Spearing Dinosaurs Pt. 1 | Ep. 5 | Fur Hat Ice Tour

Janis hops the state line over to Wisconsin and travels to Lake Winnebago for the annual lake sturgeon spearing season. Lake sturgeon are ancient and incredible fish, and the communities around Lake Winnebago have long revered and relied on these fish.
For generations, people around here have spent their winters trying to spear 100+ pound swimming dinosaurs through the ice. 50 years ago, the sturgeon were disappearing, and a coalition of sturgeon spearers started working together with biologists and fisheries managers to try and bring back this population. They succeeded.
Today the sturgeon in the lake are healthy, and thousands of spearers head out every year to try their luck at spearing a sturgeon, but the truth is that this is a difficult game; on an average year only 5% of spearers fill their tags. Local angler Jake Andrews is one of the few who consistently gets sturgeon almost every season.
In this episode Janis hooks up with Jake and his crew to prep for the season opener. Janis meets local legend Mary Lou Schneider who has been hand carving sturgeon decoys for over 60 years. Finally, Janis checks out the local Sturgeon Spectacular festival in Fond du Lac, where he learns that while some people are excited about to go out and try to harvest a sturgeon, others are just happy for a good excuse to party.
#fueledbynature #MeatEater
Presented by @EskimoIceFishingGear
Use code MeatEater for 20% off the Hunt App at www.onxmaps.com/hunt
----------------
Watch full MeatEater episodes here: episodes.themea...
Shop our Merch Store: themeateatersto...
Follow us:
Web: www.themeateate...
Instagram: / meateater
Facebook: / stevenrinellameateater
Twitter: / meateatertv

[@KesselRunLX]

This may just be the most unique tradition and form of ice fishing in the United States. Proud to call the Lake Winnebago system my home fishery! Thanks for these episodes Janis!

[@bradkees2026]

More like in the world really...black lake in Michigan has a spearing season this coming weekend, 6 fish limit, a couple friends are going actually lol. Then, somewhere in Russia, not exactly sure off the top of my head. People come from all over the world to spear lake Winnebago and the upper system.. Largest lake sturgeon population in the world.

[@hughten]

I'm grinning ear to ear watching a show about dudes sitting in a box staring through another box for chance of 3 seconds worth of excitement throwing a glorified garden tool at a prehistoric fish. Awesome video.

[@momacd13]

O

[@xekorf]

I’m really glad to see the discussion with the biologist. Coming from Manitoba, where sturgeon are catch and release only, it seemed foreign to me that people would not only catch and keep them, but spear them! But after learning about the responsible fishery management and the obvious adherence to the rules by the community, I must say that this video changed my mind. I was ready to be all indignant about spearing a 100 year old fish, but I feel different now. Thanks for the education. Don’t get me wrong - I’m not about to start lobbying to spear fish for sturgeon in Manitoba anytime soon - our populations could not support that. But at this lake, it seems sustainable.

[@gavinfelice9453]

I felt a similar way as well because where I’m from sturgeon are heavily protected and it seems outlandish to purposely kill a fish your not even allowed to fish for with hook and line

[@bradkees2026]

I've been involved in sturgeon spearing lake Winnebago since age 6, spearing myself since 14 with my family. 41 now, 2021 season starts February 13. It's a truly unique sport, and I personally know Ryan koenigs, our biologist, and his family. His predecessor was doing a fantastic job and Ryan has certainly been doing wonderfully as well. Little example to give some comprehension...in 2010, my uncle speared a 165lb, 77" sturgeon. It was then #8 on record since early 1930s...he's not even top 20 now. Our record is 212lbs, believe 83"

[@gavinfelice9453]

@@bradkees2026 wow, it’s good to see sturgeon population doing so well and sturgeon reaching bigger size

[@adamk3306]

I live I Sarnia where on the canadian side the fish are protected, but on the American side of the river they're fishing for them. Not sure how I feel about the Americans working against our conservation efforts so they can catch a big fish.

