Sturgeon spearing
#5
RE: Sturgeon spearing
I think they still fish for them in one of the western rivers like the Snake or Columbia. I saw a show a couple of years ago and they fished them like cats in a deep pool and when hooked they jump about 10 feet out of the water. The one I saw caught on TV was about 10 feet long and weighed a couple hundred pounds..
#6
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1
RE: Sturgeon spearing
This is what you need to sturgeon spear in the Winnebago (WI) system: license, an ice shanty or shack - nothing smaller that 6' x6' and not larger than 8' x 8', something that is manageable to get around on the ice. You need at least one spear with a removeable head, with an 8' handle on it (alot of spears are made out of manure forks). Need a good heater for the shanty. The shanty needs at least a 3' x6' openning in the floor. You need a couple of decoys (some people use coffee cups, bowling balls or fish shaped wooden leaded decoys). You also need a gaff hook, a 2'x2' ice basket to get the ice out of the hole that you chop open everyday or a fish net and a small strainer net to maintain the hole. Don't forget a comfortable chair, your refreshments and lots of patience and luck. A topo map of the lake is a big help too. The ice this year is 20" thick so its nice to know someone with an ice saw, otherwise the going price for cutting a hole is about $15. The biggest one we speared was 62 pounds, but a friend of ours got a 164 pounder, 70" long last Saturday on Lake Poygan. P.S. You don't need any windows in the shanty, the interior should be black.