Did anyone ever see Sturgeon spawning?

Discussion in 'Member's Gallery' started by Sherry8, Nov 11, 2007.

  1. Sherry8

    Sherry8 I Love Birds!

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2007
    Messages:
    4,395
    Likes Received:
    1,827
    Location:
    Wisconsin...zone 5
    [​IMG]

    Here in Wisconsin, Sturgeon spawning time is a big event. People line up to watch the large fish thrashing in the water and jumping up. I have sat there for hours with my husband watching them. In fact we look forward to the time of year. No one is allowed to fish for them at this time because they are spawning or getting their eggs out up on the rocks in the water.The DNR in the picture bring some of them on shore and measure and weigh them and tag them. My granddaughter one time got to touch one. They have someone there at all times so no one disrupts them or collects their eggs while spawning. It usually lasts a little more than a week, depending on the weather. The fish are quite large and spawn in the spring.Some of the bigger ones are six feet long and about 180 pounds.

    In the winter the fisherman spear the sturgeon through a hole in the ice. It is a big event and they are allowed to spear just so many a season. They are the largest fish I have ever seen.

    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  2. Loading...


  3. Netty

    Netty Chaotic Gardener Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2006
    Messages:
    18,482
    Likes Received:
    5,630
    Location:
    Southern Ontario zone 5b
    Cool pictures Sherry. They sure are big fish!
    When I lived on the Lake we used to watch the fish spawn. I'm not sure what kind of fish they were, they were not as big as your Sturgeon but it was kind of neat to watch. In the winter, the Lake (Simcoe)is covered in fish huts and it is big business for the locals here.
     
  4. Frank

    Frank GardenStew Founder Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2005
    Messages:
    18,126
    Likes Received:
    2,259
    Location:
    Galway, Ireland
    They are some giant fellows aren't they. I imagine it is quite exciting to watch this. Thanks for posting Sherry.
     
  5. CritterPainter

    CritterPainter Awed by Nature

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2006
    Messages:
    1,428
    Likes Received:
    14
    Location:
    Washington State
    Great photos! It's so funny you'd mention this. I was just today wishing I'd gotten some pictures of the spawning salmon. It's always so fun to take someone new to the area up into the forest to the spawning streams- they don't expect salmon in the middle of the woods, lol!
     



    Advertisement
  6. glendann

    glendann Official Garden Angel

    Joined:
    May 19, 2006
    Messages:
    9,512
    Likes Received:
    135
    Location:
    Texas
    Those are beauties and so big.It must be fasinating to watch.Thanks so much for posting the pictures Sherry.
     
  7. Droopy

    Droopy Slug Slaughterer Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2007
    Messages:
    12,067
    Likes Received:
    3,504
    Location:
    Western Norway
    How interesting! That must be such a show to watch. Thank you for sharing Sherry8.

    Today I've learned that you have sturgeon in Wisconsin. I thought they were only in Russia, because of the caviar.
     
  8. Biita

    Biita Arctic-ally Challenged Forager

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2007
    Messages:
    2,048
    Likes Received:
    17
    Location:
    Norway
    Excellent post an pics Sherry, thank you, an dang those are some big fish. :stew2:
     
  9. wannabe

    wannabe Young Pine

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2006
    Messages:
    2,311
    Likes Received:
    108
    Location:
    Springfield, Illinois
    I never saw any fish that spawned in big numbers like that except smelt. When we lived in Wisconsin on Lake Michigan the smelt would spawn every spring and we would seine big tubfuls. Wannabe
     

Share This Page