Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Welcome! => The Great Northwest => Topic started by: gstours on December 02, 2018, 09:05:25 PM

Title: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: gstours on December 02, 2018, 09:05:25 PM
This is a prehistoric monster that was hauled ashore and luckily a picture was taken to preserve the way it was before the dams and pollution plus many other man made causes took their toll on these giants
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: Reel 224 on December 02, 2018, 09:30:04 PM
Yes it's a shame isn't it! :(....................................Joe
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: JoseCuervo on December 02, 2018, 10:40:47 PM
That is a monster in the flesh.

:o
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: Tiddlerbasher on December 03, 2018, 02:16:54 AM
Yep - Man has a lot to answer for :(
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: Gfish on December 03, 2018, 02:28:48 AM
Wow! They still fish for 'em on the Snake/Columbia system, especially right behind the Dams, of coarse no-where near as big. They chow down on fish(esp. Salmon & Steelhead smolts) that have passed through the turbines and are stunned by the experience.
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: oc1 on December 03, 2018, 07:59:23 AM
That's a blast from the past Gary.  Seen that photo before somewhere.  Too bad they had to kill something that old; like chopping down an old sequoia.

I wonder how long it was?  The guy is standing way behind the fish.  Maybe fifteen or sixteen feet?
-steve
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: Gobi King on December 03, 2018, 05:29:44 PM
Thanks for pic Gary, that is a "cow" Sturgeon  :o

Steve, it is probably 15 ft
per
http://www.rivermenrodandgunclub.com/sturgeon-weightage-chart.html

I wonder how old it is, 70 year old?
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: gstours on December 03, 2018, 06:08:57 PM
Some where I've got a nother picture of one farther down stream below bonneville dam that is claimed to been 19 feet long.  These were very old fish.  Hundreds of years old. 
I was told by a biologist that a 6 foot white sturgeon is 12-15 years old.  This was the maximum size limit for retention  in sports angling 25-30 years ago.  I doubt if they will ever come back to be a sustainable sports fishery again.     I hope I'm wrong.🎣
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: Gobi King on December 03, 2018, 06:51:31 PM
Fresh water fish that is 1500 lbs and 17 ft long, unreal.

Every year when I get my fishing lic I get the muskie and sturgeon tag too but I doubt I will ever keep one of these.
They are coming back somewhat on the St Claire's system. On west side of Michigan, I see them sitting in the grand river below the knee dams but only 1s or 2s here and there.

There is a huge grass roots attempt to get the species going again here in MI.
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: Christopher M Songer on December 03, 2018, 06:59:34 PM
The State of Ohio stocked sturgeon for Lake Erie this past spring.
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: Dominick on December 03, 2018, 07:50:09 PM
I found a couple of pics on Google.  Here they are.  Dominick
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: Gfish on December 03, 2018, 08:53:09 PM
Kinda looks like it could be the Columbia R., close to the Bonneville area. Did they say where?
I worked for the Army Corps of Eng. at Lower Granite Dam( near Lewiston, Id.), and they's gettin 'em there. I suppose they are trapped between each Dam/lock. Not good for an anadromous species.
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: whalebreath on December 03, 2018, 10:19:09 PM
Those pics are from the Fraser River just outside Vancouver where I live-it's 100% C&R fishery now/has been for ages.

The biggest I've caught was maybe 240#-8' long but not fat at all you never know some are fat sleek and truly anadromous others just river slugs-I can beat a 6' fish to the boat in 5 minutes using an old Seeker live bait rod and a single speed TLD 25.

