Darren (the soon to be record holder) has guided my teenage son and I for sturgeon on the river. I appreciate how he instills respect for the resource when he guides...He only guides catch and release for sturgeon. At first my son wanted a trophy to mount, but he has come around to realizing we need to release them. Congratulations Darren!
That fish is Minnesotas largest fish period. 6 foot 6 inches, 29 inches around. 120 lbs. It showed up in the mn star Tribune. That's quite the catch if you'd ask me
My dad caught a 6.5 foot sturgeon in the st croix river in the early 2000s. fought it for 1.5 hours. there’s a picture somewhere floating around i gotta find it. really wish we took official measurements and sent it in there’s no better feeling than catching a true MONSTER!
You have no idea how much I appreciate a true angler for catching and releasing for the next generation to come. Idk if a fish that age spawns still but always love to see it released especially a fish that old. You guys are awesome. Someone on here replied that is could be a MN state record is that true?
Thanks Joshua I release all my Sturgeon and fortunately here in MN, the law requires it most of the year. That fish was probably 60 years old and hopefully lives another 40. Also yes it is possible it will be the new state record, just some formalities we need to take care of.
@@Graceclaw I honestly don't see a foul hook. It may be that I am watching it on my phone and can't see the detail. They may have also been using 2 hooks and one got embedded in it's face during the fight. I don't know. If it was foul hooked then it is unethical to claim it as a new record given the rules. Given that I can't tell if it was or not, I won't make any claims to support or challenge their claim. Regardless, it is still a very cool fish to have brought up through the ice.
@@Graceclaw it is clearly hooked in the corner of it's mouth. The lure is hanging down below the mouth corner which makes it look like it is face hooked. Get a bigger/better moniter (not your phone) and you can see it. Go troll somewhere else now.
That was the greatest video ever! Congrats! How exciting to have this memory and the fact that you have it recorded, is now forever to watch again and again.👍
Amazing work! I wasn't sure at first, but everything really, really came together at the end of this! You really put a lot of effort into this incredible piece of art! Thank you, can't wait for more!
Well done gentlemen!!! The extended battle, the quick C&R embodied all that represents the very best of Minnesotan sporting tradition and heritage. You fellas are a credit to the state and anglers everywhere.
I can still remember seeing the stories and pictures in the Gazette of these monsters growing up, now modern day we get a video, fantastic. Congrats on the catch of a lifetime.
Now, that was awesome watching! Bit scary with the holes big enough that you can fall through. Didn't seem that Sturgeon was fighting he wanted to tire you guys out..lol..Thanks for sharing 😊
Giant sturgeon jumped right next to my boat - it wasn’t as big as the one you guys caught, but it was about 4.5 to 5 feet long. It was unbelievable, fun to see!
Nice fish on the Ceymar 40! I got a Ceymar 50 down here in FL for free and haven't had much faith in it, it's been smoked a few times already. Awesome job on landing an awesome fish!!!
That is a huge lake sturgeon! Crazy that fish get that big around here. My biggest sturgeon is 6'9" but that was an average sized white sturgeon out west in British Columbia. I did something similar to this 2 winters ago for a 3 foot pike, had to do a triple hole because ice was thick and pike had the line at the back of its mouth. I went shoulder deep to noodle that like for my cousin. Great video, thanks for the share!
My grandfather used to speak of a spot on the Croix across from their house where giant sturgeon and catfish winter he said there was huge ones there only problem you literally have to live in the shack 24/7 to catch one that big, Awesome fish guys!!
Best ice fishing video ever!! Nice dinosaur!! Best part is that you released it. He said this rod isn't small LOL. Out here in California we 8-10 foot rods for those!! Well done
Darren, congratulations on a MN record fish! Catch of a lifetime, but you put in the work to get it. Glad you guys were able to capture the experience on video and share it with the world. Saw your story on Fox News and had to comment. Your former Timberline neighbor, Matt Eckman.
Probably the same fish. Thanks so much for taking good care of her and letting someone else experience the thrill. I hope the same thing happens again.
