It's Sturgeon Time

by Gary Engberg

September 11, 2001

It's that time of the year that many people in the Midwest look forward to, the opening of the lake sturgeon fishing season. The season opened September 2 and will continue through the 15th of October. This is for only lake sturgeon and hook and line only can take them. The main and one of the best places to fish for this prehistoric fish is the Wisconsin River from Sauk City to Wisconsin Dells. To be able to fish for these fish you need a valid Wisconsin fishing license and a sturgeon tag that may be picked up at all registration centers. There is no charge for the tag, but you need it to fish. If you catch a legal sturgeon (50 inches this year and 70 inches every other year), you must register the fish in the county it was caught before 6:00 P.M. the following day. The mandatory regulation is necessary to protect and manage this unique species. Lake sturgeon needs more protection than most fish because of their long-lived nature and specific habitat requirements.

Male lake sturgeon mature at ages 13 to 15 years (about 42 inches long), while female sturgeon don't mature until they are 22 to 24 years old and around 56 inches long. Once mature, males spawn every 2 years, while females spawn very 4 to 5 years. This why the lake sturgeon is so closely regulated and monitored.

Having worked the past two years for the DNR, doing research and creel surveys on the sturgeon, I know a little about the fish.  Last year, was the first year that the 70 inch size limit was implemented and I never registered a legal sturgeon from the Wisconsin Dells to Sauk City. I saw many fish in the 60-inch range, but no legal fish. This year, we all knew that fish would be caught because the state went back to the legal 50-inch size this year.

The most common way of sturgeon fishing is by boat or shore on one of the legal rivers. One next needs a stout, strong rod to be able to handle this fish that can weigh 50 to 100 pounds. A strong line like Stren in 30 to 50 pound test is needed to be able to handle these gigantic fresh-water fish. Bait casting reels work best, but I have seen many anglers using big, strong surf- type rods. Shore anglers use more weight because they like to get their bait way out in the river. Egg sinkers from 2 to 6 ounces are put above a barrel swivel. From the swivel run about 2 feet of leader line to the hook. The hook used is a 2/0 or 4/0 filled with nightcrawlers or cut bait. If boat fishing, 1 to 2 ounces of weight is usually enough.

The best areas seem to be below the dams and tailrace areas. Deep-water close is important and the fish seem to hold in this deeper water when not active. When feeding, the 10 to 15 foot level and a sand and gravel bottom seem best. I would never venture more than a mile or so belows the dams. Nighttime also is the best time for these fish to be active. So, get some crawlers and a musky rod and give this kind of fishing a try. Smoked sturgeon and caviar are worth the effort!