Sturgeon opener

[sweatyspartan]

I may be jumping the gun a bit, but I was wondering who else was planning on heading out that first week for the dinosaurs? I plan on going out later that week out of Deckers area (unless some great reports point me elsewhere). I was also wondering what type of line you would recommend. I was planning on stringing up my gear with 50lb power pro. any comments about the line is appreciated.

Thanks a ton guys. Good luck if you do make it out there.

[WALLEYE MIKE]

I won't make it. I'll be up north for the weekend.

I use my musky outfit with 30lb. mono.

[russell'sjake]

I also use 30 lb. mono, but I run a 18in. steel leader. :fish:

[ice fishin nut]

I'll be out there at 12:01 Sunday morning in the "Softwater Shanty". :fish:

I usually use 25lb mono on my sturgeon rods......

[salmonslammer]

We were talking about that yesterday...When does it open anyways??

I always forget :confused: :confused:


I liked using the 6/30 spiderwire with a 20# floro leader....

[ice fishin nut]

12:01 am this sunday mornin!!!!:D :D :D

[sfw1960]

I won't make it. I'll be up north for the weekend.

I use my musky outfit with 30lb. mono.

Leelanau again Mike??

:evilsmile

R

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Leelanau again Mike??

:evilsmile

R

Yup, leaving Thurs. morning returning Monday eve.

[sfw1960]

Best of luck!!
LMK how it goes!!

R

[sweatyspartan]

I'll probably use the mono over the power pro to give me some more stretch. Thats what I use for muskie and it works out pretty well. Good luck to all.

[Krull]

Scale is in Vegas right now so not 100%, but we will most likely be out there (same area) at midnight, may go out a couple hours earlier, try to catch a few eyes pre sturge. We use our musky tackle, so all suggestions will work. Remember the circle hooks! Not sure that a steel leader is necessary for Sturge fishing... Don't forget your tag, even if planning on releasing the fish (strongly recommended) Good luck all...

[sweatyspartan]

I thought I had seen some pictures of the setup used for Sturgeon on here before. I wasn't able to find it searching. I was wondering if anyone had something like that available. Just want to make sure I'm using the right rig!

[landshark]

i will also be out at 00:01 16 jul 2006.

i use 50 lb spiderwire.

fish on.

[Krull]

I thought I had seen some pictures of the setup used for Sturgeon on here before. I wasn't able to find it searching. I was wondering if anyone had something like that available. Just want to make sure I'm using the right rig!

Slip sinker appx 2-3 foot leader. Use a good size cannon ball or pyramid to hold the bottom. Key is making sure fish can pick up bait without feeling resistance from dug in sinker, that is why setting it as a slip is so important. When we were rookies, we did not do this, we just clipped weight to swivel. SInce we changed to slip, we catch twice as many fish. Oh yeah, do not use cheap hooks or swivels, a pig will bend them, no problem. Remeber you are in deep water with a strong current, plus potentially fighting a 40-100 LB fish, puts a lot of stress on the equipment. Good luck

[bounty hunter]

Yup, leaving Thurs. morning returning Monday eve.

Dragging the boat up there for salmon too?

[dortmand]

I got friends that use thier walleye line counters with 20 lb. line, I use 50lb maxima.. just because they are also musky trolling rods. If you take your time and use some patients during the fight, you can get away with the lighter line, but the heavier line does allow you to get'em in the boat and released quicker. Also, looking back at my log, July and eariy Aug has been slower. for hook up's. Plus, I would rather avoid the pleasure boat traffic in July and August and the possiblity of getting ran over. September has brought me better numbers for hook ups/less boats on the water at night.

But, of course, ya can't catch'em unless you get out there...

Good Luck!!

[Sturge]

It's Great to see everyone excited to start the season. Just to give you some juice. I have been spooled twice in the last 7 years. When you set the hook and a fish or a submarine runs all your 250 to 300 yards of 25#+ line, to the bitter end and the famous PING sounds. Now that's a RUSH.

See you on the River.
Sturge

[Marbler]

I was out in the Decker's area last night and we hooked into two sturgeon in the big hole. The first one broke the line and my father hooked one along with the rig that was hooked into the fish and fought it for 10 mins. Got it up to the boat and it broke off. No, we were not even trying to catch those big things, just out fishing for walleye in one of our hot spots. I have never seen a sturgeon that close before. It had to be all of four feet long, just a monster fish. So anyone looking for the old-timers knows where to head now! Good luck!

[copper95b]

by big hole do you mean the 80'ish hole in the north channel in algonac? Just wondering?

[Marbler]

The 60ish hole in front of Deckers

[copper95b]

is deckers just up from algonac? not real familiar with the area. thanks

[Gone Fishing]

is deckers just up from algonac? not real familiar with the area. thanks
Farther downstream. Pretty close to where the Sni meets the North Channel. By car it's near the end of Anchor Bay Drive and they do have a ramp there and there is a ramp at the end of Anchor Bay Drive also.