[@300_WM]

I’ve never set foot in the upper Midwest but I’m fascinated by the culture up there. It’s cool to see these communities come together around hunting and fishing

[@groverbundy899]

It’s good up here, just don’t tell anyone we’d lose it

[@scottleggejr]

I **HIGHLY** recommend at a minimum hitting a packers game @ lambeau when the covid bullshit is done and over. There's a ton of locals and they're super super super awesome folks. They love their beer, their teams, and they're true salt of the earth good hearted humans. They work hard, play hard, and drink wisconsibly. Stay recombobulated.

[@gackleballsg2034]

@@scottleggejr don’t be advertising how great it is up here. We don’t want to lose what we have. Yes we are very friendly people, yes we work and play hard, yes we have several things that bring our communities together, but no we do not want outsiders moving in and destroying our nature.

[@scottleggejr]

@@gackleballsg2034 trying to get all these snowbirds in Arizona to migrate back 🤣

[@orenjones237]

Oh man. I grew up a by a small town on a lake in Northern Wisconsin. A while back I moved to North Carolina. This episode just brought it all back, the accents, the snow, the beer, the packers hats; I love it and I can't wait for the opportunity to get home. Part 2 is gonna be awesome.

[@123Booduh]

Gotta love the mention of the treasure trove that is St. Vinnies. The spawning events make it incredibly easy to harvest Sturgeon. The respect of the Wisconsin People have made a very big difference.

[@taylorheintz30]

Fond du Lac is my home town and I still learned something from this episode... super cool

[@mason2me]

this could possibly be the ultimate test of Papa Yanis' game conjuring abilities

[@drizztt18]

As a person who consumes both Meateater and History Hyena's content, this comment made me think of Yannis Papis and Chris going ice fishing. Shit would be hilarious.

[@thateffinguy2422]

If he can fucking catch a fish. This episode was nothing but a troll

[@bradkees2026]

As a lake Winnebago spearer, having to miss 2 seasons by no fault of my own since age 14 when I was legal to spear, now 41 going into the very near 2021 season, I can't love this enough!! And our sturgeon biologist Ryan Koenigs in the video, I grew up just a few miles from their family, know them all pretty well lol. He's done an amazing job with managing our population. In 2010, my uncle speared a 165lb sturgeon, was then #8 on record. Now, he's not even top 20. Record is 212lbs

[@Blaine.W.A]

The picture on your guys’ IG has had me EAGERLY awaiting this episode. Time to slay some dragons!

[@travisbowers5143]

Flying fish?

[@abramfrank4611]

Loving the fur hat series so far!! Keep em coming

[@whyidontknow7113]

I love living in Wisconsin. We have fish celebrations, half the kids are gone from school on deer opener, they teach us how to snowshoe in phy Ed, and we have drive your tractor to school day.

[@jerrybowman501]

Wisconsin people are the best.

[@drogoclawgaming7430]

Why thank you that’s really nice you made my day👍😀

[@ajmastaw556]

Thanks! We do try. Just stay away from Milwaukee if you plan to visit. 😂🤣😂

[@nateshoots]

Gosh darnet we’s really that

[@HancockTheMP]

As a Wisconsinite, I can confirm. We are the best. Just take Madison and Milwaukee with a grain of salt lol.

[@drogoclawgaming7430]

@@HancockTheMP yep definitely

[@demonslaye8883]

I'm very much so excited to see more Meat Eater episodes related to fishing.

[@buckfan125]

Please do a ‘Das Gun’ mini-series. Buy a standard pump shotgun and take it across America pursuing game. Think ‘Das Boat’ concept except instead of passing off boat, it is passing off a Remington 870 or Mossberg 500.

[@powellhunter9650]

I would expect nothing less than an mg42 by the end of this series...

