Sturgeon Fishing Guide
Come along for giant sturgeon fishing with our charter in Idaho. This isn't your average fish, our sturgeon fishing trips are for serious anglers who want to experience the thrill of landing a BIG sturgeon. Contact us today for more details!
Sturgeon Fishing Guide
Come along for giant sturgeon fishing with our charter in Idaho. This isn't your average fish, our sturgeon fishing trips are for serious anglers who want to experience the thrill of landing a BIG sturgeon. Contact us today for more details!
Sturgeon Fishing Charters in Idaho
Hells Canyon Sport Fishing provides guided Sturgeon fishing on the Snake River of Hells Canyon. These waters boarder the states of Washington, Idaho and Oregon. Our operation is based out of Lewiston, Idaho.
The Great White Sturgeon is the largest species of Sturgeon and the largest of all fresh water fish. Catching and getting a picture with a giant Snake River Sturgeon has been a life long dream of many anglers. A fish between 8-10 feet in length that can jump clear out of the water, peel yards of line and put your endurance to the test is an amazing experience! Our sturgeon guides have spent many years helping make these dreams come true for our customers.
Guided Sturgeon Fishing Trips We Offer By Season
Spring Sturgeon Fishing April - June
Sturgeon fishing in the Spring in Hells Canyon can be challenging but rewarding. High water flows from spring runoff wake up these Snake River Sturgeon after their long winters rest. Sturgeon become semi dormant starting in December while the river temperature is in the 30’s and bite can be particularly tough. As river temps begin to rise into the mid 40’s around mid March the Sturgeon Bite starts to take off. The Snake River can be a challenge to fish when river levels rise to the tops of their banks. Fishing from shore is almost a no go in many of the normal sturgeon holes.
You will most often find the sturgeon fishing guides of Hells Canyon Sport Fishing anchored, hovering or on their spot-lock electric trolling motors in the eye of the eddies. This center of the eddy has little current and also collects food for the sturgeon as it floats down stream. The “Eye of the Eddie” acts similar to a toilet bowl and sucks any drifting wounded or dead fish down to the bottom where sturgeon feed. Salmon smolts and spawned out steelhead make up a large portion of the sturgeon diet in April and May. Good Sturgeon holes this time of year are based off of current speed and not depth. When the river runs high and muddy some of our most productive spots are in less than 20 ft of water. The deeper Eddys are great as well. 60-80 feet of calmer water at the center of an eddy will most always have sturgeon in the spring time. The main thing to remember is slow and steady current. You need your bait to remain solid to the bottom without drifting around or sweeping out of the hole. We like to position the boat in the current adjacent to the center of the eddy. Our rods are baited with cut bait such as salmon belly meat on a 10/0 sturgeon hook. A 24 oz lead weight will hold our offering solid to the river bottom. With rods casted or dropped into the hole don’t be surprised if action happens fast. More often than not if there is a sturgeon willing to play you will be seeing some action within less than 10 minutes.
When the Sturgeon starts to bite it may just begin as a peck, peck, peck at the end of your rod. Never get in too much of a hurry to try to hook your fish. A giant Sturgeon may bite like a small fish at first. Picking up the bait and dropping it over and over again. Let them eat the bait and pull up the slack in your line. When the Sturgeon has taken the bait all the way into its mouth it will start to swim off. You will feel the rod begin to load up and soon you will feel the pressure and weight of the fish as the line comes tight. Now is when you reel down into the fish and set the hook. The sturgeon's reaction to the hookset can sometimes be violent. These monsters can strip line, head shake and jump like a tarpon. Most anglers underestimate the power and fight they will experience trying to land a giant sturgeon. Good fishing technique includes always squaring up to the fish as it fights to your left or right. Pumping up on the rod and keeping the line tight as you reel down. Level the 200 lb braided line onto the spool with your thumb as you take in line. When you see the line start to straighten out and move toward the surface be prepared for your fish to breach. This can be one of the most rewarding moments of fighting a White Sturgeon, but also the most critical. If you can’t keep your line tight as the fish jumps it may throw the hook in the process. Reel hard and do your best to keep tension to the fish and avoid a heartbreaking loss on the jump.
