Sturgeon or Sterlet

[Dales]

especially when they are not supposed to stock them any more as they are an alien species

 

Yes I had a feeling that may be why I never had to much luck finding many

[weirwulf]

They look remarkably alien and fight a very fast battle even though mine were mainly mid/low doubles. A species that is rewarding to catch and lovely to hold. my next species has to be Zander so if any one can put me in touch locally that will go down well

[Vagabond]

They look remarkably alien and fight a very fast battle........ A species that is rewarding to catch and lovely to hold.

Agreed - here is a piece I did for a year-long species hunt Norma and I entered (and won) on another forum in 2007

 

The Rodbenders of Stubs Forge Pond

 

Species Hunt 2007 No 12 Wels catfish and No 13 Sturgeon (Sterlet)

 

After the tiddler snatching at Cow Gap on Wednesday, I wanted to put a decent bend in a rod somewhere, and chose Stub Forge Pond, just north of East Grinstead.

 

Leaving home at 7.20 (the fishery opens at 8am) I caught the fringe of the rat race converging on the M23 – nose to tail through the East Grinstead bypass, gridlock at Felbridge traffic lights. … and these poor souls do this EVERY week-day. A swift left-turn into a country lane left it all behind – well, almost – the fishery lies behind an industrial estate, and right under the flight-path from Gatwick airport.

 

Never mind, remove the hearing aid (being deaf has just a few advantages), chose a side from which I can't see the container lorries, and concentrate on my swim. Magic – I'm in a world of my own immediately.

 

 

Put a couple of lobworms on a float ledger rig close to the lily pads on the top right, and with the left-hand rod fished two more lobworms lift-method in a deepish marginal swim. It is important here to fish the margins before the day-shift (ie those who fish from 9 to 5) comes tramping round the pond.

 

Sure enough, I had a result within ten minutes – the left-hand float disappeared – nothing fancy like a "lift" bite, just the float gone and the rod doing its best to follow it. The rod arched and bucked – yes, a decent fish on – playing deep, not fast but a dogged relentless pull.

 

Slugged it out for about fifteen minutes, then at last I was gaining line, and a leprous creamy-yellow flank showed deep. I already had the net in place, just a matter of bringing the fish's nose right up to the spreader block, else she might curl a tail back over the net rim. She's there – LIFT, take the bale arm off, swing the net over the unhooking mat, and there is my wels catfish for this year's hunt.

 

A couple of pictures, and return the cat.

 

 

Out with more lobworms, but now came a nuisance carp that I did not bother to photograph.

 

The carp were persistent, and ran me out of lobworms.

 

Time for Plan B. Size 4 hooks, and free-lined lumps of luncheon meat to try for a sturgeon. Sturgeon are greedy devils, so no mucking about with small baits – Cut the luncheon meat into one-inch squares, each a quarter–inch thick . Thread six such squares onto the hook - that gives a composite lump of meat of 1 x 1 x 1.5 inches. Much better than trying to put a single lump on all at once (unless you prefer to thread the bait before tying on the hook – which is a lot of hassle every cast) The composite lump also leaks flavour better than a cube.

 

Freelined the two luncheon-meat baits at the bottom of the shelf. After half an hour, off went the left-hand rod, and on striking, I felt lively resistance. No catfish this, more like a miniature submarine at full throttle. The fish was determined to reach bankside overhanging bushes , and as fast as you turned it from one margin it would make a semi-circular run for the bank on your other side. I had dipped my second rod early in the fight, but was ever conscious of the danger of the fish fouling the other line – one of the disadvantages of using two rods.

 

However, at last the fish was ready for the net, and here she is.

 

 

No sooner had the photo been taken and the fish returned, than the other rod was off, the baitrunner whirring, and the rod-tip kicking in the marginal weeds (remember I had dipped this rod). This was a slightly smaller sterlet'

 

Well, I thought, three points in the bag, time to go carp-fishing with floating mixers.

 

So downwind to dog-biscuit corner I went.

