C&R sturgeon on the Willie, 10-13-13

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I have not been out fishing much lately. In September I fell cleaning my deck and cracked my sacrum - definitely keeping me out of the kayak. Last weekend was my first trip out in 7 weeks and I only caught one small bass. This weekend I decided to focus on sturgeon.

Glad that I did since I had a rocking good day! 11 sturgeon, 3 keeper sized, 5 just short, 3 dinks. Plus I lost an 8+ foot fish after a 25 minute fight. It snapped my line after it did a power dive. If I had landed that fish it might have been my best day ever.

Launched off of Oak Grove Blvd. Day started off bad. At my first spot, I hooked 3 drag burners that all pulled off the hook. I missed the next 4 fish. I checked everything and all seemed good. I was puzzled. I decided to change hooks even though my present hook seemed OK. I also decided to bend the hook out a bit to open the gap. Hooked and landed my next three. Then the bite died.

Moved to a second spot where I was marking a ton of fish, but there was no current. Fished half an hour without a sniff. I was amazed to mark so many fish without any biters.
Pedaled up to one of my favorite low current spots up towards Cedaroak. Apparently, the fish gods felt that I served my penance last week. The bite was amazing. I could not count to 100 without getting a good bite. I landed 3 keepers and 5 that were just short. Keepers were 41-46".

Then I hooked up with a monster. Fought it for 20-25 minutes with my drag cranked tight as I dare. Several times I thought I might flip when it would surge and rip out drag. It came up and breached/rolled then dove making another long line peeling run. I slammed my thumb against the spool to slow it down, but then the line just snapped. I was crushed. Break was on the braid. I guess I should re-tie more than once a year (DOH!).

I went back to my anchor but did not catch another fish. The outgoing had finished during the previous battle. I still was getting some bites, but only from dinks (or perhaps catfish). So I pulled anchor and headed home with a big smile. It felt really good to be back out there doing what I love to day!

Forgot to unload pics of camera. I will update with a pic later.
 
Nice report John! What and epic day.Welcome back in the dino game. Hope your sarcrum pains go away real soon. I'll let you know when I come ur way. Tony
 
Great report! Sounds like u have them dialed in again. How many yards of line do the oversize usually peel off when they make a big run?
 
Casting Call said:
Nice report John! What and epic day.Welcome back in the dino game. Hope your sarcrum pains go away real soon. I'll let you know when I come ur way. Tony

Sounds good.
 
Gettin' Jiggy Wid It said:
Great report! Sounds like u have them dialed in again. How many yards of line do the oversize usually peel off when they make a big run?

Yes, it felt good to be out there kicking butt instead of sitting at home feeling my mine was getting kicked :)

It is hard to say how much line an oversized could take out. I drop off anchor to fight them and have ended up more than a mile downstream from where I hooked up. I have found that by staying right on top of them that I can whip them a lot faster. Most of the time I am right on top of them. When they take off I try to keep them within 50 yards of where I am. Usually their faster bursts are not that long and I can catch back up to them when they slow down a bit.
 
Glad you're healed up enough to get out on you yak!

Sounds like you used up some of your banked mojo with that kind of sturg action.

Best,
 
Oh wow! I hadn't realized you were that close (within 50 yrds) of them when fighting the oversized. Sounds like the kayak acts as a magnificent drag device to help wear down the fish.
 
Sounds like a great day Bass! I got out over the weekend as well. After having them move out when the water turned warm it's nice to have the Dino's back in numbers and fiesty to boot! I started the day very slow with just one shaker for 3-4hrs work. Moved to another hole I usually fish when I'm feeling lazy and it was lights out. First hook-up came within seconds felt like a biggun' lots of pull then reallllll heavy and snap! My dacron leader broke! NEVER had that happen. Geared up again and almost immediately into another big one, similar to before but then snap! My 150lb braid broke! Seriously!? Geared up AGAIN this time straight into a tubby 46incher, said thanks let him free and then straight into a 53.5incher that fought like a bull, hooked and landed a few more before calling it a day but definetly left with a smile.
For those curious to blame my knots I was using a palomar from my main to my barrel swivel and a double clinch to my leader. Was more likely underwater hazards or worn line that failed.
 
Socaaron said:
Sounds like a great day Bass! I got out over the weekend as well. After having them move out when the water turned warm it's nice to have the Dino's back in numbers and fiesty to boot! I started the day very slow with just one shaker for 3-4hrs work. Moved to another hole I usually fish when I'm feeling lazy and it was lights out. First hook-up came within seconds felt like a biggun' lots of pull then reallllll heavy and snap! My dacron leader broke! NEVER had that happen. Geared up again and almost immediately into another big one, similar to before but then snap! My 150lb braid broke! Seriously!? Geared up AGAIN this time straight into a tubby 46incher, said thanks let him free and then straight into a 53.5incher that fought like a bull, hooked and landed a few more before calling it a day but definetly left with a smile.
For those curious to blame my knots I was using a palomar from my main to my barrel swivel and a double clinch to my leader. Was more likely underwater hazards or worn line that failed.

Seemed like I was not the only one with big fish problems! They are really fighting like demons right now.
 
Here is one guy I could release in the water.

JImXoqW.jpg

Nice fat 42" fish.

kCIXpFw.jpg

Had, the big one on for about 20-25 minutes. Most of that time my rod tip was buried in the water.

lO9CUuK.jpg

Love fishing for those dinos.
 
bass said:
Seemed like I was not the only one with big fish problems! They are really fighting like demons right now.
Good problem to have though right ;) but yes they seem to have beefed up nicely must have been a good trip to the ocean for them this year. Love that tiger stick photo that's a stout pole must have really been a montser.
 
I've noticed the bite has really picked up. Lots of big ones lately. Summer was killing me with such slow days lol. Great job!
 
Nice fish Bass.

Good to see a Willy post.

Sounds Like a Bang-arang day
 
I really need to get into this kayak fun! but i think i need a kayak first, that might help!
 
Thanks guys, it sure seems like the sturgeon are back and they are feeling strong!

Definitely a ton of fun to be out there.
 

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