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 Collection Sort ascending Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
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
Bill McAloon People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish

Bill McAloon is interviewed on January 30, 2007 by Eugene Herubin about his experiences sturgeon fishing. McAloon primarily fishes on Wolf River, but also on Lake Winnebago. McAloon discussed his experiences as a youth when it was common for people to fish sturgeon out of the river, as well as the shift in legality of these methods as well as local mindset regarding such practices. Tape recording ends abruptly and early in interview.

Eugene Herubin Unknown 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
Shawn Wendt People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish

Shawn Wendt was born and raised at Wendt’s on the Lake. His grandfather, also a sturgeon spearer, started the restaurant. They also run a shanty rental business that his grandfather started.  Shawn is active in the sturgeon spearing community and has been treasurer of the Southwest Chapter of Sturgeon for Tomorrow for about 13 years. He recounts stories of his first catch at age 15 and a comical story about some shanty renters.

Dick Ristow Van Dyne, WI University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum
Eric Cheslock People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish

Eric Cheslock is interviewed about his experience sturgeon spearing. Eric talks about the sled saw he owns, a story about taking his dog out on the ice with him, and why he prefers fishing on Lake Poygan. Interviewer identity unknown.

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

James Nadler discusses lake sturgeon spearing construction with the interviewer. James also discusses his experiences sturgeon spearing and changes in spearing over time. Interviewer identity unknown.

Unknown Stockbridge, WI University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum
Gerald Van Straten People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish

Kathleen Schmitt Kline and Ronald M. Bruch interview Gerald Van Straten about cooking sturgeon, spear fishing, and poachers using snag lines. Gerald also discusses family stories of fishing, particularly from his grandfather.

Ronald M. Bruch , Kathleen Schmitt Kline Unknown University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum
Linda Wendt People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish

Linda Wendt, the owner of Wendt’s On the Lake, talks about her experiences with sturgeon spearing and the impacts of sturgeon spearing on her business. She tells one of her favorite stories and talks about being awarded Wisconsin’s restaurateur of the year. 

Dick Ristow Van Dyne, WI University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum
Russell Collar People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish

Russell Collar describes his experiences fishing for sturgeon using snag lines. He explains his “closest call with a warden”, how to tie sturgeon, when his father was pulled in, and what happened to his albino sturgeon. He also describes his earliest memory of sturgeon fishing, and how he thinks the river has changed.

Ronald M. Bruch, Kathleen Schmitt Kline Shiocton, WI University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum