Sturgeon…Bliss, Idaho
By
Dave Langston
“It was fantastic and pure energy driven fishing,” says Blackfoot angler Dave Jackman. “This was the most fun I have had in years on a fishing trip,” adds Pocatello angler Bob Langston.
Recently we went and filmed a sturgeon trip with THIRSTY FISH OUTFITTERS (208) 539-0108 with sturgeon guide and expert Justin Johnson in Bliss, Idaho on the Snake River for XONTV.TV and we were not disappointed. In fact we were treated to three fish from 5 foot to 7 foot long.
“Last week we landed 9 fish in one outing with the longest just over the seven foot mark,” says Johnson. With Justin’s knowledge and rigging up with the proper bait with a small rainbow trout the momentum kept going into our trip.
Our first fish of the day struck on our first cast and within 10 minutes of the cast. “I set the hook and felt nothing but pure power,” adds Langston. After 5 consecutive jumps the seven foot prehistoric fish allowed Langston another 15 minutes of runs and then broke off. “Even though I lost him it was exciting and gave me the battle of a lifetime,” he says.
Next, Jackman hooked into a 5 foot fish that stripped off line like a locomotive pulling a single box car and then became airborne. “This has to be one of the toughest fights if not the toughest I have ever experienced,” says Jackman. After 15 minutes we landed the fish along side the boat and took pictures while the camera crew was filming. Not only did we take pictures but Justin also explained to us how sturgeon eat and also the body structure of the fish and how it has changed since prehistoric times. “These fish had spines sticking out of their backs millions of years ago and baby sturgeons still do. These were for defense purposes insuring their survival.
We had one more fish to get in and now it was my turn. The strikes were very subtle and the pole stayed bowed over but did not move for at least five minutes. I decided to set the hook and was rewarded with 6 foot of tackle busting action. My fish never did break water but decided to dog down for almost 20 minutes. Up river and then down river, under the boat and back out, this was a tough one to land. Eventually he turned belly up besides the boat and we again took pictures and admired the beast that gave us a day full of excitement.
Johnson was using surf rods with huge bait casting reels, 50 pound test monofilament spooled on seemed to do the job. We also used a ¼ pound sinker and size 10 hooks with a frozen rainbow trout to entice our quarry.
“Fishing should be good from April – June and then it slows a bit during the hot summer months but fish are still biting at that time. Just not as aggressively. For updates and weather conditions or to book a trip give Johnson a call at (208) 539-0108. He knows what is biting and when before any of the tackle stores in that area.
The sturgeon show will up within the next few weeks for you to watch and also on Channel 12 at 6:30 pm – 7:30pm every Monday.
