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06/04/2004 Entry: "June 4th, 2004"

June 4th, 2004

SHAD, STURGEON, SHAD, STURGEON, SHAD, STURGEON,!!!!
That has been the norm lately, with shad counts being high over Bonneville Dam it has been no problem, hooking and landing shad for sturgeon bait!!! First we find a place to anchor, which is usually around the "Shad Rack" below Bonneville Dam, in around 7 to 10 foot water, then we backbounce a "dicknite" downriver out the back of the boat then "boop" fish on! I mean there are so many, that in no time at all, you have more than plenty of bait for the oversize Sturgeon that we go after!! Most of the time it is just much more fun just to shad fish, but after a while you get a little bored catching so many..........So then we find a place to Sturgeon fish for the oversize........These "Hogs" are huge!! Anywhere from 7 to 12 feet in length!!! And they can wear you out!!! After everyone in the boat had a chance at one, I decided to give it a go!! Oh man!! We should have just called it a day when I was ahead. I don't have much of a chance to battle one but this time I wanted to give it go. It took me about 20 minutes but I really gave it all I had, and after it was released, I was reminded why I don't mess with them that much, my arms were so tired and I sweated all the way back until I left the Beacon Rock boat launch.
I generally like to battle one of these at least once a year just to remind me what it is like, there is nothing like it here in the Northwest and I really feel you should give it a try just to know what kind of fishery we have here. The Mighty Columbia is where it is all at and if you haven't experienced the fight of the "Hog" Stugeon then you owe it to yourself to try one first hand...........We have plenty of dates available with reasonable prices, so give us a call and we will definately get you hooked up into one!!!
Hope to hear from you and see you on the water..........Dave....503-997-2279