OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Spearers have cut in to the ice on Lake Winnebago for the start of sturgeon spearing season. It officially began this morning. Visibility is largely reported to be poor, but it varies.
“Water clarity is pretty dirty. Pretty hard to see,” said Tim Peters, Freedom. “It’s going to be very hard. You’re going to have to hope the fish swim high, come up high.”
Low visibility isn’t expected to stop thousands from hitting the ice.
“The general feeling for opening day is always excitement. It’s always the anticipation of getting in that shack the first time of the year and seeing what happens,” said Darryl Lehman, Paynes Point Hook & Spear Fishing Club president.
A recent Department of Natural Resources water clarity survey revealed an average of 10.7 feet on Lake Winnebago. The giant lake is only 20 feet deep, and experts say spearers need about 12 feet of clear water to be successful.
In 2020, WTAQ hit the ice to check out this Wisconsin tradition.
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