South Sask Strurgeon..

[Walleyes]

Got out on the South Sask River last night for some action. The night was awsome, warm and sunny calm as could be and we topped it off with 2 nice Sturgeon and a nice eye. The first Sturgeon I would say ran about 8# and the second about 15# with a nice eye in at about 3#. It wasn't an overly busy night but definetly worth while. I have to tell you guys pound for pound these are the strongest fish in western Canada. I have fought just about everything that there is to fight on this side of the country and I have to say nothing pulls like these critters,, very enjoyable especially on lighter gear.

Here are a couple pics..

First Sturgeon..







NIce eye..





Second Sturgeon..

[SouthAltaHunter]

Right on man, gotta love those dinosaurs. How is the water, starting to drop and clear up some. You working down somewhere around there Walleyes? Hopefully ill be done this well in a few more days & get down to the river for some action.

SouthAltaHunter

[Walleyes]

Its still pretty murky but the debre isn't to bad and the level is high but fishable.

I have been sort of transfered down here got the big promotion to the office full time. Looks like I will be moving the family down. We are still keeping our home up north but we are going to try the southern life. It will be different after 21 years of marrige to actually have to live with my wife,, lolol..

[Skidog]

I love fighting those sturgeon to, I got hooked on them in BC a couple of years ago. The guide said this one was about 350 pounds and over 100 years old. One of the guys in our group got him on the last day, Lucky.

[Walleyes]

Wow now thats a fish,, thx skidog nice pics...

[PlayDoh]

Awesome catch Walleyes. I can't wait to battle one, I'm glad to hear they fight tooth & nail. How long do you have to play em' before their ready? Much more then a Trout?

Can you tell me what type of gear and line you used? If you don't mind, could you say what you were using for a lure? Bait?

Thanks for posting the pics.

[Walleyes]

As far as gear go's I'm rigged up with an 8'3" med action rod with a Quantum med/large spin cast reel. I am spooled with 200yrds of 20# Fireline, I like the fireline because of its abrasion resistance and thin diam which helps with side drag in the river. As far as lures we were running minnow set ups, I tie my own version of a walleye rig using a 3 way swivel but instead of 2 hooks I tie with just one hook on about a 18" leader with a small float device usually the floater from a Lindy rig slid on the line just ahead of the single 00 snell hook just something to help keep the minnow up off bottom. On the bottom of the 3 way w/ about an 18" - 20" lead I hang off( depending on the current) 2 - 3, 1 ounce weights. We usually run minnows or large earth worms . Just chuck er out there a good shot set the rod up and wait, you have to keep a close eye on the rod tip because they can be light biters and or the Goldeye are little bait thieves nothing worse then soaking a hook for 1/2hr just to pull it in and find no bait on it..

As far as the fight go's, well I've battled 12# Bulls, 8# Rainbows, many Cutties and Specks 15# Lakers, 20# Pike, 30# Chinook, 9# Walleye, Halis and just about every other bottom fish out of the ocean and lake or river in this country and I will say without exaggeration that pound for pound they are the strongest of any of them when you have one on there is no mistaking what it is they have jam and will do multiple runs, just when you think they are done and bring them into land they will take another and another run,,, what a blast..

This is only the 3rd time for me Sturgeon fishing w/ landing 4 fish in total but man I'm hooked..


I hope this gets you started and good luck,, trust me when you hook one you will love it.

P.S. I would like to add that when you go fish them please use a good heavy line. When I brought in the big one it had a whole pickerel rig hanging from its mouth the hook was way to deep in the mouth to even attempt removal so we just cut the line next to the mouth the line on the end of the rig was about 10# test mono,, not even close to land one of these horses..

[PlayDoh]

Hey thanks for the tips. I think you've done more to motivate me to go fishing for them, then all the fishing shows I've seen on them. Which isn't many I'll add. Although I did like watching "babe winklemen" fight a 15' sturgeon, from a float tube. lol.

I'm a complete believer in fireline also. It 'feels' so much more then mono, I don't know how I ever felt a thing before. I guess I felt it after the 5' stretch. lol.

I'm guessing by the fact they look tough, that their pretty hearty? By that I mean do you have to try and release them very quickly, or are they more like a Burbot and its not necessary to rush?

Is it best to let them rest before releasing them, or do they recover quickly?

Thanks again.

[buckmaster]

nice pics walleyes!!! Those sturgeon are sure addicting though

[sportster]

walleyes were you fishin just west of redcliff, across river from echodale park.

[Walleyes]

Yah that sounds like the spot sportster,, I'm not sure where Echodale Park is but we were just down the hill west of Redcliff down by the pump house.