2017 Columbia river sturgeon fishery

[OrtizG95]

its official. Love it or hate it it's here

http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/jun0117b/

I know the wife and I will be getting our limits

I'd love to here some opinions from people who are for or against this opener as I am in some ways but I also can't pass up a limit of sturgeon

[SkookumHntr]

Well if your against it, don't go

[ipkus]

I'd love to here some opinions from people who are for or against this opener as I am in some ways but I also can't pass up a limit of sturgeon

So what you are saying is that you have a conscience, but aren't mentally strong enough to follow your own convictions?

Look at the bright side, you aren't alone!

[WSU]

I have mixed thoughts but am not educated enough to comment intelligently.  That said I may give it a try having never fished sturgeon in the estuary.

[Whitenuckles]

I for one am pissed. If they open the Columbia, they should open the north sound so I can fish.

[metlhead]

I still fish often for sturgeon on the lower river. I just really enjoy it. But a 6" slot for keepers? Thanks for a wonderful mostly week day opportunity. They definately do not want many fish removed by most recreational fishers. How much money was spent getting this approved?

[dc]

It has been many yrs since I have fished the lower river.  Can someone tell me what launch one would use in the deep river area these days.  I believe the old one on Onieda rd is closed, but I heard the state opened one.  Where might that one be.  Might utilize the Washington side and fish some sturgeon.

[SkookumHntr]

The same launch,,

[metlhead]

The state does have a launch upriver and across from the Oneida ramp. Pretty rough the last time I used it.

[dc]

so the Onieda launch is still usable?

[HntnFsh]

yes

[bighorn1]

Anyone know if the Deep river launch is still in use.y

[Reidus]

oneida and deep river launch is one and the same.

[bighorn1]

Thanks did,nt know that.

[blackdog]

WDFW has acquired and rebuilt the Deep River launch.

[jasonl84]

So what I'm getting out of this is if you don't have a boat your not fishing for sturgeon.. Went to Cathlamet looking for the wuana powerlines, lol, and no access to fish.

[jasonl84]

Well I found Vista park.. Every bank Fisher will be there..

[SkookumHntr]

Every charter boat out of ilwaco will be hitting it im sure, go hop on a boat, usually these trips are pretty cheap!

[KFhunter]

I used to use a little float boat to fish for sturgeon, put in way up stream, paddle hard as you can and float past where you want to fish, drop line, then paddle back to shore hard as you can and land about a 1/2 mile downstream of your fishing spot, tow your float back to camp with a rope walking along the shoreline


I was going to upgrade to a launcher but they closed the fishery, but now I got boats

[2MANY]

I still fish often for sturgeon on the lower river. I just really enjoy it. But a 6" slot for keepers? Thanks for a wonderful mostly week day opportunity. They definately do not want many fish removed by most recreational fishers. How much money was spent getting this approved?

No kidding.
Crazy how many people only go to kill those turd slurpers.

[Reidus]

Every charter boat out of ilwaco will be hitting it im sure, go hop on a boat, usually these trips are pretty cheap!

big charters have a tough time fishing a lot of the good spots in the shallows. I'd go with a guide.

[SkookumHntr]

Every charter boat out of ilwaco will be hitting it im sure, go hop on a boat, usually these trips are pretty cheap!

big charters have a tough time fishing a lot of the good spots in the shallows. I'd go with a guide.

lol, ok dude! 

[huntnphool]

 Assuming the Chinook launch is still okay?

[cohoho]

You running down Rob?  We'll see you there if so, probably C&R on Tuesday and fishing the Wednesday for keepers...

[huntnphool]

You running down Rob?  We'll see you there if so, probably C&R on Tuesday and fishing the Wednesday for keepers...

 Still up in the air, trying to clear schedules.

[bullfisher]

Ugh... its always the mouth or Bonneville....
The state sure likes us to burn fuel for these fish.

[huntnphool]

Ugh... its always the mouth or Bonneville....
The state sure likes us to burn fuel for these fish.

 There is always the Tongue Point launch on the Oregon side, you'd need a Oregon license though.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Deep river is the place to launch.

