Nsr 2019

[Kurt505]

Has anyone been out fishing the river before runoff hits? I wasn’t able to get out last year, I’ve been itchin to get out to the river.

[Red Bullets]

Right now is an interesting time to fish. On an April 28th a few years ago I went fishing the NSR with a pickeral rig and I caught at least 30 lingcod. Two at a time. I went the next day and all I caught were more than a dozen rockie mountain whites. Went the next day and all I caught was pike and a couple small male walleye.

This time of year the fish are definitely moving upstream in schools to spawn. By the end of the first week in May I have seen big pike spawning 3 or 4 miles up the tributaries of the NSR.

[Kurt505]

I remember as a kid I caught a pike about 25lbs out of the athabasca river while standing on the ice slabs piled up on the banks. I’ve seen a lot of big walleye come out of the rivers early in the season as well.

[ETOWNCANUCK]

I’m cursed, to not catching a dam thing from this river, anytime I actually do try and fish it.
Of course because of this I don’t really try but a couple of times every year.

Spoons, spinners, jigs, rigs and frozen minnows and nothing.

[Kurt505]

I’m cursed, to not catching a dam thing from this river, anytime I actually do try and fish it.
Of course because of this I don’t really try but a couple of times every year.

Spoons, spinners, jigs, rigs and frozen minnows and nothing.

Rig and a dew worm should get you hooked up just about anywhere. I never cast a jig or spoon, always just rigs in the river. I’ve had 30+ walleye days right in the city, I’ve also caught sturgeon right in the city. Goldeye, sauger, suckers, but I don’t think I’ve ever caught a pike yet.

[ghostguy6]

Right now the river is chocolate milk. Your best bet would be bait, spinners or vibrating crank baits. You might still get a few burbot and whites but its getting a little late in their run. The water might still be too cold for the goldeye bight to be on.

[ETOWNCANUCK]

Rig and a dew worm should get you hooked up just about anywhere. I never cast a jig or spoon, always just rigs in the river. I’ve had 30+ walleye days right in the city, I’ve also caught sturgeon right in the city. Goldeye, sauger, suckers, but I don’t think I’ve ever caught a pike yet.

I’ll try worms. Thanks for the tip.

[Red Bullets]

I remember as a kid I caught a pike about 25lbs out of the athabasca river while standing on the ice slabs piled up on the banks. I’ve seen a lot of big walleye come out of the rivers early in the season as well.

My biggest pike in the NSR was 28 lbs. Quite a few between 10 and 20. I firmly believe the big pike are overlooked in the river. The big pike don't bask in back eddies. They like to hold close to the current.

[Kurt505]

Has anyone been out fishing the NSR lately?

[Cloudade]

I was out the past few days. I didnt have much action myself but the other guys had rods hitting every 20 minutes or so around legends. Just got to be at the right place at the right time.

[cranky]

I fished the NSR two days this week at two different locations. Lotsa Walleye so far, nothing else yet. Just using jigs.

[Kurt505]

Right on, thanks for the update guys.

[Talking moose]

Ya I’ve been out a few times. Smoky lake area. Lots of small walleye, 5 or 6 gold eye, 5 or 6 red horse suckers, 3 pike and 1 burbot. Pike were caught casting at a creek mouth, the rest were pulled from a deep eddie on pickerel rigs with worms on the bottom and Minnow on the top.

[Talking moose]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190511/e191322f806e425fa6e1ca0418bbc230.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190511/a3f6f53818575eda5f4b1d833905da7a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190511/db61b01a2623324682ca79023266c5ed.jpg


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[Kurt505]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190511/e191322f806e425fa6e1ca0418bbc230.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190511/a3f6f53818575eda5f4b1d833905da7a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190511/db61b01a2623324682ca79023266c5ed.jpg


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Nice. Do you ever target sturgeon out east? I’ve heard elk point has a higher population than around the city but have never tried any further east than the mouth of the sturgeon.

My youngest boy is begging to go out fishing so I might have to take him to the river or one of the local trout ponds I suppose.

[smitty9]

Got a class of junior high students I may take down to the river.

All the searching I've done on the forum talks alot about fishing for goldeye in the summer and fall.

Anyone know a decent spot for goldeye, right now. Sure be nice to see some kids get action on a fly rod.

Cheers,
Smitty

[Talking moose]

Yes we catch sturgeon too. I’ll dig up some pics. Catch them at the smoky lake hole and the elk point hole.

[Talking moose]

From last year. Fishing partner.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190511/6a0351f77557076e8aae8ddaa0420c0a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190511/92fa18412a08619ca84b9337d3b345f4.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190511/1f0a721f925146a4b3b0b7bba2c102f5.jpg



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[Talking moose]

Got a class of junior high students I may take down to the river.