Landing a large sturgeon in the spring is a challenge. These fish are brutally strong and have exceptional endurance in 40-50 deg water with tons of dissolved oxygen. Once your fish is to the shore, waders can be helpful for getting good photos in the spring. Getting in the river with your fish for that bucket list photo is an awesome experience on its own! Come fishing for sturgeon in Idaho with our guides.
Summer Sturgeon Fishing July - September
As the weather warms up with summer, the river levels drop and the water clears up considerably. Boating activity and Sturgeon fishing pressure begins to rise as well. Many of the local anglers want to take part in this fishery with the nice long warm days of summer. On any given weekend you would expect to see anglers in most of the “Common” sturgeon fishing holes. By now these Sturgeon have been fished hard for 2-3 months and with rising water temps the sturgeon bite gets to be a bit more finicky. River temperatures will rise into the 60’s or low 70’s and the spawned out Steelhead and Salmon smolts are no longer available as a food source.
Our sturgeon fishing guide after many years of guiding in all river conditions gets the feeling that the combination of the warmer water temps and the rising fishing pressure put the fish into a mode where they are much pickier at what baits they are willing to commit too. Sturgeon will turn to food sources like Smallmouth Bass, Suckers, Mussels and crayfish. Knowing when to change the style of baits and presentation comes with many years of experience. Looking for sturgeon with our electronics becomes more critical. Finding actively feeding fish outside of the normal spots will separate our guides for most of the “Local Anglers”. Mistakes need to be minimized and time management will become important on the tougher days. Summer Sturgeon fishing can be amazing when your guide knows these rules of the road to summer Sturgeon success.
Many of our largest Sturgeon of the season will be caught in the heat of the summer! Getting an early start to beat the heat is a great option. It will give you the opportunity to hit the best spots first before other anglers are on the water. Being patient and sitting on a hole for up to an hour may be what it takes at times to draw a large Sturgeon to your baits. Sturgeon are similar to a shark and they can smell their prey from a long ways off. Sometimes it just takes a while for the Sturgeon to get to your bait. There will always be days where your choice of bait may not seem to matter, But on those days where the bite is at its toughest, our sturgeon fishing guides at Hells Canyon have found that nothing will beat a freshly caught steelhead smolt as bait. These hatchery steelhead are released at Hells Canyon dam and can be abundant some season. Using a small spinner tipped with some worm is an effective way to target these fish. Freshly cut in half and bloody is the best bait on those toughest days. There is just something about a fresh and soft bloody trout that will get even the most finicky Sturgeon to commit! One bonus of landing Sturgeon in the summer is the photo opportunities are awesome! Getting in the warm water with your fish and having nice clean clear water provides the best picture opportunities!
Fall Sturgeon Fishing October - November
River temperatures begin to cool off by October and dissolved oxygen is again up to better levels in the river. Sturgeon will begin to feed up for winter and this aggressive feeding behavior becomes apparent in their willingness to bite. The action picks up quite a bit from the warmer Dog Days and heat of the Summer. This time of year the Snake and Salmon rivers are full of Fall Chinook Salmon, Steelhead , Smallmouth Bass and suckers that make up the bulk of a Snake River Sturgeon's diet. There is no lack of feed for sturgeon in the fall season Most of the guides and anglers will turn their efforts toward steelhead fishing here in Hells Canyon during these months. With Sturgeon fishing pressure to a minimum fall is a time when some of our best Sturgeon fishing opportunities are available . Large Hells Canyon Sturgeon can be quite easy to catch this time of year for anglers that would much rather be fighting a 10 ft fish than a 10 lb A-Run Steelhead. Steelhead gills, Salmon bellies, and fresh trout all seem to work well as bait this time of year. River levels are still on the low side making most all of the shore fishing spots a good bet.
Our Idaho sturgeon guides will either anchor, spot lock or drop bait and pull into a beach to set the lines. With the aggressiveness of the fish this time of year if you are not getting bit in the first 15 minutes it is time to move. You just can’t force it. Keep moving until you land on a feeding Sturgeon. When you do it will be most likely an immediate hook up. Keep your hooks sharp, your line in good condition and manage a good solid drag setting. It can be the little things that will make the most difference at the end of your day!
