Sturgeon on the ST. LOUIS

[chillincarp870]

Hey guys we are runninig up to the river next weekend and was wondering where and how to catch the sturgeon on the river.

[DTro]

Only by accident.

You cannot legally target them on the STL.

[jwmiller33]

Dtro is right on. There is no legal season to target them on the St. Louis River.

The only 2 places it is legal to target sturgeon in Minnesota is 1) the Rainy River and 2) the St. Croix River.

[Northlander]

Hey guys we are runninig up to the river next weekend and was wondering where and how to catch the sturgeon on the river.

DO NOT TARGET STURGEON! There is no season on them and you arent evn supposed to take a picture with them if you accidently catch one. Just stick to the walleyes or crappies. Oh and some dandy perch are being caught as well in the bay.

[Steve Foss]

So I'm thinking it's probably illegal to target sturgeon on the St. Louis. Am I getting that right?

[PiedmontAngler]

and you arent evn supposed to take a picture with them if you accidently catch one.

Oops! Don't tell anybody.

[401TE]

DO NOT TARGET STURGEON! There is no season on them and you arent evn supposed to take a picture with them if you accidently catch one. Just stick to the walleyes or crappies. Oh and some dandy perch are being caught as well in the bay.

Not trying to argue, but it's perfectly legal to take a picture of a sturgeon that you catch. A fish caught out of season must be immediately released according to the good book. The definition of immediate release as quoted straight from the DNR regs is:

"Immediately released or returned to the water– Fish must not be

retained longer than is needed at the site of capture to unhook, identify,

measure, and photograph. Placing the fish in any type of container or on astringer is not immediately released. Any fish not immediately released isconsidered to be “reduced to possession.”"

[DTro]

That's the way I've always understood it too, 401TE.

[Jarrid Houston]

I would encourage if you must, a quik snap shot!! Caught a 35" last weekend, and know another guy who got 2 this last weekend, one of which was his grandsons first bit fish 42"....g'd luck

[Northlander]

I had the Wi. DNR tel me more than once that you should unhook and release and not hold the sturgeon for pics. Is that right or wrong I dont know. I go by what they tel me. Could I get a ticket for taking a pic of one on the St. Louis? I would think the DNR would have to be pretty hard up to do so but ya never know. They arent big enough in my book to take pictures of so I unhook and release ASAP.

[tcbrookston]

As I understand it, the St. Croix River and it's tributaries are not open for them either. I think that they were closed about 15 years ago. Right after Kim Bangston got the state "legal" record of 94.4 pounds in the kettle river, which is a tributary of the St. Croix River.

[fishin4sum]

The reason the DNR is probably telling you not to take a picture of them is that when you pull a large fish out of the water and handle it their entrails are not designed to support their own weight and can rip and tear causing internal bleeding. But you probably already knew that;)

[jwmiller33]

As I understand it, the St. Croix River and it's tributaries are not open for them either. I think that they were closed about 15 years ago. Right after Kim Bangston got the state "legal" record of 94.4 pounds in the kettle river, which is a tributary of the St. Croix River.

There is indeed a short season for lake sturgeon on the St. Croix in the fall each year and it is pretty well known around the metro area. This past fall it ran from September 4th - September 30th. Within that season in September, it is actually legal to harvest one (minimum size 60 inches) AND you need a sturgeon tag to harvest it. There is an additional catch and release only season that runs from October 1st - October 15th. If you read the fishing regulations it is clearly stated under the "Wisconsin border waters" section. You can only fish for them from the Taylor Falls dam to the mouth of the river at Prescott, WI.

There is also a continuous season for shovelnose sturgeon, but that is on the Mississippi River pool 4 (downstream from the Red Wing dam only)

[shogun]

The reason the DNR is probably telling you not to take a picture of them is that when you pull a large fish out of the water and handle it their entrails are not designed to support their own weight and can rip and tear causing internal bleeding. But you probably already knew that;)

If that were the case, it seems things would be tearing easily with all of the jostling around during the summer months when you see them jumping like crazy.