All the searching I've done on the forum talks alot about fishing for goldeye in the summer and fall.

Anyone know a decent spot for goldeye, right now. Sure be nice to see some kids get action on a fly rod.

Cheers,
Smitty

We caught half a dozen on Thursday at the Waskatenau bridge.

[Kurt505]

From last year. Fishing partner.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190511/6a0351f77557076e8aae8ddaa0420c0a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190511/92fa18412a08619ca84b9337d3b345f4.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190511/1f0a721f925146a4b3b0b7bba2c102f5.jpg



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That’s a nice Goldeye, reminds me of the hogs we used to catch in the Clearwater river. I caught goldeye up there that were 2-1/2” thick and had dark grey/green backs.

[Kurt505]

Got a class of junior high students I may take down to the river.

All the searching I've done on the forum talks alot about fishing for goldeye in the summer and fall.

Anyone know a decent spot for goldeye, right now. Sure be nice to see some kids get action on a fly rod.

Cheers,
Smitty


Where are you located?

[Talking moose]

Ya that piggy gold eye is from Waskatenau bridge last year.

[roofish]

went twice so far this year. last week of april caught 5 nice pickeral in about an hour at dusk at terwilliger(all 3-5 pounds). may 10 caught 5 nice goldeye(all over 2 pounds)in the river out by genesee.

[NSR Fisher]

Been out once this year, absolutely slammed the walleye. 7 fish in about 2 hours of fishing. Missed lots of bites too. Ended up having to hold the rod in my hand to get them, they were fast a furious as night came. I couldn't even get my rod into the holder and crack a pop before it was bouncing with another Walter on.

Was using a home made 3-way rig with a 3/0 gamagatsu and large shiners/dew worms. Sometimes both globbed onto the hook.

Most of the Eyes were small (14-16"), post-spawn males. Got 1 female who was maybe 19.5"

Hooked into something hefty that had some killer head shakes, had it on for about 30 seconds. It moved around quite a bit on the bottom of the back eddy I was fishing before kicking off. Might have been big sucker or small sturgeon, it really didn't wanna come to surface though, just head shakes and moving side to side. Was pulling 30lb braid pretty easily too. Should have tightened my drag and gave it a better hook set maybe :( .

Hoping to get out after the rain, should be good for worm fishing.

Will post pics once I upload to laptop.

[BretLitke]

I've been out to the NSR by Hermitage Park twice in the past 3 nights.

Lots of folks having success. Looks like mainly goldeyes have been getting pulled out, with the occasional sucker fish.

Last night I stuck with a pickerel rig and 2 live dew worms, and had a decent amount of bites and action. Was only able to haul in 1, 2 pound goldeye though. I had something fierce on the line kinda by the storm run-off area for about 3-4 minutes before it escaped. Both worms were gone after that battle lol.

I am going to try a spinner next time I am out.

[NSR Fisher]

I've been out to the NSR by Hermitage Park twice in the past 3 nights.

Lots of folks having success. Looks like mainly goldeyes have been getting pulled out, with the occasional sucker fish.

Last night I stuck with a pickerel rig and 2 live dew worms, and had a decent amount of bites and action. Was only able to haul in 1, 2 pound goldeye though. I had something fierce on the line kinda by the storm run-off area for about 3-4 minutes before it escaped. Both worms were gone after that battle lol.

I am going to try a spinner next time I am out.


Try a small black jig, one of the legendary NSR fishermen swears by them ... ;)

[Talking moose]

Try a small black jig, one of the legendary NSR fishermen swears by them ... ;)

In his own mind.......shawn.:sHa_sarcasticlol:

[ghostguy6]

Try a small black jig, one of the legendary NSR fishermen swears by them ... ;)

When hes not passed out after 2 wobbly pops......:sHa_sarcasticlol:

[cranky]

Not defending anybody here and nothing wrong with good natured teasing. But ive caught a whole lota fish on black jigs in the NSR. More than any other colour. Must be something to it.:)

Murky water dark colours clear water bright colours or something like that.

[SNAPFisher]

Awesome thread! Talking Moose, some really nice fish there for you and your buddy.

[Bigwoodsman]

I’ll be heading down to the NSR this weekend with some black streamers in an attempt to snag something from the murky depths.

BW

[Talking moose]

Ended up in Frenchman’s butte Saskatchewan. 3 sturgeon, 1 gold eye, 3 suckers and multiple walleye so far. Great spot on the river.

[Red Bullets]

A mottled Green twin tail jig works great too. The fish think the jig is a frog. I've caught goldeye and mooneye on a little piece of orange peel on a single snelled hook drifted on the surface too so orange seems to work too.

