Spearing doesn’t allow for that and they are still surviving in bago.
Hey Brian maybe you can explain this. Why do people spear sturgeon on Winnebago? I know it can be quite popular but usually with a spear they eat what they’ve speared. Do people actually consume sturgeon or are they doing a mount of the fish or what’s the purpose?
Great fish! Great teachable moment that’s helped inform a lot of people. Hard not to be hard on yourself, but we all live and learn. Don’t know anyone, who knows everything, about everything.
I’ve handled thousands of sturgeon, literally, and they are pretty tough. They don’t die instantly from “gill handles” as some might have you believe, but it’s certainly not a great spot to support the fish’s weight (in fact, probably the worst spot) and could suffer post release. I’ve seen some pretty nasty injuries that most likely was a result of bad handling, but in most cases the fish has overcome. Heck, sometimes they don’t even have a tail.
Here’s the best advice I can share: https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/baudette/sturgeon_advice.pdf
I bet that record fish through the ice was fun! 
Wow, that’s awesome! What a great fish. Would love to hear that story
My brother in law caught this yesterday on LOTW, 52″. This appears to be held properly with the exception of the hand in the gills?
IMG_3890.jpg
Wow, that’s awesome! What a great fish. Would love to hear that story
Just remembered there is video
The great Dnr in Wisconsin. Just about as corrupt as our politicians.
https://nypost.com/2021/02/19/wisconsin-official-charged-with-illegal-sale-of-sturgeon-caviar/
Bet this protector of our resources will not pay any restitution, heck he probably won’t even make the outdoor newspaper. Sound about like our governor. Rules for thee but not for me. DNR DoNothingRight. This is how the higher ups of our DNR feel the laws apply. Quote from article “Court documents allege that many high-level Wisconsin wildlife officials also benefited from the scheme, regularly dining on sturgeon caviar at meetings and taking home tens of thousands of dollars worth of the delicacy.
“Basically we distributed among ourselves and had a good old time with it,” DNR fisheries supervisor Kendall Kamke told a game warden, according to an affidavit”
Mannnnn, I saw that last week. Grand theft caviar in the DNR:(
contrary to what you may have heard, this type of grip can be used safely on fish (and is the only way to safely handle some fish species, which have teeth!). There are Important points to remember though:
The injuries to fish that you have heard of are due to not making this hold CORRECTLY.
To land this way correctly, you will be grabbing the GILL PLATE, which is the outer tough plate that you see, not the gills themselves! when you have such a grip, and angle your hand outward a bit while holding the plate, you will avoid touching the gills themselves at all
Thought I would start this one up again.
Holding Sturgeon by the gill plates can and do tear the edges of where the gills connect to the fish.
IF the fish must be taken out of the water, the best way to hold them is the cradle hold or with smaller fish, by the tail and under the two Pelvic Fins.
If a person feels holding them up by the gill plates is ok, please have a friend of yours lift you off the ground by your ears. Most likely you will survive too.
Hey Brian maybe you can explain this. Why do people spear sturgeon on Winnebago? I know it can be quite popular but usually with a spear they eat what they’ve speared. Do people actually consume sturgeon or are they doing a mount of the fish or what’s the purpose?
No I can’t. Here’s the best I can do.
Sturgeon Spearing On Winnebago started a very long time ago. “Tradition” is a word that often comes up.
I will add that the LS in the bago system might be the longest studied fish in North America. If not the longest, close to the longest. The WI DNR monitor them closely for size and population along with a host of other things. Once they reach a predetermined number of fish harvested, the spearing season is closed down.
The people of WI want to be able to eat their sturgeon. I was lucky enough to be asked for my input in the next 20 year sturgeon management plan a couple years ago. There was only one other person out of around 40 that thought catch and release most of the year was a good thing. One person said “Why would I want to fish for them if I can’t keep them?” I never did wrap my head around the that process.
I was surprise to find out that WI did not follow MN on the 8 month C&R season on inland lakes and rivers.
I spose there are fish mounted, but I’ll say without hesitation there are more fish eaten than mounted or taken from bar to bar to show the “catch” off.
I try to watch my own bobber when it comes to WI spearing. They have it under control.
Thanks. I always wondered what was done with them when they were speared. Sounds like smoked prehistoric filets to me.
I’ve eaten smoked sturgeon and it was delicious(what isn’t when smoked?) and had awesome texture. Was given to me by a family friend. Would assume let you of guys that kill em smoke em. I wonder how else people cook them…
I hear BK’s favorite part is the cheeks.
I hear BK’s favorite part is the cheeks.
If they had any LOL!
I’ve had deep fried White Sturgeon, smoked Lake Sturgeon and smoked Shovelnose. I didn’t care for the LS at all. (could be the way it was smoked(?)) The White Sturgeon was ok, not something I would target for eating even if they were closer.
The Smoked Shovelnose was the best. Lots of oil which I’m sure is why they smoke so well. I order one from Schaffer’s Fish Market in Fulton IL every two years or so. I don’t smoke anymore but if I did, I sure would do it myself.
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