If you see someone mishandling a sturgeon please call the Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) hotline at 1-800-632-5999 and report it. While the sturgeon's size and strength makes them a world-class game fish,
sturgeon fishing in Idaho is strictly a catch and release affair
.
Where can I fish for sturgeon in Idaho?
The healthiest populations of white sturgeon remaining in Idaho are found in
the free-flowing stretch of the Snake River between the Bliss Dam and the upper end of C.J. Strike Reservoir near Mountain Home, Idaho
. While some anglers choose to fish from the bank or a boat, others opt to take a guided fishing trip.
Are sturgeon protected in Idaho?
All sturgeon fishing in Idaho is restricted to catch-and-release fishing
, and fishing is only allowed on the Snake and lower Salmon rivers. All rights reserved. Photo: A 1,500lb Snake River White Sturgeon caught near Ontario, OR. Circa 1900.
Can you keep sturgeon you catch?
Fishing sturgeon in California requires a sport fishing license and a sturgeon report card, which must be kept on your person while you are fishing. California regulations stipulate that
sturgeon 4 to 6 feet in length may be kept, though you are only permitted to catch one sturgeon per day, and three per year
.
What size sturgeon can you keep in Idaho?
| Bass No limit | Steelhead Must be 20 inches or longer | Sturgeon The daily limit is 0 , must catch and release |
|---|
What is the record sturgeon in Idaho?
In addition, Idaho's current catch-and-release record sturgeon is a fish caught from Hells Canyon that was
119.5-inches long
(a half-inch short of 10 feet).
What type of sturgeon are in Idaho?
Idaho's ultimate river monster is the
white sturgeon
— North America's largest freshwater fish. These Snake River natives can reach more than 10 feet in length, weigh more than 300 pounds and live to the ripe old age of 100!
What do Idaho sturgeon eat?
They don't chew their food. Sturgeon like to slurp up
fish, mussels, crayfish and worms
.
Can you keep a white sturgeon?
Sturgeon Fishing Rules
You can keep up to three sturgeon per year
, and need to have the proper tags for them, so check California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations.
Is live bait legal in Idaho?
Answer:
No live swimming bait is legal for use while fishing in Idaho waters
. Non-swimming live bait like worms, nightcrawlers, fly larve (maggots), wax worms, etc. are allowed to be used while fishing.
Are sturgeon native to Idaho?
Idaho's ultimate river monster is the white sturgeon — North America's largest freshwater fish.
These prehistoric giants are native to the Snake River
, and they can reach more than 10 feet in length, weigh more than 300 pounds and live to the ripe old age of 100.
Are there sturgeon in the Boise River?
BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) —
An estimated six-foot-long sturgeon was found poached from the Boise River earlier this week
. Idaho Fish and Game says the fish was found near Veterans' Memorial Bridge in Boise.
How do you pick up sturgeon?
If a sturgeon is caught in the side or tail,
be extra quick to wind it in
. Their gills cannot function efficiently if not facing the right direction. If you catch a large sturgeon from a boat, release the anchor. Follow the fish.
Do sturgeons bite?
What should I do if I catch a sturgeon?
If you accidentally catch a sturgeon,
keep the fish in the water and remove the hooks
. If the hooks are in too deep, cut the line. If you need to remove the fish from the water in order to do this, use wet hands or a wet rag to support the belly.
Is night fishing legal in Idaho?
It is illegal to fish at night
.
There is no such rule in Idaho, though there are a few exceptions. Many public parks close at dusk, so ponds there would be off-limits. Salmon and steelhead fishing is limited to daylight hours. Other than that, night fishing is perfectly above-board, and it can be a lot of fun!
How much line does a sturgeon need?
Average sturgeon =
65lb spectra braid with 60lb braided nylon leader
. Big sturgeon (8'+) = 100 -120lb spectra braid with 80lb braided nylon or 120lb dacron leader.
How many Poles can I fish with in Idaho?
An angler can fish with
up to five poles or lines at a time
, and have up to five hooks per line. All lines must be attended by the angler. A two-pole validation does not allow more than five lines while ice fishing.
What is the biggest sturgeon ever caught?
The Beluga Sturgeon (Huso huso) is the biggest freshwater fish in the world. The largest Beluga ever caught weighed 1,571 kg and was 7.2 m long.
Can you eat sturgeon?
You can eat sturgeon
. They are most famous for their eggs, a delicacy also known as caviar. There are a few different ways it can be prepared, but it is completely safe to consume. Many compare the firmness and the texture of the fish to crab or lobster.
Does Snake River have sturgeon?
The Snake River offers an outstanding fishery for smallmouth bass, trout and sturgeon
in one of the most unique destinations in the northwest. You can expect to catch 100's of bass and multiple sturgeon in a day during prime months.
Where do you fish for sturgeon on Snake River?
Snake River from Swan Falls to C.J. Strike Dam – the best sturgeon fishing begins
just below C.J. Strike Dam near the turbine discharge and in the main channel below the spillway
.
Is there sturgeon in the Salmon River?
We fish for smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, and
huge white sturgeon
. Both light weight spin casting and fly fishing work well. Hughes River Expeditions provides equipment and instruction, and we provide sturgeon fishing gear. Salmon River Sturgeon can reach more than 9 feet in length!
What is the best bait for white sturgeon?
White Sturgeon are not particularly picky when it comes to baits.
Squid, smelt, herring, salmon, trout (where legal) and other dead fish
will work fine. For the larger ones, it is a good idea to use a large bait. When the shad are running a nice 2lb shad makes a great bait for large White Sturgeon.
How old is a 20 foot sturgeon?
Sturgeon can live to be
more than 100 years old
! The white sturgeon can grow 20 feet long and weigh more than 1,500 pounds! White sturgeon from the Columbia River have been known to go as far south as the Sacramento River in California and as far north as the Frasier River in Canada.
How big can sturgeons get?
Atlantic sturgeon can grow to
approximately 16 feet long and can weigh up to 800 pounds
. They are bluish-black or olive brown dorsally (on their back) with paler sides and a white belly. They have five major rows of dermal “scutes,” or bony plates, along the length of their body.
Do sturgeons breathe air?
Gills.
Fish breathe oxygen from the water
, similar to how humans breathe oxygen from the air. The gills on sturgeon are found just behind the head and under a gill flap. As water flows into their mouth, it flows over their gills which remove oxygen from the water, like human lungs remove oxygen from the air.
