Snake River Sturgeon Fishing

Time of Year: Spring (April - June)

Spring Sturgeon fishing in Hells Canyon means high and often muddy water and hungry Sturgeon that are on an aggressive feed. Sturgeon are most dormant throughout the winter months when the water temps are in the low 40’s and 30’s. As water temps and river levels rise with the spring snow melt the “Sturgeon Frenzy” begins.  High water will make fishing from shore tougher with the stronger than normal river currents and back eddies. Most often you will find the Guides of Hells Canyon Sport Fishing anchored in the “Eye of the Eddy” where the river bottom drops off into 30-80 ft of water. We are always looking for slower water this time of year. More often than not the current in the middle of the eddy or the center of the “toilet Bowl” will be the place to focus. This is where dying or dead spawned out steelhead will end up on the bottom of the river making a great feed source. Anchor on the reverse side of the eddy or the “Shallow” side of the eddy which will help you get your anchor into the bottom without being too deep. Try to get as near the center of the eddy as possible without running out of enough current to hold your boat strait back in the current. Your bait could be Steelhead or Salmon, but any good bait may work this time of year. This is your best chance to catch Sturgeon that are eager to bite. Your rig is simple, a single 10/0 octopus hook on 200 lb braided leader under a sliding “Break Away” dropper with a 10-16 oz sinker. We prefer 200 lb main line as well.  Super Line like Power Pro and Spider Wire Stealth seem to be the best. It is always a heart breaker when a large Sturgeon you have had on the line for the last 30 minutes hooks your line around a rock and “Snap” she’s gone just that easy. With 200 lb test you rarely ever break off a fish. Tie your bait onto the hook with “Magic Thread” to help hold it in place. A properly baited hook and bait may catch 2-3 sturgeon if baited correctly. Cast your bait to the center of the eddy and feed out line until you feel your bait hit bottom. Hold your rod still and take up the extra slack in your line. Feel closely to tell if you weight and bait are sitting still on the bottom or sweeping along the bottom with the current. You want your bait to hold still and not sweep out of the hole. With any luck in less than 10 minutes you will be getting some action on the end of your line. Feel for the bite, but never set the hook until the fish swims off with your bait. A sturgeon may pick up and drop the bait several times before committing and taking the bait all the way into its bucket mouth and shutting the door! When the fish swims off taking up whatever slack may be in your line wait until you feel the “weight of the fish” before setting the hook. Square your body up to the direction of the fish and when the tension of the line pulls your rod tip down let him have it, right in the chops! Once you have set the hook and are fast to your first fish remember to keep a tight line always. You will be using a barbless hook which can fall out of the fish’s mouth with the least bit of slack. Sturgeon tend to jump this time of year so be ready to keep up with the slack. Watching a sturgeon jump is one of the most rewarding parts of fishing for sturgeon in the Snake River, but also a potential heart breaker…. Often you’ll have the hook pop out if you can’t keep a tight line on the fish when it breaks water.