Sorry, this one was not caught on the fly (you cannot catch Strugeon on the fly) but still wanted to share. Talk about Girl Power! My wife joined me for a day on the water in SW BC this past Monday and boy did she have her work cut out for her.
After a 40 minute battle, we had the beast of a White Sturgeon in hand for a few pics and a kiss good bye. The fish had a fork length of 8’ 9" with an estimated weight of over 400lbs (tremendous girth). I’m proud of her for sticking in there for the battle. Stacey was flat out exhausted when the fight was over but the fish swam away no problem. What amazing creatures these Sturgeon are. Very cool indeed . . .
When you set the hook, the missle launches!
Here is a shot of me helping Stacey hold the fish
Here is our good friend and one heck of a river guide, Capt. Len Ames helping Stacey with the fish.
Very Nice!! By the way, I knew someone who decided to try to catch sturgeon on the fly. After a lot of effort and experimentation, he did catch one. Gave it up after that.
Thanks
Being that White Sturgeon have very, very tiny eyes and are pretty much exclusively scent feeders, without applying scent of some kind to a fly I just don’t see it happening. He must have had a LOT of time on his hands OR targeted another species that perhaps has larger eyes and does some sight feeding.
I’ve seen a paddlefish fair hooked on a fly. Only once, though. Who knows what it was thinking. As to scent feeders, catfish are predominately scent feeders as well, but they will slam a fly, so perhaps if the stars and planets align and everything is just right, a sturgeon probably would as well. Who knows?
It was a white sturgeon. The fish was caught in the Sacramento River Delta. The gentleman who caught it (he recently passed away) was retired and had lots of time and enjoyed challenges. I believe the fly he used had been ‘scented’ by catching several stripers with it first. He succeeded in making the catch after putting in a lot of time then never tried it again having decided it was not worth the effort to try for a second catch but still satisfied that he met is goal. It was not a particularly large specimen.
hold up your first 2 fingers… and a size 10 streamer hook (2xl)
This was hooked on the outside jaw… within the width of the first 2 finger (less the 1 1/2inches from the corner of the mouth)…
In salmon fish there is something called “FLOSSING”
using heavy weighted flies line up the fish and as your leader drifts into his mouth you set the hook dragging the fly into the fish…
This fish was caught on a size 10 sculpin on a 7wt rod using 8lb Maxima…
No I dont think this fish eat the fly Im 99.99% sure the line drifted into his mouth…
this was about 12:30 in the morning… Last spring after we had a big flood.
Was casting a spinnerbait at first light on a lake in MO and the hook happened to go across the bill of a paddlefish. Got a couple head shakes and the hook slipped off. It was the first paddlefish I had ever seen. Very cool. Who knows if your paddlefish actively swam to your fly, mouth open to eat it but it’s a very cool catch all the same. Sure beats “catching” them with snag hooks like many do in the region.
What an awesome catch. I also have thrown a lure or two with a bait caster and don’t feel guilty about it…just sayin’
I’m going to show my wife the pix and show her that women fish too.
Congrats Dr. Fish and wife.
Though I see that your wife an friend are wearing the proper hat. 
