Inside Sportfishing: Giant Sturgeon

Sturgeon are the most underrated fish we've ever had the opportunity to pursue. Prior to our trip, we'd been told fishing for them was like 'pulling on a wet blanket.' Those reports couldn't have been further from the truth. These Columbia River giant white sturgeon pulled as hard as any fish we've ever seen. Granted, they don't fight like the exotics with screaming initial runs or massive aerial displays, but they do put on a show and they definitely put a hurt to you. We had two rods explode under the incredible pressure these giants put on the gear. All you can do is hold on and go wherever they take you. We also joined Brad Cady at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Dr. Molly Webb of the Oregon State University Department of Fisheries and Wildlife to observe some of the studies they were conducting on these oversize white sturgeon. The program they have in place with these fish has to rank as one of, if not the best, fisheries management programs in the world.