It's day two of sturgeon spearing season, and across Lake Winnebago Sunday, hundreds of spearers were packing into bars and around registration stations for a closer look at the weekend haul.
At the Stockbridge landing, officials keeping tabs on the quality and quantity of sturgeon coming out of this side of the lake say they're impressed by what they've seen this weekend.
At the Harbor Bar registration station, officials say at least 95 sturgeon have passed through since Sunday afternoon.
"We have eight fish here after two days that are over 100 pounds," says Oshkosh fisheries supervisor Kendall Kamke. "I think the largest on the lake was registered here, too, at 155 pounds. But, even the fish under 100 pounds have been really in fantastic shape. We've had a lot of fish in that.. 70, 80, 90 pound range."
Spearers like Derek Minor, of Burnsville, Minnesota, were busy Sunday making memories on his first successful spear throw with a 62-inch, 53-pound beauty.
"Well, my grandfather grew up in Stockbridge. He had been telling me about it since I grew up," says Minor, standing by his sturgeon, "it was actually the first fish I've seen down the hole. I haven't seen minnows. I haven't seen anything. So, I was skeptical of whether there was fish in the lake."
Officials say it's a promising sign for the sturgeon population on day two of this 16-day season.
"So, whether it's gizzard shad, or whether it's red worms, or any other forage items, they seem to be doing well," says Kamke, "and they've been able to put on some good weight, and they're plumped up. They have a very good what's called "condition factor" to them this year."
Reaching that official sturgeon quota isn't the only thing that could close this spearing season down early.
Officials say elements, like strong winds, and warm temperatures, could also have a say on when this season comes to an end.
