Sturgeon in the Red deer river

[fishstix]

Hi everyone.
I need some info please...
We're going to drumheller this spring. We fish the red deer river. I would like to try fishing for sturgeon. I have no idea on how to go about this.
How big of rod do I need? Line weight?
I checked the regs...downstream of the tolman bridge to the Alta Saks border there is bait allowed. What bait should I use?
How big of hook?
Oh...and I'll be fishing from shore...
I mainly fly fish and all of this is new to me.

Thanks

[Fishslayer99]

There are very few sturgeon in the Red Deer River, I read a government study a few years ago where they electroshocked a few different areas of the river and the sturgeon numbers were next to nothing. Do some searching on line and you may be able to find the info, it went into great detail on numbers and different types of fish per area. Goldeye however you will not be able to keep off your hook.

[JareS]

Spoke to an older fella last year thats been fishing the RDR in the area for years. He said its been 3-5 years since the last one was caught.

Still one of my favourite fisheries for sure. If you want to catch Sturgeon, hit the NSR, further downstream the better.

[Fishslayer99]

http://www.ab-conservation.com/downl...Jfre,AB,05.pdf

[fishstix]

Ok. Thanks guys.
I'll have to settle for goldeyes and pike.

[Sharpie]

Big walleye.

[straight]

I caught one sturgeon in Red Deer River while fishing for walleye. I used just regular pickerel rig with salted minnow. That was just a little guy, may be 4 pounds

[Bigwoodsman]

Iirc about 20 years back one was caught in Bower Ponds. The Red Deer had flooded the park and some kid caught it. Story was in the Advocate.

BW

[fishstix]

Originally Posted by Sharpie

Big walleye.

Sure. Id love to. What sort of set up do I need? I have a few spin rods. Some fly gear....
Any tips would be appreciated.

[pipco]

Though I haven''t fished that area of river ( or done much river fishing for quite a few years) you should be able to get into some walleye on a sink tip or floating fly line ( adjust leader for depth) with big leech patterns, woolly buggers, clousers or minnow patterns. 12" to 18" of 25 lb. ( or heavier) shock tippet would probably save you a few flies.

6/7or 7/8 weight should be o.k unless there are REALLY big pike and walleye in there and you're chucking and ducking massive flies.

If it works on still water it should work on a river. Walleye and pike on the fly are fun.

If you find a tributary or a hole you should be able to catch a few walleye.

I have yet to catch goldeye on the fly but they are supposed to be a blast.

[fishstix]

Thanks pipco. I'll tie up a bunch of big streamers.

[Springer]

Originally Posted by Bigwoodsman

Iirc about 20 years back one was caught in Bower Ponds. The Red Deer had flooded the park and some kid caught it. Story was in the Advocate.

BW

Or was this at the River bend Golf course Pond that had been flooded.

[wags]

Originally Posted by Springer

Or was this at the River bend Golf course Pond that had been flooded.

Yes, it was the Riverbend pond - don't recall it being a kid either, but may have been.

Cheers

[scel]

Originally Posted by fishstix

Sure. Id love to. What sort of set up do I need? I have a few spin rods. Some fly gear....
Any tips would be appreciated.

I caught my first walleye on the fly completely by accident on the RDR. I went out hunting specifically for them since. They sort of act like a big spooky brown trout would (probably why the walleye have increased and the brown trout have decreased in population). Sink tip and olive/brown zonkers in sizes 2-6 were my most successful patterns. I have also caught a couple on stonefly and SJW nymphs.

Tie extra flies though. The walleye definitely sit in the deeper slack runs. I would expect to lose a few hooks.

The good news is there are still brown trout in the section between Dickson and Red Deer and they are spectacular if you are privileged enough to catch one.

[Bigwoodsman]

Originally Posted by Springer

Or was this at the River bend Golf course Pond that had been flooded.

It's been a lot of years since that story broke so it might of been river bend.

BW

[Ken H]

I have caught a couple sturgeon in the southern portion of the Red Deer River by Hwy 41. Caught them fishing for goldeye, I was using worms for bait.