Wisconsin Sturgeon Spearing, Round Two

For two years now, I’ve spent a weekend in February staring down an ice hole the size of a big-screen television seeking to spear a sturgeon. It’s a lot like trying to shoot ducks through a chimney. This time, either I looked away for too long, dozed momentarily on my watch (the alarm was 4:45 a.m. after all), or darn it, no sturgeon passed through my target zone. Skunked. Again!

The people of Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin—particularly in the incredible area around Fond du Lac—are the most passionate sturgeon-lovers I know. The combined efforts of Department of Natural Resources professionals and the Sturgeon for Tomorrow Club members have improved sturgeon fisheries not just in their local area, but throughout this continent and around the world.

Often called “dinosaurs” for their ancient genetic structure, sturgeon are good food and have a managed harvest like most fish. Their meat is often smoked, and their roe turned into the delicacy of caviar. As a sporting family, we like to harvest good, healthy food with our hard work and action. It just didn’t happen either year.

Last year, only 39 sturgeon were taken on the first day. Everyone talked about how tough the conditions were with poor water clarity, so I was not alone in my ruminations. With thousands of shanties on the lake and tens of thousands of permits issued, many of us raised a toast that night to the next day—or the next year.

This year, water clarity improved to 15 feet and 636 sturgeon were tagged the first day of spearing season this year. Still, none by me.

Thursday night the premiere of a documentary entitled The Frozen Chosen aired to media and special guests. Five-time Emmy award-winning director Steve Boettcher, and his cast from families Schumacher and Muche, shared a beautiful connection to the iconic culture of sturgeon spearing on Lake Winnebago. The movie airs February 10 and 13 on Milwaukee Public Television. I hope for non-Wisconsinites that the Discovery Channel will pick it up. It is so well-done and captures the culture beautifully.

I like merging into other cultures on occasion, especially when they welcome me with open arms. I might be an outsider (God forbid a Bears fan!), and I might be from Minnesota (Heavens no!), but with a passion for cutting large holes in the ice and sinking the cakes, staring and staring with the hopes of throwing a spear for sport, these wonderful Wisconsinites welcomed me into their circle the last two years. I am grateful.

There is only one thing that rocked my world, and not in a positive way.

In the documentary, a large sturgeon on the ice was still alive. It struck me as unnecessary. We all know that spearing is not catch and release, so we all know that we kill a sturgeon when we take it. To show it alive was a disconnect. I chalked it up to timing; perhaps this was just the first few seconds it landed on the ice. Then on Saturday afternoon as a successful spearer brought his sturgeon to the weigh-in site. All sturgeon must be reported and recorded. Most people carried their sturgeon on a sled (they are big, you know). This man dragged his with a rope on the ground directly, and it was alive. The tail was moving left and right. It was disturbing.

I have so much respect for these prehistoric fish. I can reconcile taking one for food, within the rules and regulations set forth. But something tells me that this fish should be dispatched quickly upon harvest. If the spear did not penetrate vitals, and the fish lives for a minute or two, settle it. Quickly.

I am thankful to be included in the inner circle, part of the “Frozen Chosen,” these last two years. Should spearers harvest and dispatch their sturgeon quickly and efficiently? It just seems like the right thing to do.

K.J. Houtman is the author of the award-winning Fish On Kids Books series, chapter books for eight- to 12-year-olds with adventures based around fishing, camping, and hunting. Her work is available at Amazon and local bookstores. Find out more at fishonkidsbooks.com.

K.J. Houtman

Houtman writes books embracing the great outdoors for children and adults. Available as paperbacks and e-books at Amazon, they are: A Whirlwind Opener (#1), Driving Me Crazy (#2), Spare the Rod (#3), Duck, Duck Deuce (#4), Born to be Wild (#5) and A Second Chance (#6) as well as K.J.'s Reflections Under the Big Pine with Bill Miller, a non-fiction devotional for adults.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the Fish On Kids Books series – Houtman has a wonderful talent. I'm engaged in the life of Gus and when one book ends, I want to find out what he is up to in the next.” Sharon Rushton, Outdoor Writer and author of No Paved Road to Freedom

“From cover to cover the best series of chapter books I've seen in years. These books are wholesome with a focus on adventure. Wish I had them when I was a kid. I'm still a kid at heart and prolific reader. These are my kind of books.” Larry Rea, host, Outdoors with Larry Rea, Memphis, TN

“I’ve read them all and think these books are great.” Jim Zumbo, professional hunter and outdoor writer