of the Rainy River, where it dumps into Four Mile Bay. It is all resorts out there and you may find a room or a cabin at a decent price this time of year, otherwise it is only a few miles from Baudette. The "gap" is acrosss the bay at Pine Island. It is just a narrow spot between islands that dumps into the main lake. Barring a viscious wind, you should be fine with your 9.9 out in Four Mile, which is where I would go if I were you. We saw fish surfacing constantly yesterday, and the action should stay good for the rest of April, while the river will probablly start prodcing less fish. Not to say you can't still catch them in the river, but your odds will be higher in the bay (just my opinion/experience).

As far as rigging, heavy action rod, braided 40 or 50lb line, sliding sinker (we had 2 1/2 to 3 oz yesterday), short (6-12 inch)30lb or heavier mono leader with a big circle hook loaded with crawlers, and maybe some smashed up minnows. You can try free spooling, but the current is pretty healthy out there, so the bait clicker will probablly work better. When they bite, they won't always take line. Pay attention to your rod tip. If you notice it thumping, but no line going out, flip over to free spool, and hold your thumb on the line. If it thumps again, release your thumb to see if it will take some line. There are a lot of other fish out there that will peck at that big ball of crawlers, you'll be able to feel the difference in weight when a sturge grab ahold. If you're not using circle hooks, you should set the hook as hard as you can, the circle hooks will more less set themselves, so you won't have to pull as hard. When you get one tired out, and up to the boat, have someone grab it by the tail, instead of trying to net it. Most are too big to get in a net, and those big sinkers can get really tangled up if you net a smaller one. I think that about covers it. Good luck, and maybe I'll see you out there.

[LEECH21]

Thanks a lot walleyejon! Your post was/is going to be a tremendous help. Yesterday at Cabela's I picked up some 3 oz egg sinkers and some 5 and 6 o/t Gamagatsu Octopus Circle hooks. I already have a Abu Garcia 6600CB spooled with 50# PowerPro. I think I'm ready to go. I also think we will find a motel in Baudette and drive to Wheeler's Point each day and find a boat launch there. If you see three crazy, younger, guys in a all gray aluminum boat with an old 9.9 hp Johnson on the back on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, swing by and say hi. Thanks again.

P.S. And if anyone else has any last minute tips for us on locations and what not, please post them. They are all greatly appreciated.

[Wiskers]

Oops.. you should have picked up 3oz no roll sinkers instead..but they might do for now..

[LEECH21]

I was looking for them, but didn't find any.

[bucktail=5-0]

Leech21

Take a nail and run it through the egg sinker then put in in a vise and smash it. Hammer works too. Be carefull because if you smash or squeeze them too much you can't get the nail out. Good luck they are a lot of fun when you get into them.