Monster of Celiilo Fishing Article

I had explained to the Doctor and his teenage son that the fish we were seeking
would stand second to none when it came to heavy weight fighting strength and
determination to stay in the 100 foot depths laying below my boat.

I think they grasped my guide's talk better as they watched me rig a whole, 3 pound
shad onto the 7/0 hook and 75 pound leader. They laughed a bit and shook their
heads as I taped two railroad spikes together, tied the spikes with some grocery
twine and then to the three-way swivel to provide weight to hold the baited rig near
the bottom of the pool we were anchored in. Somehow the concept of hooking a
fresh water fish over eight feet long had not come home to roost with these two.

I gave a demonstration on how to cast such a cumbersome hook-up (this time
without the all too-frequent backlash) and successfully had both of their rods set in
no time. The Doctor's bait had no more than hit bottom when it gave the long,
steady tattletale pull that told me something approaching the length of my 20'
Duckworth was inhaling the king-sized bait on the other end.

"Doc," I said, "stand up, lean back on that rod and set the hook like you were trying
to break it." The good Doctor did as told, the tuna rod held and the 50 pound line
was bow-string taunt as he immediately replied that he was hung on the bottom.
About that time there was a tremendous jerk on his rod that almost pulled him from
the boat and about 10 yards from gunwales a 12 foot sturgeon surged out of the
water, then crashed back into the Columbia sending a cold spay into the boat. Line
was fair ripping off the big Penn reel as the brake screamed a shrill protest. The
fight was on!

Read the entire article "MONSTER OF CELILO" here.

by G. D. Summers

Ever dream of catching that above-the-fireplace sized Sturgeon? Despite their looks, sturgeon are considered exquisite
table fare; smoked, baked or stir-fried. Once know as the Czar's fish in other waters, woe be the peasant that ignored that
royal declaration. Baits are personal preference; squid, rotten fish, smelt, anchovy, pickled herring and various
commercial concoctions all get a play.