[huntnphool]

Deep river is the place to launch.

Only problem with Deep River is the line/wait. I prefer Chinook and would rather take a nice boat ride rather than sit in a line watching a couple idiots hold everyone up.

[metlhead]

Skamokawa, Cathlamet, Puget Island. You can spread out.

[dc]

You may launch on the Oregon side and fish with a Washington license.  Oregon residents may also launch  on the Washington side and fish with their Oregon license. 

[Gringo31]

I was asked to take a couple guys out yesterday who were from the mid-west.  Fished 3 hours.  Tried deep and fairly shallow trying to both find them and fish.  First time skunked in over 5 years.  Stupid water flow!  Couldn't hold bottom with 30 ounces in the deep spots.  Had a facebook post from a year ago pop up where I had fished 3.5 hours and landed 16 with only one keeper.

So I looked at the flow (which is in 1000's of cubic feet/second) and "for example" McNary dam a year ago was 233 kfps and yesterday was 448 kpfs.

Hope the flow slows down for you all.......

[cohoho]

We did Tuesday C&R and got several Keepers sized and not a boat in the parking lot....  But of course on the Keeper day - yesterday, we got one over by 2'' and another under.  Auuugh!  We had fun never the less, but Deep River boat launch was a complete zoo and parking is crazy!  Got my taillights broken out on the trailer from a guy backing his trailer and other?  JOY!  Chinook Launch is where I am launching if I go back...   Deep River is a bit tight for long trailers and long bed crew cabs...

[huntnphool]

We did Tuesday C&R and got several Keepers sized and not a boat in the parking lot....  But of course on the Keeper day - yesterday, we got one over by 2'' and another under.  Auuugh!  We had fun never the less, but Deep River boat launch was a complete zoo and parking is crazy!  Got my taillights broken out on the trailer from a guy backing his trailer and other?  JOY!  Chinook Launch is where I am launching if I go back...   Deep River is a bit tight for long trailers and long bed crew cabs...

 Sorry to hear about your trailer Mike, also not a good report on the fishing.

 I'm hoping to get out next week, maybe the poor fishing will result in a extension of the special season?

 Also, I used the Deep River launch a couple times, not again unless it's a C&R only season.

[SemperFidelis97]

We went out of monday it was pretty slow we boated one that was 2" over, and broke off a couple more.  Overall the fishing was pretty slow.

[cohoho]

 Sorry to hear about your trailer Mike, also not a good report on the fishing.

 I'm hoping to get out next week, maybe the poor fishing will result in a extension of the special season?

 Also, I used the Deep River launch a couple times, not again unless it's a C&R only season.

State made a new dock and paved lot, but still way too crowded for me...  Yep only on C&R days for me too.   

[huntnphool]

 You guys see any seals/floating sturgeon?

[SemperFidelis97]

We seen one sturgeon getting eaten, but that was it.

[Ghost Hunter]

Went Wednesday.  Five oversize, no keepers.  Two on at the same time with 5 rods out was a good time.       Got both to the boat.

[millerwheeler]

Went today with my dad for his father's day present , we used triple c outfitters fishing started off slow ended up all 6 of the people on Boat limited a d the guide reyhan  really is a great guide he didn't give up when boat was slow and worked his butt off to get us fish
We had  quite a few oversize  and a few smalls, and then of course broke a few off . But we all got our fish with the 6"  really an amazing trip and we will book within him again

[MerriamMagician]

I was asked to take a couple guys out yesterday who were from the mid-west.  Fished 3 hours.  Tried deep and fairly shallow trying to both find them and fish.  First time skunked in over 5 years.  Stupid water flow!  Couldn't hold bottom with 30 ounces in the deep spots.  Had a facebook post from a year ago pop up where I had fished 3.5 hours and landed 16 with only one keeper.

So I looked at the flow (which is in 1000's of cubic feet/second) and "for example" McNary dam a year ago was 233 kfps and yesterday was 448 kpfs.

Hope the flow slows down for you all.......

It ain't gonna slow down any time soon. Massive amounts of runoff this year from the Cascades and in BC, from the long hard winter.