WISCONSIN (WTAQ) — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is preparing for the sturgeon spearing season opener on Feb. 11.
The DNR’s fisheries biologist, Margaret Stadig, said more licenses were sold this year.
“Over 13 thousand people bought a spearing license,” said Stadig. “This is an increase from 12 thousand in 2022. So lots of people are probably planning on taking to the ice on Saturday.”
With one of the largest lake sturgeon populations in North America, the Winnebago System supports an annual spearing season that will run for a maximum of 16 days (Feb. 26) or until any of the predetermined harvest caps have been met. This year’s harvest caps have been set at:
| WATERBODY | JUVENILE FEMALES | ADULT FEMALES |
MALES |
| Upriver Lakes |
70 |
79 | 246 |
| Lake Winnebago |
280 |
714 | 985 |
| Winnebago System |
350 |
793 | 1231 |
If harvest caps are met early, a closure notice will be posted to the DNR’s Winnebago System sturgeon spearing webpage.
The sturgeon spearing season length is usually dictated in part by water clarity of the Upriver Lakes and Lake Winnebago. Warmer temperatures this winter prevented biologists from safely conducting water clarity assessments until this week. There is an average of 13 feet of water clarity around Lake Winnebago with generally clearer water on the eastern shores as well as farther from shores along the west side of the lake.
With better water clarity this year, a good harvest is expected, though the warm weather could deteriorate ice conditions which may reduce spearing success. Recorded low chironomid densities (lake fly larvae/red worms) this year may also impact sturgeon distribution around Lake Winnebago.
The DNR reminds spearers that once they have successfully speared a sturgeon, the tag must be validated by tearing off the bottom portion. The sturgeon must then be brought to an official registration station and registered by 2 p.m. on the day it was speared.
Any sturgeon harvested from Lake Winnebago must be registered at one of the registration stations on Lake Winnebago. Likewise, any sturgeon harvested from lakes Poygan, Butte des Morts, or Winneconne must be registered at one of the Upriver Lakes registration stations.
This year’s registration stations have returned to their pre-pandemic locations. Some locations will continue to offer the drive-thru registration option.
For more information on sturgeon spearing, visit the DNR’s website.
