Anyone see the story about the 188 pound sturgeon caught on ‘Bago? I can’t find a written story, just a video clip on http://www.wcco.com
Huge fish – I believe it was speared. Worth checking out!
Jon J.
I tied into a 20lb’er on the Flambeau last summer. It was a brutal fight. How long do you think it would have taken to to land a fish like that with hook and line?
I saw the story on the news last night. They did a marvelous job of tip-toeing around the fact that it was speared. They did state that the anger “saw the fish under the ice” and that it was landed in less than 15 minutes.
Quite a massive fish. I don’t really have a strong sentiment for or against spearing I guess but something about seeing that huge fish on the ice dead after it was (and I am assuming a bit here I guess) stuck with a spear just didn’t leave me feeling all overjoyed.
I wonder how old a fish of that caliber would be?
I learn something new everyday. Didn’t know Sturgeon season was open. Didn’t know it was legal to spear sturgeon.
The video didn’t work for me…but 188 is a lot of fish! 
Here is the article from the Trib, looks like a massive killing.
Spearers bagged 544 more sturgeon from Wisconsin’s Lake Winnebago Sunday before the 12:30 p.m. closing that was ordered just one day into the season.
The big catch of sturgeon Saturday – including a record 188-pounder – caused the state Department of Natural Resources to order the quick closing.
There were 1,303 sturgeon speared Saturday, included 231 juvenile females, 509 adult females and 563 males.
Ron Bruch, DNR senior fisheries biologist, said the number of adult females taken Saturday surpassed the cap for the entire season of 425, requiring that the season close Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
On Sunday, spearers got 114 juvenile females, 180 adult females and 250 males, raising the total for the season to 1,847.
Bruch said the total of 689 adult females caught – exceeding the cap of 425 by 62 percent – was cause for some concern about the impact on the population of the huge, antique fish.
Once data from the season is analyzed, DNR officials with meet with a the Winnebago Citizens Sturgeon Advisory Committee to see if any changes need to be made in spearing regulations, he said.
Spearers attributed the short season to clear waters, a high concentration of sturgeon, new technology and a lot more people taking up the sport.
“The water clarity played a big part in it going so fast,” Tim Morris of North Fond du Lac said. “It’s more of a family sport now. I had my grandchildren out there with me.”
The record sturgeon, with a length of 79.5 inches and weight of 188 pounds, was speared by David Piechowski of Red Granite. The previous record was 180 pounds, speared by Elroy Schroeder of Appleton in 1953.
There were 902 sturgeon speared last year, when the season continued for 10 days.
DNR pilots did an aerial survey and counted 4,751 spearing shanties on the lake Saturday.
just for the sake of arguement, not to cause one…..
if you spear a 188lb fish, how is it different than snagging a 8 oz fish with a large treble hook. I understand the difference between the two techniques, and I’m not a big endorser of spearing, just making a point. and yes, 188lb fish is a lot of fish!! 
about all that’d happen if you hooked something that big with a walleye or panfish rig is you’d either donate an expensive rod, or at least part of it to the murky depths………
and if you caught the fish of your dreams, you’d have nothing to dream about(that was worth the time) 
To me, there is no difference but one is legal, one is not. I do not participate in the “sport” of spearing as it holds no interest for me but I won’t condemn those that do as long as the activity remains legal.
Like I mentioned earlier, I don’t endorse spearing, and in fact I’ve heard of several people who don’t respect the rules of spearing. Up in this area we have people who illegally spear walleye as they run up river in the spring, and it doesn’t seem to phase them that they are doing an unmentionable amount of harm to the species.
Personally, I’d take a bad day of angling over throwing a pointy stick in the water. But that’s just me 
That fish was massive. I found myself wishing it wasn’t laying on the ice….dead. Looks like a couple more good size fish were taken. Any ideas how old the fish might have been?
Sandbar
Sandbar
A 215LB Lake Sturgeon caught on The Lake of the Woods was estimated to be 152 years.
Here is an article with a lot of info on the Lake Sturgeon. Lake Sturgeon.
Gator Hunter
My Dad taught me how to spear in the mid ’70’s. I recall heading out to the lake while he was telling me that he wanted to take me spearing because it will soon be outlawed. I haven’t speared since ’85.
My thoughts are….the best thing about spearing is that you need a big hole to spear through. Watching the fish go through is more fun than actually spearing a fish.
Two things that are bad about spearing (in my mind), most people that spear are always looking for the biggest northern to spear. I think it’s human nature to get the biggest fish. Reminds me of going to a breakfast buffet. Once you order, you hurry over there get your food, gulp it down then hurry back again….for what? It’s still going to be there!
There is no catch and release in spearing.
I do see spearing as haveing a place in thinning out an over abundace of northern or for people that like what are considered to be “rough” fish. But again, unless you are well diciplined, it’s really hard not to throw at a 15 lbs Northern that fills your hole. As pressure grows, I see this going a way.
Driving back from Green Bay WI last spring, my wife and I came across a traffic jam in the small town of Shiocton. Must have been more than 1000 cars parked along both sides of the highway. State patrol was directing traffic. People were all standing along the river watching these big sturgeon spawn. We did the same. Some of those fish were at least as big as the above pictures and it is awsome to think that some of them have been doing this possibly since before Wisconsin became a state. They actually have volunteer guard patrols protecting them from poachers every spring.
Spearing does not appeal to me either. I would rather see more of a hook and line season. I had a ball fishing for white sturgeon on the Columbia last summer.
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