Jim Johnson from Lincoln, and Hi Country Snack Foods, went white sturgeon fishing with Nate Luther Guide Service (natelutherfishing.com) on the Snake River Monday.
Johnson and Dennis Peterson, also from Lincoln, fished for 11 hours with Luther on the Snake River, out of Hellers Bar, about 30 miles south of Clarkston, Washington. In August, the sturgeon fishing normally slows down when the water temperatures warm and the recreationalists take over the river.
They also just had the annual boat races take place on the river on Saturday and Sunday.
Take that all into account the fishing ended being pretty good. The two anglers hooked a half a dozen fish, with the largest one landed measuring 55 inches. Johnson had a larger sturgeon on but never got a glimpse of it, as the big lunker broke the hook on the 150-pound test line that Luther uses to fish the pre-historic fish. The fish that Johnson landed was caught in Idaho and landed in Washington, as the Snake River borders and divides the two states in the area they were fishing.
The best time to fish sturgeon on the Snake is May and June, according to Luther. The fall salmon season looks good with 100,000 more salmon than last year. For more information on the fall salmon and steelhead run and sturgeon fishing, contact Luther at 208.503.9204 or visit his website at natelutherfishing.com. Luther is also licensed to guide on the Clearwater River in Idaho under Snake River Adventures and Reeltime Fishing.
(Post written by the Captain)