Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin, February 13, 2007—Ice fisher Darren Horness sidles up to the 102-pound (46-kilogram), 72-inch (1.8-meter) female sturgeon he speared on Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin.
Approximately 8,000 fishers spear hunt sturgeon each year on the lake, typically cutting through at least a foot (0.3 meter) of ice to reach fish. Horness's fish was nearly as tall as he is, but is not the biggest fish caught this season. About 12 of the 700 sturgeon speared this season were over 100 pounds (45 kilograms), the largest of which weighed in at 139.5 pounds (63 kilograms) and 71.5 inches (1.8 meters) long.
This year's season will continue until February 25 or until the harvest quota is reached.