I havent yet went sturgeon fishing but am going to hit it hard this year. I want to get close to the best rod and reel available...price is no issue.
so if you could please help me out here for choosing a rod and reel and what kind of line that you would spool it with. I will be fishing the Stilly and the Columbia, and a few other rivers or bays,I am going to be targetting keeper sized sturgeon for the most part.

thanks,
holly

I fished for sturgeon, for the first time, two weekends ago on the Columbia. Went with Clancy's Guide Service. He did not use typicall pool-cue-type sturgeon rods. He used G Loomis GL3's with large bait casters, if I remember correctly. Between the four of us we C&R about 30 sturgeon, it was a lot of fun.

i fish for sturgeon all the time, and we just use our salmon gear. lamiglas or gloomis with ambassadeur or shimano reel. unless you are targeting the big ones at bonneville or the fraser river, then go for the heavy gear.

Go with a Shimano Heavy downrigger rod and a Penn GTI 320 and spool it up with 50 lb TUF Line. You'll get lots of play out of the keeper size fish plus, if you do hook into an oversized, you'll have a good chance of landing it.

Ugly sick Tiger rods. Plenty of rod for oversize and light enough to make most shakers fun. For a reel, a Pen graphite reel spooled with 80lb Tuff line plus. The whole set up is around $200 but you shouldn't need another.

I use the Lamiglas 7'0" BFC 70 H rated 20 to 50 . I use 6500 spooled with 65 power pro. This rod set up is light enough to get the fight out of the small ones and strong enough to pull in the now and then over size.

Thanks for all the replies.
Drift Boat can you tell me where to get that Lamiglas rod and how much it cost.

thanks-
Holly

First off lets me say thanx for the ppl that keep this forum I have learned lots from it. Holly I have only been fishing for sturgeon for two seasons and use a Ugly stick with a Penn 320 with 50lb Power Pro, works well for oversize if you play them and fine for keepers BUT...this is from a boat, I believe you will need a longer rod if your gonna fish from shore as you will most likely have to be casting "way out" to get in the deeper holes, not sure about the reel. see ya out there.

Sport Co. in Fife has them and will be getting more of them on monday, Ask for John.

G.I. Joe's has the PENN 320 and 330 on sale for $10 off right now. The 320 is probably the one you'll want unless you're targeting over sized.