Sturgeon rod?

[Parasite]

What rod length, weight rating, etc are you guys using for sturgeon?

[HntnFsh]

Depends on where and how I'm fishing. Boat or bank?

[Parasite]

Let's say either scenario for comparison purposes.

[C-Money]

I use a Penn 210 reel, on a Shakespeare extra heavy 9 or 10' rod with 40 pound trilene big game. Never caught a sturgeon much over 5', but have got a few keepers and shorts with it. I figure I'm screw if I ever hook a big one, but the set up works pretty good for me.

[MooseZ25]

Velocity ESOX.  I fish from a boat.  Great rod for all fish sizes. 

[Stein]

Ugly stick tiger, medium in either 6'6" if you want to also use it for halibut or 7' if not.  There is a heavy in 7' if you plan on oversize fish.  They also work well for lingcod, last forever and won't break the bank at about $70.

[MtnMuley]

Night and day difference between bank and boat rods. Not even a comparison in my book. From 11-16' rods with non line guided Sealine reels to 6'-7'6" rods with line guided reels.

[The Marquis]

I got a 48" Sturgeon on a 6' POS 15 year old walmart special rod this year on 6 lb test.  I also lost a much bigger one using a 9.5' abu when the reel broke... so it only matters so much as you actually hook one 

[2MANY]

Ugly stick tiger, medium in either 6'6" if you want to also use it for halibut or 7' if not.  There is a heavy in 7' if you plan on oversize fish.  They also work well for lingcod, last forever and won't break the bank at about $70.

This guy speaks the truth.

[KFhunter]

It doesn't take a huge rod boat fishing, especially if you're using something like the Columbia river anchor system and release off the anchor to play the fish. 


Shore fishing I use beefy rods and 120 lb test braid,  150lb if I could find it.   I use to use socks filled with sand and a heavy duty sinker release, but now I only boat fish.
The sinker releases failed now that I think about it, and went to a 2lb mono sinker line to break it off from a 3 way. 

[theleo]

I use a 13' 10" Okuma SST with an old Daiwa Sealine that's spooled with around 150-200 yards of 40lb Ultra Green when I'm going specifically for sturgeon. Okuma also makes a 12'4 plunking rod that has a softer tip that I like more for plunking for salmon that works also. It doesn't have quite the backbone for casting 10oz+ lead, but the softer tip is nicer for watching what's going on in the water. That has a Shimano Tekota on it usually, but has been known to get my Lexa 400 filled with braid put on it when I fish places guys don't like to give me any room.

[Parasite]

Whew, those are some long rods. I think I'll just stick to the boat tackle.

[KFhunter]

Whew, those are some long rods. I think I'll just stick to the boat tackle.

Hard to cast with a short baseball bat of a rod,  we used a small boat run out the lines instead of trying to master our surf casting technique

[theleo]

Whew, those are some long rods. I think I'll just stick to the boat tackle.

Sometimes you've got to cast to the deep water when you don't have a boat. Lobbing 14oz lead + bait past 50 yards with a boat rod is trick I've never figured out.   

[Parasite]

I have a boat, hence the boat rod

[Bullkllr]

Let's say either scenario for comparison purposes.

There you go!

[theleo]

I have a boat, hence the boat rod

Just get an 8' 6" - 10' 6" heavy trolling rod then. Use a stout level wind real like a Tekota, load it with 60lb braid and go for it. Unless your specifically going for oversize sturgeon, heavy salmon setups (trolling or plunking) work great.   

[cohoho]

I use Shimano Travela and Terez Rods, I like the super fast tips that will notice the slightest bite.  No need for some broom handle sized rod, especially in winter or you'll never see the bite.  Just get one you can cast 12-20 ounce weights back behind the boat.   I do utilize lighter weight rods (20-30) when targeting Keeper sized versus when I target Oversize (80-200).   But I have fought OS on my lightest rods, just takes some following with the boat to get them released quickly.    Nothing wrong with cheaper Ugly Stick Tiger rods - super light tip also with plenty of back bone for when that OS takes you by surprise.