Historically the size of white sturgeon exceeded the spectacular reaching 20 feet in length weighing more than 1500 pounds and living longer than 100 years of age. Tie one end of the sinker leader to the size 3/0 barrel swivel to the end of the main line. Ask for directions to them from the local bait and tackle shop owners. This chart shows the AVERAGE size/weight ratio, actual age may vary. Insert the bait needle into the mouth of the shrimp pushing it through the body cavity and the tail. 76 57 62 66 71 76 81 86 Alberta Lake Sturgeon Length-Girth-Weight Relationship Total Length (Centimeters)) s r e t e m i t n e C (h t r i G Weight (lb) 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 White Sturgeon can range in size from 10 to 100 kg (22 to 220 lb), and it’s possible to catch unique specimen of up to 130kg (286lb). Thread eye of the swivel between 2 beads onto the leader line. Insert the bait needle into the mouth of the mud shrimp pushing it through the body cavity and the tail. The popularity of fishing for sturgeon in Oregon's bays, coastal rivers and the lower Columbia River is increasing. Attach the loop on the end of hook leader to the cross lock snap swivel on the end of the sinker leader. The tackle should be heavy enough to play the fish rather than the fish playing you. Spawning occurs primarily in the fast-flowing section of the river downstream from Bonneville Dam. However, the largest white sturgeon caught by a fisherman is believed to be the estimated 1,100-pounder measuring 12 feet, 4 inches caught in July 2012. The rentention of sturgeon is no longer allowed in Oregon's State waters. Herring require smaller hooks than shad. Tie a size 3/0 barrel swivel onto the end of the main line. Early declines were the result of over–harvest for caviar and meat. Match the tackle to the size of the fish. Fish for sturgeon from a boat using a 7 to 8 foot heavy duty rod of medium action with a flexible tip equipped with a high quality high speed dual or single speed level wind reel loaded with a minimum of 50 pound test abrasion resistant braided fusion line or 50 pound test Dacron line. A 3 foot sturgeon is 8 years old; a 4 foot sturgeon is 12 years old; a 5 foot sturgeon is 17 years old and 6 foot sturgeon is 23 years old. Fresh herring, smelt, anchovies or shad replace shrimp as the best choice for bait when those species enter bays. Fishing for sturgeon from the banks of bays or river channels requires a slightly different strategy than fishing from a boat. Steve caught one of the sculpins that had eaten all of their sand shrimp with their last sand shrimp. 1985) with the Sturgeon season: Year … You can always downsize the tackle, but when a large sturgeon that is 8 to 10 feet long and weighing between 225 to 450 pounds takes the bait it is too late to upsize the tackle. White sturgeon is listed as “least concern” on the IUCN Red List and protected by CITES. a bend in the river or the confluence of sloughs, creeks and river channels, etc. The white sturgeon fishery of the Columbia River is a world class fishery offering anglers the opportunity to fulfill their greatest expectations with the permanent population exceeding one million fish. White sturgeon grow between 7 and 12 inches during their first year and 4 inches a year until they reach 3 feet in length, and then 3 inches a year until reaching sexually maturity. Snare the sturgeon by passing the rod through the loop of the sturgeon snare sliding the loop down the line and over the body of the sturgeon to the tail. These data are based on lake sturgeon sampled from Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River for fish up to 65 inches in length and 25 inches in girth.