Post by: Switchback on June 12, 2018, 09:48:09 AM
I really don't need any specific spots (I mean give em to me if you want to!), but was wondering if there are sturgeon closer to the Coulee dam? Like between Keller Ferry and the dam? Don't want to drive all the way up the lake, but I'd also hate to fish an area that doesn't have any sturgeon.
Been reading up a ton and have a decent idea of depth, what to look for, and bait. And have a good sonar with down imaging as well. Mostly just wondering if the very western part of the lake holds sturgeon. Many of the reports come from much further up the lake. I'd probably launch at Spring Canyon or Keller Ferry.
Also, what's the current like in the lake? Is it pretty fast?
Post by: Jonathan_S on June 12, 2018, 10:08:36 AM
Those slow troller, bottom bouncers 1 oz weight and a wormed walleye spinner. I rarely went to Banks over Roosevelt when Walleye were the target...after maybe '05-'06 it seemed the advantage went to Roosevelt.
Post by: plugger on June 13, 2018, 05:13:48 AM
Post by: Switchback on June 13, 2018, 09:13:58 AM
Post by: MerriamMagician on June 20, 2018, 08:02:33 AM
Post by: Ridgeratt on June 20, 2018, 09:50:19 AM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on June 20, 2018, 10:20:35 AM
Post by: MerriamMagician on June 20, 2018, 12:57:27 PM
We caught and released 5 undersized Friday afternoon, all 42-48 inches. Nothing Saturday or Sunday. Warden that checked us said that they caught an undersized and and oversized that people kept and they confiscated them.
We just so happened to be anchored up next to a boat that had a fish confiscated. When the wdfw showed up they had already heard from other boats and a officer spotting from shore that someone landed a 63 incher. They proceeded to board the other boat and stretched the fish as hard as they could and measured the exact contour of the fish. It ended up being 63 5/8" according to them. It was taken and ticket was issued. Personally I thought it was a bit ridiculous and it pissed off the fisherman in every boat in the area. I understand rules are rules, but these officers used every possible way to try to manipulate a fish's size including the fact that it had already been bleed out which is known to cause a bit of postmortem stretch to sturgeon. Zero leniency was shown to the fisherman, who appeared to be a ethical sportsman and took a lot of time trying to get an accurate measurement on the fish.
Post by: 762Armo on June 20, 2018, 01:34:42 PM
We caught and released 5 undersized Friday afternoon, all 42-48 inches. Nothing Saturday or Sunday. Warden that checked us said that they caught an undersized and and oversized that people kept and they confiscated them.
We just so happened to be anchored up next to a boat that had a fish confiscated. When the wdfw showed up they had already heard from other boats and a officer spotting from shore that someone landed a 63 incher. They proceeded to board the other boat and stretched the fish as hard as they could and measured the exact contour of the fish. It ended up being 63 5/8" according to them. It was taken and ticket was issued. Personally I thought it was a bit ridiculous and it pissed off the fisherman in every boat in the area. I understand rules are rules, but these officers used every possible way to try to manipulate a fish's size including the fact that it had already been bleed out which is known to cause a bit of postmortem stretch to sturgeon. Zero leniency was shown to the fisherman, who appeared to be a ethical sportsman and took a lot of time trying to get an accurate measurement on the fish.
That just sounds dirty. Over achieving officers there, wanting to impress someone?
Post by: deerlick on June 20, 2018, 01:37:40 PM
Post by: Jake Dogfish on June 20, 2018, 01:42:14 PM
Do we need to move the max down to 61” so sportsmen have a 2” buffer on close fish? That’s going to effect the ethical fishermen most.
The law is the law, the length is the length... Exactly.
Post by: BULLBLASTER on June 20, 2018, 01:44:26 PM
We had heard the oversized was measured at 65+ If it really was that close it’s a tough place to be in for both the fisher and enforcement. :dunno: it was in the wardens boat when my buddy’s brother was checked. The guy that checked us seemed reasonable and I didn’t get the impression that he was out to get anyone on a technicality.We caught and released 5 undersized Friday afternoon, all 42-48 inches. Nothing Saturday or Sunday. Warden that checked us said that they caught an undersized and and oversized that people kept and they confiscated them.
