Columbia River Sturgeon

[boneaddict]

Have you come up with a time we are meeting at on the 7th.  I assume its in Chinook, and is there more than one dock or put in.  I've never been......   I assume you want darn early which is just fine for me.

[Antlershed]

I am trying to make it down for the derby as well. Will probably fish a little farther upriver than you guys. Still haven't decided if I will enter the derby since it isn't biggest fish wins, but I understand why they went away from that.

[huntnphool]

You might contact them if you were going to enter, its open to the first 200 teams that sign up and they have turned away dozens of teams each year.

The derby boundary line is upriver to the Tongue Point/Deep River line. I know you like it up from there but thats as far as we can go.

They still have a prize for the biggest fish but for the team award its total weight for all three fish. Its amazing how many prizes they give away, I've never seen a derby that gives away more.

[bullcanyon]

The chinook derby is full.  There is another one the same day that I think you can sign up for.  I know they were selling derby stuff at the chevron in Cathlamet.  I can't remember the name of the derby off hand though.

[WAcoyotehunter]

We got two keepers on Sunday.  We used Hooked on Fishing Guide service and were really happy with Dave.  We probably boated 25 fish! 
My first time after Sturgeon, it was AWESOME!   

[Antlershed]

The chinook derby is full.  There is another one the same day that I think you can sign up for.  I know they were selling derby stuff at the chevron in Cathlamet.  I can't remember the name of the derby off hand though.

That must be the one my dad was telling me about. They don't do biggest fish anymore because too many guys were catching fish in advance and then tying them up to the docks until the derby, and then they had guys just throwing the fish away. I didn't realize there were two different derbys going on. I don't think I'm going to enter though. I will be somewhere around Cathlamet fishing both saturday and sunday. What channel do you guys run on VHF?

[huntnphool]

Generally 10 for me, 68 if 10 is too busy.

The sturgeon have to be alive for the weigh in, this doesn't keep people from cheating I'm sure but at least they can release them after weigh in if they don't want to keep them. The other reason is every year the game cops and sheriff are there for the weigh in, there are always several dumb asses that walk up, stand in line and expect to weigh in 44" and smaller fish. Funny to see the look on their faces when the cops get involved. The gamies release the fish and go a little lighter on the ticket if the fish swim away, if they don't they get the book thrown at them, and rightfully so if you ask me.

[Antlershed]

I was told they were tying them up by the tail, so they would still be alive. Who knows if it is true.

[huntnphool]

A couple years ago a guy was arrested and convicted for doing just that. He ended up winning 2 different derby's that year. It ended up being a felony because of the amount of money that was involved in prizes. Someone saw someone messing around next to a barge and called the police, the police put surveylance on the barge and videotaped a guy retrieving a burlap sack, which held a large chinook. The guy then turned it in at the derby and got busted. This was according to the paper, who knows the whole story.

[Antlershed]

Wow, some people truly are desperate.

I will be on Channel 68 all weekend. Not sure what kind of range I get, but feel free to try and say hi.

[huntnphool]

will do, good luck

[Antlershed]

Thanks. You too.

[rosscrazyelk]

I need to do that.