Feb. 10, 2025 Harvest Update

Spearers were met with calm winds and sunshine for the third day of the spearing season. As usual, with the coming weekdays, harvest has dropped off as many spearers went back to work. Today, a total of 65 lake sturgeon were harvested throughout the entire Winnebago System. On Lake Winnebago, there were 36 lake sturgeon harvested: 6 juvenile females, 16 adult females and 14 males.

Harvest on the Upriver Lakes continues to come in at a steady but slow pace with 29 lake sturgeon harvested today (21 males, 2 adult females and 6 juvenile females). This brings the Upriver season total to 118 males, 19 adult females and 26 juvenile females, with 163 overall. After three days, we are just about halfway to the male harvest cap on the Upriver Lakes.

View the full details in today’s harvest report.

There are still a good number of large lake sturgeon being harvested. Another 2 lake sturgeon weighing more than 100 pounds were speared today, with David Carnot spearing the biggest fish of the day: a 149.5-pound, 76.7-inch, F2 female and Mike Boettcher spearing a 138.4-pound, 79.7-inch, F2 female. This brings the total of lake sturgeon over 100 pounds to 18. The increase in chironomid (or red worm) densities on Lake Winnebago is likely helping to the keep these fish at healthy weights.

There were also multiple first-time successful spearers on the system today. Hunter Minor from Elko, Minnesota has come over to spear with his grandfather who is from the Stockbridge area and was able to successfully spear his first fish on Lake Winnebago with a 37.8-pound, 56.9-inch, M1 male. Twelve-year-old Warren Nelson was also able to successfully spear a 63.6-pound, 62.5-inch, M2 male from the Upriver Lakes today. We hope the fish story they have from today will be told through the generations.

Not only that, there are many spearers who continue to add to their spearing stories, including John Worm who at 88 years young is still taking to the ice to spear these incredible fish. Today he came home with a 93-pound, 69.1-inch fish.

Please note that due to poor water clarity, we will be closing the Pipe registration tomorrow. For those registering fish in that area, the Quinney registration station is the next closest station. Please make sure to adjust accordingly.

Thank you to all who were out. Please continue to be safe, and congrats to all who were successful today!

John Worm proves that it doesn’t matter your age, there is still excitement for all out on the Winnebago System, spearing this impressive 93-pound, 69.1-inch lake sturgeon on the Upriver Lakes. Congrats John!

No Ice Is 100% Safe

If using UTVs on the ice, here are a few basic safety tips to remember:

• Remember UTVs are heavy. They are the heaviest recreational vehicle out on the ice, often being close to 3,000 pounds. This is similar to a car or truck.
• Have a plan in case you do go through the ice.
• Roll your window down when traveling on the ice and make sure you can easily open your door – drive slow and turn the radio down so that you can use eyes and ears to watch and hear for potential issues coming up.
• Make sure you have life jackets or some other type of floatation for every occupant of the UTV.
• Recovery for the UTV or other vehicle is the responsibility of the owner/operator. After 30 days, the owner can be fined each day after 30 days.
• Recovery rates for the machine can also be very expensive.
• This may not be the year to explore new locations – stick to known areas that typically have better ice conditions.
• Never consume alcohol or drugs before or during your ride.
• Carry a cell phone, and let people know where you are going and when you’ll return home.
• Watch for pressure ridges or ice buckling. These can be dangerous due to thin ice and open water.

Remember – the DNR does not monitor ice conditions. Local fishing clubs, outfitters and bait shops are the best sources for local current ice conditions.  

Check out the DNR’s Ice Safety webpage for more information on staying safe on the ice, including tips for creating ice claws and what to do if you fall through ice.

Additional information on the Winnebago system sturgeon spearing season can be found on the DNR website.