OSHKOSH, WI (WLUK) — Warmer than normal temperatures may have kept many people off the ice for opening day of the 2023 Sturgeon Spearing Season.
The Department of Natural Resources says there was about half the amount of shacks on the ice compared to last year’s opener.
In addition to ice conditions, water clarity also had an impact.
Between a 16 inch slab of ice, and about 14 feet of relatively clear water below, Scott Broehm says he’s hopeful.
“The clarity’s pretty decent. We can see down quite a ways. It’s not as good as it was yesterday, but it’s still pretty decent,” said Scott Broehm, Stockbridge.
That water clarity may be paying off. Dawn Zahringer was the first to bring her 32-pound fish to the Stockbridge Sturgeon Registration Station early Saturday morning.
“Joe was getting stuff all hooked up, and I was looking down in the hole, and I just said to him, here comes one. And it looked bigger in the hole, that’s for sure,” said Dawn Zahringer, Sherwood.
Not long after, Kelly Zywicki speared an 81-pounder, her very first.
“Oh absolute chaos. Absolute chaos. Chairs flying out the door, just as it should be. I’m going to celebrate,” said Kelly Zywicki, Stevens Point.
Fishing Clubs monitor and maintain the landings around the 132,000-acre lake. Many recommend driving ATVs or UTVs on the ice. DNR officials say fewer spearers took to Lake Winnebago on Saturday.
“Aerial counts came in. We’re looking at just over 3,000 shacks on Lake Winnebago, which is a lot fewer than previous years. Most likely due to ice conditions, and the cracks that are going on,” said Margaret Stadig, DNR Sturgeon Biologist.
According to the DNR, there were nearly 6,000 shacks on opening day, last season
“I can’t believe that we only see very few shacks this year. I knew it was going to be less, but I didn’t think it would be this less,” said Broehm.
Spearers found success on the Upriver Lakes of Poygan, Winneconne, and Butte des Morts. Ron Carpenter registered a 43-pound sturgeon at Critters in Winneconne.
“At 9:00 there were four of us in the shack, and it came in. I took my grandfather’s spear and took him. It’s quite a rush. If you don’t understand sturgeon spearing, you need to experience it once, and you’re hooked,” said Ron Carpenter, Omro.
Back on Winnebago persistence paid off. Scott Broehm speared a sturgeon after a couple hours in the shack.
“I’m done. We still got 4 or 5 other tags out there. Hopefully we can get some more,” he said.
Despite the conditions, says there were still people driving trucks and SUVs on the ice.
The DNR did not report any major safety incidents.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 522 sturgeon were harvested, 169 lake sturgeon were harvested Upriver and 353 were harvested on Lake Winnebago.
By comparison, 431 sturgeon were harvested on opening day last year.
