| GARRETT'S GUIDE SERVICE |
| ~Sturgeon~ |
KEEPER STURGEON: The season for keeper sturgeon is open year around. Some sections of the Columbia
River have a quota. What this means is that retaining keeper size sturgeon (42" to 60" in length) is allowed
until the quota has been met. Once the quota has been met, you may still fish for Sturgeon but cannot keep
any, even if they are in the slot limit of 42" to 60".
With that said, if the quota has been meet, it is still a ton of fun fishing for sturgeon while catching and
releasing. We have days we catch 12 to 40 plus fish, all on light gear. When I specifically target the keeper
size fish and smaller (shakers as they're called), I use light gear to enhance the experience. This is a great
trip for the family, especially the kids. There is a lot of action to help keep them interested.
OVERSIZE STURGEON: There is definitely a peak time to fish for oversize sturgeon. That peak is late May
through the end of August. The Columbia River is full of shad during that time. Shad happen to be like cat
nip to a cat, the sturgeon cannot resist them. They gorge themselves during the shad run. They also are
preparing to spawn. I will tell you this...if big game is your deal...you need to try oversize sturgeon fishing.
The average oversize sturgeon is about 7 feet long. We get MANY in the 8 to 12 foot range. Occasionally,
we get them even bigger. The biggest we have landed to the boat was 13'8"! According to biologists, the
average 10' sturgeon weighs about 600 pounds! Imagine 600 pounds jumping completely out of the water
and, sometimes, just feet from the boat!
We fish for sturgeon on the Columbia River from Portland to The Dalles Dam. Most oversize sturgeon fishing
is done either below Bonneville Dam or below The Dalles Dam.
River have a quota. What this means is that retaining keeper size sturgeon (42" to 60" in length) is allowed
until the quota has been met. Once the quota has been met, you may still fish for Sturgeon but cannot keep
any, even if they are in the slot limit of 42" to 60".
With that said, if the quota has been meet, it is still a ton of fun fishing for sturgeon while catching and
releasing. We have days we catch 12 to 40 plus fish, all on light gear. When I specifically target the keeper
size fish and smaller (shakers as they're called), I use light gear to enhance the experience. This is a great
trip for the family, especially the kids. There is a lot of action to help keep them interested.
OVERSIZE STURGEON: There is definitely a peak time to fish for oversize sturgeon. That peak is late May
through the end of August. The Columbia River is full of shad during that time. Shad happen to be like cat
nip to a cat, the sturgeon cannot resist them. They gorge themselves during the shad run. They also are
preparing to spawn. I will tell you this...if big game is your deal...you need to try oversize sturgeon fishing.
The average oversize sturgeon is about 7 feet long. We get MANY in the 8 to 12 foot range. Occasionally,
we get them even bigger. The biggest we have landed to the boat was 13'8"! According to biologists, the
average 10' sturgeon weighs about 600 pounds! Imagine 600 pounds jumping completely out of the water
and, sometimes, just feet from the boat!
We fish for sturgeon on the Columbia River from Portland to The Dalles Dam. Most oversize sturgeon fishing
is done either below Bonneville Dam or below The Dalles Dam.
| Oversize Sturgeon jumps trying to shake the hook! |
| John & Angelique Garrett (509) 427.4057 ggs@gorge.net |
| Copyright 2005 Garrett's Guide Service. All rights reserved. Website designed and constructed by John Garrett. |
| Since 1990 |
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Whole Shad...For Bait!