Posted Thursday, February 7, 2013 --- 12:19 p.m.

OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) -- Sturgeon spearers may have another long season with poor ice and low water clarity on Lake Winnebago this year.

Last year's season went a full 16 days without hitting the limit for the number of the prehistoric fish taken.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Winnebago Sturgeon Biologist Ryan Koenigs says license sales are down about 4.5 percent this year at just over 12,000. He says there were 50 percent less shanties last year because of poor ice conditions and the conditions may have deterred people this year.

Koenigs says the DNR staff knows there are quite a few 200-pounders out there. But the spearers heading out onto Lake Winnebago, Lake Butte des Morts and Lake Poygan may have a hard time finding them.

The season opens Saturday.

Copyright 2013: Associated Press