Please visit the fishing license webpage for more information. This winter event is rich in tradition, and 2021 will be another year for spearers to uphold or create new traditions in pursuit of the fish of a lifetime.. If you are returning to the ice tomorrow, we wish you the best of luck and, as always, please be safe. When spawning, females can hold 50,000-700,000 eggs. Registration Stations Registration stations have returned to pre-pandemic locations, and some will have drive-thru options. These efforts have helped strengthen and grow sturgeon populations nationwide, including in Tennessee, Georgia and Kentucky. This fish was speared by Michael Meetz and registered at the Pipe registration shack. Today, spearers reached between 90-99% of the harvest cap on the Upriver Lakes. According to the Wisconsin Department of . Most decoys are carved into the shape of a fish, but spearers are also superstitious by nature and have been known to deploy just about anything as a decoy, including copper jello molds, CDs, and white coffee cups. Photos are a great way to show the spearing tradition and keep the memories alive for years to come. Lake Winnebago's largest catch of 2020 was a 142-pound,80-inch sturgeon speared byWilliam Thern of Fond du Lac. Wisconsin, a state that prides itself on outdoor traditions such as hunting and fishing, holds a sturgeon spearing season every February on the Lake Winnebago system near Oshkosh, about 90 miles northwest of Milwaukee. Dive and Ice Service said. Red worm abundance was up on the Upriver Lakes this year, but the harvest was more affected by ice conditions than anything else. Spearers with tags for the Upriver lakes can continue to spear until 1 p.m. tomorrow, Feb. 18, 2023. Generally, the spears are constructed with long handles, 6-8' in length, and have detachable spearheads. And as always, if you head back onto the ice tomorrow, remember to be safe. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Licenses are issued through a drawing where priority is granted to applicants with the most preference points. The spearing season for this prehistoric fish will open on Feb. 13, 2021 for Lake Winnebago and the Upriver Lakes of Butte des Morts, Winneconne and Poygan, running for a maximum of 16 days or until any of the pre-determined harvest caps are reached. Today, another large female was speared just off of downtown Oshkosh. Some fish are mounted as well. Water clarity is one of the strongest predictors of lake sturgeon harvest in the Winnebago System during the spearing season. All rights reserved. As a result, only one fish has been registered at the Indian Point registration station since Tuesday. Access points near Indian Point made it difficult to access the lake. Fish and Wildlife Service have positively impacted lake sturgeon recovery efforts across North America. I think I see a few less shacks out there. The season on the Upriver Lakes is closed. It allows the DNR to assess the population, implement habitat projects, conduct research projects and implement the best management for this world-renowned resource, Koenigs said. 2004 also nearly heldthe record for largest harvest within the caps, at 1,854 sturgeon, but 2015 beat it out with 1,870. Gishkowskys fish was a lake sturgeona prehistoric, bottom-dwelling species that first appeared on earth around the time the dinosaurs went extinct. Photos of cutting in, shanty life, spearers with their catch or any other part of the spearing tradition are encouraged. Then I see the fish, and I thought: Oh my God, he said. The sturgeon must then be brought toan official registration stationand registered by 2 p.m. on the day it was speared. When you dub yourself the Sturgeon Center of the World, you really mean it. It has not made it the easiest season for spearers to navigate. Saturday's largest catch was Rebecca Van Handel's 143.2-pound female from the Upriver Lakes that measured 75.6 inches and was registered at the Poygan station. I threw the spear out, and I held onto the rope andby GodI hit it., Related: Angler Catches Massive 16-Pound Walleye While Ice Fishing on Lake Ontario. This year's season is set to begin Saturday. Tags Sturgeon Sturgeon Spearing Sturgeon Spearing Season Lake Winnebago Yes, the person with a valid license is the only person who can spear a fish. Call 1-888-936-7463 (TTY Access via relay - 711) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Ryan Koenigs, DNR Winnebago sturgeon biologist. These limitationsand careful guarding against poachers allow for the long-lived tradition of sturgeon spearing to continue without fear of depleting their numbers. Congrats James! Only 3,100 shacks were counted during Saturday's aerial counts, down significantly from the almost 6,000 shacks last year. It was nice to see families and friends taking advantage of the last weekend of this spearing season. Warmer temperatures this winter prevented biologists from safely conducting water clarity assessments until this week. Just $1 per month . Call 1-888-936-7463 (TTY Access via relay - 711) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 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. Only 7 fish were harvested, with 0 juvenile females, 3 adult females and 4 males. Both fish were among 19 sturgeon weighing over 100 pounds speared on Saturday, and 33. The snow and winter weather likely caused the slow spearing day. We dont want anybody to lose their life over a fish.. Both came from the Pipe registration shack, including the fish speared by Alex Wilkens at 101.6 lbs. One fishery occurs on Lake Winnebago, where the number of licenses sold for that fishery is not restricted, and an individual spearer can only purchase one license per season. The effort pays off for individual