I got a text the other day from a friend that was interested in a sturgeon fishing trip and wanted to know the best time to go. I told him that I had an amazing day fishing for these monsters below Rock Island Dam with Austin Moser in May. The big, oversized sturgeon move into this area in the spring for spawning and anglers can often hook fish that are 8 to 10 feet long. It is a catch and release fishery and for many it is the only chance they get to do battle with fish in the “big game” category. I remember the day that I fished with Austin very well. Eric Granstrom was with us to do a video of our experience and Nate Stull was along as well. All of us got to wrestle with a big sturgeon and one was very memorable. We hooked the fish in the fast water below the dam, and it ran right for the highway side of the river where the current was the strongest. I was on the rod and couldn’t do a thing with it. It jumped twice and only after a battle that lasted at least a half hour, we got it next to the boat. We figured it was 12 to 13 feet long! If you watch the video, you’ll see it about did me in.