Presently the most popular recreational fish in the Columbia River from the mouth to McNary Dam, the White Sturgeon are found along the west coast of North America from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, to Monterey, California. Although this species is considered to be anadromous, some populations are landlocked due to dam construction. Optimal spawning temperatures are 13 to 14 degrees centigrade. It is believed that the large dispersement of eggs insures survival by utilizing more feeding areas and rearing habitats by larval and post-larval Sturgeon, as well as protection from predators. Bear in mind that all fish do not grow at the same rate with a given year, due to available food supplies, age of fish and gender, but this should give you a basic idea of their length to age ratio.
Sturgeon are primarily bottom feeders and eat just about any dead fish that they can find.
They also forage on crayfish, fresh water clams, sand rollers and lamprey. Be prepared to battle a single fish for 1 to 2 hours as they are extremely strong, and with the fast and deep currents of the river they have a certain advantage over you. E-Mail us yours now.