Lake Sturgeon Also called rock sturgeon, reddy sturgeon, or common sturgeon, the lake sturgeon is New York State's largest completely freshwater fish. Mature adults average between three and five feet in length and ten to 80 pounds in weight, but can occasionally grow as large as seven plus feet and 300 plus pounds. Body coloration changes with age. Adult lake sturgeon are a uniform dull grey color with the scutes the same color as the background. Younger sturgeon are brownish grey with clear green on the lower parts of the head and body.
Lake sturgeon have sharp, cone-shaped mouths with four smooth barbels on the underside.
The mouth is wide and there are two smooth lobes on the lower lip. As lake sturgeon age, their clearly-defined, pointed scutes smooth out. In certain older individuals, the plates are barely visible. Life History Lake sturgeon spawn in the spring from May to June. Prior to spawning, adult sturgeon form groups in deep holes near the spawning site.