spearers as well: existing sturgeon now have a better opportunity to grow older and older and bigger and bigger. System-wide harvest caps for the 2021 Winnebago system sturgeon spearing season are 430 juvenile females, 950 adult females and 1,200 males. Sturgeon spearing is a sport of contrasts: The cold air outside, the warmth of a propane flame inside; the blinding white of snow on the lake, the dark interior of the shanty; long hours. The final day of spearing season wrapped up on Sunday, Feb. 23 with a total of 811 sturgeon harvested from the Lake Winnebago system and the upriver lakes. Today, 29 fish were harvested on Lake Winnebago with 3 juvenile females, 15 adult females and 11 males. So I got on the phone with Sean Wendts. There are two spearfishing opportunities for lake sturgeon on the Winnebago System. Sturgeon spearing day 1: great memories, fewer shacks, Fewer sturgeon spearers due to poor ice conditions, Willie Nelson celebrating 90th birthday with 2-day concert event, Note titled hit list found at Sturgeon Bay High School, Human remains found in marshy location in Little Lake Butte des Morts in Fox Crossing, More than 48,000 people died by suicide in the US in 2021, FIRST ALERT WEATHER: Wet mix with snow and rain sticks around, CONSUMER FIRST ALERT: Check scams don't die, Public File Assistance Contact - (920) 432-3331. So if you have wind and sun at the same time, thats a bad thing, Swanson explained. Years with good Gizzard Shad populations correlate with years when Lake Sturgeon increased weight due to the fat deposits from this fatty forage source. In 1980, she saw the introduction of the first flip-top portable canvas ice shanty. The largest fish harvested today was an 81.1-pound male which was 64.5 inches long. It's sturgeon spearfishing season in Wisconsin, and the shanties are inhabited by those hoping to spear a beast of a sturgeon. Zach Schrader is among more than 500 others who speared a sturgeon on opening day, When something of this magnitude swims through the hole its quite a unique experience, Schrader told Action 2 News while standing next to his fish in the bed of his truck. Photos of spearers with their catch, cutting in, shanty life, scenic views observed during the season or any other captivating spearing traditions are encouraged. With the wintery weather expected for the next few days, please be safe on the roads as you travel to Lake Winnebago and while out on the ice. Many who took to the ice today found success, with 522 sturgeon harvested. This was the last day to spear on the Upriver Lakes. Ice conditions were excellent opening day. The largest fish harvested was an F2 female that weighed 123.6 lbs. Only one sturgeon speared on the Lake Winnebago system has weighed in at over 200 pounds, butthe Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says that record could soon be shattered. | This year, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) predicts that harvest caps will be met prior to the 16-day season limit. It was great to see so many participants and their families come out once again to the registration stations. Since around the 2000s, the DNR has tagged over 20,000 fish with these PIT tags in the Winnebago system. There is no residency requirement for participating in the sturgeon spearing season, but license holders are predominantly Wisconsin residents residing within 60 miles of the Winnebago system. It was great seeing everyone back at the regular registration stations; we enjoyed being able to celebrate with you and hear your spearing stories. The Lake Michigan basin contains the Lake Winnebago system where Gishkowsky speared his monster sturgeon earlier this week. FV or MV stages indicate a fish that is not yet sexually mature. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. If you plan on registering your fish there, please head to the next closest registration station. Thesystemwide caps this year are set at 350 juvenile females, 793adult females and 1,231 males. Two fish today were registered over 100 pounds. Regulations related to minnow use and transportation (VHS rules) on the Winnebago system apply. Any sturgeon harvested from Lake Winnebago must be registered at one of the registration stations on Lake Winnebago. Todays largest fish was a 154.0 lbs., 79.5 inches, F2 female speared on Lake Winnebago by Michael Eggers. Spearers are also reminded that no ice is 100% safe. Southwest Winnebago had four fish registered, the highest on the lake today. The sale of sturgeon spearing licenses funds a variety of sturgeon management activities on the Winnebago system, such as successfully restoring lake sturgeon to the upper Wolf River in partnership with the the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin. Fifty-four fish were harvested from Lake Winnebago (5 juvenile females, 28 adult females, 21 males) and 7 from the Upriver Lakes (0 juvenile females, 3 adult females, 4 males). DNR staff have conducted an annual spring spawn survey since 1975. Any fish harvested from Lake Winnebago must be registered at one of the registration stations on Lake Winnebago. Harvesting a fish is a bonus for spearers with good fortune, and each fish comes with a unique story that will be shared countless times over the hours and years that follow. As the spearing season wraps up, many of the sturgeon ready to spawn this year are going to look towards the Upriver Lakes and the Wolf River to prepare for their migration. With 285 fish harvested Upriver this spearing season, there was just over a 50% success rate for spearers with Upriver tags. (WFRV) - The sun wasn't the only thing shining on the second to last day of the sturgeon spearing season. This was the first year since 2020 that registration stations