[@carsonito852]

You cant really upgrade it

[@jmk1788]

Problem would be paperwork on a gun moving states and changing hands

[@natehayes82]

@@jmk1788 stay away from the commie states and it's no problem at all

[@19Joyccon19]

"Das Bow" could upgrade the attachments and have different setups for different game animals.

[@mattvittal]

This series is fantastic. Thank you for putting it together. I’m really enjoying each episode.

[@ryanpharr]

Love this series. Thumbs up hit start for every episode.

[@jordanjensen5428]

Glad to see local Wisconsin content from Meateater!

[@JoshSDshot]

As a guy who lives in fon du lac county Wisconsin this episode is the best lol if they come this year i gotta have a beer with the eagle!!!!

[@cadena.sarauer8663]

I am from Neenah Wi this brings back so many memories from Jim and Linda’s to the lake to the sturgeon love this keep it up.

[@kulr3924]

"Go on down to St Vinneys!" Grew up around Fond du Lac and can confirm it was a olac to go ♥️

[@michaelbayerl1683]

Stihl MS461 is my all time favorite chainsaw! Awesome machine!

[@wyattbaney7804]

I’ve been looking forward to this

[@JustMike2791]

Really enjoyed the video. EXCELLENT production, thanks for sharing. Liked and subbed

[@nicholasbenson1639]

Huge fan of this series!

[@tterryshenanigans1820]

This series is awesome.

[@Weston350]

Janis needs to have papa Janis come out and conjure a sturgeon with his Latvian black magic.

[@wesquick5948]

This series is awesome!

[@benweiland1491]

Love the hats

[@joegrycowski211]

Hell yeah!! Didn't know you were in my neck of the woods!! I have not tried spearing yet, but it is on my list.

[@mandelorean6243]

Omg, the cover picture .. Or 02:43 pause.. ITS SCOTT FARKUS the bully from the Christmas story!!

[@jager9825]

This would be a good beer drinking event.

[@Paulpoission]

Loving this series

[@joshkimminau9988]

Now I want to go sturgeon spearing! Of course I need a fur hat first.

[@loudmouf9246]

So amazing. Just so amazing.

[@douglaslanners6221]

I only did this once back in early 2004 era we only had a 2 day season. Went with friends that are hard core lots of shacks and had room for me and a buddy . What an experience driving out through a shanty town 4 or 5 miles out ! I got a chance but knocked the fish out hit it in the head no penetration next day someone got a 134 lb 6th biggest at the time with fresh spear marks on the head . The picture in the paper was 100 yrds from where I was sitting

[@jaredstenerson5358]

Next Spring, check out the Upper Mississippi for some small mouth bass for some of the best fight for their weight fish.

[@xy337]

wow this is AWESOME man !!!

[@Exses3D]

Finally!!

[@kickflipaws]

Best one yet.

[@franswa455]

Life is simple love it

[@woodsy168]

Our sturgeon festival was canceled for 2021 😭 but the season still goes on

[@markmahoney14]

The invisible line that separates fishing from hunting is FLLLLUUROCARBON. Lol

[@catchnothingfishing6457]

catch a few on rod and reel and hold a live one you will gain an entirely different respect for sturgeon

[@FluffyBuzzard2TheMax]

Seems to me these people have more respect for these fish than anyone, going out every year with 5% odds with hours to days of staring at nothing

[@ECPlex]

yes! finally somewhere i can get too

[@Gatorraider]

Awesome

[@chamblen4]

THAT'S AWESOME!!

[@TheFishingExpat]

I have heard of pike spearing but never sturgeon spearing, this was interesting

[@Poopdar]

So you guys come all the way to my hometown, don't even stop over for a beer. I see how it is now.

[@wolverinefreak9191]

I’m fond du lac glad to see the recognition

[@meema844]

This is so Wisconsin its almost funny lmao

[@shanesommer]

I've always wanted todo this living in Wisconsin I have the opportunity but never have gone

[@RenegadeBeef]

Wow! These guys got their shit DIALED! 😀👍

[@kauaicouple]

Here in Oregon we have lots of Sturgeon but if you spear one you get the death penalty. Ive caught several over 6 feet and my older sister caught a nine footer..

