Upper Roosevelt Sturgeon

[ctwiggs1]

Any luck with the keepers yet guys?  Headed over late July.

[Henrydog]

Brother in law lives around Colville and has been out roughly half of the days it has been open....not a single keeper.  He said a Johnny Law boat checked him last week and they had 3 undersized fish in the boat that had been seized and told him they had not seen a single keeper that day.

 The new slot limit sounds like the spike elk regulation for modern rifle.

[ctwiggs1]

The new slot limit sounds like the spike elk regulation for modern rifle.

That's been our concern.  We hired a guide on this go around and I'm thinking about switching 1 day to walleye or kokes.

[Ridgeratt]

Very few boats at anchor from the mouth of the Kettle to 395 bridge on Monday maybe half a dozen and yesterday saw about the same. But last weekend was the governors wally cup. So the river should have been full of boats. 

Instead of fishing kokes that aren't many that far north chase the Northerns and make some $$$

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,227746.0.html

And you would be helping the fishery.

[ctwiggs1]

Very few boats at anchor from the mouth of the Kettle to 395 bridge on Monday maybe half a dozen and yesterday saw about the same. But last weekend was the governors wally cup. So the river should have been full of boats. 

Instead of fishing kokes that aren't many that far north chase the Northerns and make sure $$$

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,227746.0.html

And you would be helping the fishery.

It's been made clear to me that it'll be sturgeon or walleye 

I'm not paying, so who am I to argue 

[Ridgeratt]

It's been made clear to me that it'll be sturgeon or walleye 

I'm not paying, so who am I to argue 

A suggestion if you are going to be in one of the guide sled's. Bring a hat I watch those folks sitting in the sun for half day or longer with no shade.  They look like baked taters. 

In July it can be brutal.

[plugger]

I was in the gov cup. Not near the sturgeon boats as last year.

[Jburke]

Anyone hear of any fish being caught farther south towards Hunters at all?  Thinking about going Saturday and Sunday and thought about spreading out a little from where everyone else fished last year up at Kettle Falls.  I can't help but think the fish are spread out and should be throughout the reservoir by now.

[plugger]

We fished as far down as Gifford, didn't see any sturgeon guys that far south. There were multiple boats at the head of a bay  about 5 miles s of the Colville on the opposite shore

[Ridgeratt]

I was in the gov cup. Not near the sturgeon boats as last year.

How did the wally guys do with the high water and weather?

[bhawley76]

I'm headed out again in the morning, Going to head to Keller and try someplace new away from the crowds.

[dmoua]

We've heard of 8 keepers. I almost got one but was just a tad short 52 3/4" at the fork. 

[dscubame]

I'm headed out again in the morning, Going to head to Keller and try someplace new away from the crowds.

Up the Sanpoil?  Anyone here of Sturgeon up the Sanpoil?

[huntnnw]

Fishing has been super slow. Wdfw said they only knew of 11 keeps the first 3 days

[dscubame]

Fishing has turned, go get them fellers!

[Ridgeratt]

Fishing has turned, go get them fellers!

Turned WHAT?    I know of 2 fish so far.

[Huntin Hounds]

Went out yesterday and we got 1 undersized. Did not see any other boats land any. We had what seemed like a few other bites but did not hook up on them.

[ne kid]

We boated 11 yesterday 1 keeper  out from the mouth of the Colville river 7 oversize rest under using pickled squid.

[dscubame]

We boated 11 yesterday 1 keeper  out from the mouth of the Colville river 7 oversize rest under using pickled squid.

Yep.  Been keeping in touch with two different groups that have been on the water since Monday this week, early week slow last couple days been getting in them. 

[plugger]

Walleye fishing was great, some really nice bags came in, good weights for kettle. What we weight would win it on a lot of years, was only good for 5th this year but only 5 oz from 3rd. we were catching 80 to 100 a day pre fishing, over 50 a day in the tournament. Concentrating on the better fish.

[PA BEN]

Second time out this year. Not one bite the first time out. Got this keeper yesterday, only bite and a legal fist to boot. 58 1/2",  57.7 lbs.

[plugger]

That is a healthy looking fish, Wonder what there main diet is to get that fat?

[7mmfan]

Dang nice fish. Did you drag him right into the boat or tether him off? I've drug a fish about that size right into a 12' aluminum and the amount of hell it raised was impressive.

[bearpaw]

Second time out this year. Not one bite the first time out. Got this keeper yesterday, only bite and a legal fist to boot. 58 1/2",  57.7 lbs.

Back in the day before sturgeon was shut down in Roosevelt your fishing hole was one of the go-to spots! 

[PA BEN]

Dang nice fish. Did you drag him right into the boat or tether him off? I've drug a fish about that size right into a 12' aluminum and the amount of hell it raised was impressive.

Blead him and left him in the water, he was still kicking when we put in at the ramp.

[PA BEN]

Second time out this year. Not one bite the first time out. Got this keeper yesterday, only bite and a legal fist to boot. 58 1/2",  57.7 lbs.

Back in the day before sturgeon was shut down in Roosevelt your fishing hole was one of the go-to spots! 

[Ridgeratt]

Nice Fish!! 

Was that close to the spot you fished last year?

[wapiti hunter2]

My son's sturgeon from yesterday. 61 inches and plus 60 lbs. We also released two undersized. Tough fishing. We fished three days. Lots of bites and broke off another big one. Sheared 40 lb mono. Probably missed about a dozen hook sets.

Perfect weather and a great trip though.

Out of Kettle Falls.

[ctwiggs1]

Any guess on how much meat you get from one of those keepers?

[wapiti hunter2]

Any guess on how much meat you get from one of those keepers?

I just finished processing it. I'm guessing 25 lbs clean meat.

[PA BEN]

Punched my second keeper today. Caught 6 total.

[PA BEN]

 

[Ridgeratt]

Sweet.


You see any others caught?

[benhuntin]

Punched my second keeper today. Caught 6 total.

I still have room on my catch card if you need me to come up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[PA BEN]

Punched my second keeper today. Caught 6 total.

I still have room on my catch card if you need me to come up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The biggest of the other 5 was 38", 24" was the avg.

[Ridgeratt]

So if anyone is going to get after them here's the current info:

https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/erule.jsp?id=2177

Closing the end of the month.


If I were to gamble it would be due to the fact Hunting season opens 9/1 and that puts enforcement in the woods and off the water.


 

[huntnnw]

ill be up near Canada this weekend targeting oversize

[PA BEN]

Do sturgeon stretch after bleeding and death. I'm hearing from a few guys that the Game Dept. are confiscating over sized fish when the fishermen say it was a legal fish. I heard one story of one growing almost 5". 

[Crunchy]

Thats not PA Ben from HuntWA it is Paul Sr from American Chopper   Nice fish!

[rasbo]

Thats not PA Ben from HuntWA it is Paul Sr from American Chopper   Nice fish!

lol, that's what I was thinking

[PA BEN]

 

[Alchase]

You got photo bombed, LOL

[huntnnw]

A way up lake Roosevelt sturgeon

[Limhangerslayer]

Do sturgeon stretch after bleeding and death. I'm hearing from a few guys that the Game Dept. are confiscating over sized fish when the fishermen say it was a legal fish. I heard one story of one growing almost 5".

They Will Relax Some, bit not five inches.  On the other end, after being tied up for awhile they will tense up and shrink

[PA BEN]

My buddy punched a keeper last weekend.

[nwwanderer]

Nice, thanks