@@3RiversFishingAdventures I was thinking the same thing. Except I caught her during fall when she had big ol shad belly. Either way, its all about letting the next guy experience it! Hope it continues, she is a beast!
Congratulations, gentlemen, greetings from Michigan. We've got Sturgeon here too but I don't know what the size limits are, or whether you can keep them or not. I don't know if it's a record you have or not, but, I do know it's a lot of fish! This is the third time I've watched this video so I think a thank you is in order. You are very generous for sharing with us.
It's amazing to watch the fight and awesome that you were able to get the hole big enough to fit that sucker through! WOW. I was most amused by John going SHOULDER-DEEP in icy slush to retrieve the beast. I bet the leg in the other hole was pretty amusing too. I hope everyone is not too bruised up. Yikes! ♥
@@Getz So you somehow have the ability to only catch the exact specie that you want to eat? Or in the case if you accidentally caught a sturgeon or muskie, you'd have to eat it?
I caught my first sturgeon last summer and it was the hardest fighting fish I ever caught. It jumped and everything ( i figured it would be more like dead weight). Great ice catch boys I just subbed
Thank you. I was measuring a piece of furniture in my house last night and I ran it out to 78" and I'm still in awe and like you said it's hard to imagine until you see it.
Awesome video man! The st. croix is a bucket list trip for me to get one of these dinosaurs through the ice. Any tips about where to set up and what to use? I have watched a few videos from Northwoods Angling also.
Awesome fish we have those in my local river in sk and they are a blast to catch my pb is 70 pounds but i lost a 6+ foot fish probabaly 100ish pounds a year or two ago and it broke my heart 😆
Hate to see that much stress on her, but good on you for putting that old baby-maker back. Be still a good size compared to our whites....very good for a green. But we get some monsters in the Columbia. Lake Sturgeon if I'm not mistaken? Cool fish!!
Thanks Mr Acuta yes it's a good size for a Lake Sturgeon but nothing compared to the big whites. We did our best to treat the fish well and return her back safely. Most of the time spent was not even under pressure from the rod, mostly just trying to figure out how to get it though the ice.
This species is a lake sturgeon, which are actually bottom feeders. They mainly eat invertebrates, and are scavengers as well. Certainly not at the top of the food web, but no predators can contend with taking down a fish of that size.
Darren (the soon to be record holder) has guided my teenage son and I for sturgeon on the river. I appreciate how he instills respect for the resource when he guides...He only guides catch and release for sturgeon. At first my son wanted a trophy to mount, but he has come around to realizing we need to release them. Congratulations Darren!
Thanks! It was fun spending time on the water with you guys.
you can get a mount without killing the fish
yea all the places around here just go off the picture and measurements then replicate the fish. You dont actually need the fish itself.
Every fish you catch and release goes home with an alien abduction story.
ha ha, too good !! Beer talk in the fish's bar
McNeo great one
Lol imagine that story
Best comment.
McNeo good one
Respect for releasing him.
Of course they were gonna release it. wtf are you gonna do with a 120 lb sturgeon
Thanks Lee
@@geyotepilkington2892 Tabemono o arigatō!!!!
Geyote Pilkington eat it
Yeah
5:37 the hole LOOKS like a fish 😂💀
That fish is Minnesotas largest fish period. 6 foot 6 inches, 29 inches around. 120 lbs. It showed up in the mn star Tribune. That's quite the catch if you'd ask me
Yes sir. Well at least until a bigger one is caught. :). Thanks!
My dad caught a 6.5 foot sturgeon in the st croix river in the early 2000s. fought it for 1.5 hours.
there’s a picture somewhere floating around i gotta find it. really wish we took official measurements and sent it in
there’s no better feeling than catching a true MONSTER!
You have no idea how much I appreciate a true angler for catching and releasing for the next generation to come. Idk if a fish that age spawns still but always love to see it released especially a fish that old. You guys are awesome. Someone on here replied that is could be a MN state record is that true?
Thanks Joshua I release all my Sturgeon and fortunately here in MN, the law requires it most of the year. That fish was probably 60 years old and hopefully lives another 40. Also yes it is possible it will be the new state record, just some formalities we need to take care of.