[copper95b]

Thanks for the info guys! I tried getting some info from ************************ but those guys are their own little clan and they dont offer up any help. Im not trying to take over the fishing world just looking to try something new. So once again thanks and by deckers is what you mean and is it a public launch?
http://yp.yahoo.com/py/ypMap.py?Pyt=Typ&tuid=13470834&ck=3634670141&tab=B2C&tcat=94168646&city=Algonac&state=MI&uzip=48001&country=us&msa=2160&cs=4&ed=i05ml61o2Tz__.T0ea1gOCjFwKfbFBEgSNXoErw2wTib&stat=:pos:0:regular:regT:17:fbT:3

[Gone Fishing]

Deckers has a private ramp but I'm pretty sure anyone can pay to use it. There is another one farther down the rd (end of Anchor Bay Drive) that is public.

[copper95b]

Thank you!

[lobi]

What are you guys using for bait? I went out for the first time ever by deckers and not a nibble. I simply bought some perch fillets from the grocery store and hung them on my circle hook. I was using the superline because of the smaller diameter with all the water resistance (current). I tried 4 then 6 then 10 oz of lead. How much weight does it typically take to keep the bait still? Is the fishing much better at night? What time does it typically pick up? I like to take my boys out fishing with me but can't keep 'em out too late. Do I need the "tag" just to fish for them if I plan to release 100%? I thought I heard that a tag was not needed for St Clair and St Clair River.

Sorry for all the rookie questions. Thanks in advance for any help. I "need" a pic of my 7 yr old holding one of these dinasours.

[copper95b]

Hey bro Im a rook too and going out for my first time and these guys on this site have been very helpfull. From what I gather is best fishing is at night, best bait is gobs of crawlers or minnows on a hook with just enough weight to keep it on the bottom then have a leader coming from the weight to your bait. and in between the weight and your bait is a lighter weight to keep your bait on the bottom of the river. Like I said im a rook too and i'll be poppin my cherry tomm night in the north channel, and if anyone else has anything to add please do. I dont want to catch all of your fish, just one! And I can die happy!

[Sturge]

Copper95b, Due to the current running in the SCR you really do not need any weight between the sinker and the bait. The reason is the current will keep pushing the bait into the bottom as it passes over the bait, as long as the sinker itself ins't rising off the bottom. I like the 8oz pyrmid as it will walk a little and not get hung up on the bottom when you retrive it to rebait.

Just my thoughts
Sturge

[copper95b]

Thanks for the tips, like I said Im a big fat rookie and all hints, tips, ect are greatly appreciated!

[dortmand]

Thanks for the tips, like I said Im a big fat rookie and all hints, tips, ect are greatly appreciated!

Copper,

The 70+ foot holes in the North Channel at the mouth of the Sni and out in front of Lega's are good, but I wouldn't just target deep holes. On the North Channel and Middle Channel there are natural selves where the water stays ten+ feet deep out for anywhere b/w 50-100 yards then drops off to 30 feet or so. You'll see how all the docks on the North Channel end at the drop off. It's like an underwater wall the fish will follow. Try setting up along the outside of these shelves too. I use 5/0 or 6/0 circle hook on a 3-4 foot leader with 4-5 crawlers on it. 4 to 6 oz. weights. Also, the fishing should pick up as the water cools...

[dortmand]

What are you guys using for bait? I went out for the first time ever by deckers and not a nibble. I simply bought some perch fillets from the grocery store and hung them on my circle hook. I was using the superline because of the smaller diameter with all the water resistance (current). I tried 4 then 6 then 10 oz of lead. How much weight does it typically take to keep the bait still? Is the fishing much better at night? What time does it typically pick up? I like to take my boys out fishing with me but can't keep 'em out too late. Do I need the "tag" just to fish for them if I plan to release 100%? I thought I heard that a tag was not needed for St Clair and St Clair River.

Sorry for all the rookie questions. Thanks in advance for any help. I "need" a pic of my 7 yr old holding one of these dinasours.


Lobi..... here's some answers:

4-5 crawlers gobbed on the hook. I've tried gobies (that's what DNR put's on there set lines), lampreys (that were on strugeon I caught), fish guts, filets, al with little success compared to straight night crawlers.

I use 4-6 oz triangle wieghts, becuase they tend not to roll on the bottom.

You can cathc them anytime, just ask the walleye jiggers... but I fish at night, 8pm to 2am (after that I turn into a pumpkin)

Late Aug and Sept seem to produce a little better numbers. Just listen for the fish jumping... Sturgeon like to jump.

And, YES you'll need a sturgeon tag...they are free, Lakeside has them, as well as the DNR fish station at Harley Ensign (South River)