2008 Sturgeon Spearing Season Underway!

Today marks the first day of the 2008 sturgeon spearing season. Hundreds of ice shanties made their way to Lake Winnebago, just west of New Holstein, yesterday in preparation for opening day.

Spearers gathered on the ice, picking out just the right spot, in hopes of spearing the big one. The sport consists of cutting a huge hole in the ice and sitting by said hole for hours at a time waiting for the prehistoric fish to swim through. When one finally does, a spear that resembles a giant fork is thrown and the fish is hauled up with a rope attached to the spear.

Sturgeon are prehistoric fish dating back to the time of the dinosaur. They can live up to a hundred years, weigh over a hundred pounds, and be longer than seven feet.

The season is set to last as long as it takes spearers to reach the cap set by the DNR. The cap is in place to protect the ancient fish from becoming extinct. Last year, the season ran the full sixteen days because clarity of the water prohibited the fisherman from seeing all the way to the bottom where sturgeon like to swim. This year's season will probably be shorter. Water clarity is superb, allowing a clear view of the bottom.