columbia river sturgeon

[steve04]

anybody know of a decent area on the columbia between richland and and kennewick to catch sturgeon? Last year i went to Lower monumental before the spawn and did really well......just looking for somewhere closer to home.

[fair-chase]

From a boat or from the bank?

[steve04]

oh sorry i meant to put from the bank.

[fair-chase]

Yeah that makes it a little tougher. There are not a whole lot of sturgeon holes that you can cast to from the bank around town here. Columbia point tapers out too far to reasonably cast from for sturgeon. If you want to fish that area between Kennewick and Richland you would be better off targeting bass. Good numbers of both small and largemouth in that area.

If you really want to bank fish for sturgeon you would do better running down to McNary or even up to Ringold.

[hawk eyes]

don't mean to jack thread but how bout boat i have never been fishing for them but been thinking about trying it between steelhead and springers,

[fair-chase]

A boat opens up a whole lot of opportunity. If you don't have sonar just go pick up one of the "Fish-n-River" maps at one of the local boat shops. Northwest Jet, Sundown, and I believe Wholesale Sports all have them. They will show you the depth (on average) and help to recognize structures and depth changes in the river. They also list the most prolific fishing holes on the river. They will have a little tab identifying the best holes for sturgeon. Now these are the holes that are most heavily fished so you might have some competition, but it will get you a place to start.

I always find the best fishing downstream of the merging waterways. The Yakima, Snake, Walla Walla and even the flume at Ringold. Find the area downstream of the merger that the water flow slows down or swirls from the two currents coming together and look for an underwater depression in that area.

I am by no means a pro sturgeon fisher, so take this with a grain of salt. Just my observations over the years.

[steve04]

I saw on youtube down at bonneville dam they were using a catapult from the bank to get their bait in the middle of the river.........not a bad idea. I was thinking more of a spud gun type launcher.

[fishermanjoe]

I saw on youtube down at bonneville dam they were using a catapult from the bank to get their bait in the middle of the river.........not a bad idea. I was thinking more of a spud gun type launcher.

PICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   

[steve04]

Skeeter Bait Launcher 5000