Today, 26 fish were harvested on Lake Winnebago (3 juvenile females, 13 adult females, and 10 males). The DNR biologists report that many lake sturgeon stomachs are full of Gizzard Shad. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. One entrepreneur sold unique signs at the Stockbridge registration station outside Harbor Bar. Ice conditions are worsening in the Winnebago System. Sixty-one fish were harvested between Lake Winnebago and the Upriver Lakes. It was great seeing everyone back at the regular registration stations; we enjoyed being able to celebrate with you and hear your spearing stories. I took the fish to a local taxidermist, he said. Andy Schumacher of Oshkosh, Sandys son (right), was staring into the depths in another shack when he got a cell phone call to help his mother with a big fish. The survey not only asked about on-camera opinions but also the use of the sturgeon hole and other technologies during sturgeon spearing and other recreational fishing activities. Tomorrow, the Neenah registration station will reopen. The Gizzard Shad population during the Winnebago trawl assessment saw a small uptick in densities but nothing compared to previous boom years. While this fish might not be the heaviest of the year, at 80.5 inches, this is a long fish. Mild weather adds to celebrations on opening day of sturgeon spearing at the Poygan registration station, speared by Rebecca Van Handel. There were plenty of big fish to see this season, with 46 fish over 100 pounds for the season (9 fish from the Upriver Lakes and 37 fish from Lake Winnebago). Call 1-888-936-7463 (TTY Access via relay - 711) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Ryan Koenigs, DNR Winnebago sturgeon biologist. This years registration stations have returned to their pre-pandemic locations. If the 90% trigger is hit, there will only be one more day to spear after that. Only 7 fish were harvested from Lake Winnebago today, with 1 juvenile female, 3 adult females and 3 males. Harvest caps for the 2021 Winnebago system spearing season are set at 430 juvenile females, 950 adult females and 1,200 males. At this size, a fish might only grow 2 inches in a matter of 6 years as opposed to their quick growth rate early in life. The DNR tries to tag as many Lake Sturgeon during the spring with these PIT tags as possible. The 2023 sturgeon spearing season has begun. But so far, harvest Upriver has been slow, and the season will continue to be open tomorrow. About 42,000 sturgeon are in the Winnebago system, and this year's harvest limits in Lake Winnebago for the sturgeon spearing season are capped at 430 juvenile females, 950 adult females and . To help with the registration process, the DNR asks that all harvested sturgeon be placed on the tailgate or in an easily accessible location. Decoy types are unlimited if they don't involve any artificial lights (glow sticks are illegal) or hooks. The current annual season tradition began in 2007 and addedthelottery fishery to preservation efforts, and since then, the shortest season was reported in 2012 at only two days. Please visit the fishing license webpage for more information. The season on the Upriver Lakes is closed. An unlicensed person or person, who has already filled their tag, cannot be inside a shanty alone with a spear. The view from the dark shanty. The last day continued to prove to be exciting on Lake Winnebago with cold weather and sunshine. F6 females are fish that spawned last season (spring of 2022). Sturgeon spearing season's opening weekend brought in more thana quarter of thetotal sturgeon needed to meet the harvest cap in Lake Winnebago and around 71% of the Upriver Lakes harvest cap for adult females with weekend total of 783 fish. The small Village of Stockbridge, Wisconsin has trademarked the name Sturgeon Center of the World and it certainly seemed like it on Februaru 11, opening day of Wisconsins 2017 Lake Winnebago system sturgeon spearing season. Carcass tags must be validated immediately upon harvest by removing the validation stub. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Please include a brief description for use in future outreach efforts. This is half of what was counted in 2022. With our big trucks we like to have at least 12 or more, Herman said. Just $1 per month . The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources published their opening day report. The Winnebago system is home to one of North America's largest lake sturgeon populations and hosts a unique winter spear fishery. Sturgeon Spearing in Oshkosh Locations can be found in the sturgeon spearing regulation packet or on the DNR's sturgeon spearing webpage. Season Photos Sturgeon spearing in Wisconsin is a sport rich in tradition. The equipment needed to participate in sturgeon spearing is relatively specialized. If the spearhead is removed, it must be placed outside the shanty when occupied. This was the last day to spear on the Upriver Lakes. 