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Lake Sturgeon have not changed much in their 136 million years on earth. They are a large fish and not usually seen by people who live in the area as they are bottom feeders and are not usually caught by anglers. Even though not well known, the fish inhabit many rivers in Northern Ontario but their numbers are declining. Sturgeon are the largest and longest living freshwater fish in the northern hemisphere. Sturgeon weighing over one hundred pounds and 150 years old have been found in the Groundhog River, about 80 km west of downtown Timmins.
The lack of general knowledge about sturgeon has been addressed by Laurent Robichaud and members of the Club Navigateur La Ronde. For about ten years now they have been taking high school biology students in large inflatable rafts down the Groundhog river to the point where, in early spring, the sturgeon congregate to spawn. It is a somewhat startling experience to see up to 100 lb. fish just under the surface of the water near the rocky shoreline.
Knowing where they spawn, the members of the club are usually able to catch one fish using a net to show the students a living specimen. As can be seen from the attached picture, the reaction of the students is a mixture of great interest and perhaps with some revulsion at holding these ancient creatures. It is an experience, however, they will remember for a long time.
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