Writer Harry Morse has small-boat flats fishing in the Columbia nearly down to a science. Photo courtesy of Harry Morse.

We had a first-class fishery to ourselves, and the fishing was red-hot from my 16-foot jet boat on flats at the mouth of the Columbia River.

Action like this is more common than you might think for small boats fishing on shallow tidal flats. Plenty of elbowroom, lots of fish, and you can use light tackle to catch big fish. Or at least chase them.

A mile away, 40 or 50 boats -- from 18-foot pleasure crafts to 60-foot charters -- were anchored up, fishing the deep holes below the Megler Astoria Bridge. Anglers there use heavy tackle because of the swift outgoing current in the big holes. They need 14 to 16 ounces to get their 40-pound-test line down to feeding sturgeon. Most used rods thick as broomsticks to pull 20- to 40-pound fish to the boat against the current.

Big fish in the 60- to 200-pound class break lines or spool reels before anchors can be freed, released or pulled to follow the streaking fish.

On the flats, I fish light- to medium-weight tackle and still have a good chance to land a big fish.

We anchored on the edge of the flats as the tide started to change. The bite usually picks up as the tide changes. Feeding fish move off the flat along the contours as the tide goes out. We cast 6-ounce weights with a slip-sinker and 20-pound-test line, plunking down anchovies on single size 6 hooks with 3-foot braided leaders.

Erin was fishing 6- to 8-foot water on the flats, and I was casting into a side channel about 12 feet deep.

Using light tackle is the real appeal of fishing the flats, where the big fish cannot go to the bottom of the hole, sulk, and sit tight. Once they take the bait in shallow water, they take off. Many jump. Seeing a 100-pound sturgeon clear the water stuns most anglers.

Few anglers appreciate the jumping and running ability of a big sturgeon hooked on light line on the flats. Six-footers will spool you if you don't pull up the anchor and follow them.

Anglers can't rely on 40- to 90-pound-test line and brute strength. They have to play the fish, and boat drivers have to keep up with moving fish.

Erin once caught a 200-pound sturgeon on 20-pound-test line and a medium-action salmon rod. We chased the 7 1/2-foot fish over two miles as she fought it. The fight lasted an hour and a half before she brought it to the boat. All of us were stunned at the size of the fish.

WHEN, WHERE TO FISH
Last year's season ran through July. It can be extended or shortened depending on when catch quotas are met.

Fish can be boated, measured and returned to the water if too long or too short. The length limit is strictly enforced. Check on new regulations at dfw.state.or.us.

After the keeper-season ends, there is some excellent catch-and-release fishing. I caught and released sturgeon last September during the salmon season, when salmon fishing slowed. It was some of the fastest action I have ever encountered fishing sturgeon.

Many sturgeons are released due to size restrictions. A single barbless hook is required and it makes release easier. Most of the fish are hooked in the mouth and easily released. If the fish is deeply hooked, it's recommended that the leader be cut as close to the hook as possible without harming the fish.

Use gloves when handling sturgeon. They have lines of small hook-shaped barbs called scuts along several parts of their bodies. Especially on younger fish, these can be sharp and can cut your hands.