Lake Sturgeon gear

Quick setup

Rod	Reel	Line	Leader
Stout medium-heavy to heavy rod, similar to a muskie rod.	Level-wind baitcasting or heavy spinning reel.	Braided line, 50 lb or more; many use 80 to 100 lb.	12 to 18 inches off a heavy-duty barrel swivel.

Rod, reel and line

Rod: Stout medium-heavy to heavy rod, similar to a muskie rod.
Reel: Level-wind baitcasting or heavy spinning reel.
Line: Braided line, 50 lb or more; many use 80 to 100 lb.
Leader: 12 to 18 inches off a heavy-duty barrel swivel.

Baits

a ball of 3 to 5 nightcrawlers, often with a minnow or two

Rigs

No-roll slip sinker of 1 to 5 oz, heavy barrel swivel, leader and a 5/0 circle or octopus hook. Use just enough weight to hold bottom. With a circle hook, tighten up and lift; with an octopus hook, give a little line, reel down and set hard.

Tips

Hook-and-line sturgeon fishing is open only on certain waters and seasons, and harvest needs a tag where allowed.
Look for deep pools and seams in rivers. Spring after ice-out is prime in some waters.

Starter setup

A 5.5 to 7 foot light to medium-light spinning or spincast rod and matching reel, spooled with 6 lb monofilament. Spincast is easiest for beginners, and a 4 to 5 foot rod suits small kids. Carry size 6 to 10 hooks, a few split shot (pinched on 4 to 8 inches above the hook), small bobbers, a couple of small spinners and jigs, and worms. Learn the improved clinch knot and the palomar knot.

Light line casts farther and draws more strikes. Heavier line and stiffer rods are for bigger fish, heavy cover or sharp teeth, not for everyday fishing.

When to size up

Fish	Gear
Walleye, bass, saugeye, hybrid striped bass	medium rod, 8 to 12 lb line, 6 to 7.5 feet
Channel catfish	medium-heavy rod, 10 to 20 lb line
Northern pike	medium-heavy rod, 15 lb or heavier braid, steel or heavy fluorocarbon (40 lb+) leader
Muskellunge	heavy 7 to 9 foot rod, 50 to 80 lb braid, heavy leader
Trolling for lake trout and salmon	8.5 to 10.5 foot trolling rods, 15 lb mono or 30 lb braid, level-wind reels
Steelhead	8 to 10 foot or longer rods, 6 to 10 lb line
Lake sturgeon	heavy rod, 50 to 100 lb braid