 

Set up a free-lined dog biscuit on the right-hand rod, all ready to drop in by the marginal flags, and started to trickle a few freebie mixers in. The left-hand rod I baited with luncheon meat again.

 

Soon a carp or two showed interest in the free dog biscuits, so in went some more. I was hoping a bigger-than-average carp might come to the biscuits. Yes! That swirl looked like a good fish, time to "dip me biscuit".

 

I now realised I had made a strategic error as far as the carp were concerned. The left hand rod suddenly roared into action, the baitrunner yielding line like there was no tomorrow. Dropping the right-hand rod, I struck, and encountered the fiercest resistance of the day. The fish ran nearly the length of the pond, then turned, and made a determined run for dog-biscuit corner. Into the flags it crashed, and then lashed furiously at the surface – putting an end to hopes of catching a carp there in the immediate future.

 

This was the biggest and angriest sturgeon of the day. Run followed run. My arms were aching well by the time I netted it.

 

Rather carelessly (I was a bit tired by now) I took its picture, not realising I had cropped the tail out of the picture, but at 45 inches long that sturgeon was some consolation for scuppering my carp fishing.

 

Dales, if you want to come down to Stubs, pm me - as it is three years since my last sterlet I rather fancy having another go.

____

 

RNLI Governor

 

 

Nothing matters very much, few things matter at all - Plato

 

...only things like fresh bait and cold beer - Vagabond

Edited April 10, 2010 by Vagabond

[Vagabond]

my next species has to be Zander so if any one can put me in touch locally that will go down well

 

Not too many in our neck of the woods.

 

Had one at Wintons a few years back, but haven't heard of any recently.

 

Old Bury Hill (Surrey) is the nearest place where you have a good chance.

 

....or spend a weekend up in Cambridgeshire. Should be "easy" because

Zanders have eaten all the other fish in the fens

Edited April 10, 2010 by Vagabond

[Guest Chris Perch]

Hi there is quite a few sturgeon in maggitts lake basildon - not the most tranquill or attractive lake to fish but they run quite big a friend of mine had an 18 pounder about 7 years ago so they must be much bigger now. but like i say its not a pretty lake and near to the main a127 so a bit of noise pollution.

 

stambridge fisheries rochford holds sturgeon not sure of the top weight but I had an 11 pounder last spring.

hope this helps and tight lines!

[Dick Dastardly]

They look remarkably alien and fight a very fast battle even though mine were mainly mid/low doubles. A species that is rewarding to catch and lovely to hold. my next species has to be Zander so if any one can put me in touch locally that will go down well

 

As Dave said your pretty stuffed for a local Zed.However your more than welcome to tag along on one of my Autumn trips tpo either the Fens or the Worcs Avon.

[Dick Dastardly]

As for Sturgeon/Sterlet young Natty did several of his exellent reports last year on a water where he had a few.(Sussex if I remember right) As I said then I reckon it would be a great species for an AN fish in if one of the guys who has had a few would kindly organise one?

[Dales]

Cheers guys the info has been very interesting and Stubs looks like a good option. I will definatly give it a go later on in the summer.

[Dales]

They look remarkably alien and fight a very fast battle even though mine were mainly mid/low doubles. A species that is rewarding to catch and lovely to hold. my next species has to be Zander so if any one can put me in touch locally that will go down well

 

Not too many in our neck of the woods.

 

Old Bury Hill (Surrey) is the nearest place where you have a good chance.

 

Yeah Old Bury Hill is a good option. I caught my first Zander there last October on my visit and ended making quiet I few trips as I enjoyed the zander fishing so much. They operate a Predator Season between 1st October and 14th March.

 

So if you can wait until October it's not a bad place to try. There is a Travel Lodge close by and nearer the time its worth keeping an eye out for there reduced rates. Just before the predator season closed this year I done a 2 day session staying at the local travel lodge the night between the fishing days. If you have a long way to travel its a good option if you can get a cheap room rate.

[weirwulf]

Thanks for your input on the Z's guys. I think it will probably have to remain a desire for this year due to other commitments but I think I like the sound of the fens