[jwmiller33]

the problem with people holding sturgeon is when they hold them vertically. they are such a large fish that when held this way, it puts a ton of stress on their internal organs and can cause internal bleeding. they are just not meant to be held that way out of the water because of gravity. when you release it, they will often swim away and you think you did a successful release, however, the fish could very well die shortly after

if anybody does catch a sturgeon, remember never to hold them vertically. always hold them horizontally and support them with both hands. like this: (just for the record, this is a st croix sturgeon)

and here is a rainy river sturgeon

i always cringe when i see pics of people holding huge sturgeon vertically. if your going to be in a position where you might catch one, the least you can do is do some research on how to properly hold and handle them

[JBMasterAngler]

The survival rate of the stocked st. louis sturgeon appear to be pretty high...and I believe the 1st couple batches are just now entering spawning age (which is when we'll truely see if it was a success). Assuming they do successfully spawn, when (if) could a possible sturgeon season be implemented?

[shogun]

If you really want to get into some big sturgeon, you should make a trip out west. Just do a google image search for "columbia river sturgeon."

I was there a few years back and landed a couple that were ~8ft long and over 300lbs.

After that, I have no interest in trying to catch these baby 50" fish everyone is googly-eyed over in the harbor. I never did have any interest in fishing sturgeon before that either. It was fun once, but I'd rather put my time in after other species.

[jwmiller33]

the columbia river sturgeon are white sturgeon, a different species than the lake sturgeon we have in MN... thats like comparing saugers and walleyes. obviously walleyes are generally bigger than saugers, but again, they are different species.

i'd be curious to know what species of fish you target in MN if 50 inch lake sturgeon are "babies" to you... lake sturgeon are the biggest game fish we have in the state that i'm aware of

when i go to alaska, i can catch 40lb king salmon. that wouldnt stop me from targeting smaller ones out on lake superior

[Northlander]

The survival rate of the stocked st. louis sturgeon appear to be pretty high...and I believe the 1st couple batches are just now entering spawning age (which is when we'll truely see if it was a success). Assuming they do successfully spawn, when (if) could a possible sturgeon season be implemented?

NEVER I hope.

[Hendo1589]

Was out this morning on the river with a buddy and he caught one. 37 inches, went straight back, figured even if we wanted to take a picture, it wasnt big enough to do it.

[DTro]

I never understood the attitude of not wanting to fish for them. As much as I like Cats, the Sturgeon might be my favorite fish to catch. The fight harder than anything that swims in MN. I spent all fall fishing for them on the Croix, put on a TON of miles to do so, but it was a BLAST!

I was watching Water and Woods a few weeks ago and when they hooked into one the would try to break off, or straighten the hook. Why????? To catch a 13" walleye instead.

Whatever...

By the way, if you are not gilling them when holding em up, you aren't going to injure em. They are a tough customer.

[fishinfey8]

When I first went out sturgeon fishing on the rainy last year I didn't really give it the time of day, mainly b/c people were pulling big eyes out of the river left and right. But, after going 2 or 3 times, with the proper gear, I really enjoy the incredible strength of those crazy fish. Out of all the bottom feeders, I would say they are the easiest to handle too! I hope they put a season on the St. Louis...the numbers are high enough imo.

[JBMasterAngler]

I watched that same gillespie episode. I believe they said the sturgeon season was closed, and it was safer for the fish if they just didn't land it.

Hells Canyon on the snake river is on my fishing bucket list! The giant sturgeon would be tops on my list, but the snake river is supposed to a great salmon/steelhead and smallie river as well. Not to mention the awesome scenery!

I've ice fished once out of boyscout, but have yet to fish park point. I would love to hook into one of those sturgeon (not purposely of course). I've only caught tiny little ones around the 15 inch mark

[Northlander]

When I first went out sturgeon fishing on the rainy last year I didn't really give it the time of day, mainly b/c people were pulling big eyes out of the river left and right. But, after going 2 or 3 times, with the proper gear, I really enjoy the incredible strength of those crazy fish. Out of all the bottom feeders, I would say they are the easiest to handle too! I hope they put a season on the St. Louis...the numbers are high enough imo.

The numbers are ok but the age is not. Most arent even mature enough to do any spawning yet.

[Surface Tension]

Doesn't look like any fun to me.

Naw this is boring

[Northlander]

For gods sake Frank tighten JR'sd drag for him will ya. That was more painful for me to watch than it was for him to catch it.

[Surface Tension]

It was tight but not the type reel you going grind in a Sturgeon on. LOL

That was Mark's Lake Superior rig. Its now a spare.

How'd you like that Beckman Muskie Net bend in two.