OK first off let me say, sorry i have not been out fishing and have had no updates for the website. but it looks like i going to get out end of next week, finally a couple days off!!!!!
For you hunting sturgeon the best action seems to be above Bonneville dam right now. but with the warmer temperature's we hoping to see the smelt stat up the river which will mean the migration of sturgeon for the fast Bonneville water down river toward longview, this time of the year can make keepers a plentiful in the Multnomah channel and the Willamette river.
of course we also realize that no fishery seems to be the same, especially the last couple years and each time I go out I am having to change up my strategy to come home with that fish.

I am going to Westport (Power lines) Tuesday April 05 ... (Tommorrow). I'll post an update. Not real optimistic with the lack of smelt ... we'll see.

Hey Lwagg2,

I am going to go to the Bonneville dam to fish for some springers, but was interested just to change things up a little if you knew of a location near the dam to fish for Sturgeon from the bank. Thought if the chinook fishing wasn't producing maybe I could get in on some Sturgeon action. I have no clue about the area, the only Sturgeon fishing I have done has been on the snake river.

RAE

the dam offers some of the greatest fishing just head on over the dam to the islands, hint find the big rock just west of the parking lot. also if you are fishing west of the dam towards the fishery try tanner creek and fish just on either side of it. best of luck
oh yeah fresh sandshrimp and a 8 oz sinker with a couple nails in it works great, keep the leader to hook short about 3 inchs long i normally use a double wrap of 25# line for this and then use a 12# dropper about 18 inchs long off a double barrel swivel withthe main line and hook tied to the top eye and the leader off the bottem eye.

Thanks for the info. One other question if I go across the dam will I be in Oregon and will I need an Oregon license. I currently only have a license for Washington state.

RAE

Bradford Island I believe is Oregon I am uncertain about cascade island the first island from the Washington side. if i was going to bank fish for sturgeon on the Washington side i would probably move down to wards beacon rock, always a good chance there the other option is i fish skamania island quite often which is down by horsetail falls, i like to fish between the island and Washington or just above the island, here is a link to a great map of the area espn.go.com/outdoors/f...e_Dam.html
I am heading out in the morning for a little sturgeon fishing but taking the springer tackle with as well, I was going to go to st. Helen's area but I hear the seals are taking that area over so I might launch out a rooster rock and head up river to wards horsetail falls. depends on what the fish partner wants to do. I will post back tomorrow on how it went and hopefully some pics of some fish.

Hey Lwagg2,

Awesome, I hope you guys do great tomorrow!! Please definately let me know how you did (pictures would be awesome). I am dying here just waiting to get my crack at the water down there I've set my date on the calendar for the 16th, 17th, and 18th. Hey, if I was to possibly want to charter someone to take us out when we got down there even for a half of a day. Do you know anybody resonably priced that you would recommend?

RAE

I personally have never used a guide i have done it all trial and error. I had a great teacher from the bank and we just took what we knew and applied it to water with some great reading, If you don't have a boat and you want to get out you can check back with me as it gets closer if I am going out then i would almost certain have a open seat or 2 but with my schedule i don't know what I am working.

check the guides on this site under links & stuff if your interested in that option

Cool I'll just take your advise and go trial and error from the bank. I definately will have to take you up on that offer sometime. That would be a real thrill for my dad.

RAE

well me and fishing pal Jeremy made a run out to rooster rock and fished eastwards to horsetails falls today. river was very calm Oz lead held it to the bottom tried 3 of my proven holes and all produced shakers, the final hole netted Jeremy his second keeper ever a fat 46.5 inch fish sorry i don't have pics forgot i had the camera in all the excitement. excellent day for fishing rain held off till about 4PM the wind was calm, and the fish where active as ever

Hey Lwagg2,

When do you think you're going to take another trip out for Sturgeon? I've seen the pictures you have posted and it looks like you have alot of success on your trips. I would love to be able to come down and get some real pointers on how to catch these fish. I have never actually landed one. Let me know!!

RAE

funny you should ask my buddy i took out a couple weekends ago is hooked like a shaker on smelt. so to answer your question we are tentivly going to be on the river this saturday, i say tentively cause i going to the dentist on firday and they might pull my tooth, if it goes normal then i be fishing saturday and hopfully catching as well.
would love to hook up sometime and do some fishing together

Sounds great, just keep me updated. This whole season has got off to a rocky start and I would love to change that around.

RAE

The Hanford Reach and McNary Dam areas are good area for sturgeon RAE and much closer to Spokane than Bonneville. No hordes of coasties to deal with with either.

I have seen people fishing for what I assume are sturgeon from the north bank below Priest Rapids dam. There is also evidence of people fishing the Coyote Rapids area from the north bank but I have no idea how to reach the spot without a boat or if it is any good. I have never seen anyone do it but Savage island north of Ringold would be good. There is a long 40' channel and the 20'-30' flat is well defined and should be easy to hit from the bank. It would be a hike and you might get muddy but if you are tough enough to battle oversize fish from shore then the walk should be nothing

Another good spot that would be easier for you, and maybe more productive, is be just below McNary dam. The big pool below the rock point just north of the freeway bridge or the north end of the old railroad tunnel a couple hundred yards north of that should both be productive.

Thanks alot Pasco_steelhdr.

I just want to get into some good fishing here real soon. Some people told me to try the Sanake river over by the little goose dam. Not sure if it will produce but I sure can give it a try.

RAE