Sturgeon spearing season starts off foggy

TOWN OF NEENAH - The start to the 2013 Sturgeon Spearing Season was a foggy one.

Not only did spearers face poor visibility above the ice of Lake Winnebago, visibility was also poor beneath the ice.

"We're gonna take our time going out," said Randy Tesch.

Tesch has been spearing sturgeon for more than 30 years.

"Never got a fish... I still keep going," said the town of Neenah man.

But Saturday morning Mother Nature created foggy conditions on Lake Winnebago, making the early morning drive out to their shanties difficult for spearers.

"It's too foggy. Water conditions aren't that great," Tesch said.

"It's been a real tough year, this year.  Probably the best visibility we've heard is eight to nine feet that you can see down. A lot of places about three to five feet. So it's gonna be a real tough year for spearers," said Jim Gehrke.

Gehrke, of Paynes Point Hook & Spear Fishing Club in the town of Neenah, says on opening day nearly 300 sturgeon could be harvested. This year looks to be a little less.

"Uh, I'm gonna guess probably in the 30s, probably today. Yeah. That's my guess," said Gehrke.

Poor water quality, ice conditions and even a foggy morning could all be blamed for a slow start to the 2013 season.  And with wet weather on the way, spearers may be looking for a "Plan B."

"With this rain coming they're saying we might pull the shacks in, said Tesch.

But these die-hards won't let this winter weather put a damper on the event they've waited for all year.

"Wait until Monday and we'll re-cut and start all over again," Tesch said.