The Michigan Lake Where the Sturgeon Season Is 17 Minutes Long
As fishing goes, the sturgeon spearing season on Black Lake may be the shortest in the country: Six fish long. Starting at 8 a.m. on Feb. 1, about 500 fishers hoped to throw spears at sturgeon passing under the ice until the sixth and final fish was caught 17 minutes later, the fastest season ever.
Spearing sturgeon requires a mix of luck, timing and technique. Austin Dreifuerst, a 30-year-old from Fond du Lac, Wis., had all three when he caught the largest of the six, a 78.3-pound, 67-inch sturgeon that was probably twice his age. He was named the 2025 Sturgeon King and received a trophy, cap and gown.