Daily Update: 2020 Winnebago System Sturgeon Spearing Season

Daily Highlights

Only one more day remains in the 2020 lake sturgeon spear fishery on the Winnebago System.  There were 68 fish harvested today with 48 coming from Lake Winnebago and 20 from the Upriver Lakes. The 48 fish registered on Lake Winnebago today is the largest daily harvest of the season. I’ve been hearing from spearers all season that the water has been clearing, and today’s harvest confirms that. Through 15 days, our season total is 431 fish on Lake Winnebago and 311 fish on the Upriver Lakes. A more detailed break down of the season harvest is presented in the attached document:

Day 15 Harvest Report.pdf

The biggest fish of the day today was 107.9 pounds, 73.8 inches and registered at Wendt’s by Wyatt Ziemer. Randall Sorensen’s fish wasn’t far behind in size.  Randall registered his 107.2 pound, 73.3 inch lake sturgeon at Payne’s Point. The largest fish of the day on the Upriver Lakes was 69.9 pounds, 65.1 inches and registered at Critter’s by Dennis Waters.

Tomorrow will be the last day of the 2020 sturgeon spear fishery. Congratulations to all the spearers that have harvested sturgeon this season and good luck to everyone who will be out on the hunt tomorrow!

Today’s Vignette: “The 1990 Sturgeon Spearing Season”

The 1990 sturgeon spearing season was one for the record books. Crystal clear water clarity (up to 18’) led to a harvest of 2,908 fish harvested from Lake Winnebago during the 20 day spearing season. That season harvest set a season record at that time and still stands as the 2^nd largest harvest from Lake Winnebago behind only the 1995 season. The average fish harvested in 1990 was 56 inches and 41 pounds. The largest fish was 144 pounds, 73 inches and registered by Leroy Remmel. I’ve included a few documents from the 1990 spearing season including a pre-season press release and a post-season summary report.

1990 pre-season media release.pdf

1990 Post Season Memo.pdf

Harvest by station_1990 Spearing Season.pdf