Oversize sturgeon fishing is fabulous right now, with multiple hook ups on fish eight to twelve feet everyday. We are fishing depths of up to 100 feet deep. The currents in the Columbia have slowed and the water temps are coming back up: sturgeon thrive on this. They will seek deeper water in the day to cool off–shallow water at dark and early morning. Some sturgeon are spawning right now, so if you know where to go catch them after they have spawned out that’s an option. Their tummies have been full for a long time with eggs, now empty and with a small shad run the fish are hungry. I do not try to catch them on the spawn, but I do know lots of areas where they feed afterwards.
Using whole shad, fillets of shad, salmon belly meat, or fresh non-pickled squid you will be rewarded. The oversize sturgeon fishery will last into September, with August being the peak of the fishery for the summer.
Multiple species trips are possible, with an 85 percent chance of catching limits in just a few hours of your day.
Keeper sturgeon fishing has slowed a bit, but we have been fishing in some areas where it’s catch and release and have been averaging upwards of 35 nice-sized four to five feet fish. The oversize and catch and release fishing at Umatilla, Oregon will continue to be at it’s best through August.
Elmer Hill – Mid Columbia River Guide Service
(541) 969-2537