Congratulations !! @@3RiversFishingAdventures
@@Graceclaw well, get out there and show us how you do it. Let's see your effort. Internet criticism is easy, set an example for us all to see.
@@Graceclaw I honestly don't see a foul hook. It may be that I am watching it on my phone and can't see the detail. They may have also been using 2 hooks and one got embedded in it's face during the fight. I don't know. If it was foul hooked then it is unethical to claim it as a new record given the rules.
Given that I can't tell if it was or not, I won't make any claims to support or challenge their claim. Regardless, it is still a very cool fish to have brought up through the ice.
@@Graceclaw it is clearly hooked in the corner of it's mouth. The lure is hanging down below the mouth corner which makes it look like it is face hooked. Get a bigger/better moniter (not your phone) and you can see it. Go troll somewhere else now.
That was the greatest video ever! Congrats! How exciting to have this memory and the fact that you have it recorded, is now forever to watch again and again.👍
Thanks for watching. I appreciate the kind words.
Amazing work! I wasn't sure at first, but everything really, really came together at the end of this! You really put a lot of effort into this incredible piece of art! Thank you, can't wait for more!
Well done gentlemen!!! The extended battle, the quick C&R embodied all that represents the very best of Minnesotan sporting tradition and heritage. You fellas are a credit to the state and anglers everywhere.
Thanks for the kind words Sean. I appreciate it.
I can still remember seeing the stories and pictures in the Gazette of these monsters growing up, now modern day we get a video, fantastic. Congrats on the catch of a lifetime.
Thank you
Also from MN, the ice fishing this year has been so good! Congrats guys! Hope to see y’all in the record books.
Thanks Thomas!
Thank you for releasing and kudos for the hard work involved.
A sturgeon that big is probably around 60yrs old
ya boy roy yo even older id say
much older
More than a century at least
@@themidwestfishkeeper8117 no way google it that's what I did and it said a sturgeon that long is around 50 to 60yrs old
The DNR says 70-100 years old
That, Darren, has to be the best video I've seen on TH-cam!
Thanks Kevin
I read about you in the newspaper here in Fargo, ND! Congratulations on that fish, and thanks for releasing!!
Thank you
Now, that was awesome watching! Bit scary with the holes big enough that you can fall through. Didn't seem that Sturgeon was fighting he wanted to tire you guys out..lol..Thanks for sharing 😊
Thanks Sandra!
Straight-up incredible'ness. Love this. Congrats buddy. Earned and deserved.
Thanks Tyler. I appreciate it.
Giant sturgeon jumped right next to my boat - it wasn’t as big as the one you guys caught, but it was about 4.5 to 5 feet long. It was unbelievable, fun to see!
We have a new fishing catch phrase that will live on forever, "WE'RE GONNA NEED A BIGGER HOLE!"
I like it. :)
@ I WAS JUST GONNA COMMENT THAT XD
@ facts lol, if someone didnt say it the world needs to be burned
Nice fish on the Ceymar 40! I got a Ceymar 50 down here in FL for free and haven't had much faith in it, it's been smoked a few times already. Awesome job on landing an awesome fish!!!
Uffdah! Now that's a fish! Congrats DTro! Sure hope that is recognized as the state record and you get to hold the title for at least a little while.
Thanks man!
Un poco de todo?
That is a huge lake sturgeon! Crazy that fish get that big around here. My biggest sturgeon is 6'9" but that was an average sized white sturgeon out west in British Columbia. I did something similar to this 2 winters ago for a 3 foot pike, had to do a triple hole because ice was thick and pike had the line at the back of its mouth. I went shoulder deep to noodle that like for my cousin. Great video, thanks for the share!
My grandfather used to speak of a spot on the Croix across from their house where giant sturgeon and catfish winter he said there was huge ones there only problem you literally have to live in the shack 24/7 to catch one that big, Awesome fish guys!!
Not quite 24/7 for me. But pretty darn close. Thanks!
@@3RiversFishingAdventures Next big feeding frenzy down there will be the spring ice-out shad kill, monster fish in shallow water
Congrats and thank you for the release, I'm proud that the people in my state care so much about our natural resources. PROUD!
