What to Learn About Columbia River Sturgeon Fishing

Columbia River is known for the many fishing opportunities there are for various species, especially sturgeons. The area offers one of the best sturgeon fishing experiences on the West Coast! However, sturgeon numbers have declined throughout the years, due to sea lion predation and food source reduction.

In response to the decreasing population, the lower section below the Bonneville Dam was closed for sturgeon retention back in 2014. Not to worry though, as Columbia River sturgeon fishing is still very much alive!

Read on as I show you an informative guide on how to fish for sturgeon in the Columbia River.

Columbia River Sturgeon Fishing

There is much to learn about Columbia River Sturgeon fishing, which is an exciting activity all anglers are aiming for when in the area. Check out the facts you should know when you’re targeting sturgeon in Columbia River below!

The White Sturgeon and Columbia River

If you aren’t familiar with the white sturgeon, they are the world’s largest freshwater fish! This is considered as a prehistoric and primitive fish, having large bony plates, long and flat snouts, as well as deep-forked tails.

All the sturgeon you’ll find in Columbia River are white sturgeons. These are monster fish preying on the bottom of the river as they migrate from the Bonneville Dam to Astoria.

These fish are bottom feeders, so when you fish for them, it’s best to anchor the boat and use fresh bait. They have 4 barbels nearing the snouts, which is used for feeling and smelling.

You can expect to catch sturgeons that weigh more than 100 pounds from April to September. Furthermore, these fish can grow up to 15 feet long and live up to 150 years old, so expect a challenge!

When hooked, these monsters would usually jump repeatedly, so ready your strength and fishing skills.

This is why Columbia River is extremely popular, thanks to the white sturgeons, also known as the Monsters of thee River. There are even trophy sturgeons that are 7-12 feet long, weighing anything between 150-1000 pounds!

When you fight and reel in fish this large, you’ll need more than 100 yards of fishing line out within mere seconds. And if you do catch it, it will take about an hour just to get it on the boat! Exhilarating, isn’t it?

Tips on Columbia River Sturgeon Fishing

If you plan on trying to catch sturgeon, here are a few helpful tips you can follow:

• Huge white sturgeon would bite various baits. Fishing guides recommend using anchovies, squid, and sand shrimp. Smelt and shad also make great bait when they begin running, depending on the season.
• In Columbia River, the sturgeon’s favorite feeding ground is in the estuary. This is because it has a ton of bait fish, shrimp, worms, among other food sources that these monster fish love. It’s best to fish around the shallow areas of the Desdemona Sands.
• Look for holes around the vast flats and opt to fish during smaller tides. Besides the estuary, you’ll want to try going to Baker Bay.
• This is a pretty strong fish, so make sure that you use robust equipment, from your fishing rods down to the line. Opt for muskie gear and/or the strongest freshwater gear you have, as sturgeons will fight, and these fights can last for an hour or so! With heavy gear, you can pull in sturgeon quicker and put less stress on the fish, which will be better for releasing.
• When a sturgeon does bite, they won’t hammer and it would actually be a subtle bite with swimming weight or taps. You don’t need to use hard hook sets with circle hooks. Instead, tighten your line through reeling, then moving the rod away from the sturgeon.

The Columbia River Zone Regulations

Of course, you shouldn’t forget about the rules and regulations when going Columbia River Sturgeon fishing! One thing you should remember is that they are catch0and-release fish. This was implemented to help with the sturgeon populations.

These are a few of the notable rules and regulations to take note of:

1. Oregon and Washington resident and non-resident fishing licenses are valid, unless the state’s season is closed. Anglers who aren’t Washington residents should carry a valid Oregon angling or shellfish license when they are landing fish and/or taking shellfish by boat in the area.
2. Anglers can only have one daily catch limit for all fish species when fishing in the Columbia River, even if they are licensed in either Oregon or Washington. Furthermore, there is a restriction of one annual catch limit of white sturgeon.
3. You may only keep white sturgeon that measures 44-50 inches, measuring from their nose tip down to their tail.

You can learn more about the different regulations of the state and in Columbia River here, as they also have exceptions to the rules! It’s also best to hire a fishing charter and fishing guide to take you around Columbia River as they are knowledgeable on the rules and can also help you land a couple of fish.

Sturgeon Fishing Post-Pandemic

Are you a bit iffy about Columbia River sturgeon fishing amid the pandemic, not to worry! Sturgeon fishing has opened since May 10, 2021, in the Columbia River estuary. They are open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from Wauna power lines. Take note that it will close every 2PM.

However, do watch out for emergency rule updates and news about Columbia River sturgeon fishing here!

Wrapping It Up

When fishing for sturgeons in Columbia River, you will need to make sure that you follow the proper rules and regulations! Also, you may want to charter an experienced fishing guide with you to help you increase your chances of getting a catch. That way, you’ll have a fun and memorable experience as you go on catching sturgeons!

Did you learn a lot about Columbia River sturgeon fishing? I sure hope you did! Don’t wait any longer and plan your trip to the Columbia River for fishing opportunities and contact us for fishing charters or guides for a fun experience!