Record Wisconsin sturgeon - another reason for good government and clean water

[postulater]

"The Shawano Sturgeon has lived through a lot -- the tail end of reconstruction, the Spanish-American War, World War I, Hitler, The Beatles, Justin Bieber.

Not only has she outlived every human currently on the face of the earth, but she's still fertile! The Wisconsin DNR discovered the record-setting fish while she was laying more than 30 pounds of eggs in the Wolf River near Shawano on Tuesday.

The Shawano Sturgeon's tale of the tape -- 7'3" long, 240 pounds, 125 years old. Sounds like a fearsome NBA center, give or take 100 years of age. "


Amazing photo of this fish with the DNR workers at this link:
http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2012/04/wisconsin_dnr_discovers_125-year-old_7-foot-long_sturgeon_photo.php

[tammywammy]

1. What an amazing find!

That's one big fish!

[brewens]

2. 394 lbs is the rod and reel record in Idaho. It doesn't give the length. Set line

is almost twice that big but that was before the dams went in on the Snake River. I've never actually landed a big one but I've had a few close. Then we also have them take off with our night crawlers when we're bass fishing. You might as well be trying to stop a train with six lb line. That's time to put your thumb in the reel and break your line before you get "spooled".

[postulater]

3. That is huge!

This species lives most of its' life downstream in Lake Winnebago, some in Lake Michigan, I think. Then every few years they migrate upstream for spawning.

The DNR and local sportsmen are very protective of these fish. They have guards watching the spawning grounds to prevent poaching. During the winter there is a spearing season through the ice on Lake Winnebago. It lasts until a quota is taken and then is cut off, sometimes just a few days.

It's good to know there are still some of these left that we haven't destroyed. How is the population in the Snake River?

[brewens]

7. We have lots of them on the Snake. On the Columbia I think you can

keep them between 4 and 5 feet at least in some places. Last summer we tried to do a "Snake River sleigh ride". A buddy of mine brought a pair of short saltwater rods when we went floating. We use those small catarafts. Single seat pontoon boats.

The plan was to sit on a beach and hook a sturgeon, then let it take us for a little ride. We saw Babe Winkleman do it with a float tube. No luck on the first try. We'll keep trying that and get video eventually.

[AngryAmish]

12. Was there a season this year?

Was there ice? It was pretty warm down here.

[brewens]

13. I think there is always a season on parts of the Columbia. It's not

all that worthwhile to try and fish for keepers. Between 4 and 5 feet is hard to come up with anyway. Those Columbia sturgeon are green sturgeon and don't get as big as the whites we have on The Snake. I'd never go down there and fish for greens.

As far as keeping one to eat, it's way overrated. Not any better at all than catfish and IMO, that's nowhere near as good as walleye or bass.

[Speck Tater]

4. Must be the Sturgeon General. nt

[dballance]

5. Thanks for making me laugh:)

[pansypoo53219]

6. years ago i found a little booklet on sturgeon by the wisconsin trails magazines i was going thru.

(my grandfather's collected issues) and i think we put a limit on them in like 1904. a dinosaur fish.

[DCBob]

8. Im confused.. is the fish dead or are they just terrorizing it for the photo op?

[MineralMan]

9. It was measured, weighed, and then released back into the water.

Sturgeons are pretty tolerant of being out of water for a time.

[DCBob]

11. Thats good to hear.

I didnt see that in the article. Thanks.

[malaise]

10. She stuck around to help recall

Scott Walker - a true Packer!

[madokie]

14. Did they return her back to the water

I didn't see that if they did and mybad if I didn't

[Brickbat]

15. Yes, it was tagged and released.

[madokie]

16. Thank you very much