Rigging for Sturgeon

How I rig for Sturgeon fishing. I use the same exact rigging for boat or bank. The only thing that changes is the rod that I'm using.

[@PhoenixLeary]

Thank you so much!!! I've been searching the internet for days now to find a good video on how to set up a sturgeon rig. Great job going through at an understandable pace of how to do those half hitches. I have caught several sturgeon so far and I've been using worms, and they work great for me! The thing is, with worms, you catch about 60% suckers, 30% baby catfish, and about 10% of the time you are getting a sturgeon. Now I know a bait that will be pretty much just picked up by sturgeon!

[@Inka311]

I like your presentation, you made the half hitch easier to understand! Thanks again!

[@live2fish1000]

im a beginner sturgeon fisherman and have only got one this vid helped me alot but i use cut goldeye for bait

[@ThyraKullberg67]

Wow, going fishing tomorrow, never had much luck with sturgeon.. defiantly gonna try this rigging. thanks for the video.. helps me a whole lot.. will let you know how it goes. Tye

[@damnwindowshopper]

Thanks this helped.... More videos please..

[@Hecklinatyall]

We use on average 14-18oz square weights but I have used up to 22oz weights during freshet. We attach the weight directly to our size 2/0-4/0 snap locks. For hooks I am a huge fan of the Mustad 75019 Octopus barbless hooks, size 7/0 when fishing worms, 9/0 when fishing oolies, lamprey or bait balls and bigger for fishing salmon heads or carcasses. I find they are strong enough.

[@kylezelmachannel]

Great video rlly helped me going fishing in Hudson river, NJ for sturgeon I hope this works

[@the_nothing]

@mkeulr the nature of the half-hitch means the line actually straightens! No knots left behind to weaken the line.

[@fusionstar916]

That snap swivel better have a good snap. Those sturgeon WILL break that snap.

[@the_nothing]

I do all of my fishing right now out of Jackson Kayaks Coosa and Cuda. I also have an OK Trident 15, Trident 11, Diablo Paddlesports Chupacabra, and NRS Pike.

[@the_nothing]

@Hecklinatyall Things do vary, that is for sure. The rigging above works great when fishing the Willamette River here in Portland, but when its time to move up, all the gear has to go up as well. With the shad showing up in the Columbia, its time to go after the 8-12' fish. I'll with much of the same weights and sizes you mentioned since water flows are higher on that river. I'll have a 10' sturgeon the kayak video soon... i hope...

[@MyLapuLapu]

Well I'll be damned! this is f""""ng brilliant. But man this is way too fancy for beginners. I will try it on my first sturgeon fishing brother. LOL. Thanks for the tip bro!

[@Jac0bM1ll3Y1]

I have been woundering what to use for the longest time I am going to try this tomorrow

[@the_nothing]

@fusionstar916 There is no hookset when using circle hooks. If you absolutely have to set the hook on a fish, then use an Octopus hook.

[@the_nothing]

@018132 With the water flowing down the river, its not going to tangle anything up. I've used this style setup from bank and boat.

[@ihaveabutt]

in the foodservice world your method of tying on the baitfish is called "trussing" and is used a lot for chickens

[@the_nothing]

@lizlawson1 Anytime is a good time! I generally prefer march-june, then again october-november, but sturgeon are in and out of the system all year long

[@tacokiller101]

I live in Astoria, Oregon and the river mostly sand, we fish in the deepest holes you can find and everyone around here uses pyramids and has no problem catching sturgeon.

[@Hecklinatyall]

@Hecklinatyall Thanks for posting your video. Do you have any footage of fighting sturgeon out of a kayak? I would love to fish for them out of a kayak but you can't do that in most areas I fish. That would be a hoot but kinda dangerous. Tim

[@the_nothing]

@HALIBU77 This rigging is how we do things for sturgeon here in Oregon. Its my understanding that you CA guys can use a pair of hooks, and tend to bait differently as well...

[@dude999642]

I took notes!

[@the_nothing]

Pyramid weights work and you can see one in the video as well. Pyramids, however, are designed for use in sand and, if you're fishing in sand, you're not in ideal sturgeon waters.

[@Hecklinatyall]

Interesting rig-up. How big are the sturgeon you guys catching down there? Up here in BC on the Fraser we fish them differently. We use much heavier tackle. I use 130# main-line, and 96# sturgeon braid for the leader. I like the heavier braids because we are strictly c&r in BC and it doesn't cut into the fish when they roll. It also handles abrasion better which means less fish lost.

[@christopherb27]

I use 8/0 for catfish in Ohio. They work beatifully if there's current. Even if the fish spits it out fast it will stil get them sometimes. By the time you get your rod in your had you shouldn't have to do anything but adjust you're drag and keep pressure on hte fish. Once again the river current does a great job. They work just as well in lakes. Just get the line stright and walk backwards with the rod tip up. I've never seen a barbless cirlcle hook either and have looked everywhere.