Thank you
You Guys are true fisher men returning that fish back is the Best thing any one could do Hats off to Both of you Guys .
I love you for releasing it thank you
Best ice fishing video ever!! Nice dinosaur!! Best part is that you released it. He said this rod isn't small LOL. Out here in California we 8-10 foot rods for those!! Well done
Darren, congratulations on a MN record fish! Catch of a lifetime, but you put in the work to get it. Glad you guys were able to capture the experience on video and share it with the world. Saw your story on Fox News and had to comment. Your former Timberline neighbor, Matt Eckman.
Hey Matt, thanks I appreciate it.
Holy cow! What a great catch! Congrats on a fish that most can not comprehend!!!!
It was fun to catch. Thanks!
Congrats Darren! You always said you wanted to catch a sturgeon as big as mine. We'll done sir! Cool it was through the ice too.
Probably the same fish. Thanks so much for taking good care of her and letting someone else experience the thrill. I hope the same thing happens again.
@@3RiversFishingAdventures I was thinking the same thing. Except I caught her during fall when she had big ol shad belly. Either way, its all about letting the next guy experience it! Hope it continues, she is a beast!
I read it was nearly 100 years old. Thank you for releasing it! Something that old deserves preservation and respect.
For sure! Thanks
Props for releasing it!
Great catch. Thank you for releasing it.
Thanks!
Congrats and hats off for releasing it!
Thank you
Wow!! Great video! Amazing fish
That right there is a living dinosaur, their evolution dates back to the Triassic some 245 to 208 million years ago. Thanks for releasing him
Awesome fish Darren! Well deserved!
Thanks Jakob!
Awesome catch!Congrats on the fish of a lifetime!
Thank you
Congrats on the monster DTro!!! Awesome!!!
Thanks Colin
Congratulations, gentlemen, greetings from Michigan. We've got Sturgeon here too but I don't know what the size limits are, or whether you can keep them or not. I don't know if it's a record you have or not, but, I do know it's a lot of fish! This is the third time I've watched this video so I think a thank you is in order. You are very generous for sharing with us.
That's one OG Sturgeon. Respect for the catch and release guys! \m/
Thanks Robbis
I was just cruising along on my pontoon yesterday, about where you guys caught this guy. , looking toward the shoreline when a giant stu
Awesome! I saw this in the news. MN for life
Thanks for realesing him man
This is absolutely awesome! I wish I had an area where I could Target sturgeon.
It's amazing to watch the fight and awesome that you were able to get the hole big enough to fit that sucker through! WOW. I was most amused by John going SHOULDER-DEEP in icy slush to retrieve the beast. I bet the leg in the other hole was pretty amusing too. I hope everyone is not too bruised up. Yikes! ♥
Thanks!
well said, just to add its one of the best addicting cardio workouts !!
WOW!!!!!!!!!!! That is a BEAST of a fish!!!!! Great catch!!!
So much fun! Thanks
You win at life. Props for catch and releasing. No fish should ever count towards a record unless its released.
@@Getz So you'd be for hunting and fishing where you keep the fish, but for some reason are against catch & release fishing? You're beyond an idiot.
@@Getz So you somehow have the ability to only catch the exact specie that you want to eat? Or in the case if you accidentally caught a sturgeon or muskie, you'd have to eat it?
@@Getz Except that it's required by law to be catch and release only in most states.
@Agu Obiakor what a dumb ass like rly. Never eat a trophy like that.
@@rydenzer5542 Lol, @Agu Obiakor deleted all of his posts. He made an asinine statement that one is an idiot if they fish and release the fish.
Congratulations!! that was awesome!!
I caught my first sturgeon last summer and it was the hardest fighting fish I ever caught. It jumped and everything ( i figured it would be more like dead weight). Great ice catch boys I just subbed
They fight awesome! Thanks
Great job guys!
Congrats DTro
Thanks Noah. Hope you are feeling better.
Amazing catch Darren.
Thanks Corey
Every year before ice season i re-watch this
"UN POCO DE TODO" Hahahaha.
New MN state record for largest fish of any species.
Not yet officially confirmed. But working on it...
