Hunting the "Dinosaur of the Midwest"

Mornin' to everyone who has an opinion on pumping Mississippi River water west. This is the Wiscampsin Weekly - the email that gets you in the know on the Wisconsin outdoors in 5 minutes or less. New reader? Subscribe here. 

What we're shivering about this week:

• Sturgeon Spearing Lake Winnebago 🦕

• Lifetime fishing license 🎣

• Rock Island updates 💡

Spearing Sturgeon

Picture this:

You're sitting in complete darkness. Where the floor should be, there's a 3 x 4 foot hole, chainsawed in the ice. Everything is still in your ice fishing shanty as you peer intently into the murky waters. 

In your left hand, you hold a glazer from Kwik Trip (duh).

But in your right, you wield your Grandfather's spear, a relic that looks like Poseidon's trident. 

Just when you're about to reach for your bag of cheese curds, you see a flicker of movement below, a shadow approaching your wooden pike decoy. With all your might, you thrust your spear into the water...

Ope, fish on!

Lake Winnebago's Sturgeon Spearing

• Lake Winnebago, WI is home to one of the largest populations of lake sturgeon in the world

• Every year, the 15-day season draws thousands of participants and spectators from around the world

• Sturgeon can grow as long as six feet, weigh up to 100 pounds, and live up to several decades

"Living dinosaurs"

Lake Sturgeon have been swimming in the world's watery depths for millions of years, earning them the moniker "Dinosaur of the Midwest" for their prevalence in these parts. 

How do most people interact with these swimming fossils? The Lake Winnebago sturgeon spearing season, which runs from Feb. 11 to Feb. 26 (unless the quota is met earlier). 

This year, the allure of spearing one of these monsters through the ice has sold more than 13,000 licenses, up from 12,000 from last year. That's over $250,000 for conservation!

Although the water is clearer this year than last, harvest caps are slightly lower than 2022, at 350 juvenile females, 793 adult females and 1,231 males. 

The Art of Spearing 

Sturgeon spearing has grown out of the long-practiced tradition of the Menominee tribe, who perfected the craft via handmade spears, shanties, and decoys.

But today, the strategy is fairly the same for most folks out on the ice:

1. Before the beers, cut a wide hole in the ice with a chainsaw (max 48 sq. ft.)

2. Place your shanty over said hole and black out the windows - you'll need complete darkness

3. Use a fish decoy to lure one in (some swear by a toilet seat)

4. Shoot, was that one? Shut up Dave, I can't concentrate!

5. There! Throw your 50-ish lb. spear with all your might. You got 'em!

6. After the sturgeon tires itself out, have your buddies help you haul it in

7. Register your fish and celebrate - only 10% of anglers are successful!

Sturgeon spearing today

Today, Wisconsin is the leader in sturgeon spearing interest, per search volume. 

But it's more than just going out in hopes of spearing the largest sturgeon of the season (like the 212-pounder that Ronald Grishaber speared in 2010) that reels in 'Sconnies by the thousands.

It's the promise of friends, family, and time spent in the great outdoors (hopefully with a loaded down cooler). 

True, this year's opening weekend shanty count is down 50% from last year's 6,000, but the tradition is still as vibrant as the die hards who spend day after day waiting to loose their spears. 

Want to get out der next year? Purchase your Sturgeon Spearing license by Oct 31st next year, and you too may be hauling out one of these prehistoric creatures! 

Wiscampsin Weekly Poll

35% of you got last week's right. Wausau - AKA Home of the Wisconsin Winter Games - tops the list out of: Milwaukee, Madison, Eau Claire & Green Bay with most snowfall on average (currently right on avg with 38").

NEW: Wisconsin Events

Butt glued to the couch? Here are some great Wisconsin events to get you out 'der:

OWL PROWL & ENCOUNTER on Saturday, February 18, 2023, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. at Richard Bong State Recreation Area - Visitor Center.

MAKE AND TAKE BIRD FEEDER DROP-IN AT DISCOVERY WORLD FRESH LAB on Sunday, February 19, 2023, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Lakeshore State Park - Fresh Lab at Discovery World. 

WINTER TRAILS DAY on Saturday, February 18, 2023, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at  Potawatomi State Park.

Know a WI Outdoors-related event happening? Reply to this email with the details and we will share the week before the event!

Nuts and Seeds 🌰 

🏆  Invader Crusader Nominations: Know a 'Scon that helped prevent, control, or eradicate invasive species in Wisconsin? Consider nominating them as an Invader Crusader from the Wisconsin Invasive Species Council! Eradicating FIBS doesn't count...

🐠 Lifetime Fishing License: Anglers, rejoice! There's a proposal circulating about that would make a lifetime fishing license available in Wisconsin. Currently, about 50% of the U.S. has some form of lifetime license, which would be roughly 30 x the annual fee here in Wisconsin (currently $19.25). Bag limits still exists, Uncle Joe.

💡 Rock Island Makeover: The 93-year old lighthouse at Rock Island is set to get a much needed $1.4 million makeover. Age and Michigan weather threatens to topple the lighthouse, which is a bucket list item any 'Scon looking to get out der. 

Meme of the Week 😂 

A review from the Trail... OH HEY, we're lookin,' let us know when you find 'em!