[@kauaicouple]

@MattC Croshaw it was hyperbole. Sorry you cant detect sarcasm

[@kauaicouple]

@MattC Croshaw i was a newspaper editor, but thanks for the incorrect info.

[@kauaicouple]

@MattC Croshaw so a huge fine and jail time to a much higher penalty is not wild exaggeration?

[@kauaicouple]

@MattC Croshaw i quit to take a writing job with an outdoor mag...you nimrod

[@xekorf]

I knew what you meant, Luke and agree whole heartedly. Very strict rules in Manitoba here also. Sorry about the trolls - not worth your time or attention. Way to go on the catch! That must have been amazing!!! Thanks for sharing. Would love to get back to Oregon some day. Haven’t been since 2003.

[@whenindoubtsendtheplottout8052]

I have been doing this for 7 years now, have yet to get one. Yanni came here the year we couldn't even take trucks on the ice.

[@scottosborne6735]

Good video!

[@alphawolftactical160]

Dammit....waiting patiently for part 2.

[@illmuskyhunter3313]

Whoa that old lady just got arrested for illegally selling the caviar you guys just wrote the article LMFAO They were being investigated while you guys filmed this. You guys have sturgeon blood on your hands!!! Hahaha

[@johnmaceachern8948]

Where can I find plans to build that ice shack? Or even the name of it? Very cool!

[@jamesd7066]

Capture versus killing separates fishing versus hunting. Prehistoric hunters that wanted to be like fishermen, turned into herders.

[@VIpown3d]

If a bossroom in a video game had Janis in it would just turn tail and fuckin dolt :D The man is a legend

[@J_flics]

This has to be old cause like winnbago ain't frozd just yet but I'm be waiting

[@doctorboat7112]

is there a maximum size that can't be speared? seems like once the fish is over 60" it turns to a female and starts to birth fry. Most sturgeon fisheries I know restrict killing the bigger fish, Hopefully this fishery is the same so it stays healthy

[@dennisharding5493]

I am sad to see that you do not sell that Fur Hat on the website.

[@MrAcuta73]

A truly strange past time. Would like to do it some day.

[@mattswisher1]

Fricken sweet

[@stuffnsuch631]

Is there nothing to fish in the meantime? Like jigging up some perches??

[@pernatsdiesel]

It’s illegal to jig inside or within a certain distance of your spearing shack. People used to but they were hooking sturgeon which is illegal.

[@sharkfin154]

You can only fish with a line in a hole no bigger than 12 inches in Wisconsin

[@stuffnsuch631]

Well remind me not to go to WI . That seems like horrible rules for killing fun.. so no sight fishing for any species and no multi species fishing..

[@sharkfin154]

@@stuffnsuch631 we still sight fish. We just look down the smaller hole or drill two hole next to each other

[@RogueStatusX]

are bonita fish big?

[@SH-lb1nu]

Missing beers and drats boys

[@Drewsky_Outdoors]

Spear fishing sturgeon is one thing I really dislike, it’s why they’re so endangered

[@ojibwayinca8487]

Are they flavorful? Tasty?

[@michaelshannon7557]

That’s why it’s a drinking sport!!

[@kunde1199]

Not to be Rude but Janis looks like Pedro Pascal ordered from Wish :D

[@benconolly4163]

Dude what glasses are those? Pleas what is the make and model?

[@kauaicouple]

Those hats got me waiting for Russian music...

[@JG-pm2wn]

I’m currently wearing the exact same flannel shirt as the ginger guy

[@adam1973adam]

This Biologist from this episode just got fired this past yr as he was involved in the selling of sturgeon eggs collected from registration stations. It turned out to be a big investigation by the DNR with multiple suspects getting cited.

[@michaelduncan2759]

Hey Yanni, where can I get one of those fur hats please?