Note the sleek powerful (!) river craft we use  on the Mighty Fraser.
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: festus on December 03, 2018, 11:27:39 PM
Completely different species, but Lake Sturgeon have been restocked in the Tennessee River system and the biggest I've heard caught so far on rod and reel was 40+ pounds at the steam plant.  But TWRA was called in to relocate one that was stranded in some shallow water that was 102 pounds. I've never caught one but seen a couple of 8 pounders.
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: conchydong on December 04, 2018, 12:50:20 AM
Neat fish. We even have them in Florida but no where nearly as large as the ones that grow in other places. They are actually a navigational hazard to boaters in some areas.http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrDQym2zgVc8mIAofWXnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTF0ZHBkYXRwBHNlYwNjZC1hdHRyBHNsawNzb3VyY2UEdnRpZAMEcnVybANodHRwczovL3ZpbWVvLmNvbS8xNjYwOTUyNTA-/RV=2/RE=1543913270/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fvimeo.com%2f166095250/RK=2/RS=n8Ew0XYEVWGr4ZsBh6yTQ6UVVqo-

Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: Swami805 on December 04, 2018, 01:51:08 AM
I fished for them a few times but didn't get one. My buddy got one, they're pretty tasty and no bones.
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: oc1 on December 04, 2018, 08:57:11 AM
That's the Gulf Sturgeon jumping.  On the East side you also have Atlantic Sturgeon that get slightly larger.  You also have the little Short-Nose Sturgeon.  They jump more, but are too small to do as much damage.

The Short-Nose and Atlantic Sturgeon are endangered.  The Gulf Sturgeon is threatened.
-steve
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: Frank on December 04, 2018, 10:01:50 AM
Quote from: gstours on December 02, 2018, 09:05:25 PM
This is a prehistoric monster that was hauled ashore and luckily a picture was taken to preserve the way it was before the dams and pollution plus many other man made causes took their toll on these giants

Thanks for posting this. I had know idea they grew that large.
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: Brewcrafter on December 05, 2018, 06:16:41 AM
When I was living/fishing around Southwest Missouri, the occasional sturgeon would get caught in the river tributaries of the larger lakes, and to my knowledge they still have them there.  There was also a similar bottomfeeding "dinosaur" type fish the would get pretty big called a paddlefish with a long flat bill that they would root in the mud with.
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: Decker on December 05, 2018, 03:35:33 PM
The closest I've ever come to a sturgeon is to eat caviar.   Is it possible to harvest the caviar without killing the fish?  Do fishermen eat the caviar from U.S. sturgeon?
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: Dominick on December 05, 2018, 05:36:05 PM
Quote from: Decker on December 05, 2018, 03:35:33 PM
The closest I've ever come to a sturgeon is to eat caviar.   Is it possible to harvest the caviar without killing the fish?  Do fishermen eat the caviar from U.S. sturgeon?
Absolutely.  Every once in a while a poacher is caught selling sturgeon caviar claiming it is beluga.  Dominick
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: conchydong on December 05, 2018, 05:39:57 PM
They are also farming them now. Hopefully that will relieve some of the pressure on the wild ones.
http://sturgeonaquafarms.com/
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: gstours on December 05, 2018, 06:38:41 PM
  Things can change butt its going to take a long time.  Farming would take some of the demand off the wild stocks and put some fish on the market.... the indian tribes in oregon and wash. could curb their allowable treaty rites, n public awareness could be improved.  Total closures could lessen the incidental sports harvest and lessen enforcement problems.    Currently there are many many folks who want to fish for something as recreation fisherys are otherwise seasonal times with the species sought.   I,m hoping the white sturgeon fishery may come back through time and continual
effort to be enjoyed again by the public.
    The white firm meat is delicious,  smoked sturgeon is over the top good. 
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: oc1 on December 05, 2018, 07:57:26 PM
Quote from: Decker on December 05, 2018, 03:35:33 PM
Is it possible to harvest the caviar without killing the fish?  Do fishermen eat the caviar from U.S. sturgeon?
They are working on that.  Not only do you need to avoid killing the fish, you want the fish to be able to make a new batch of eggs in subsequent years.

