Daniel Wollersheim
People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish
People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin’s Love Affair with an Ancient Fish showcases 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 University of Wisconsin-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.
The collection was compiled by the University of Wisconsin-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, Wisconsin.
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On August 3, 2007, an unidentified interviewer conducted an oral history interview with Daniel Wollersheim in Neenah, Wisconsin, for the People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin’s Love Affair with an Ancient Fish project. Wollersheim, born in 1931 in Combined Locks, Wisconsin, spent most of his life in Neenah and worked as a maintenance mechanic for Kimberly-Clark. A lifelong fisherman, he developed a deep interest in sturgeon spearing during high school, influenced by his biology teacher and local fishing traditions.
In the interview, Wollersheim discusses his extensive experience with sturgeon spearing on Lake Winnebago, including the evolution of techniques and equipment. He details his early experiences using borrowed fishing shanties, later building his own and crafting spears, ice saws, and other tools. He describes changes in spearing regulations, environmental conditions, and community involvement, particularly the formation of the Paynes Point Hook and Spear Club. Wollersheim recounts the traditional methods used for cutting ice holes, the transition from manual tools to powered saws, and the impact of increasing participation in the sport. He reflects on his family’s multigenerational involvement in sturgeon spearing and shares anecdotes about memorable fishing experiences, including the capture of his largest fish.
Additionally, Wollersheim addresses issues of poaching, the history of fishing clubs, and the cultural significance of sturgeon spearing in Wisconsin. He discusses methods for preparing sturgeon, differences in fishing styles between various communities, and the role of industrial workers in crafting fishing gear. Throughout the interview, he conveys a deep respect for the tradition and expresses concerns about changes in fishing etiquette and conservation efforts.
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