Many moons ago when Wisconsin was first settled, the settlers that took up residence around Lake Winnebago, were either farmers or fishermen.
The fishermen took advantage of the bounty that still, to this day, resides in Lake Winnebago.
In the early 19th century, fishermen became dismayed when they realized their nets were being destroyed by an ancient fish native to the Great Lakes region. The torpedo shaped fish had five rows of bony plates that would easily cut the nets; they were deemed “garbage fish” much like carp is today. The fishermen began to slaughter the bony fish that would get caught and tear the nets by the thousands in an attempt to eradicate these pests. Continue reading A History of the Wisconsin Lake Sturgeon
