ALBERTA'S LIVING DINOSAURS

Click Here For Directions To The North Saskatchewan River 

When you think of sturgeon fishing few would think of Alberta as a hot spot for angling these prehistoric leviathans. But think again, Alberta has some great opportunities to fish for these river monster thanks in no small part to SRD Fisheries Manager Daryl Watters. Daryl has been conducting research on the North Saskatchewan River for over 10 years and has been compiling data that plays a big role in developing management strategies to protect these awesome animals. Daryl invited the Fishing Alberta crew to join him and project volunteers to test angle for Lake Sturgeon on the North Saskatchewan River. Daryl’s experience was obvious as he took us right to the spot, set out the lines and had us reeling in fish all in under 30 minutes. Once the fish were landed they were carefully placed in a soft, water filled cradle. Daryl, with the help of the volunteers then recorded length and weight data and equipped each fish with a number coded floy tag. Once the information was taken all of the fish were carefully released back to the river.

Getting Geared Up

There's lots of gear to get ready for the fishing, and even more for the TV production.  Many hands make light work.

The Last Step is a Doosey

Production Manager/2nd Camera, Vince Wasch, and SRD Fisheries Manager, Daryl Watters lug a box full of production gear down to the boat.

Is It Going To Fit?

Vince and Daryl figure out how to get the gear loaded into a 12 foot aluminum.

Picture Perfect

Here's a shot of the view down stream from the launch point.  Although the weather was typical of the fall season in Alberta,  gray skies, a howling wind and the threat of rain were of little consequence to a group of anglers with Sturgeon on the brain.

What's it Weigh?

The crew didn't have the lines in the water for more than a few minutes when the bells started ringing.  In just 10 minutes Alex and Daryl had landed 2 nice little Sturgeon.  In this shot Daryl takes a weight to record data for use in the ongoing Sturgeon study.

A Welcome Addition

Daryl and Alex pose with this nice little specimen.  Anglers are usually after the big fish, but for researchers like Daryl Watters these little fish are exciting.  First, it shows that there is natural reproduction in the river, second, this little guy will be tagged and monitored, providing valuable information about growth rates, migration, and survival of Sturgeon in the North Saskatchewan River.

Oh Yeah Baby!

Alex shows off an awesome 40+ pound Sturgeon.

You Go Girl!

Volunteer Michelle Sadee poses with a huge Sturgeon that she battled from start to fiinish.  This bruiser put up an awesome battle but couldn't get away from Michelle's experienced hands.  She's caught more than a dozen monster Sturgeon during her volunteer work on the North Saskatchewan River.

Lookit These Suckers

To catch Sturgeon you have to fish the bottom and that means that you'll end up catching a number of different bottom feeders.  Alex poses with a Silver Redhorse sucker, and and a Shorthead Redhorse sucker.  Daryl shows off a Common White Sucker.  These opportunists couldn't resist the big clump of worms that were being offered.  Suckers can put up a great fight and play an important role in the overall biology of any river system.  make sure you handle these 'janitors' of the river carefully and release them as you would a Walleye, Pike or Sturgeon.

Sturgeon Virgin

Project volunteer Trent Ambrock poses with his very first Sturgeon.

He Ain't Ugly

Sturgeon may not be as pretty to look at as a Trout, but you have to respect the beauty of any creature that has survived, as you see it, for over 100 million years,  Notice the barbells just under the snout, used for sensing food on the bottom. These fish have no scales and are well protected from predators by their armor plated scutes, sleek profile, and intimidating size.

One For The Records

This fish was caught and tagged back in 1996, as part of the Sturgeon study.  Daryl was excited to get a "re-captured" fish from 5 years ago.  The new data we recorded will be compared to the original data and prove valuable growth rate and migration information.

Thanks Daryl

Alex and Daryl show off another beauty Sturgeon.  Thanks for a fabulous trip Daryl and for your tireless work making sure that Albertan's have great Sturgeon angling now, and in the future.