Winter Sturgeon Fishing December - March
Winter in Hells Canyon can get very cold. Air temperatures below freezing are common in the mornings. River temps on the Snake River in Hells Canyon can drop into the lower 30’s in the dead of winter. Large sheets of ice will often be coming out of the tributary rivers like the Imnaha , Salmon and Grande Ronde during the cold snaps. Mid 30 degree water temps slow down the metabolism of all the fish in these rivers including the white Sturgeon. Sturgeon will feed very little in late winter and tend to bunch up and go dormant to save energy. Our sturgeon fishing guides rarely fish for sturgeon during the coldest parts of winter, but for one who’s willing to commit the time and patience Sturgeon can most definitely be caught in the dead of winter. One great bait for winter Sturgeon is definitely raw salmon roe. We take the type of netting used to tie up steelhead egg clusters and tie a large Sturgeon version of a spawn sack. Never use eggs cured in Salmon or Steelhead egg cure. Raw eggs will always work the best, even if they had been previously frozen. Eggs tied up in this netting will stay on the hook well and Milk Out in the river current leaving a scent trail that cold dormant sturgeon will find appealing to resist. Look for slow water that is near the deeper pools in the river.
Bring lots of hot coco or coffee along with all your best warm clothes and a good propane heater. Patience will be the key. Bring your best bait and find good winter holding water. Catching large sturgeon in the winter is possible and can be a lot of fun if you prepare for the cold, go into the day with the appropriate expectations and wear your lucky sturgeon hat! Tight lines and good luck!
Top Notch Boat / Gear / Crew on Your Fishing Charter
Hells canyon Sturgeon live to be over 100 years old and grow to over 10 feet in length. Catching and landing Monster sized Sturgeon that live deep in a river with heavy current, monumental sized boulders and ledge rock can be challenging at best. This is where you gear is put to the test and if anything does go wrong it will be a disaster! Our guides at Hells Canyon Sport Fishing have spent years developing a system of rods, reels and gear that have proven to be a solidly affective weapon when hunting these prehistoric giants!
Rods - We use a custom Sturgeon specific rod blank developed by Batson enterprises. This 8’ rod is then custom built using extra heavy components like a machined aluminum reel seat, Solid metal carbide insert tip, a composite tune rail style fore grip and a solid composite rod butt. These rods have all the power you could ever need with a softer tip that allows you to see the bite and lets the fish take the bait just enough before getting the hook pressure.
Reels - Avet reels are well known on the west coast by Tuna fishermen. These reels are made in the USA and come in many sizes and configurations. We have been using the HX model single and 2 speed reels for years. They hold plenty of line capacity, have an amazing seemingly unbreakable drag and at the end of the day they are completely dependable. The power knob handle fits your hand just right and our clients never have issues operating these great reels. We order ours in anodized Blue to match our boats!
Line - Power pro is a braided spectra type line that has been our go-to Sturgeon line and leader line for many years. It comes in yellow, white, red and green. We feel that white is the best over all color, but some of our guides prefer the yellow. We will often run the bottom half of our spools with 150lb and splice into 200lb for the top half. At the very end a top shot of 50 yards of 250lb Power Pro is the insurance that we have learned will almost eliminate all breakouts on sharp rock ledges.
Hooks - Maruto 8/0 and 10/0 barbless circle hooks have become a complete game changer in our hook to land ration on these river monsters. These hooks are the strongest for their size that we have found. Their shape holds bait well and holds a hooked sturgeon even better. Super sharp, well designed and extra strong! Trust us these are the best Sturgeon hooks you can buy!
Rigging - We begin by snelling these hooks with 4 feet of 250 lb leader. The leader is attached to the main line with a heavy duty ball bearing swivel. On the main line we run a slider that attaches to the weight. Weight can vary from 10-30 oz depending on river conditions. This is a simple hook, line and sinker combo the uses the best components for the ultimate success.
What about bait? Having the right bait is one of the most critical components to catching Giant Sturgeon. Old fish that have been feeding on very specific types of food are extremely picky as to which types of bait they will take at different times of the year. Our guides use different unknown baits that other guides would never believe. Join us on your very own Hells Canyon Sturgeon trip to see what might be the Bait of the Day!
How's Sturgeon Fishing Going?
Sturgeon Fishing FAQs
Where do you Guide for Snake River Sturgeon?
Our sturgeon fishing charter provides guided Sturgeon fishing on the Snake River of Hells Canyon. These waters border the states of Washington, Idaho and Oregon.
