2012 Episode Synopsis
by Charlie Wray

Episode 220:TUF Sturgeon and Fraser Pinks

Today, the Mercury Marine Destination takes me out to beautiful British Columbia for more of the Fraser River monster White Sturgeon. This is simply a trip I can’t get enough of, and this time, I have two special guests.  Old buddy Rex Nelson from Western Filament (makers of Tuf-Line XP) and his son Brett. Rex and I have spoke of Brett coming on this trip for a couple of years now, and Rex decided he is now old enough to handle some of these monster fish on his own. Then later in the show, we enjoy the hard hitting Pink Salmon as they are absolutely slamming jigs! Len Ames from Lens Sportfishing Adventures always puts me into fish, and this time is no different.  Loads of big Sturgeon, and so many Pink Salmon, that we lost track of the numbers. I don’t normally care about numbers, only the fun, and we had fun! Len’s Sportfishing Adventures 886-991-0287 or www.lenssportfishing-bc.com

Rather than timing the hook set perfectly with a regular hook style, Len has been using the Mustad Ultra Point Demon Perfect Offset Circle Hooks #39943NP-BN in 10/0 and 12/0 sizes.  This 4X strong hook is ideal for the monsters that swim these waters and has proven excellent holding power on long battles and jumps that risk regular hooks wearing holes and falling out. The hook set is a little unnerving, there is no hook set!! The rod remains in the holder until the line is being pulled out under a stiff drag pressure.  This allows the Circle Hook to turn and lock in perfectly. Once the line is pulling out, the angler can pick up the rod and apply as much pressure fighting as you dare, when these hooks get locked in, these hooks are really locked in, what a great set up! The real trick with Circle Hooks, is the gradual pressure (no hook setting action, or jerks) so it allows the hook to rotate and lock in the mouth perfectly, this also prevents deep hooked fish and makes for very healthy releases. The other trick is baiting the hook, you want to leave as much of the gap open as possible, so even large baits are only hooked lightly, leaving the hook open.

I have been using the new Okuma Makaira reels for a few years now. This is a high end Big Game reel that is designed for years of dependable service on monstrous fish.  If you are serious about large fish, these Makaira reels feature 2 speeds and an incredibly smooth drag, even with the immense drag pressures these reels are capable of creating, they remain smooth.  Helical gears for extreme smoothness and gear meshing, silent anti-reverse, ratcheting drag lever, these reels have it all.  The first turn of the handle will tell all, these reels are very well built. For the Fraser River Sturgeon, I have found the size 20 to be ideal, even for the long runs of the largest Sturgeon. The 130 lb test Tuf-Line XP packs tightly on the reel, and the no stretch Tuf-Line XP ensures a solid hook placement. Big comfortable jet boats and the knowledge of where these fish hold is what make this such a great trip.  Simply a must do trip if you have never done this before.  If you have, you know what I mean, you just need to keep going back.

Then, with so many Pink Salmon in the river, we all decide to have some fun. Every two years, the Pinks run the rivers and this year there are loads of them in record numbers! Len and I did this a couple of years ago, and it is simply a blast.  These aggressive fish will hit a pink jig like they are truly trying to kill it.  The silky smooth Okuma VS reels were packed with 15 lb test Tuf-Line XP, and with about the same diameter of 4 lb mono, this 15 lb test is not only extremely thin, but with the no stretch feature, you simply feel everything, even the slightest bump. I always use about a 2 foot leader of Seaguar Fluorocarbon with my braid. The reason being, the braid is very visible, and I want a natural presentation. The Seaguar not only gives an invisible approach, but the safety of some stretch as a shock leader.  To help as well, rods can be a little more towards the soft action with braided lines to buffer from ripping hooks out, and the Okuma SST rods have perfect Salmon and Trout actions. Don’t get me wrong about ripping hooks out, braided lines are incredible, and if you have never used them before, you are really missing out. But if you are use to mono lines, there is more stretch than you realize with these mono lines, and they are very forgiving. I am sure you feel the stretch when snagged and trying to break the line, some are like an elastic.  Changing to braid is a new world of rock hard hook sets, incredible sensitivity, and no stretch, so reels need to have great drag systems, and rod actions can be on the softer side to help absorb shock. Once you get use to the feel, it is very hard to go back.

I use both, a double Uni Knot to join my braid and 15 lb test Seaguar Fluorocarbon leader material, or a small Mustad diamond eye swivel. If the situation I am facing looks like there will be a lot of spinning or twisting involved (spinners, spoons) or even great numbers of twisting Pink Salmon, then the swivel will get my top choice. This technique is so simple it is incredible, casting pink Worden’s Maxi or Lil Corky jigs out, and jigging back.  These fish love to hit on the drop, so make sure you give it time to fall.  Also, use the lightest jig you can get away with to allow more time to hit on the drop.  If you use a heavy jig, it will drop like a stone and snag the bottom far too often. When the Pinks come in every two years, this is too much fun to miss out on.

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