Most people see a frozen lake; Kasey Morgan saw an obsession. On February 20, 2025, the owner of DeerFest and co-host of Huntworx stood over a dark hole in the ice of Lake Winnebago, waiting for a giant that has roamed these waters since the prehistoric era.

Embedded with the legendary Muche clan, Kasey didn’t just go fishing—he went to school. Learning from a family that defines "expert" sturgeon spearing, Kasey described the experience as "drinking through a fire hose." The decades of Muche family secrets led to one heart-stopping moment when the spear finally flew, marking Kasey’s first-ever sturgeon harvest.

I’ll shoot you straight — I won’t share my spots, but I will share proven tactics. Early ice is a short, action-packed window if you know where to look. Walleyes haunt points, reefs, and breaks, but one setup consistently produces: moving water near healthy weeds.

Find a feeder creek, river inlet, or spring and you’re in business. My go-to? A river tributary spilling onto a flat with green weeds before dropping into deeper water. It’s a prime ambush spot and the perfect way to start your first-ice season.