06/26 - 06/28 - Columbia River/Warrenton Sturgeon

Doryman · Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 12:24 pm Post subject:

Would a halibut/lingcod rod and reel be appropriate tackle for sturgeon?

Warren

Capital Sea · Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 12:36 pm Post subject:

Per TyBoo, salmon rods are Med, Med heavy and heavy right? He says to use a heavy and a salmon reel with 25-30lb line. The leader is 100lb dacron. You use a slider and pyramid drop weight. The idea is that the really big fish will run out a hundred yards and sit in the mud. you want to break the knot in order to get your line back. A keeper though will run and jump and spit and kick, so you want some flex in the pole and you want to see the nibble nibble nibble action as they gum your bait.

Bare in mind, I have never fished for these prehistoric beasts but this is what master Mike told me.

TyBoo · Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 3:06 pm Post subject:

You got that just right, Steve. Here's a pic of the sturgeon rig my late great best friend in the world Tyler Boothe (hence, TyBoo - get it?) gave to me to learn how to set up. Actually he didn't give it to me, he said there was a pole already rigged in the back of his truck at work and I went out and cut the rig off. I still have it as a wall decoration.

One reason I use 30# line is because I also use the poles for salmon boat poles and I'm too cheap to buy new reels or change line. Some people use dacron line. What I liked the best was 30# Maxima Chameleon because it is very tough and a lot stronger than 30# line, but the salmon can be spooked by the color (some old guy told me it looked to them like jellyfish tentacles). So I use Ultra Green for both. But being able to break off the line at the terminal knot on purpose for the oversize or accidentally without losing the whole spool is great. Makes it more sporting to bring in a 50# fish with lighter line.

The later weekend in June will work great, as will the first weekend. For some reason the sturgeon haven't shown up down here yet - but they will - so the later weekend might be more productive. It will also be more crowded, but it is a really big river. I'm good for either one, and it is nice how you're talking about working around my pesky little job.

I saw our old friend Tim of the former Lynn Marie out on the water yesterday, and he expressed some interest in making it up here when the crew is here. Cool. All I have to do is get his account working again and send him his password.

Capital Sea · Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 2:09 pm Post subject: June 26,27 & 28

It looks like we are shifting to this date. More folks on the water but more fish in the river and TyBoo can make it.
As soon as I figure out how I will set up a sign up and change the heading for this thread so it does not confuse.

C-Dawg · Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 1:05 pm Post subject:

What about crabbing down there? Can you give us any info on that, Tyboo?

Capital Sea · Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 2:41 pm Post subject:

C-Dawg, I don't know how good the crabbing is down there but I may throw a pot in myself.
Crab season opens mid June in area 13 though. We will be hitting them here for the week or two prior to this event.

NOTE TO ALL. Please do enter yourself in the event signups section so we have a good count. The Capital Sea will be getting in at the marina Thursday afternoon and may stay over till Monday.

TyBoo Mike, can you email out or post some coordinates for the verious tide situations so we can get them entered.

Capital Sea · Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 3:48 pm Post subject:

In looking at the fishing Regs I note that the 28th is the last day of the season in the last week of June. Starting on the 29th the area shifts to catch and release till the following weekend.
As a result the Capital Sea may show up Wed evening though the dates for this event will remain the 26,27 & 28.
We may fish an extra day or may visit with friends in the area.

TyBoo · Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 9:55 pm Post subject:

I'm thinking it was a good plan to do this the last weekend of June instead of the first. I went out there twice this weekend and saw nothing. Weird. It's like the fish decided not to come back.

Capital Sea · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 12:49 pm Post subject:

Mike, those are tech smart fish you know. How else did they survive ice age after ice age? In fact they are big readers of this blog and several have emailed me just to say thanks for a few extra weeks free of the hook and net.
Yup, they are chillin off Long Beach. Hot

They say is is always best to catch a happy fish. Cool

Doryman · Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 8:15 pm Post subject:

I don't know if Lori is going to come along on this trip or not. If not I can sleep on the 22 but if it is the two of us we will probably look for a motel. What's near the marina, and what is the name of the marina? Also, if Lori does not come along, I'd like to take someone along on my boat, or go out on another boat. I can't see myself pulling a big sturgeon into the 22 by myself!

