Sturgeon in the gorge

[magnus100]

Hello,
Just wondering when the sturgeon will start showing up in the Columbia river gorge?
I am thinking about trying them on may 5/6? I drive down from Spokane so any input would be great. I know to watch the shad counts as they come over bonneville and this means the big girls will be in but wondering when the fishing in general will get good? I fished it last year and it got good about mid may but last year was kinda weird with the water so high and all.
Thanks,
Mike

[cohoho]

Now, May, June, July, Aug, Sep and Oct................................  Above the Dam ought to be getting hot for Catch and Release right now....   I assume your talking about below the dam, just remember it closes above the marker line on 1 May...  See if they change this here soon............ Or next year???

STURGEON May 1-Aug. 31: CLOSED to fishing for STURGEON from Bonneville Dam downstream 9
miles to a line crossing the Columbia from Navigation Marker 82 on the Oregon shore through the upstream
exposed end of Skamania Island, continuing in a straight line to a boundary marker on the Washington shore.
STURGEON Jan. 1-July 31 Min. size 38" fork length. Max. size 54" fork length. Daily limit 1.
STURGEON may be retained Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
only.
STURGEON Aug. 1-Oct. 7 Catch-and-release.

[cohoho]

When it is high, find the slow slough areas or out of main channel.  It will probably be a bit of the same this year.

[magnus100]

Thanks for the info Cohoho.
Yes I only fish below the dam since this is the only part of the river I am familiar with. 
We fish the oversize almost every weekend from may 15 til July 4th but I wasn't sure if  the beginning of may would be too soon.
Thanks,
Mike
Ps.  I have a 20 foot hewes with white decals and a white 140 Johnson so stop by when you are catching the big ones and say hi.

[cohoho]

Yea, for sure, keep in touch as I will be hitting LaPush and Port Angeles with Robo for Halibut a couple weekends in May but all other times will be there at the marker area going for OS.  I got a White Wooldridge with green top and Honda outboard...  Something about those big fish that I love...

[robodad]

Yea, for sure, keep in touch as I will be hitting LaPush and Port Angeles with Robo for Halibut a couple weekends in May but all other times will be there at the marker area going for OS.  I got a White Wooldridge with green top and Honda outboard...  Something about those big fish that I love...

One of these days I'll hook up with one of them dinosaurs, I just bought a pair of wader pants or waist waders so I don't have to get my pic taken in my underwear when I jump out of the boat to wrangle the 11 footer  !! 

[magnus100]

Lmao,
I agree. Always wanted a good pic but all we fet are the beside the boat shots. Too cold for me. Brrrrrrrr.
Mike from spokane

[cohoho]

It's only cold for a few minutes....  I got flip flops in the boat at all times and a change of pants... 

[magnus100]

I also am addicted to the oversize fishing.  I have about 100 vacuum packed shad in my bait freezer so I am ready for the early bite this year.
Mike