22-Year-Old Spears Giant Sturgeon on Lake Winnebago - Outdoor Life Photos of spearers with their catch, cutting in, shanty life, scenic views observed during the season or any other captivating spearing traditions are encouraged. Tomorrow, the Quinney registration station on Lake Winnebago and the Poygan registration station on the Upriver Lakes will be closed. All applicants that are not awarded a permit accumulate a preference point for use in future drawings. The DNR reminds spearers that once they have successfully speared a sturgeon, the tag must be validated by tearing off the bottom portion. Rebecca and Korey weren't the only ones with stories to tell. Spearers with tags for Lake Winnebago may continue to harvest sturgeon on Lake Winnebago until harvest caps are reached or until the Lake Winnebago System harvest caps are reached. Not only were spearers successful today but they were also treated to some large fish. This reproductive stage is called F6. (WFRV) - The sun wasn't the only thing shining on the second to last day of the sturgeon spearing season. Hes like three miles out in the lake. 1969 and 1973 are tied for smallest harvest years, yielding eight sturgeon each. As we approach the weekend, we wish all the spearers luck. For those who are still enjoying the winter and spearing season, good luck this weekend. Upriver, there are still 3 adult females left until the 90% trigger is activated or 11 more adult females until the 100% cap is reached. There were 169 lake sturgeon harvested Upriver (20 juvenile females, 46 adult females and 103 males) and 353 harvested on Lake Winnebago (35 juvenile females, 171 adult females and 147 males). Male stages are similar, with M1 males not ready to spawn, while M2 males were ready to spawn in spring 2023. Those caps are 1,200 male sturgeon, 875 adult females, and 400 juvenile females. There are still 2 adult females left until the 90% trigger is activated or 10 more adult females until the 100% cap is reached on the Upriver lakes. Lake Winnebago's largest catch of 2020 was a 142-pound,80-inch sturgeon speared byWilliam Thern of Fond du Lac. 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. Over the years, the season has grown into a unique cultural event rich in tradition. The latest survey results and comparisons to the last two surveys are included in the report below. They also have registered the most fish over 100 pounds. Many families came out just to see some of the big fish. My birthday is Feb. 11, and if I wanted a birthday party growing up, it was a birthday party on the lake.. In 1979, the same year ESPN launched its cable network, the first successful efforts to propagate lake sturgeon artificially occurred. By comparison, the average weight and length from the 2020 harvest in Lake Winnebago was 51.1 pounds and 58.5 inches. So I got on the phone with Sean Wendts. Two fish today were registered over 100 pounds. Wisconsin Official Traded Sturgeon Research Eggs for Caviar Congratulations to all successful spearers. There were 21 fish harvested over 100 lbs., with 16 from Lake Winnebago and 5 from the Upriver Lakes. Sturgeon Spearing: Fishing for the Living Dinosaurs of the Midwest If 100% is reached, then the season will close that afternoon. The winter spearing season has been active since 1932 on Lake Winnebago and 1952 on the Upriver Lakes, with regulations adjusting over the years, according to reports from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The next season was held in 2005, which was the shortest for the area only one day and was strategically set out of concern for overharvesting. MADISON, Wis. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is preparing for the sturgeon spearing season opener on Feb. 11, giving spearers a chance to harvest Wisconsins largest and oldest fish species. Locals report some decent Gizzard Shad values in this southeastern section of Lake Winnebago which is likely drawing spearers to this area. Female stages are V, 1, 2, 4 or 6, while male stages include V, 1 or 2. As part of the registration process, the DNR is looking for Lake Sturgeon that have been previously tagged. WINNEBAGO SYSTEM STURGEON SPEARING - Wisconsin DNR 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. The system-wide harvest caps are 430 juvenile females, 950 . Some locations will continue to offer the drive-thru registration option. 