Ron Epprecht
People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish
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.
National Capital Contracting
Ron Epprecht was interviewed by Eugene Herubin on April 26, 2006, about his skill at decoy carving. Ron Epprecht, a resident of Oshkosh, is a sturgeon spearer and decoy carver. His father worked at Paine Lumber Company and later for the school system, while his mother was a homemaker. Epprecht is a machinist at Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac. In the interview, Epprecht discusses his background and the genesis of his interest in decoy carving and sturgeon spearing. He explains that his fascination with wooden duck decoys led him to try his hand at carving, eventually settling on patterns similar to garfish due to their association with sturgeon. Epprecht elaborates on his various decoy designs. Epprecht reflects on his lifelong engagement with sturgeon spearing, a tradition he shares with his two sons. He recalls his early experiences renting shanties and the subsequent construction of their own, highlighting the sense of camaraderie and family bonding the activity fosters. Throughout the interview, Epprecht shares anecdotes about his spearing adventures, including the thrill of catching his first sturgeon and memorable moments with his sons. Finally, Epprecht describes the meticulous work of creating decoys and the satisfaction of spending time outdoors. He also mentions the community aspect of spearing.
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