Fraser River Sturgeon Fishing Report - September 13, 2024
What Bait to Use for Fall Sturgeon Fishing in the Lower Fraser River in Vancouver, BC
The leaves are changing, the days are getting shorter, and the sturgeon are in full on feed mode! Fall has had a hot start with multi-fish days with some very large and hungry sturgeon making their way to the boat. As you may know, fall is the time of the year that the Fraser River welcomes home thousands of salmon on route to spawn. This abundance of salmon in the river creates optimal conditions for targeting hungry sturgeon who are feasting before the cold winter months.
What is the best bait to use in the fall?
Sturgeon rely heavily on their acute sense of smell to locate food, as the Fraser River's low visibility, caused by high levels of silt, makes vision-based feeding nearly impossible. Spending most of their lives in darkness, they depend on scent to detect and target food along the riverbed. In the fall, the annual return of thousands of salmon to the Fraser River brings a massive influx of ocean biomass inland. This natural event has a profound impact on the river's ecosystem, benefiting both the flora and fauna, including the white sturgeon, which thrive during this nutrient-rich season.
As salmon begin to spawn, they release eggs across the riverbed, providing a rich food source for sturgeon. Once spawning is complete, the salmon begin to deteriorate, eventually dying and becoming an additional protein source for the sturgeon to feed on. During the fall, both roe and salmon parts are the primary bait of choice for sturgeon anglers. However, there are important considerations to keep in mind when using these bait options.
Nothing beats the early fall weather! The water is still warm enough to get up close with these prehistoric creatures.
Salmon Roe as Sturgeon Bait
The sturgeon’s sense of smell is incredibly sharp, and it’s not to be underestimated. These fish can quickly detect if something is off and will reject bait if it doesn’t align with the natural scents they’re accustomed to. When using salmon roe as bait, or any sturgeon bait for that matter, a key consideration is freshness. Fresh roe has a more natural scent, leading to fewer refusals and more bites. Since it is not always realistic to have fresh roe on hand, frozen roe will work as well. If you're using frozen roe, keep it as fresh as possible by only thawing the amount you need for the day to minimize refreezing. If your roe has been thawed multiple times or has started to spoil, it likely won’t be effective as sturgeon bait.
If you’ve river fished for salmon before, you may have used cured roe, which is treated with scent, color, and preservatives to make it more durable for float fishing. However, cured roe is not suitable for sturgeon fishing. Sturgeon are attuned to the natural smells of the Fraser River, and added scents or chemicals will turn them away.
Rigging roe for sturgeon fishing is relatively straightforward. The most common technique involves using pantyhose to secure your salmon skein or roe. Place the roe inside, twist the pantyhose tightly until it forms a golf ball-sized clump, and secure it with a knot or magic thread. Trim off the excess material, and you’ve got a roe bag ready for sturgeon. Simply hook the roe bag, and you’re ready to fish.
Pro Tip: Always wear clean, disposable gloves when handling the roe. Any scents on your hands—like hand sanitizer, sunscreen, or oily skin—can transfer to the bait and reduce your chances.
Salmon Parts as Sturgeon Bait
Using salmon parts for sturgeon bait can also be highly effective. As with roe, the fresher the bait, the better. While frozen salmon parts can still attract sturgeon, nothing beats fresh. Another key consideration when using salmon parts is the species and timing. Given the sturgeon’s keen sense of smell, if you’re using old pink salmon parts from a previous year, and pink salmon aren’t currently returning to the Fraser, the sturgeon may show less interest. They tend to favor bait that matches what's presently in the river system.
Tidal sportfishing regulations in BC allow the use of fish parts for bait, as long as they are not suitable for human consumption. However, this rule can be somewhat vague and open to interpretation, as different people may consume parts of salmon that others typically discard. To stay on the safe side, anglers commonly use pieces such as the head, skeleton, and meaty fin sections.
For best results, rig the salmon parts with gloves and handle the bait as little as possible. Leaving the bait unwashed can also give you an advantage, as the natural blood and slime act as an attractant. Washing the bait with tap water can introduce new scent that sturgeon can detect, which may reduce your chances of success.
Before heading out, always check the fishing regulations for where you will be angling. The Fraser River has different governing bodies for the tidal and non-tidal areas of the river, so regulations can vary throughout the system.
Guided Sturgeon Trips with Pacific Angler
If you're looking for an experience of a lifetime, join us on one of our guided sturgeon trips! Our jet boat is moored less than 15-minutes drive from downtown Vancouver in Richmond. After pushing off the dock, the area's we fish range from 2 to 20 minutes away, before you're hooked into a fish of a lifetime! There is no better time than now. Give us a call at 778-788-8582 or click "Book a Trip" above.