[@hunt_trap_fish]

What style hat did you give your host in this video, Janis? That's the hat I want.

[@AllenHarrison]

dang I live like a half hour north of this lake in Green Bay!

[@andywalker8645]

Let’s go sturgeon fishing mate

[@jeremyk5414]

This might be the ultimate sport for stoners

[@calebsmith5764]

Mary lou is a legend

[@SaigaHans49]

I am a fisher and hunter, but i don't understan how you can have fun spearing a fish like a sturgeon.

[@timebert9467]

20:30 Such is married life:)

[@Bur91a]

10:42 i wonder why he was flying a flag for scuba diving?

[@leatfingie1780]

No so snowmobilers and other people can see you

[@Bur91a]

@@leatfingie1780 yeah that makes sense if thats all he has that is a vibrant colour instead of say a fluoro orange flag for white out conditions.

[@gregw3432]

Ahhh, so frustrating...you make me wait for part 2...cruel.

[@randynystrom4131]

do you use any oil in the saw ,like vegetable oil, or can you run it dry?

[@brianpossin5352]

There is a marine grease injection on the bar typically. We don’t run oil like you would for cutting wood.

[@MaxwellsAxiom]

Its odd that just the idea of looking at deer with a drone is looked down on so much by the meat eater guys that they applaud it being illegal to do, yet here we are....stabbing fish we can't see using a camera to help. It's just odd that even scouting a property with a drone pre hunting season can be frowned on so much that it's legislated against by governments but using a camera to take an animal you can't even see is fair chase?

[@blairmonaghan4411]

This is hard to watch. In Canada we only catch and release sturgeon. I remember seeing a 6 footer of our dock in georgian bay as a kid and being in awe ever since. Could never kill one unless my life depended on it. Especially with excessive use of technology. Those fish are older than all of you. Respect your elders.

[@FluffyBuzzard2TheMax]

At this lake they can be sustainably harvested

[@rochestersportsman]

Too bad the sturgeon expert is now charged with illegal activities related to exploiting the sturgeon.

[@dukemnukem5030]

thats a good thing.. not just the dnr but the people processing caviar on this show too

[@rochestersportsman]

@@dukemnukem5030 the news article I read only pertained to DNR employees, not sure if or what will happen to those people.

[@dukemnukem5030]

@@rochestersportsman i posted a link that says mary and her husband and the bar worker/owner at Wendts were arrested for it check it out..

[@darugdawg2453]

they only wear sweatshirts?

[@al_lahn4264]

It's Wisconsin. Of course it's sweatshirts.

[@groverbundy899]

Yup

[@tristenkiesow4061]

I can confirm

[@johnturner2555]

I've been a commercial fisherman/ stone crabber in Florida for a long time. I don't think I could kill one of those critters.

[@420cakes]

Use a stinky fish head for an lure!

[@grindylowe77]

Hurting unit fishing

[@josephbourque1497]

KZbin sucks! They have commercials every 2 minutes making this video unwatchable. People are getting greedy with their advertising. Good bye MeatEater.

[@NVEMBER]

Adblock, bro.

[@lucashamlin7673]

I can understand the idea of sturgeon spearing in an ecosystem that is sustainable and it being part of local heritage, but personally I would never kill a fish that big and that old.

[@sir.donjennerogorrell1243]

? goúd? Practice makes perfect 😅👍🏽. Thx u 🙌🏽💀😤♎...

[@ashwinvasan375]

I love all the meat eater content but something about the reliance on underwater cameras for ice fishing is rubbing me the wrong way, Especially for such a large/mature species. Glad the sturgeon are in good shape and the regs are smart. The cameras just make it seem less sporting even though these guys sit in these sub zero huts for so long! Thankful for year round saltwater fisheries in Texas!

[@kimlongdota]

The amount of adds

[@rowcall219sbackupaccount3]

CAN you at least drink beer while doing this?