I've never had caviar from Beluga Sturgeon, but caviar from Atlantic Sturgeon is terrific.  This was back before the fishery was closed.  It bought a good price and fishermen were more interested is selling it than eating it.  Then the meat was smoked and, like Gary said, it was something pretty special too.  The meat texture is a little weird when fresh but when smoked it is both firm and moist.
-steve
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: Gfish on December 05, 2018, 10:36:59 PM
Yeah. One a them ancient cartilaginous fish species, note the shark-shaped tail in the pictures.
I've assisted in spawning salmon, steelhead and trout species in hatcheries. Salmon were easy as they die after spawning. Kill the females and slit the peritoneum, 1 male to 5 females, not the best way to get genitic variability. Trout were harder, cause you wanted them to survive. There's  an art to milking them properly, get most of the eggs without doing internal damage.
I'd really love to see them milk a big Sturgeon, though.
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: festus on December 06, 2018, 12:47:50 AM
TWRA has stocked about 1/4 million lake sturgeon into the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers since the early 2000s.  Here's the biggest one I've heard of caught on rod and reel recently, supposedly 45 pounds and about 5' long from the Clinch River at Kingston Steam Plant. That's down the road about 25 minutes away.  The fish doesn't look that big but the young man who caught it's a former football lineman, about 6'3" and nearly 300 lbs.

Anyone have an idea how old it would be?
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: gstours on December 06, 2018, 01:23:16 AM
Ok, now you're getting me hungry again🚣‍♀️    Interesting enough I believe the female sturgeon can have a c section after capturing and the eggs removed and incubation starts.   I,m not sure if the fish is fertilized first (possibly  naturally) or following the egg removal?  Butt if seen some of this in trying to supplement the sturgeon stocks in Oregon a s Washington alongside the Columbia River ..
   As we know it takes a state and federal assistance to do the work as it's costly and needs public support and moneys.  
  We all have seen the demise and over population of a species.   We have only Ben here a short time.
 In the Columbia River system it seems like the big money interests were way ahead of the public and pushed forward with their selfish interests before the google eyed public caught on.   The damage,would take a few years to get to the public,  so the dams were installed, 13-15 on the Columbia and snake river,
   The fishing for sturgeon started declining rapidly,  so the states wanted the license money and faked lots of promising.  People want to fish 🐟 for some thing.  The run timing of the salmon is spring, summer, so the sturgeon becomes a year around fishery ,  poorly managed.  Size limits were changing almost every year.   But they were being fished hard and year around,  it seemed like the weather was the limiting factor.   Within twenty five years you could only fish odd or even calandor days.  (Get that)  then other faked restrictions and it seemed too little too late.   It seemed like the fishing was what the people wanted and the managers sold the boat waay before it sunk 😫
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: whalebreath on December 07, 2018, 04:43:09 AM
Northen Divine Sturgeon (http://www.northerndivine.com/) has been very successful selling both Caviar and meat from harvested fish.

It's a 100% contained land based facility and that's a real boost to marketing efforts.

I've tried the meat-a bit like a muddy tasting Halibut.
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: oc1 on December 07, 2018, 08:50:36 PM
Thank you whale.  If that is a photo of canned meat on their web site it would explain the muddy taste.  There is something about putting a can of seafood in a high temperature/pressure retort to sterilize it that brings out the muddy flavor.  It is the same with canned oysters and canned tuna.

If they are not selling smoked meat then they're missing the boat.  There is something about the oils and texture in sturgeon flesh that make it about the best smoked fish you will ever eat.
-steve
Title: Re: Sturgeon fishing back in gramps day
Post by: Gfish on December 07, 2018, 10:40:25 PM
Way back when, I counted 12 hydro-elec. dams on the Columbia system. Now there's maybe more. Depends on how you look at it: environmental disaster to me; economic boom to others. Hydro-elec. power generation, irrigation for farming & ranching( including trout farming in Idaho's Magic Valley) recreational opportunities( boating, water-skiing, fishing for non-endemic species), Dam maintenance employment, etc. Lotsa people probably prefer the more "civilized" type a recreation.
Don't know about the upper Columbia, but the upper Snake system is as wild and natural lookin as it could be. My 3rd favorite place in Yellowstone Park(South side). It's just that people gotta keep goin further and further back into the wilderness to enjoy natural stuff...