Our operation is based out of Lewiston, Idaho.
What Might a Typical Day of Guided Sturgeon Fishing Look Like?
Our clients will meet their professional guide at Heller Bar Boat Launch around 6am (daylight) in the morning. Your Sturgeon guide will introduce himself and help you get loaded into the guide boat to start your day of Sturgeon fishing. Your group will be back to the launch around 4 pm. Plan to have an 8-10 hour day of Sturgeon fishing.
How Many Hours on the River Should We Expect?
Most days are a minimum of 8 hours and may last up to 10 hours on the water. Our guides love to Sturgeon fish, so don't be surprised if you are out all day!
When is the Best Time for Snake River Sturgeon Fishing?
Sturgeon fishing on the Snake River is open year round in Idaho and we consider Spring, Summer and Fall to be the best time for Sturgeon fishing opportunities.
Why Should We Try Snake River Sturgeon Fishing vs Other Species?
The Great White Sturgeon is the largest species of Sturgeon and the largest of all fresh water fish. Catching and getting a picture with a giant Snake River Sturgeon has been a life long dream of many anglers. A fish between 8-10 feet in length that can jump clear out of the water, peel yards of line and put your endurance to the test is an amazing experience!
Our sturgeon guides have spent many years helping make these dreams come true for our customers.
How Big Do Snake River Sturgeon Get?
The average sized Snake River Sturgeon we catch in Hells Canyon is 6-8 feet in length. We have boated many fish over 10 feet long and nearly 500 lbs! Now that is a true Giant!!!
How Old is a 10-ft Snake River Sturgeon?
Idaho Fish and Game estimates a Snake River Sturgeon over 10 feet to be well over 100 years old.
Should We Bring Our Own Fishing Gear?
No. We provide you all top quality gear for each angler on our trips. The rods, reels and line are very specialized to our environment. If you have a spinning rod you would prefer to use to catch bait with you are welcome to bring it along!
Will We Need Waders?
No they are not necessary, But….One of the coolest things about catching a giant Snake River Sturgeon is getting a photograph that lasts a lifetime. Early spring Sturgeon fishing takes place in cold waters and waders may help you get in the water with your catch for that best photo opportunity.
What Kind of Boats Do You Use to Guide Sturgeon Trips?
All our Sturgeon guide boats are open style Jet Boats. They are welded aluminum fishing specific boats completely open so not to impede your fishing experience. We have an amazing fleet of boats and certainly have some of the finest Sturgeon fishing guide boats on the river. Our boats range from 23’ - 34’ in length.
How Many Sturgeon Fishermen Do We Need to Reserve a Boat?
You can reserve a Sturgeon guide boat with as few as 2 anglers. We have 2 person minimum boats, 4 person minimum boats and 6 person minimum boats.
How Big Will Our Boat Be?
Our Sturgeon guide boats get bigger with the group size. For example…If you book a 2 person trip we will reserve you one of our 23’ outboard boats. If you book a 4-6 person trip we would book you with one of our 25’- 34’ boats.
What Are Our Lodging & Accommodation Options?
On the Snake River we offer Hells Canyon Resort to accommodate our clients on their overnight trips. This lodge is all inclusive with Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included with your overnight stay. For our clients that prefer to stay in town we highly recommend staying with the Hells Canyon Grand Hotel in Lewiston, Idaho or Holiday Inn & Quay Convention Center in Clarkston, WA. Both hotels offer our clients room discounts. You must call them directly and let them know you are fishing with HCSF at the time of booking to receive your discount.
What Should We Wear?
We have 4 distinct seasons in Idaho. Remember you will be fishing from an all open boat so whatever the weather is you will be out in it. Spring fishing can bring occasional rain and cooler conditions. Always bring good rain gear and dress in layers. Summer fishing can be hot. Bring your water shoes and wear a swimsuit under your clothes. You will want to take a swim in the 70 degree water! Fall weather can be cold in the morning and beautiful later in the day. Please bring a small bag with all your extra clothes and rain gear to be ready for whatever the day may bring.
What Fishing Licenses Do We Need and How Do We Acquire Them?
