People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish

  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Kathleen Schmitt Kline, Frederick P. Binkowski, Ronald M. Bruch
  • People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin’s Love Affair with an Ancient Fish a tale of the cultural and scientific history of an iconic Wisconsin fish, the lake sturgeon. Throughout the process of writing the book, the authors interviewed community activists, sturgeon spearing enthusiasts, spear and decoy craftsmen, and scientific researchers associated with the Lake Winnebago sturgeon population. Because of the cultural, social, economic, and scientific knowledge captured in these interviews, the UW-Madison Wisconsin Water Library preserved the audio files as a collection of oral histories. This collection, People of the Sturgeon, encapsulates perspectives on lake sturgeon as they are reflected in the book.

    The People of the Sturgeon collection includes interviews with outdoorsmen, scientists, and craftsmen associated with the Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin, lake sturgeon population.

    Collection compiled by the UW-Madison Wisconsin Water Library. Audio courtesy of the Oshkosh Public Museum. Recordings were collected as part of the research for People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish published by Wisconsin Historical Society Press, Madison, WI.

Interviewee Sort descending Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Carl Jersild People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish

Carl Jersild, interviewed by Dick Koerner, tells of his first and only sturgeon he speared in 19 years. He also praises the DNR for the work in managing the sturgeon population. In addition, Carl also relates a story about being on shifting ice, and another about a friend who videotaped his day sturgeon fishing only to find out, while watching the videotape, that he missed a golden opportunity. 

Dick Koerner Neenah, WI University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum
Clarence Hopp People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish

Richard Braasch interviews Clarence Hopp about near misses while sturgeon spearing, tactics for attracting sturgeon with decoys, and cooking sturgeon when he is lucky enough to spear one.

Richard Braasch Berlin, WI University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum
Clement M. Van Gompel People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish

Clem Van Gompel describes growing up in Lake Winnebago area, working for Kimberly-Clark during World War II, and experiences fishing sturgeon. He made his own decoys with resources from his work. Clem discusses methods of attracting sturgeon and illuminating the lake bottom to see fish better, as well as benefits of Sturgeon for Tomorrow in maintaining sturgeon population and increasing it in other lakes and rivers.

Eugene Herubin Menasha, WI University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum
Cynthia Wendt People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish

Cynthia Wendt is interviewed by Dick Ristow about her personal involvement in sturgeon spearing on Lake Winnebago. She tells about the challenges and enjoyment of sturgeon spearing, sharing her most memorable experiences. She talks about the people she has come to know through spearing and those that she met during the years that she owned Wendt’s On the Lake.

Dick Ristow Fond du Lac, WI University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum
Dan Folz People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish

Kathleen Schmitt Kline interviews Dan Folz about his involvement with sturgeon through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. He discusses studying and managing sturgeon and spawning site monitoring programs.

Kathleen Schmitt Kline Unknown University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum
Dan Gerhardt People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish

Dan Gerhardt, interviewed by Dick Koerner, talks about some of his experiences with sturgeon spearing on Lake Winnebago.  He recalls learning to spear and important moments from the last fifty years.  He discusses how things have changed, what he enjoys about the sport, and recipes.

Dick Koerner Pine River, WI University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum
Dan Groeschel People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish

In an interview conducted by Ronald M. Bruch and Kathleen Schmitt Kline, Dan Groeschel explains his family history and how he got started spearing. He describes the first time he speared a sturgeon, and how he accidentally pushed his brother into a hole. He also talks about how Sturgeon for Tomorrow got started, and where he sees the club going in the future. 

Ronald M. Bruch, Kathleen Schmitt Kline Fond du Lac, WI University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum
Daniel Wollersheim People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish

Daniel Wollersheim is interviewed about building ice saws and spears. Daniel tells stories about his days sturgeon spearing and explains the cleaning and cooking process for sturgeon. Interviewer identity unknown.

Unknown Unknown University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum
Darlene Czeskleba People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish

Darlene Czeskleba talks about her and her husband, Don Czeskleba, in an interview with Kathleen Schmitt Kline. Her husband was a state fish hatchery manager, and she discusses his job responsibilities, awards, achievements, and involvement in sturgeon management.

Kathleen Schmitt Kline Unknown University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum
Dave Grignon People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish

Dave Grignon, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Menominee Tribe, is interviewed by Kathleen Kline Schmitt about tribal history with sturgeon. From creation stories to modern day, Dave explains the cultural significance of sturgeon to the Menominee people through time, as well as the care given to cooking sturgeon in ritually appropriate ways.

Kathleen Schmitt Kline Unknown University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum