Shovelnose Sturgeon

Body Type & Identification: The smallest and most common sturgeon of the Mississippi drainage — distinguished by a long, shovel-shaped snout. Brown to gray with a flat belly and five rows of bony scutes. Four barbels hang below the shovel-shaped snout. An excellent sport fish on medium tackle — fights hard and makes long runs.

Preferred Water Temperature: 55°F–72°F. Found in the main channel of large rivers over sand and gravel in moderate to fast current. Feeds by nosing along the bottom vacuuming up invertebrates, crayfish, and small fish. Active year-round in large rivers.

Habitat: The Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, and their larger tributaries — a main-channel river species requiring moderately fast current over sand and gravel bottom. Found throughout the Mississippi River system from Montana to Louisiana. Much more abundant than Lake or Pallid Sturgeon.

Best Lures: Rarely taken on artificial lures. Occasionally caught on bottom-bouncing rigs.

Best Baits: Nightcrawlers are the top bait. Fresh crayfish tails produce excellent results. Fresh spawn (fish eggs) work well in spring. Cut fish produce results. Heavy sinker rigs (2–4 oz) on the main river channel bottom in moderate current. Check current regulations — size limits and seasons vary by state.

Top 5 Destinations: Missouri River (below dams), Mississippi River, Ohio River, Platte River NE, Big Sioux River SD.

The smallest and most common sturgeon of the Mississippi drainage — distinguished by a long, shovel-shaped snout. Brown to gray with a flat belly and five rows of bony scutes. Four barbels hang below the shovel-shaped snout. An excellent sport fish on medium tackle — fights hard and makes long runs.

The Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, and their larger tributaries — a main-channel river species requiring moderately fast current over sand and gravel bottom. Found throughout the Mississippi River system from Montana to Louisiana. Much more abundant than Lake or Pallid Sturgeon.

55°F–72°F. Found in the main channel of large rivers over sand and gravel in moderate to fast current. Feeds by nosing along the bottom vacuuming up invertebrates, crayfish, and small fish. Active year-round in large rivers.

Best Lures: Rarely taken on artificial lures. Occasionally caught on bottom-bouncing rigs. Best Baits: Nightcrawlers are the top bait. Fresh crayfish tails produce excellent results. Fresh spawn (fish eggs) work well in spring. Cut fish produce results. Heavy sinker rigs (2–4 oz) on the main river channel bottom in moderate current. Check current regulations — size limits and seasons vary by state.

1 fishing location where you can catch Shovelnose Sturgeon

1 official record on file for Shovelnose Sturgeon