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PIPE, Wis. — It’s the last weekend of sturgeon spearing season and many have made their way to the ice, hoping to fill their tags.

Early Saturday morning, many made their way to their ice huts, hoping to bag a sturgeon on the final weekend of the season.

Spearers have 16 days to collect their crop and on the final weekend a handful got lucky.

“I finally got one,” Collin Brenner said.

After nine days out on the ice, Brenner was the first to tag one right outside of Jim and Linda’s Lakeview Supper Club in Pipe right of Lake Winnebago.

He was proud to catch one, and it’s a tradition he’s glad to be a part of.

“It’s fun sitting out there with my friends and listen to the radios and all the stories we get out there,” Brenner said. “It’s fun.”

Brenner wasn’t the only one having fun. Just minutes later, two more spearers came in with big smiles on their faces and sturgeons in hand.

Nick Freund got out on the ice for the first time this season on Saturday morning with his friends. He said within 30 minutes found his fish and truly couldn’t believe it.

“It was a complete horseshoe. It was great. Pretty excited,” Freund said. “High-fives going around. I already had a celebration beer this morning already.”

Meanwhile, his pal David Gratton spent 15 days out on the ice and finally got his first spear after battling ice conditions all throughout this season.

“The days that it rained last week Wednesday, it was a little sketchy and the ice, the hole was not good anymore, so we pulled them,” he said. “But we were there hoping for the best.”

The best did come for him. He was able to tag a large sturgeon and do it alongside his friend, who was set up just 100 feet away from him. 

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Winnebago Lake sturgeon fisheries biologist Margaret Standing said this season has had its challenges but has actually been a successful season out on the ice.

“It has been a good season,” Standing said. “We had the same amount of harvests as we had last year when the ice was prime, so overall it has been a really good season.”

There were plenty of spearers out there, taking in their last weekend. Within 30 minutes, four people came in with their sturgeons and left proud of their accomplishments.of spearers out there taking in their final weekend. Within 30 minutes of four people came in with their sturgeon and left proud of their accomplishments.

Jackie Abel was able to bag one after sitting out nearly 12 days with her friends. Her excitement was tangible, and she was proud to do it with her sister by her side this year.

“This is my second year with a tag. I’ve sat for many years, it’s my second year with a tag and second year with a fish, so I’m very lucky,” Abel said.

Sturgeon spearing is a long standing Wisconsin tradition where you can find with a little bit of patience and perseverance, one can get lucky.

Ring Pull Crown Cap The DNR said they will likely not hit their caps this year on Lake Winnebago once again, but have brought in a healthy amount of sturgeon so far this season.