Warren

Capital Sea · Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 12:35 pm Post subject:

Warren, Astoria is a very short distance away 10-15 mins. The Warrenton Marina is in Warrenton which is just east of Astoria and I think Warrenton has chain hotel as well. Kathleen will most likely fish with me two of the three days if its calm. She plans to do some sightseeing on the third day. We want to have two rods in as we are determined to bag at least one keeper. If we pull that off on the first day, she may be just as happy spending two days on shore. At any rate we should be able to match you up.

Capital Sea · Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 4:51 pm Post subject:

Our gathering is growing near, so here is some information to help you plan your trip.

Despite Tyboo Mike's long hours of late, he has passed on some information that may help some with planning. I will try to do a good job of presenting this here and welcome any corrections or suggestions. As with the Cathlamet gathering, fishing is not a required activity, though it was the driving force behind pulling this together. We hope to see as many C-brats as can come out and play, or even join us for the dinners.

First off, the gathering is set for Friday 6/26 to Sunday 6/28 and the sturgeon season closes for a few days beginning at dusk on 6/28.
Capital Sea and crew should get in mid day Thursday 6/25 and may fish the evening high slack or we may take some local friends for a cruse.

The Astoria tides and best fishing times are as follows:
Friday 4:15AM 8.9'H Best till 6:15AM
11:10AM -1.6'L Best 9:10AM-1:10PM
5:42PM 8.1H Best 3:42PM - 7:42PM
A dinner is planned around 7pm or a little later at Buoy 9, a neat little restaurant/pub where Tyboo's daughter works. It's located in Hammond about six miles away.

Saturday 5:12AM 8.1'H Best till 7:12AM
11:54AM -1.6'L Best 10AM - 2PM
6:26AM 8.2'H Best 4:30PM - 8:30PM
A dockside potluck is planned for 7:30 or a bit later if everyone is still out.
Mike is planning on cooking up a bunch of oysters. They should go well with BBQ sturgeon steaks, YUM!

Sunday 6:13AM 7.3'H Best 4:13AM - 8:13PM
12:39PM -0.2'L Best 10:40AM - 2:40PM
7:12PM 8.2H Best from 5:12PM
Depending on how things have gone, Capital Sea may pull and head home around 3PM or we may fish till dusk and head home in the morning.
Kathleen plans to spend Sunday on tour in and around Astoria and I have a friend who is coming down to fish that day.

Mike reports that there is a bait shop right next to the marina that opens at 5AM that sells frozen bait along with fresh anchovies and live sand shrimp. He recommends bringing a dozen or two frozen smelt if you can find it.
Mike also reports that the fish appear to be in, as the boats were thick on the river at 6AM over the weekend.

Capital Sea · Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 5:43 pm Post subject:

Astoria / NW Oregon Coast Meet Locations

Warrenton Marina Boat Ramp - Warrenton, OR (Astoria Area) Marina phone 503 861-3822 Located just West of the Astoria bridge.

From I-5 take the Long Beach/Longview exit and head West (go approx 4 miles)

Turn Left at Oregon Way/WA-433. Continue following 433 as you enter Oregon State (go approx 1.8 miles)

Continue on Lewis & Clark Bridge/OR-433/Orchard Way. Continue to follow Lewis & Clark Bridge/OR-433 (go approx 0.6 miles)

Take Ramp onto Hwy 30/US-30 (go approx 41.7 miles)

Turn Left to stay on Hwy 30/US-30 (go approx 6 miles)

Continue on W Marine Drive/US-101/US-26 (go approx 0.4 miles)

At traffic circle take 1st exit onto US-101/US-26 (go approx 2.8 miles)

Turn Right at SE Marlin Ave/SE Marlin Dr (go approx 0.4 miles)

Turn Left at E Harbor Street (go approx 0.4 miles)

Turn Right on NE Heron Ave (enter marina parking lot)

TyBoo · Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 3:34 pm Post subject:

I finally got off the long work hours and I finally got to go fishing and I finally got a bite and I finally got a fish to the boat and finally it is a keeper. By the new measure rules it is 47 inches and has been bonked in the head same as the old rules. Ready to weigh anchor and head in.

There is a CD 22 just upriver about a mile. No idea who. I reckon I'll run up that way and say howdy before turning toward home.

TyBoo · Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 3:51 pm Post subject:

The CD 22 took off just before me. I intercepted and waved. Boat name was NEATS and I think he was headed to Hammond or the WA side.

I'm underway so can't type so good. Love the BlackBerry.