Sturgeon on the Skagit.

J

Jim in Anacortes

Life of the Party
Today I discussed this with a guy. He had photos of big fish on his phone. Although fly fishing is probably not applicable ..I am in search of knowledge. Apparently these guys throw out a huge sinker with a baited hook with a "pool stick" rod and 80 pound test braid. It seems these fish can approach 100 pounds. The biggest and oldest freshwater fish on Earth? I want to rip the lip of one of of these fish. Any input is, as always, is much appreciated.
 
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Yeah, a 14wt. I have brought in 100+ pound sailfish with a 14wt and a big assed Abel reel with hundreds of yards of backing. Not, however, in the current. Halibut rod would be better and pack a lunch.
 
FishyJere said:
Yeah, a 14wt. I have brought in 100+ pound sailfish with a 14wt and a big assed Abel reel with hundreds of yards of backing. Not, however, in the current. Halibut rod would be better and pack a lunch.
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Stand up ahi rig with a 50 Wide
loaded with spectra…
 
Jim in Anacortes said:
Today I discussed this with a guy. He had photos of big fish on his phone. Although fly fishing is probably not applicable ..I am in search of knowledge. Apparently these guys throw out a huge sinker with a baited hook with a "pool stick" rod and 80 pound test braid. It seems these fish can approach 100 pounds. The biggest and oldest freshwater fish on Earth? I want to rip the lip of one of of these fish. Any input is, as always, is much appreciated.
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I'd say they get significantly larger than 100#. My uncle landed a 7 footer several years ago, and had one he claimed was "at least 2 feet longer" go under the boat and snap the rod.

I saw one jump at the Burlington soccer fields in 2015, and this summer while soccer plunking there I saw a guy anchored up on the high bank side. Noticed he was hooked on something and actively trying to break it off. Thought he was snagged until I saw an enormous flash of white at the surface. He came off anchor and was last seen turning the corner about half a mile downstream.
 
Sturgeon that enter the lower Skagit and Stillagumish are thought to be part of the Fraser River population. If so, they are unlikely to be permanent residents. So targeting them would most likely be for a chance encounter. If you want to target sturgeon, it would make more sense to fish the lower Fraser, Chehalis, or Columbia Rivers. Sturgeon have been taken on a fly at the mouths of small Columbia River tributaries.
 
Salmo_g said:
Sturgeon that enter the lower Skagit and Stillagumish are thought to be part of the Fraser River population. If so, they are unlikely to be permanent residents. So targeting them would most likely be for a chance encounter. If you want to target sturgeon, it would make more sense to fish the lower Fraser, Chehalis, or Columbia Rivers. Sturgeon have been taken on a fly at the mouths of small Columbia River tributaries.
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You likely know better than I, and the fraser is an incredible fishery, but the lower Skagit is definitely worth targeting. I dont know if they are reproducing there, but they exist in numbers.
 
They are in the Snohomish as well, but the Stilly probably has the best fishery from the people that I know to target them.

On Labor day weekend I talked to a boat that was targeting them well above Bacon creek, so they will go pretty far up the Skagit.
 
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