Wisconsin sturgeon-spearing season off to slow start

OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) -- This year's sturgeon-spearing season on Lake Winnebago has gotten off to a slow start because of poor ice conditions and low water clarity.

Ron Bruch of the state Department of Natural Resources says conditions are the worst he's seen since 1998.

There were 210 sturgeon registered Saturday -- 39 on Lake Winnebago and 171 on upriver lakes. That's less than half the 442 sturgeon taken on last year's opening day.
About 2,200 shanties were set up on Lake Winnebago, far below the 4,500 average.

Even though a record 12,680 licenses were sold for this season, Bruch says many people stayed away because of ice conditions.

Chris Haedt of Oshkosh speared the largest fish of the day. At 179.8 pounds and 79.6 inches, it's the fifth largest sturgeon ever registered