saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Well guys, Ben and I got out on the river bout 0630. Got out to the fishin grounds bour 0645.
I didn't catch a fish on my 1st or 2nd cast but bout #5 I hook a nice one.
After a little fight we net a nice 25 inch 5 pounder.
We go inside the slough after that but nobody home. So we go back out front and I land another one but only 21 inches bout 3 1/2 pounds.
Can't find any more castin so we start trollin.
We're markin fish everywhere but none want to bite Rattle Traps so I put a deep diver on but it didn't help.
We're gonna make another pass so I go back to my RT.
We're trollin up river when all the sudden something grabs my lure and just SCREAMS line off the reel. By the time I got the rod out of the holder and it finally stopped screamin line off I bet he probly pealed 300 to 400 feet of line off the reel.
I fought this thing for bout 15 to 20 min and I really figured it was a Bat Ray. I just wanted to get my 10+ dollar RT back.
By the way, I'm only usin a medium heavy bass rod and the 5601 Abu Garcia reel that Mr Twister gave me. ( I incorrectly said it was a 6000 on my last post)
ANYWAY, I finally get it up to the boat and it's a STURGEON !

It wasn't a GIANT but it was bout 50 inches long and close to 60+ pounds. I had a little bit of trouble liftin it for the pic.
After the pics we released it. What a wonderful fish. It was hooked in the upper right side so we couldn't have kept it even if it had been in the slot limit. It stops at 48 inches.
We kept trollin but only were hookin small Stripers.
We were gonna call it an early day and go back to the dock. We had caught 6 Stripers and the Sturgeon.
Got back in the UPPER river and decided to troll bavk to the dock.
We started hookin a fish every pass. Hook one , land it and go back and troll over the same area again.
We hooked 5 fish and landed 4. One was another 21 incher bout 3+ pounds the other 3 were shorts.
When we finally made a pass without getting bit we kept goin on to the dock. Was off the water by noon.
3 nice fish in the well and a great day. Thanks Ben for another successful day on the water.

Pic of trollin rod above the fish in Striper photo.🤠👍

Joystix2 Loc: Santa Rosa, California

Wow awesome day on the Napa river. One day I'll have to try that river out....

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Awesome catching Steve. That dinosaur must have been a heck of a fight. Glad you and Ben caught some eaters too. Thanks for the pictures buddy.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Thanks Fred. I will say that not only is it a personal best, That's the biggest fish I've caught and landed in my life.

Wv mike Loc: Parkersburg area. Wv

Heck of a catch. We are supposed to have some in our waters but in 60 years of fishing never seen one or heard of one caught. Great catch.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Thanks Mike. It was for me anyway.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Some awesome catches there Steve and well done on your new PB. Thanks for the share, glad to see good things happen to good people for a change.

Jer Loc: N. Illinois 🇺🇸

Great job. Really nice fish.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Well then double congratulations are in order. PB Sturgeon, and all time PB.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

For me anyway.
Ben caught one last year, I think it was, that was much bigger but they had to keep it down in the water. Too big.
Don't remember if he took any pics of it but it was BIG.

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

Congrats on the all-time PB, Steve. That’s a horse! 👍

DVTracker Loc: Harrisburg, PA.

Nice fish Saw. Congrats on catching the sturgeon and it being your PB. Thank you for sharing.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Nook Loc: Vacaville CA

Wowser! Great day on the water!

Nook Loc: Vacaville CA

It rained like crazy here in Vacaville today. Any rain while you were out on the Napa?