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. Catching sturgeon was eventually stopped in Wisconsin due to overfishing in the early 1900s. Both require a spearing license to participate. Schumachers 78.5-inch beast had a huge girth and weighed 154.7 pounds. This weekend, many spearers were seen pulling their shacks on both Lake Winnebago and the Upriver lakes before the forecasted warm weather and rain set for tomorrow. The female sturgeon is the seventh-largest fish ever taken with a spear in the Lake Winnebago system. The WI DNR records indicate that 491 sturgeon were harvested in Lake Winnebago which ranked 51st highest dating back to 1941 (80 seasons). Whatever is placed in the water must be removed or retrieved when requested. Whats bad for ice is the wind and sun. As she continued to grow, she swam through the Winnebago System for about 13 years, dodging the set lines on the Upper River lakes until 1952, when set lining was eliminated. At 85.5 inches, Eiden's sturgeon could have surpassed a different record, ifrecords were determinedby length as well as weight. Winnebago System sturgeon spearing webpage, Office of Communications connects journalists with DNR experts. The Otter Street Fishing Club didnt put out their vehicle bridges this year. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is preparing for the sturgeon spearing season opener on Feb. 11, giving spearers a chance to harvest Wisconsin's largest and oldest fish species. Wisconsin DNR Gerald Peterson's 154.9-pound, 83.4-inch female sturgeon speared on the third day of the 2017 season was about five inchers longer but only two-tenths of a pound heavier than Schumacher's opening day trophy. Only 50 lake sturgeon were harvested Upriver (11 juvenile females, 10 adult females and 29 males). At almost 70 years old, she knew how to weather that storm. Gishkowsky said he targets the fish by locating the small, red mud worms they feed on. Wisconsin 2023 Sturgeon Spearing Season Opens Feb. 11 A darkened shack or enclosure is required for better visibility. Gerald Petersons 154.9-pound, 83.4-inch female sturgeon speared on the third day of the 2017 season was about five inchers longer but only two-tenths of a pound heavier than Schumachers opening day trophy. (WFRV) - The 2022 sturgeon spearing season officially wrapped up on Sunday with spearers already looking forward to next year. Since around the 2000s, the DNR has tagged over 20,000 fish with these PIT tags in the Winnebago system. To everyone headed back out tomorrow, remember to be safe. Spearers interested in fishing the Upriver Lakes must apply for a permit or purchase a preference point before an Aug. 1 deadline. Korey Krupp speared the largest sturgeon from Lake Winnebago with a 135.5-pound, 76.1-inch female. Sturgeon spearing: Here's what records have been set and broken - Yahoo! Today, 29 fish were harvested on Lake Winnebago with 3 juvenile females, 15 adult females and 11 males. View the full details in today's harvest report. Remember to be safe and that no ice is 100% safe. If you are headed out tomorrow good luck and, as always, be safe. Unlike Lake Sturgeon, these species have to contend with large predators such as sharks even after they grow too big sizes. There were no 100 lb. Call 1-888-936-7463 (TTY Access via relay - 711) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 2023 Winnebago System Sturgeon Spearing Regulations, Lake Winnebago Water Clarity Report, 2023, View the full details in todays harvest report, Click here to view the full Day 13 Harvest Report, Click here to view the full Day 12 Harvest Report, View the full details in today's harvest report, Young of year Gizzard Shad abundances in Lake Winnebago during the Lake Winnebago trawl assessment, View the full details in today's full harvest report, Click here to view the full Day 8 Harvest Report, Check out the Heavy Hitters Club, the largest fish speared over 170 pounds on the Lake Winnebago system since 1941, Sign up for Winnebago System sturgeon spearing updates, Explaining the Increasing Trend in Support for Underwater Cameras for Sturgeon Spearing on the Lake Winnebago System, What you need to know about tagging your sturgeon, Winnebago System sturgeon spearing successful spearer list 2023, Winnebago System sturgeon spearing season summary, 2022, Winnebago System sturgeon spearing season summary, 2021, Winnebago System sturgeon stock assessment report, 2022, Winnebago System chironomid assessment report, 2022. 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