Northwest Fishing Reports

Just wondering if anyone has tried using downrigger weights to get to the bottom and hook the line on the clip? It would make sense to get it to the bottom in current with a 10lb ball while anchored down, then when you get a bite it releases or you yank it off and set the hook.. I've never been sturgeon fishing but I'm trying to make it down to the Dalles soon. The only problems I see are swaying, dragging your downrigger weight and if someone went bad quick it might take a bit to to get the weight up... Has anyone tried this or have any thoughts on this?

Sounds like a good way to break your downrigger. Maybe someone has tried something similar though.

For sturgeon fishing you really don't need that much weight to get your line down there. We fish typically by Astoria OR and use a 16oz ball with a slider. The current can get going down there and the 16oz weight has worked well for us. Your probably fishing what 10-25 ft of water depth? I also agree with Bentrod, I'm not sure you'd want to risk damaging your downrigger for that. I suppose you never know till you try it but, that could be a costly experiment.

Let us know if you try it and how it works. Good luck to ya on your trip.

Very true, getting your bait to the bottom is not worth breaking a mag10 =) but there is a positive side. First, you could fish weightless, which may let you go with lighter tackle.. Second instead of using a downrigger to get your 10lb ball to the bottom use a hand line? It shouldn't take too much effort to pull up your weight and attach it to the sidewall cleat with your bait attached even if needed since it would only be 2 or 3 ft behind the 10lb weight. I'm thinking this.. let out your smelt 2-5ft and hook it to your clip, then drop your 10lb or 8lb weight by hand to the bottom, once you feel the bottom you tie off the weighted line to the side wall cleat. This should keep your smelt near the bottom I'd assume. It may even keep you from swaying back and forth? once everything is sitting on the bottom and you get a bit it should release itself from the weight. Then someone pulls up your weight and ties it off at the surface. Now your fighting a sturgeon with no added weight and if you do break your line on a fish/snag you wouldn't be leaving 16onces of lead in the river.. on that same note, if your weight gets stuck you would be leaving 10lb of lead... either way i guess it's just something to try, like I said before I've never been sturgeon fishing from a boat on the Columbia river so you guys who do would know better then myself. Thanks for the input and ill keep you all posted if it works.

My experience with hooking sturgeon is more than them taking the bait and running. I have had to pay out line when they are mouthing it, and usually it takes me 3 good tugs before I feel it's in their mouth. After that they are either there or gone. I think a light set on a clip would be a waste and a heavy set will run them off. 2 cents please!

NO!

Putting a downrigger ball on bottom in the Columbia can lead to 2 things.
1. The ball, possibly the rigger, and worst of all the mounting area of the rigger will be ripped out.
2. If the ball hangs on bottom the boat can be pulled under by the current. I've seen 2 boats go down in a instant as they tried to free a stuck anchor. They tied the anchor line off to a stern cleat and tried to pull the anchor with the boat. Both boats were gone in seconds. Thankfully everyone got pulled out alive.

Not worth the effort. First you have to anchor your boat from the bow, and if there is little current you can just get to bottom with a pound of free sliding lead. If you anchor up in heavier current you need to put out a drogue on each transom corner so you don't swing back and forth and run your kicker motor forward at low speed to help hold position. That way you can boat plunk to your hearts content. Besides in the heavier current areas are more likely to hold oversized sturgeon rather than keepers.

wolverine wrote:

2. If the ball hangs on bottom the boat can be pulled under by the current. I've seen 2 boats go down in a instant as they tried to free a stuck anchor. They tied the anchor line off to a stern cleat and tried to pull the anchor with the boat. Both boats were gone in seconds. Thankfully everyone got pulled out alive.

My wire is rated 180lb.......................bet it breaks before the boat sinks. Bet it would more then likely pop before a manned float tube could be pulled under. Please don't confuse an anchor line with DR wire or braid.

fishnazzi wrote:

wolverine wrote:

2. If the ball hangs on bottom the boat can be pulled under by the current. I've seen 2 boats go down in a instant as they tried to free a stuck anchor. They tied the anchor line off to a stern cleat and tried to pull the anchor with the boat. Both boats were gone in seconds. Thankfully everyone got pulled out alive.

