I am probably young than you guys on here so I will explain my name i used. Phat means cool to you middle aged guys and I guess means good to you really old guys. So I have cool good attitude. Get it. ANyway I caught my first springer in the Columbia in my dads friends boat a couple weeks ago and now its closed. Neither of them sturgeon fish and Ive heard lots of guy say you get way more fish when you sturgoen fish in the Columbia. I want to learn how to do it and then get my dad and friend to take me out for them. I would also try bankfishing for them too. Anybody that can give me some basics would be phat. thanks

I forgot a couple things. this guys doesnt have a very good anchor so he wont fish up near bonneville dam but can anchor in easier water closer to Portland to about St. Helens because he anchored fine for slamon fishing. Also I wanted to mention I am crazy about fishing for steelhead. Please release all native steelhead you catch carefully. thanks

I guess you can call me coolitude. I'm too tired to give the whole rundown. For starters in the mid river areas you can fish for them with heavy salmon rods so ne need to buy a sturgeon rod. Use good strong mainline hard to beat about 40 pound braid line for sual purpose salmon and sturgeon. Then get yourself some tied up sturgeon leaders and 6 to 12 ounce lead weights. Anchor above fish you see on a good fishfinder or in some deep holes up to 50 feet deep. Watch where the other boats are fishing for them and ask questions. Use smelt! Right on the bottom and keep it on bottom. Sandshrimp or ssquid or a combination of those baits looped and thread tied onto your hook and spray that with some WD40 and some sturgeon scnet oil from the tackle shop and your in business. Let the light nibblers alone until they pull that rod down good before yout set the hook/ Tight lines.
I also should have mentioned to remember you can only keep them between 42" and 60". Don't ever bring really big ones in the boat until you measure them as legal and bonk them some if you can. Release the shakers carefully removing the hook.

[ 04-20-2001: Message edited by: Slime de Boat ]

Slime got the short version right-on. T-6 and Kelly Pt. is a good place to fish also. Dont forget the estuary either in june and july.

I prefer not to use my salmon gear because there are oversized fish all around. Hooked 2 of those when not expecting it. A tiger rod and Penn 320 with 65# tuff line works well for me.

Good luck!