"When you have a change in light, the sturgeon don't always bite. If the sun comes out, the bite will stop like someone flicked a switch — and I mean within seconds," Rico said. "If it's a clear day and it's been sunny all day, they'll bite. But once clouds move overhead, the bite will shut down."

Weather fronts affect sturgeon basically the same way they do other species. You'll want to stay away from incoming cold fronts or drastically changing weather conditions. But don't take this observation the wrong way: You can catch sturgeon in any weather.

You don't need to be on the water at first light to find success chasing sturgeon. The bite tends to be on and off all day, so there's no right time to be on the water. In fact, Rico says the best fishing is usually at midday.

THE RIGHT STUFF
Employing the right gear is another sure way to find success. From a boat, anglers can typically downsize their gear because they have the ability to move with the fish. Rico, and many other guides, use salmon rods for sturgeon fishing. This lets anglers enjoy and play the fish, instead of simply horsing it in as they would do with heavier gear.

Rico fishes with rods anywhere from 7 feet, 6 inches up to 9 feet, 6 inches, and matches them with a midsized levelwind reel equipped with strong drag and 50-pound-test braided line. It's ideal to use a 20-inch leader of 65-pound-test attached to 50-pound class barrel swivels. On a main line, use a sliding sinker setup. Your weight will be 2 to 10 ounces, depending on depths and current, so you'll have to adjust accordingly. Keep in mind that all hooks must be barbless; 2/0 to 4/0 hooks are standard.

When fishing from the bank, heavier gear is recommended.

Having the proper gear is only half the battle. Due to varying currents, wind and other natural variations, keeping your bait still and in the strike zone can be a chore at times. Conquering this is what separates highly successful anglers from those with marginal success.

"Sturgeon like their bait lying down that time of year," said Rico. "The water is still cold, and they are lethargic. You don't want your rod tip moving."

This can be challenging. Stabilizing your boat with wind or drift socks to keep it from moving is imperative. If your boat is swinging from side to side or bouncing around too much, that can limit your success. There are, things you can do to combat these conditions, however.

"When the boat is rocking, or if the rod tip is moving more than six inches up and down, we hold the rod in our hand and adjust. Hold it lightly in your hand to adjust to the rocking of the boat," Rico said. "If you move the rod up and down lightly with the rocking, it will minimize the amount of movement your bait receives."