B
bubs
So I posted a few weeks back about catching my first sturgeon. Since then I've gone a number of times and it's been relatively easy pickings. It's actually getting to the point where it's almost too easy.
And especially considering the number of sturgeon that I've seen broken off or mishandled out there, and the few that I've had to break off because of snags, I'm kind of getting turned off to the idea of fishing them that way...it seems very destructive! I feel like you need a boat and quite heavy tackle to really handle them respectfully. Those big breeders are definitely getting unduly stressed out there!
But I am still interested in targeting the perch, catfish, walleye, and carp that I know are fairly common in this system. If you guys wanted to fish small bait (e.g. worms) but wanted to keep the sturgeon off, how would you do it?
I know I could use light leaders and break them off if I hook a sturgeon, but regardless of what people say about hooks coming out or rusting out, I just don't buy that 100%. Things just don't rust that fast and fish don't have the ability to easily get the right angles on the hooks to rub them out.
I've tried using small hooks, as small as I can fit a worm on, but I still end up hooking sturgeon (after a 15 min fight with a 3.5 footer on 6 lb test and a tiny salmon egg hook, I decided this wasn't the ticket!).
So, any other suggestions out there??
And especially considering the number of sturgeon that I've seen broken off or mishandled out there, and the few that I've had to break off because of snags, I'm kind of getting turned off to the idea of fishing them that way...it seems very destructive! I feel like you need a boat and quite heavy tackle to really handle them respectfully. Those big breeders are definitely getting unduly stressed out there!
But I am still interested in targeting the perch, catfish, walleye, and carp that I know are fairly common in this system. If you guys wanted to fish small bait (e.g. worms) but wanted to keep the sturgeon off, how would you do it?
I know I could use light leaders and break them off if I hook a sturgeon, but regardless of what people say about hooks coming out or rusting out, I just don't buy that 100%. Things just don't rust that fast and fish don't have the ability to easily get the right angles on the hooks to rub them out.
I've tried using small hooks, as small as I can fit a worm on, but I still end up hooking sturgeon (after a 15 min fight with a 3.5 footer on 6 lb test and a tiny salmon egg hook, I decided this wasn't the ticket!).
So, any other suggestions out there??