[@Eskah.Mof0]

Whats the best leader length for delta like grizzley island

[@the_nothing]

@Cali510Livin This rig should be just as effective. CA is the only place I know that allows 2 hooks to be used for white sturgeon, and I've never figured out why. One hook is all you need.

[@the_nothing]

@Mumszzr600 Today is opening day on the Columbia! You should be out there!

[@the_nothing]

I've caught sturgeon as small as 60cm with 5/0 hooks. I've never tried to catch anything smaller than that.

[@018132]

wont that rigging style tangle up your leader?? is there a difference in using threads to hold the bait??

[@kings2947]

when the fish is on those wraps around the fish will make knots on line weaking the line

[@the_nothing]

@santehh55 Summer time equals MONSTER sturgeon. Upwards of 4m! Time for the BIG sticks. I like to use inexpensive Ugly Stick Tigers in the 20-50# line rate. Pair it up with a Penn 320 or bigger, with 80-120lb braided line.

[@idaho2085]

Likewise. I do the same on the upper Snake River in Idaho. We get fish upwards of 10 feet long. MONSTERS to say the least.

[@fusionstar916]

Wont the circle hook hinder hooksets?

[@Barczak101]

I was wondering how to fish for sturgeon on a river with this rig do I let it hit the bottom or what. Thanks

[@balzonurchin]

Wrapping the bait up in the leader is a new one to me. Seems counter productive when it comes to setting the hook. That bait will act as a shock absorber when you strike; the line will tighten up on the bait & begin to slice it into sushi rather than putting that energy where it's needed- setting the hook.

[@the_nothing]

Wrapping the bait keeps it from rolling and flopping around in the water. It also makes sure that the sturgeon really take the bait. As you can imagine, we're not setting hooks on lil trout here. Hook sets are huge if you're using regular hooks.

[@santiagobarrios4237]

balzonurchin

[@530elnegro]

Instead of half hitching it you can pass the the hook the same way and tie your leader to the bait with magic string i prefer to put at least one half hitch to the tail to make sure it doesn't come loose

[@kyleschneider8962]

personally I prefer not to use a leader for the weight. Rig it on a sliding rig with a bead to the swivel to dacron leader and bait. Also I do not recommend the cannonball weight as it slides around more often. I have less snags and my weight sticks well if the bottom is soft or gravelly. Shouldn't bash the shrimp and squid! As someone who often has 6 people on my sled on the willy I've seen them have a preference for one or another. Anyways love seeing yakers out on the river! Helped a guy in high water and let him tie off to our boat.

[@viss3n]

what do you use for small sturgeon? because where i fish ( in the Netherlands) we dont have big ones.

[@martarebolledo7746]

What size is the snap swivel??

[@DacotahMarie1115]

where do you get herring in MN??

[@Shanedog76]

witch kind of Sturgeon is this for?

[@santehh55]

heey i was wondering what rod and reel setup you use from a boat, im from canada and wanna go on a fishing trip to the columbia in the summer and wanted to try it out. thanks

[@Pnw_fatguy_gear]

6 foot trevala, lexa 400

[@tacokiller101]

why not pyramid weight?

[@Cali510Livin]

whats up man, i live in Ca and ive been trying to catch a sturg for about 3 weeks now, ive been using sturgeon rigs/leters with the 2 size 5 hooks that are usually seperated with 2 beads..cant wait to try this way.. will it be as affective out here in Ca Bay area.?

[@emmett7071234]

It's been 11 years lol how did it work? I'm located in CA

[@Cali510Livin]

@@emmett7071234 hahahahahahahahaha bro… did you wait 11 years to respond to my comment! Epic. Never caught one, I golf now.

[@510kon]

I use the Owners barbless circle hook here in California. A lot sharper than the gamakatsu

[@idaho2085]

Nah. About the same really. If you don't like the point, reprofile it using a Berkley hook sharpener.

[@matthewdellavedova1940]

Why not just attach your weight directly to the swivel?

[@marksuperfly8426]

Matthew Dellavedova You want the dropper line to be the weak link and to break if it gets snagged on something. Lose the weight, save the rest of the rig. Plus don't...you know....sink the kayak because 65# braid won't break off, but 10# mono will.

[@viss3n]

well 60 sturgeon is a quite big one here......

[@AO-ip6yx]

NEVER use braid on braid!! You have zero shock resistance! Braid is very brittle when it comes to shock. So even an accidental hook set can snap braid fairly easily, A backlash can easily snap your rig off. It is foolish to use a braided leader with a braided main line! If it hasn't burned you yet it will!