[Kurt505]

Ended up in Frenchman’s butte Saskatchewan. 3 sturgeon, 1 gold eye, 3 suckers and multiple walleye so far. Great spot on the river.

Can you add some pics?

[Talking moose]

Can you add some pics?

Sure

[Talking moose]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190518/b69ddc3baa4b43e68e9229b2f38550b7.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190518/71211d6d2b1f13892380cbab74911b9f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190518/2e59fbb3b8507fcf40609f362609ad2c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190518/4b34ebdd5344d21cf8ff9cc76a7c1cbd.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190518/ecc150b4bf1128d7e04b3fe1545fd60e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190518/dd434ab0f9316c637b86227d9dc81692.jpg


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[Kurt505]

Nice!

Looks like a good time for sure.

[BretLitke]

I am intrigued by the idea of using a jig in the river, and will likely have some time to get to the NSR to give it a shot later this week, but I am curious how I should rig it for the river if I am fishing from shore.

I am extremely new to river fishing and am still trying to navigate what to use if the water is faster, slower, higher, lower, etc.

So far I have mainly just been using a pickerel rig with live dew worms and having decent success, but I've definitely never used a jig in the river.

If anyone has any tips or suggestions, I would love to hear them.

[Talking moose]

Just cast it out and bounce it across the bottom. If you are getting snags, just speed up the reeling a bit so you are just off the bottom.

[BretLitke]

Just cast it out and bounce it across the bottom. If you are getting snags, just speed up the reeling a bit so you are just off the bottom.

Okay cool, so I am good to cast and retrieve and hopefully catch something. Everyone around me has been using stationary, pickerel rigs, so I didn't want to look like a weirdo if I took an approach that was useless lol.

Thanks for the tip!

[Talking moose]

Okay cool, so I am good to cast and retrieve and hopefully catch something. Everyone around me has been using stationary, pickerel rigs, so I didn't want to look like a weirdo if I took an approach that was useless lol.

Thanks for the tip!

If the water is really dirty your success rate will go down casting lures.

[Talking moose]

Personal best tonight. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190530/917013fcd8ada7439bea92fc720f9573.jpg


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[Talking moose]

Around 40 lbs


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[cranky]

Congrats. Nice one.

[Greatwest]

Nice congrats that looks like a hog. Please tell us more!!! How long does a fish that size fight for before he finally give up for u?

[Kurt505]

Personal best tonight. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190530/917013fcd8ada7439bea92fc720f9573.jpg


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Oh man that’s awesome, thanks so much for sharing moose!


You gotta let me know if you want to do a trip up north for walleye or lake trout, I’ll take you out on my boat for walleye or lakers if you you’d take me out on the river for sturgeon one day!

I know a few spots in and around the city that I’ve caught a few sturgeon but I’d like to get out of city limits one day.

[Talking moose]

Oh man that’s awesome, thanks so much for sharing moose!


You gotta let me know if you want to do a trip up north for walleye or lake trout, I’ll take you out on my boat for walleye or lakers if you you’d take me out on the river for sturgeon one day!

I know a few spots in and around the city that I’ve caught a few sturgeon but I’d like to get out of city limits one day.

Ya sounds good. I’m sure we could work something in. Be awhile now though, start work again after a 3 month hiatus.....if I don’t have time, the very least I can do is drop some pins with directions Kurt..

[Bigwoodsman]

Nice job TM.

BW

[Kurt505]

Ya sounds good. I’m sure we could work something in. Be awhile now though, start work again after a 3 month hiatus.....if I don’t have time, the very least I can do is drop some pins with directions Kurt..

We’ll still have to get out for a trip this year.

[thorne]

Just a quick heads up.....was down at the NSR right in Edmonton to kill some time last week. Caught around 10 walleye and out of those 10, 3 had broken off pickerel rigs in their mouths. I'm not a fan of those rigs for that exact reason. Lots of them get caught in the bottom and get left there for fish to still get caught up on, or they get hooked in the bottom when retrieving a fish and get broken off. I know to each their own, and fair enough...but it's pretty obvious they fail pretty regularly. And if you use them in the NSR, you know they fail. Maybe consider rigging your own out of florocarbon and quality terminal gear. Those pre-made rigs are garbage and do not stand up to debris and what not in the NSR....just a thought to consider.

[Whammies]

Is it safe to eat any fish out of the nsr

[Kurt505]

Is it safe to eat any fish out of the nsr

I suppose it’s safe to a point, but they have issued a mercury advisory limiting the recommended serving intake, it’ll be in the regs. That being said, I personally wouldn’t eat anything from the river system, especially anything east of Nordegg.

Remember, on this section of the river both sauger and walleye limit is ZERO.