Sturgeon trips · LeadHead Guide Service
Columbia River sturgeon fishing guide
Catch-and-release white sturgeon, year round, averaging 20 fish per trip.
If you want to catch a dinosaur
White sturgeon can grow past 10 feet and weigh hundreds of pounds. Some live to be 100 or older.
Our catch-and-release program on the Columbia and tributaries averages 20 fish per trip. It can be challenging, and it is a lot of fun.
A good fit for
- Families and first-timers who want steady action
- Anglers chasing the biggest freshwater fish of their life
- Any month of the year
What we provide
- All fishing gear, bait and safety equipment
- Your fish filleted and bagged at the end of the trip
- A heater when you need one
What to bring
- Your Washington fishing license
- A catch record card for salmon and steelhead
- Waders or vinyl rain gear and waterproof boots
- Lunch and drinks
- A cooler to take your catch home
Columbia River sturgeon fishing
Fishing for North America’s biggest freshwater fish
White sturgeon are the largest freshwater fish in North America. They can grow past 10 feet, weigh hundreds of pounds and live for 100 years or more.
The lower Columbia River holds one of the healthiest white sturgeon populations anywhere. Fish feed along deep channels, ledges and holes, following smelt, shad, crayfish and anything else the current brings them. That steady food supply means sturgeon bite in every month of the year.
How a sturgeon trip works
We anchor up on a likely spot, send baits to the bottom on heavy rods and wait for the telltale taps. When a fish takes, you set the hook and the fight is on. Big sturgeon jump clear of the water, peel line and take a team effort to land. Our program averages about 20 fish per trip.
Catch and release
Most white sturgeon fishing on the Columbia is catch and release, and larger fish must stay in the water. Beau handles every fish carefully, gets you a great photo and sends it back to fight again. Sturgeon are slow-growing and can take around 20 years to reach spawning age, so careful release matters.
Who it is for
Sturgeon trips are a favorite for families, kids, groups and anyone who wants nonstop action. No experience is needed. If you can hold a rod, you can fight a sturgeon.
Seasons, limits and gear rules change from year to year and sometimes mid-season. Beau keeps up with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife rules for every trip, but you can always check the current pamphlet and emergency rules at wdfw.wa.gov.
Through the year
Sturgeon seasons on the Columbia
The bite never really stops, but each season has its own pattern.
January to March
Fish hold in deep holes and the bite can be steady on cold, clear days. Fewer boats on the water.
April to June
Smelt and shad runs draw sturgeon to feed hard. Some of the best action of the year.
July to September
Warm days, long fights and big fish. Great for family trips and groups.
October to December
Fish fatten up before winter. A good pairing with fall salmon trips.
Sturgeon questions
Can I keep a sturgeon?
Our sturgeon program is catch and release.
When can I fish for sturgeon?
Year round on the Columbia River and tributaries.
How many sturgeon will we catch?
Our trips average 20 fish, though no guide can promise a number on any given day.
What is included in a guided trip?
All fishing gear, bait and safety equipment, and a heater when needed. Your fish are filleted and bagged at the end of the day.
How big are Columbia River sturgeon?
Most fish we catch are between three and six feet, and every season produces bigger fish. White sturgeon can grow past 10 feet.
Can I keep a sturgeon?
Most of the year, white sturgeon fishing on the Columbia is catch and release only. Limited retention seasons are sometimes set for specific areas and sizes. Green sturgeon must always be released.
Is sturgeon fishing good for kids?
Yes. It is one of the best trips for kids and first-timers because the bite is steady and every fish is a story to tell.
