What's Up Outdoors: Spearing sturgeon is only half the story

For the third year now Bret Amundson and I were on the road to Fond Du Lac for our traditional Winnebago sturgeon spearing trip.

This year my wife Tammy came with to check out the activities, and I think next year she will be trying to spear her own fish. As usual, there were a ton of things going on from fat tire bike racing to ice sculpting. Pretty much the whole town is either sitting out in their shanties or talking about all the excitement.

This year we had some new people to the group. And an hour into opening morning one of them almost had beginners luck, almost. They had a sturgeon somewhere around 48 inches come into their hole and actually break the surface of the water and then turned and swam away-all while their spear was snagged on the hook it was hanging on.

As for us, we did see one fish but it was the wrong species, but it did wake us up for a while. The visibility and ice conditions were deteriorating quickly but that didn't deter us.

We were making plans for next year on the road trip home. That was in between cheese stops, because it is Wisconsin, and that's what you do.

The weekend went too quick that's for sure, but I did get to try ice sailing for the first time. I thought I was pretty good at it-until I saw the video.

So if you are looking for a destination with something to do for everyone, or if you think sturgeon spearing is something you would like to check off your bucket list, well then you have to check out Fond Du Lac.

1/3: The author tries out ice kiting for the first time on Lake Winnebago. Special to the Brainerd Dispatch

2/3: A snow sculpture shaped as a sturgeon is shown at the Sturgeon Spectacular near Lake Winnebago. Special to the Brainerd Dispatch

3/3: A snow sculpture titled "Record Breaker" is shown at the Sturgeon Spectacular on Lake Winnebago. Special to the Brainerd Dispatch