Lake sturgeon populations, markedly reduced throughout most of their range, now support commercial or sport fisheries in few regions. A sport fishery in the Lake Winnebago area annually attracts approximately 2,000 spearers who take from about 400 to more than 2,800 fish. When spearing conditions are favorable more persons participate in the sport and enjoy a greater rate of success. The estimated catch of 2,828 lake sturgeon speared in 1953, weighing approximately 100,000 pounds, represented the largest catch on record. This annual yield of lake sturgeon is exceeded in North America only by commercial fisheries for white and green sturgeon in the States of Washington and Oregon.