Whiteout conditions slow sturgeon preps

OSHKOSH - The lucky few who got out early Friday morning, quickly became the envy of other spearers stuck waiting out the winter white out.

"Whoever didn't cut in yesterday is probably wishing they did, and it even makes it a little more treacherous moving around out there because with the snow cover everything pretty much looks the same and it's harder to read the ice," said DNR fisheries biologist Ron Bruch.

Friday morning's snow and wind combined to make visibility nearly impossible on Lake Winnebago, on a day many have been waiting for all winter long.

"We're just trying to wait for the snow to stop here a little bit and see when we can get out there," said Darryl Lehman, president of Paynes Point Hook & Spear Fishing Club."

• Click here to read Meteorologist Doug Higgins' blog post on the weather forecast for sturgeon spearing

In the protected bays of Lake Winnebago the wind and the snow aren't that bad, but when one look out into the middle of the lake, it's almost a complete white-out. Still at Paynes Point Hook and Spear Fishing Club, a small gathering of diehards decided to brave the snow and wind. While it wasn't easy going, spearers say it's all part of the fun of sturgeon season.

"Tomorrow will be different, cold, but this shouldn't take too long, we'll get these cut in in like 20 minutes," said Mark Sorensen taking his shack out off Paynes Point.

With the conditions less than ideal, Bruch says he expects a slow start and far fewer sturgeon to be harvested this season.

"The best days and the most active days could actually be the second weekend of the season this year," Bruch said.

Good news for those left watching and waiting Friday.