were back to supper clubs and other businesses, after the COVID-19 pandemic caused a shift to drive-thru stations. Moving forward, the Neenah registration station will remain closed for the rest of the season. Please include a brief description for use in future outreach efforts. If 100% is reached, then the season will close that afternoon. This is why many of the largest fish registered are indicated as F4s. If you planned to register your fish there, please head to the next closest registration station. While we all continue to hope for cold weather, Monday's forecast continues to look bright, sunny and warm. Most fish are consumed by the spearer, with smoking and frying being the two most common preparation techniques. Gishkowsky used a seven-tine detachable spearhead affixed to an 8-foot pole to spear the monster fish before Wendts gaffed it and hauled it out of the ice. Sturgeon spearing on Wisconsin's Lake Winnebago has a long and rich tradition, according to the DNR's website. This is about half the fish that were registered yesterday. shy of the system record (record is 212 . Published Feb 18, 2017 2:30 AM EST. With our big trucks we like to have at least 12 or more, Herman said. Military personnel home on leave can also buy a license after Oct. 31. There are six drive-thru stations. Many families came out just to see some of the big fish. The Pipe registration station took the lead in the number of fish registered on opening weekend with 124 fish and has consistently had the highest registration numbers throughout the season with a final count of 399 fish. They also have registered the most fish over 100 pounds. Congratulations to all successful spearers. Even with all the weird weather, it has been a successful season so far. Carcass tags must be validated immediately upon harvest by removing the validation stub. There were also 21 fish harvested over 100 lbs., with 16 from Lake Winnebago and 5 from the Upriver Lakes. As it gets warmer, of course the ice will deteriorate on top first. As an F2, this female is preparing to spawn, but probably would not have spawned until the spring of 2024. Paul registered a 91.3-pound, 68.8-inch, F1 female, while his son, Eli, nabbed a bigger fish at 111.2 pounds, 74.7 inches, F1 female. Overharvesting was a main problem that affected the Lake Winnebago system sturgeon population in the past, which is why each spearing season since 1999 has hadpre-set harvest caps based on estimated population on top of the 16-day season limit. And though the DNR sold 13,219 sturgeon spearing licenses for the 2023 season, up from 12,694 in 2022, only 3,100 shacks were counted on the Feb. 11 opener, down from about 6,000 the previous year. Sixty-one fish were harvested between Lake Winnebago and the Upriver Lakes. Spearer after . Hopefully the tides will turn, and the forecasted lows will help solidify ice conditions. Updated: Feb 20, 2022 / 12:48 PM CST. Harvest caps for the 2021 Winnebago system spearing season are set at 430 juvenile females, 950 adult females and 1,200 males. With the sun shining and mild temperatures with a high in the 40s, excitement was in the air across the Lake Winnebago System for opening day of the 2023 sturgeon spearing season. This tag has no battery, a distinct 15-digit ID number and will last practically forever. In 2022, the longest fish speared was an 83.6-inch female weighing 157.5 pounds. There are 2 more shanties in need of sponsoring. In 1953, sturgeon enthusiasts were quick to find previous catches that had already broken Schroeder'srecord, citing Arthur Haferman and Michael Goyke's 187.5-pound catch on a set-line in Oshkosh from 1913 and Glen Marsh's 211-pound sturgeon from 1911 in Northwest Wisconsin, caught by a pike pole spear. Sturgeon, a large fish found in rivers and lakes across the. The fishing clubs use caution. If youd planned on registering your fish there, please head to the next closest registration station. According to the Department . Congrats to all successful spearers. For up-to-date harvest information, visit our sturgeon spearing webpage. The Pipe registration station saw the highest number of harvested fish for Lake Winnebago, with 124 lake sturgeon. Locations with drive-thru options are marked in red. Tomorrow, the Neenah registration station will be closed. There is only one more day for the 2023 sturgeon spearing season for anyone who has not yet filled their harvest tag for Lake Winnebago. fish harvested today. Contact:Ryan Koenigs, DNR Winnebago sturgeon biologistRyan.Koenigs@wisconsin.gov or 920-420-7444. For females, stages F1 and F2 indicate a fish that was not ready to spawn this year or even next. Just $1 per month , James Gishkowsky harvested the 6.6-foot behemoth during Wisconsin's annual sturgeon spearing season, By During her first few years, she grew and thrived while World War II was waging in Europe. The Pipe registration station continues to see the highest harvest of the season, with a daily total of 59 fish. Be safe! Continue to be safe if you are headed back out tomorrow. By the time itwas speared byJonathan Eiden in 2019, its weight had reached only 171 pounds, though this still-impressive catch demonstrated the potential for the lake system's fish. We will continue to post updates on what stations are open or closed. This years registration stations have returned to their pre-pandemic locations. The biggest fish harvested was an F1 female that weighed 83.3 lbs. The biggest fish harvested was a 75.4 lbs., F1, female that measured 67.1 inches long, speared by Anthony Woelfel. In Lake Winnebago, 1995 saw the largest sturgeon harvest between 1941 and 2020, reporting 3,173 sturgeon speared during the season, before the harvest caps were implemented, according to the DNR.