Winnebago Sturgeon Spearing Report - Friday February 15, 2013
With reports of improving water clarity and nice weather today, we saw an increase in spearing effort on day 7 of the 2013 sturgeon spear fishery. The increase in effort led to a harvest of 25 fish from Lake Winnebago, including 4 fish that topped the scales at 100 pounds or more. The largest fish of the day was an 80.3” 139.8 pound female speared by Kent Simonson and registered at Jerry’s Bar in Oshkosh. Jerry’s Bar and Wendt’s were the two hot locations today, each registering 9 sturgeon today and 2 fish greater than 100 pounds. I expect that we will see an even larger push this weekend and that spearers will have better success with the more favorable conditions. A more in depth breakdown of today’s harvest can be viewed by opening the document attached below.
Everyone always says that the thrill of harvesting a sturgeon is like no other, and I can attest to that being true. I was lucky enough to harvest my only sturgeon in 2010, and after my friend and I pulled the fish out of the shack I was shaking so bad that I was nervous to cut a slit to attach my tag. The shaking lasted 10-15 minutes, but the vivid memory still persists in my mind and I will always remember that feeling! Hopefully I will be lucky enough to harvest at least one more fish in my lifetime so that I can feel that rush again. I have received messages from many spearers describing in detail their accounts of their harvest, and I must say I have enjoyed everyone. I have attached a few links to such stories that may peak your interest in spearing. These are the stories that keep people coming back year after year, no matter what the conditions. You may sit for 10-20 years to wait to get a fish, and the harvest happens in less than 5. The memories always remain though and no one can replace them! What a sport!