We just so happened to be anchored up next to a boat that had a fish confiscated. When the wdfw showed up they had already heard from other boats and a officer spotting from shore that someone landed a 63 incher. They proceeded to board the other boat and stretched the fish as hard as they could and measured the exact contour of the fish. It ended up being 63 5/8" according to them. It was taken and ticket was issued. Personally I thought it was a bit ridiculous and it pissed off the fisherman in every boat in the area. I understand rules are rules, but these officers used every possible way to try to manipulate a fish's size including the fact that it had already been bleed out which is known to cause a bit of postmortem stretch to sturgeon. Zero leniency was shown to the fisherman, who appeared to be a ethical sportsman and took a lot of time trying to get an accurate measurement on the fish.
Post by: Ridgeratt on June 20, 2018, 01:51:34 PM
Last year I never saw any WDFW and there were several cases of over harvest. I am glad they are out there.
Post by: ctwiggs1 on June 20, 2018, 02:39:11 PM
Post by: Ridgeratt on June 20, 2018, 02:44:25 PM
:chuckle:
Post by: Mtnwalker on June 20, 2018, 02:50:25 PM
We caught and released 5 undersized Friday afternoon, all 42-48 inches. Nothing Saturday or Sunday. Warden that checked us said that they caught an undersized and and oversized that people kept and they confiscated them.
We just so happened to be anchored up next to a boat that had a fish confiscated. When the wdfw showed up they had already heard from other boats and a officer spotting from shore that someone landed a 63 incher. They proceeded to board the other boat and stretched the fish as hard as they could and measured the exact contour of the fish. It ended up being 63 5/8" according to them. It was taken and ticket was issued. Personally I thought it was a bit ridiculous and it pissed off the fisherman in every boat in the area. I understand rules are rules, but these officers used every possible way to try to manipulate a fish's size including the fact that it had already been bleed out which is known to cause a bit of postmortem stretch to sturgeon. Zero leniency was shown to the fisherman, who appeared to be a ethical sportsman and took a lot of time trying to get an accurate measurement on the fish.
If that's true then that is BS.
Post by: bhawley76 on June 20, 2018, 04:09:50 PM
Post by: Ridgeratt on June 20, 2018, 04:29:41 PM
Sounds like a batch of blissful fishermen.
Post by: Buckhunter82 on June 20, 2018, 11:58:11 PM
Post by: Switchback on June 21, 2018, 09:51:25 AM
I'm assuming you didn't make it up there for sturgeon like you said. If so you didn't miss much! :chuckle: Just about all 200 boats who showed up for opening weekend were left very disappointed. The fishing was extremely slow and nothing like last year. The biologists were saying the fish are likely more spread out this year and last years fishery took way more fish than they estimated.
No, decided it would be better to plan a long weekend out there sometime – didn't even go to banks, ended up staying close and fishing the Sound. Still planning on trying it out this year – just want to have more time to do it.
Post by: Ridgeratt on June 21, 2018, 09:59:53 AM
We caught and released 5 undersized Friday afternoon, all 42-48 inches. Nothing Saturday or Sunday. Warden that checked us said that they caught an undersized and and oversized that people kept and they confiscated them.
We just so happened to be anchored up next to a boat that had a fish confiscated. When the wdfw showed up they had already heard from other boats and a officer spotting from shore that someone landed a 63 incher. They proceeded to board the other boat and stretched the fish as hard as they could and measured the exact contour of the fish. It ended up being 63 5/8" according to them. It was taken and ticket was issued. Personally I thought it was a bit ridiculous and it pissed off the fisherman in every boat in the area. I understand rules are rules, but these officers used every possible way to try to manipulate a fish's size including the fact that it had already been bleed out which is known to cause a bit of postmortem stretch to sturgeon. Zero leniency was shown to the fisherman, who appeared to be a ethical sportsman and took a lot of time trying to get an accurate measurement on the fish.
Its stated as the overall length not the contour. The regs show a measurement from nose to fork.
I use a hunk of pvc cut at 63 inches with a ring marked at 53. last years was marked from 38 to 63 with a few bench marks along it.
Post by: ctwiggs1 on June 21, 2018, 10:04:54 AM
Post by: Ridgeratt on June 21, 2018, 11:01:48 AM
Since it is only a 1000 fish quota!