My wire is rated 180lb.......................bet it breaks before the boat sinks. Bet it would more then likely pop before a manned float tube could be pulled under. Please don't confuse an anchor line with DR wire or braid.

In that cases knock yourself out and go try it out and let us know how it went.

fishnazzi wrote:My wire is rated 180lb.......................bet it breaks before the boat sinks. Bet it would more then likely pop before a manned float tube could be pulled under. Please don't confuse an anchor line with DR wire or braid.

How many different ways and by how many different people does it take for you to understand that this idea is dangerous and unsafe? The Darwin awards exist because some folks are just a little hard of hearing.

I'm going to side with the "this could be a bad idea" camp.

One thing that hadn't been mentioned was the idea of fishing with a lighter rod. In my experience, if you hook an 8-10 foot sturgeon, the last thing you'll want is a light rod. Trust me, you'll have a hard enough time bring it in with a stout rod. Check out the sturgeon video we did:

Columbia river 8 foot sturgeon

I would go with the keep it simple concept, just use the weight, it really does't take away from catching these fish.

fishnazzi wrote:

wolverine wrote:

2. If the ball hangs on bottom the boat can be pulled under by the current. I've seen 2 boats go down in a instant as they tried to free a stuck anchor. They tied the anchor line off to a stern cleat and tried to pull the anchor with the boat. Both boats were gone in seconds. Thankfully everyone got pulled out alive.

My wire is rated 180lb.......................bet it breaks before the boat sinks. Bet it would more then likely pop before a manned float tube could be pulled under. Please don't confuse an anchor line with DR wire or braid.

It's obvious that the fishnazzi has never fished the Columbia with his downriggers. It's his choice but if he wants to attempt to prove the point and use them down there I hope that he takes out a million dollar insurance policy and names me as the beneficiary!:cheers:

AAAAHHHHHHHH Phoooeeeey......... Lets get real before we all start jumping to conclusions. I've fished the lower Columbia with down riggers and never had a problem. If anyone thinks a 10# ball will sink their boat, better get a new boat. An anchor pull a boat under, yes! DR ball no. I put more weight over the side when I lean over to take a ...........
Besides if you are on anchor and you put a couple of DR balls on the ground there is going to be less stress than hanging a couple drift socks off the stern. I say go for it and let us know how ya do.

LOL!! What a split in opinions on this one! Sturgeon really don't require a lot of technique. This one is being way to over thought considering your doing this off of a boat and you can easily pick up and move if the bite is not there after an hr or two. If you watch people sturgeon fish, you throw your line out there and then sit back and wait. Someone above mentioned waiting for 3 tugs and that's exactly what I do as well. Simple is best in my opinion with this fish.

No spit!!!! Look for sandy bottom, find sandy bottom, look for fish on bottom, go up stream a bit, drop anchor, toss in line with stinky spit, wait for fish to swallow, reel,reel,reel.

I'm glad people found enough interest to post their thoughts, after reading some experiences and first hand knowledge of that fishery it's pretty obvious that it falls in the category of "if it ain't broke don't fix it". I just bought the anchor/rope and the rest is on its way so I hope to be launching at The Dalles soon and join in on some reports. Whats a good number of rigginsto make up for a two day trip anyway? thanks.

SsendaM wrote:I'm glad people found enough interest to post their thoughts, after reading some experiences and first hand knowledge of that fishery it's pretty obvious that it falls in the category of "if it ain't broke don't fix it". I just bought the anchor/rope and the rest is on its way so I hope to be launching at The Dalles soon and join in on some reports. Whats a good number of rigginsto make up for a two day trip anyway? thanks.

one other thing regarding anchoring on the columbia, check out this video from a guy that pioneered anchorign systems for the columbia. I don't know what if any system you have, but havign seen this one in action I can tell you it works and makes your anchoring safe and easy to pull up:

EZ Marine Products Anchor System

(girls in bikinis alert!)