For all our Sturgeon trips you will need a general IDAHO FISHING LICENSE for each day you plan to fish. You can download your Idaho license through the Go Outdoor Idaho smartphone app. Trips that start at Heller Bar will need a Washington State Discover Parking Pass for parking in that location.
Do You Provide Lunch & Drinks?
Trips that include overnight lodging with Hells Canyon Resort will include breakfast, lunch and dinner. For day only trips you will need to bring your lunch and drinks. We have plenty of room for your cooler and a bag of food and such. Our guides will have bottled water on board, but bring your own soda or other beverages.
Would It Be Okay to Bring Our Kids?
Absolutely yes!!! We love to teach kids of all ages to catch fish, maybe even their first fish!
Can We Take Our Fish Home to Eat?
Not Sturgeon. White sturgeon have been 100% catch and release in Idaho since 1975. If you would like to keep some smallmouth bass to eat your guide will gladly clean your catch for you!
How Much Should I Tip My Fishing Guide and Deckhand? What About the Lodge Staff?
Gratuities are always appreciated by our guides and staff. If you feel that you were well taken care of, please feel free to leave a tip. 15%-20% of the total trip cost is typical. The guides and deckhands work separately from the lodging staff so please tip your guide, deckhand and lodge staff separately.
Can You Accommodate Anglers That Require a Wheelchair?
Absolutely! Our guides will take the extra time and attention needed for all our clients to have the accommodations they need to have an awesome experience. Fishing with Hells Canyon Sport Fishing can be experienced by everyone!
Is Hells Canyon Deeper Than the Grande Canyon?
YES! It is 2000 feet deeper!
How Do We Book a Sturgeon Fishing Trip with Hells Canyon Sport Fishing?
It's easy! You and our office staff will discuss fishing options, times and dates that work for your group. Once your date is decided on we require a 50% security deposit to lock in your date on our calendar.
Does Hells Canyon Sport Fishing Offer Gift Certificates?
We sure do! Surprise that special person in your life for their Birthday, Fathers or Mothers day, Christmas or any occasion with the gift of a guided sturgeon fishing experience with Hells Canyon Sport Fishing!
How Does Payment for our Trip Work?
A 50% security deposit is required to reserve your dates at the time of your booking. The remaining cost of the trip is due 30 days prior to the day your trip starts.
Deposits can be made by check or paying with credit card (plus a 3.5% credit card fee).
Does Hells Canyon Sport Fishing Have a Cancellation Policy?
Cancellations need to be received 60 days prior to your Sturgeon fishing trip in order to receive a full deposit refund. If cancellations occur 30-60 days prior to your Sturgeon fishing trip, we will issue a credit that expires 1 year from invoice date. If cancellations occur within 30 days of your Sturgeon fishing trip, there will be NO REFUND. Final payment is due 30 days before the time of the Sturgeon fishing trip.
No Show Policy - Each guided Sturgeon trip is issued a start time. Our Sturgeon fishing guides will wait for a reasonable amount of time (1 to 2 hours) for groups to show for their guided Sturgeon trip. When a group does not show for their guided Sturgeon trip, full payment is due, no refunds or credit is issued.
What Kind of Fishing Gear Do We Use?
We like to use a 200-pound braided fishing line. Our river is full of sharp rock and using this heavy line all but eliminates break offs.
Our preferred bait is fresh caught that day. Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass and Salmon meat are the best baits you can use.
Fishing Hooks - 8/0 - 10/0 Circle or J hooks are what we normally use to catch large Sturgeon. Gamakatsu, and Muruto are our favorite GO-TO Hooks.
Where We Fish for Sturgeon
Our Sturgeon fishing trips take place in the Deepest Gorge in North America. Two thousand feet deeper than the Grand Canyon the Snake River carved its 8000 ft deep passageway through sheer basalt cliffs making the border waters of Idaho and Oregon states. At the bottom this wild river glistens of whitewater rapids and deep calm pools. This is the true“Hells Canyon” section of the Snake River and designated by the USFS as the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. This is an 80-mile roadless section of the Canyon that is limited to those licensed outfitters who possess one of the limited USFS special federal use permits for this area. Don’t be fooled by Washington guides advertising Hells Canyon Sturgeon trips that operate under a Washington Guide License. Those trips are limited and are never allowed into the true “Hells Canyon” Section of the Snake River.
35947 Snake River Rd
Asotin, WA 99402