Zach Fuller on Lake Poygan, February 12, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The 2024 sturgeon spearing season may be considered to be a campaign like never before. Experts say warm weather is keeping many spearers off the ice.
Some are taking the portable approach, and finding ways to get out and spear.
“It’s pretty rough, the shoreline is beat up pretty good. But we are still able to get out. Walking only. Some people are taking four-wheelers, on the south side. Up here on the north side, they’re just walking,” said Zach Fuller, Iola.
Zach Fuller says it’s been tough sledding on the northern shoreline of Lake Poygan.
“My buddy’s out there, right now spearing. And I’m just bouncing around, trying to find more fish, or better water clarity,” he said.
Fuller is one of hundreds making adjustments, and changing strategies, to be able to get onto the ice to spear.
“As long as I’ve been doing this, this is about the slowest I’ve seen up here,” said Tom Meronek, DNR Oshkosh Area Fisheries Supervisor.
Tom Meronek works the Indian Point sturgeon registration on Lake Poygan. He says spearing in the 2024 season is a lot of work.
“I think it’s labor intensive. Yeah, because people are cutting in, and then they bring their portable shacks out. And then they bring their portable shacks off. And I’m sure they can go back to the same hole, and chip it open again, but it’s not the same,” he said.
On Saturday’s opener, about a dozen spearers took to the Lake Winnebago ice near Wendt’s on the Lake. Most walked out, using chainsaws to cut spearing holes. People pushed the blocks under the surface of the ice, before maneuvering portable shanties into place. Zach Fuller says it’s worth the effort.
“It’s a lot more work dragging all your stuff out in the shack, instead of being able to take your truck, or four-wheeler out there. So, a lot more work. A lot more trips. Why do it then? It’s fun. It’s the camaraderie, the love of the sport,” he said.
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