What a thrill and thank you for releasing the fish back home
Great video!!!
This video is fantastic.
Great fish Daron thanks for sharing!
Thanks!
Fish of a lifetime! Congratulations!
Thanks Jonny
How do u catch this fish on a ice fishing pole but not on one of them big pole
Awesome Catch
Congrats . That's a giant!! I caught a 57in sturgeon a few weeks ago on the st.croix . Planning for another trip
Thanks Sunny. 57 is an awesome fish. I bet it was fun. Good luck!
Amazing catch 👏👍
Thank you
Congratulations! Catch of a lifetime!
Thanks
awesome fish guys
Way to go guys!
Hellooo im here from UPDT
Esto es un poco de todo
Congrats!
Hey thanks!
What a adventure! So very cool! Congrats!
I commend you gentlemen for releasing that "behemoth", what a catch, and you have documentation, Congratulations. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Bobby!
Wow. Glad I clicked. Incredible! Congratulations.
Thanks Scott
Very cool to watch, thanks for sharing!
Thanks 2DSTORMS
@@3RiversFishingAdventures Never ice fished and never will, maybe if it had 24" like here I would.
what a monster!! I hope someday i have a chance to catch a giant and i have no excuses as the St Croix is a stone's throw away.
Awesome video guys
Thanks Dwaine
Best part of you guys, commenting is that I can watch it again lol hell yeah
From UPDT I suscribe I love this channel
man that wound be a riot. good job on the release too!
Thank you
Congrats on the state record, Fellow MNer here
Thank you!
Very well done and respect to you for releasing such an amazing creature
Thank you
Massive Sturg Darren! I was planning on hitting the river last night, but ended up working on the honey-do list😒
Thanks!
Epic fish!!! Congrats!!! :)
Thank you
What a monster. Nice job! It took a while for me to really appreciate the size of this; it would not fit in my 2 person (72 inch wide) ice shanty!
Thank you. I was measuring a piece of furniture in my house last night and I ran it out to 78" and I'm still in awe and like you said it's hard to imagine until you see it.
I never liked ice fishing when I was a kid, this video makes me think we were doing it wrong! Good Job Guys!
Thanks Will, I still much prefer open water over ice fishing, I mostly do it just to pass the time until we can get the boat out.
Awesome!!!!
Awesome video man! The st. croix is a bucket list trip for me to get one of these dinosaurs through the ice. Any tips about where to set up and what to use? I have watched a few videos from Northwoods Angling also.
Thanks Jackson. Honestly these fish just roam around the entire basin. 30ft seems like a popular depth but not sure it matters. It's a waiting game...
Congrats, DTro! The fish of a lifetime! Is it a record on ice?
Thanks Alan, I think it could be a new State Record
Right on guys great video
Thinks Robert
Absolutely tremendous
Awesome!!!! What a beast
Thank you
Awesome fish we have those in my local river in sk and they are a blast to catch my pb is 70 pounds but i lost a 6+ foot fish probabaly 100ish pounds a year or two ago and it broke my heart 😆
So megaladons are real, good to know! Lol amazing catch and tight lines guys!
Haha, thanks CPaB!
Hate to see that much stress on her, but good on you for putting that old baby-maker back. Be still a good size compared to our whites....very good for a green. But we get some monsters in the Columbia. Lake Sturgeon if I'm not mistaken? Cool fish!!
Thanks Mr Acuta yes it's a good size for a Lake Sturgeon but nothing compared to the big whites. We did our best to treat the fish well and return her back safely. Most of the time spent was not even under pressure from the rod, mostly just trying to figure out how to get it though the ice.
Like si vienes de un poco de todo
Laik
So glad you put him back to reproduce!!!
Amazing. Respect for releasing such a majestic beast back into his home. That's his river clearly, apex predator.
Thanks CC
This species is a lake sturgeon, which are actually bottom feeders. They mainly eat invertebrates, and are scavengers as well. Certainly not at the top of the food web, but no predators can contend with taking down a fish of that size.
Well done boys!!
Hey Marc. Thanks!
Congratulations!
Thank you
Unreal fellas !
that was awesome!
Thanks Max