Sturgeon spearing
#5
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
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
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.
#8
Sturgon is still open in the west. But there are seasons and length restrictions. In most areas like the columbia it's no less than 40 inches and no more than 60.




