Sturgeon ???

[traveler]

Just got back from an abbreviated first trip to the Rainy, courtesy of a motor breakdown. Did well on walleyes, and caught my first sturgeon, a 53 incher after 90 minutes on 6 lb. test. If I can get my motor fixed quickly I'm going to try to make it back up to fish those sturgeon again before it closes, this time with some serious gear. What size/type of gear/line is usually used when targeting them? Would it be better to get back up there asap or wait until just before season closes? I may not have a choice there, depending on the motor. And how heavy was that 53 incher?? It seemed reasonably fat for it's size, I assume it was a female? Thanks for all advice offered, T

[Guest]

try lenthxlenthxgirth/1470 this will get you close

[traveler]

Unfortunatly I didn't get a girth measurment. I was hoping for a good guess from someone who's caught/weighed a few. Thanks anyway.

[White-tips]

The weight will vary greatly fish to fish, depending on what year they are in in their spawning cycle. They spawn every three years, and I guess they carry and develope eggs over a that entire period. I caught one at Birchdale March 2000 that was 60" long and weighed just over 60 lbs. The biologist from Bemidji that cut the fish up and cooked and cannned it said she had 15lbs of eggs in her and that she was in her 3rd year of the spawn stage. The head alone, when cut off, weighed 15lbs. He also mentioned that at the right time of year, when the buyers come to the Canadian side of the Rainy, that 15lbs. of eggs would probably be worth about $450.00. Does anybody know if this practice still takes place on the Canadian side and just how many sturgeon they kill when the buyers are around??

[HOGEYE]

My neighbor caught one this winter that was 54" it weighed 44 pounds on a Berkely Dig scale.

[traveler]

Boy, this forum got quiet wen walleye fishing closed. No surprise I guess. But I'm still coming up in a couple days to fish sturgeon. Any help out there? How about location? We fished out of Birchdale towards frontier for walleyes when we caught sturgeon last time, would there be a better stretch of river for targeting them specifically? Anyone?

[Guest]

Your best bet for sturgeon right now and through the end of April is probably in the Gap. It's a spawning area in the Lake that sturgeon swarm too.

If you are not familiar with the gap - it is the area where the river meets Lake of the woods. Before you get into the big lake and go through a small channel is a large area of water that holds many and many spawning sturgeon. You can sit and catch them all day, along with many other people.

If you stop in Baudette and ask for directions - someone at the bait stores should be able to help you out.

[Sandee]

White-tips - They don't kill the sturgeon, they milk them for the eggs. If you bring them a live female they will exchange it for a male if you want to have it smoked. This is information I have received.

Thanks.

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www.clementsonresort.com

[only-eyes]

traveler try crawlers on the bottom, that works wonders for us every year