Dick Koerner

Location of Interview
Collection Name

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

Description

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.

Interviewer
Date of Interview
10-30-2007
Transcribers

National Capital Contracting

Audio
Transcript
Supplemental Material
Abstract

On October 30, 2007, Ronald Bruch interviewed Dick Koerner in Neenah, Wisconsin, for the People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish oral history project. Dick Koerner, an avid sturgeon spearer with over fifty years of experience, was born in 1933 and began spearing sturgeon in 1953. Over the decades, he has become deeply knowledgeable about sturgeon behavior, fishing techniques, and the environmental changes affecting the fish population in the Lake Winnebago system. In the interview, Koerner recounts his extensive experience with sturgeon spearing, sharing numerous stories that highlight the challenges, excitement, and camaraderie associated with the tradition. He discusses his first successful spear in 1953, the techniques he honed over the years, and the various environmental conditions influencing sturgeon behavior. Koerner also reflects on the cultural and social aspects of sturgeon spearing, including the relationships formed with fellow spearers and the community's shared respect for the fish. Koerner describes memorable moments, such as when he speared a 72-inch, 87-pound sturgeon and the close calls he experienced with faulty equipment or adverse weather conditions. He also touches on the impact of regulations and conservation efforts, particularly the role of the Sturgeon Advisory Committee, which he praises for its work in preserving the sturgeon population.


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The NOAA mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The Voices Oral History Archives offers public access to a wide range of accounts, including historical materials that are products of their particular times, and may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes.

Voices Oral History Archives does not verify the accuracy of materials submitted to us. The opinions expressed in the interviews are those of the interviewee only. The interviews here have been made available to the public only after the interviewer has confirmed that they have obtained consent.