I got the rare opportunity to be part of a group of anglers in pursuit of keeper sturgeon with guide Jacob Murden of Rising Son Guide Service. I say rare because there is only one area on the Columbia that still allows sturgeon to be kept. The fish have to be in a slot size limit, making it all the more challenging. I’ve only had sturgeon once, and it was delicious, so I was excited at the chance to take home a fish.

We launched on the Oregon side at Umatilla on a brisk Sunday morning and started working various holes below the McNary Dam. Jacob set us up with a variety of baits to try to entice the fish into biting. It had been cold, and the water temp was on the cold side, so we expected a challenge.

Nothing in the first hole, after an hour we pulled gear and ran up to just below the deadline. Out went the lines and this time we quickly got a fish on, but lost it just as quickly. Heartened, the hook was re-baited and sent back down. It didn’t take too long before we again got a solid bite which angler Paul grabbed and played. This fish was solid and we were all excited at the possibility of bringing in our first keeper. Into the boat he came and out went the measuring tape.

One inch short! Darn the luck. After joking about various ways of stretching the fish one inch Jacob eased the fish back into the river and it swam off safely. Next year that fish will be a keeper!

We worked more holes but the bite was just not happening for us on this day. I have to say; sometimes the measure of a guide is how hard he works when it’s a tough day of fishing. Jacob never gave up. His positive attitude and work ethic was first rate.

As a consolation we pulled out the walleye gear at the end of the day and tried some jigging (I missed a nice bite) and then trolling. Angler John got a dandy of a walleye to end the day and take home for a fish fry.

If you’re interested there is still a season going for the keeper sturgeon. It’s a unique chance to get to bring home one of the more tastey eating fish in the Pacific Northwest. Give Jacob a call at 509-492-8852.

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