The New York Times Spear Fishing

PIPE, WI -FEB. 16, 2015: Joe Wettstein, 59, drills through the ice with a chainsaw to help make his 16th spear fishing hole of the season for various friends and family Monday, Feb. 16, 2015 on Lake Winnebago. He is watched by Connie Petska, 46, who will be fishing in the hole with Darin Callahan, 44. "It's a waiting game," she says. "You sit and wait." 13,000 licenses were sold for the 2015 sturgeon spearing season, and 233 fish were caught Monday between all of the registration stations, with 62 being registered in Stockbridge. The season started Feb. 14, 2015 and lasted until Feb. 21, 2015 on Lake Winnebago with a total of 1870 sturgeon speared. The average success rate for spearers is 10-12% and some people go years without spotting anything from their shanty. Lauren Justice for The New York Times

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PIPE, WI -FEB. 16, 2015: Joe Wettstein, 59, drills through the ice with a chainsaw to help make his 16th spear fishing hole of the season for various friends and family Monday, Feb. 16, 2015 on Lake Winnebago. He is watched by Connie Petska, 46, who will be fishing in the hole with Darin Callahan, 44. "It's a waiting game," she says. "You sit and wait." 13,000 licenses were sold for the 2015 sturgeon spearing season, and 233 fish were caught Monday between all of the registration stations, with 62 being registered in Stockbridge. The season started Feb. 14, 2015 and lasted until Feb. 21, 2015 on Lake Winnebago with a total of 1870 sturgeon speared. The average success rate for spearers is 10-12% and some people go years without spotting anything from their shanty. Lauren Justice for The New York Times