Wanapum sturgeon thread

[MerriamMagician]

I thought I would start this thread for anyone who wants to post about this years sturgeon fishery on the Wanapum and Priest Rapids pools. I'm excited to fish it this year with it being a local option and after having a bit of success last year. Who's all planning on getting out this weekend? It could be challenging fishing with the river really ripping right now. I'll be out testing the waters for sure!

[Gringo31]

I keep thinking about it. 

Still on the fence......

[shootem]

tag

[ouchfoss]

I didnt realize sturgeon was open anywhere til I read the thread about Roosevelt opening up. I am stoked now and am trying to plan a trip or two this year to the Wanapum and the Priest Rapids area to try and catch one. Looking forward to hearing about how fishing is going and some tactics for them. As much of a fishing freak that I am, I have never caught a sturgeon. Ate some a few years back and it was awesome! 

[crazywednesday]

Are these sturgeon fished the same way you would fish them below I5?

Justin

[UBA]

What's everyone favorite rigging setup and bait. 

[MerriamMagician]

Tried our luck on Saturday. Got on the water early expecting lots of other boats. Instead, we were the first there and only a handful of boats showed up. The waters right below the dam are raging to the point where we felt it wasn't even safe to fish there. Our big anchor wouldn't even hold against the torrent. Several other boats came up to take a look and turned away also. So we tried a little further down in slightly calmer waters. Had some action early on, hooked and lost a few, and landed one big oversize. No keepers caught and did not see any other boats hook into fish.

[theleo]

Forgive my ignorance in asking, but is there much bank access below Wanapum or Rock Island?

[MerriamMagician]

Forgive my ignorance in asking, but is there much bank access below Wanapum or Rock Island?

Yeah there's plenty of access. Good luck fishing from shore though. With the way the current is ripping your gonna need a lot of weight to hold on bottom. I'm not the best at casting with a baitcasting reel, especially with a 2-3 pound chunk of lead on the line. I gave it a go last year and my best casts went maybe 20 yards. I also tried running the rig out using a second rod equipped with a planner board. This worked ok to get the bait out further but is tricky to run both rods at once to get it out there

[krapmit]

Did you fish Sand Shrimp or herring off the bottom? What's your tactic? 

[theleo]

Forgive my ignorance in asking, but is there much bank access below Wanapum or Rock Island?

Yeah there's plenty of access. Good luck fishing from shore though. With the way the current is ripping your gonna need a lot of weight to hold on bottom. I'm not the best at casting with a baitcasting reel, especially with a 2-3 pound chunk of lead on the line. I gave it a go last year and my best casts went maybe 20 yards. I also tried running the rig out using a second rod equipped with a planner board. This worked ok to get the bait out further but is tricky to run both rods at once to get it out there

Wont be going until maybe July (getting married at the end of June) but I usually have some 14oz tear drops, a box of screws, and my cordless drill. If it's a rock bottom I usually don't have an issue getting my gear to hang up.