Amidst Portland’s bustling morning commute, we shoved off into the Willamette River, starting a fishing session that felt more like a stolen vacation than a pit stop on a work trip. Brian Keechle eased our boat into the current below the dam. In this stretch, the river masquerades as a lake—calm, glassy, and still. But as I sat in the bow of a low-sided sixteen-foot Clacka, I couldn’t help but wonder: how would we handle a fish nearly as long as the boat?
I was midway through a weeklong road trip destined for California’s Bay Area, taking the scenic route along Highway 101. My first stop was Portland, where I finally met Brian in person. We’d connected a few years back through the fishing podcast world, both of us drawn to the chase of anything that swims. Brian’s a true all-around angler—salmon, steelhead, trout, bass, lingcod, surf perch—if Oregon fishing regulations list it, he’s probably caught it.
Lately, he’d been testing the Allsalt rod up and down the Pacific Coast, and we both agreed it was time to see how it handled one of Oregon’s true giants: the white sturgeon.
These prehistoric fish can reach over 12 feet long and live for more than a century. Populations in the lower Columbia River, including the Willamette tributary, are holding strong thanks to hatchery efforts and strict fishery regulations. Slot limits and seasonal closures keep this sturgeon fishery thriving for generations of anglers.
With the Willamette flowing through downtown Portland, this water is basically Brian’s backyard. He quickly rigged up our fishing rods with 80 lb. braid, smelt on one hook, sand shrimp on another. Using his fish finder, we dropped heavy leads into the current and set our baits. “Let them chew,” Brian coached. “Then swing hard.” Sure enough, when the rod tip danced, I followed his lead and connected. It wasn’t a monster—just a “shaker”—but it was my first-ever white sturgeon, and that moment alone made the detour on my work trip well worth it.
Time was tight—I had more hours of highway ahead—but we relocated to a new spot. Brian spotted a couple of big marks on the screen, and we dropped baits again. This time, I held the Allsalt rod in hand. When the tap-tap started, I swung. Boom—fish on.
“That’s a good fish!!” Brian yelled.
The rod doubled. The reel screamed. Then, out of nowhere, seven feet of sturgeon launched skyward. It was like hooking into a tarpon. I instinctively bowed to the fish mid-air, grateful it stayed pinned. She dove deep under the boat, and Brian took the leader as I reached down. “Hold this,” he said, guiding us toward shore.
In the shallows, we stepped out to meet her. She was rolled on her back, calm and powerful. I cradled the prehistoric fish in the water, awestruck. Then, I turned her into the current of the Willamette River. With one kick of her massive tail, she disappeared.
Fishing for sturgeon on a tight schedule isn’t ideal, but sometimes, that’s the reality for those of us who travel for work. With the right gear—like the Allsalt rod—and a fishy friend who knows the water, you can turn any business trip into an unforgettable fishing adventure
