Jon Verhagen celebrating with his 160.6-pound, 81.2- inch, F2 female at the Stockbridge registration station.
Feb. 11, 2025 Harvest Update
It was another slow day out on Lake Winnebago. Reports are coming in that the west side of the lake still has better water clarity than the east shores. Still, a total of 26 lake sturgeon were harvested on Lake Winnebago today with 2 juvenile females, 13 adult females and 11 males. The higher numbers of fish registered at the Downtown Oshkosh and Neenah registration stations, registering 55 and 57 fish so far this season, respectively, continue to reflect better conditions on the west shores.
The Poygan registration station continues to be where most spearers are going on the Upriver Lakes, likely due to better ice access. This station has registered a whopping 119 fish in just four days. That is almost 60% of the fish harvested on the Upriver Lakes. Today, a total of 27 lake sturgeon were harvested on the Upriver lakes: 19 males, 7 adult females and 1 juvenile female. Overall, there have been 189 fish harvested from the Upriver Lakes: 27 juvenile females, 26 adult females and 137 males.
View the full details in today’s harvest report.
Jon Verhagen speared the largest fish of the day with a 160.6-pound, 81.2-inch, F2 female from Lake Winnebago. This incredible fish is likely anywhere between 70 and 100 years old. Even with their slow reproduction – not reaching sexual maturity until they are 20 or 25, and then only spawning once every 4 years or more – this fish could have migrated up the Wolf or Fox river systems to reproduce 15 times or more over the course of her lifetime.
Please note that due to poor water clarity, we will be closing the Pipe registration station again tomorrow. For those registering fish in that area, the Quinney registration station is the next closest station. Please make sure to adjust your plans accordingly.
Thank you to all who were out. Please continue to be safe, and congrats to all who were successful today!
Sturgeon Fest is the annual celebration of the release of these juvenile sturgeon into the Milwaukee Harbor. The event takes place in September and the public is welcome to attend.
Have A Bucket Of Fun At Milwaukee’s Sturgeon Fest
A plain white pail with a wire handle, switching hands from volunteer workers to eager children and watchful adults, seems to serve as a beacon of happiness among the growing crowd – where this pail goes, smiles follow.
Though unassuming, its contents are the source of that visible joy. These buckets hold a few inches of Milwaukee River water and, more importantly, a fingerling lake sturgeon. To see this little fish, knowing that it may one day reach 7 feet long and live over 100 years, is enough to bring a sense of wonder to even the most stoic.
That fish, one among the 1,135 released into the Milwaukee Harbor of Lake Michigan during Sturgeon Fest 2024, plunged into its native waters as part of an annual stocking effort that began in 2006 to combat a troubling reality.
Despite their primordial charisma, lake sturgeon populations faced regional extinction in the Milwaukee River, an approximately 100-mile-long waterway that stretches from Fond du Lac County to the Port of Milwaukee. Overharvest and loss of spawning habitat were primary drivers in the decline and near ecological tragedy. Historical population levels fell below 1%, making it glaringly obvious that something needed to be done to protect and restore this ancient native fish.
The little sturgeon’s journey to SturgeonFest starts when lake sturgeon eggs are collected by the Wisconsin DNR from the Wolf River system and brought to a streamside rearing facility (SRF) at Riveredge Nature Center along the Milwaukee River.
Between hatching and reaching that pail and ultimately being released into Lake Michigan, each sturgeon relies on a collaborative rearing process that takes around five months and countless volunteer and staff hours from DNR and Riveredge staff. For all involved, the satisfaction of watching them grow is enough payment for performing daily facility maintenance and following myriad protocols to keep the fish nourished and healthy during their time at the SRF.
Once these sturgeon reach maturity, which can take up to 26 years for females and 15 years for males, they return to the Milwaukee River to spawn in shallow, rocky areas along the banks. To further expand recovery efforts, a dam removal at Estabrook Park in 2018 and the installation of fishways at Mequon-Thiensville in 2010 and Kletzsch Park in 2024 allowed lake sturgeon access to over 90% of the potential spawning habitat.
While full recovery is a long-term endeavor, the prospect of a thriving lake sturgeon population in the Milwaukee River rests upon a strong foundation. Advancements in fish tracking capabilities allow the Wisconsin DNR to home in on the nuances of their life cycles and habits, furthering the efficiency of the restoration effort and likelihood of continued success. As the fish grow, so does our ability to understand and protect them. That, combined with overwhelming public support and engagement, is the cornerstone of successful recovery.
If you find yourself at Sturgeon Fest 2025, just follow the smiles and help release one of these little fish. There you will find one of Wisconsin’s most revered and culturally significant fish species, returning to where it belongs.
Sturgeon Fest is the annual celebration of the release of these juvenile sturgeon into the Milwaukee Harbor. The event takes place in September and the public is welcome to attend. |
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. |
