Feb. 15, 2025 Harvest Update

On the eighth day of the season and the official halfway point, the Winnebago System woke up to about 3 inches of snow, with more falling throughout the day. Many spearers ended up following snow plows out to the lake. Likely due to the weather, Lake Winnebago only saw 24 lake sturgeon harvested (4 juvenile females, 8 adult females and 12 males). Spearers once again indicated that water clarity around the lake remains fairly poor, with only some pockets of clearer water.

Because the season on the Upriver Lakes has lasted so long, many spearers with an Upriver tag likely didn’t want to deal with the weather today. Only 12 sturgeon were speared Upriver (2 juvenile females, 2 adult females and 8 males). Despite being a Saturday, this is the lowest harvest day on the Upriver Lakes this season.

One of the few successful spearers on the Upriver Lakes was 15-year-old Mason Wamsley-Bohn. His uncle, who was a Vietnam veteran and has been fighting lung cancer, transferred his tag to Mason so that he could spear with his grandfather. After sitting with his grandfather for 6 years, they finally found success today. Congrats, Mason! We hope you get to bring an incredible fish story back to your uncle. We also want to thank Mason’s uncle for his service, sharing his story and offering the opportunity for Mason to become part of the successful spearer legacy on the Winnebago System.

View the full details in today’s harvest report.

More large lake sturgeon were harvested today, the largest being a 117.9-pound, 71-inch sturgeon speared by Matt Payette on Lake Winnebago. This brings the total number of fish harvested over 100 pounds to 35 for the season.

While sturgeon can grow to enormous lengths, it is a good time to remind people how docile these creatures can be. Because of their biology, they spend most of their time on the bottom of the lake searching for food. Even if a curious one does happen to swim up to the surface, they are not aggressive. They may look intimidating and shark-life, but they don’t possess any teeth. For the larger fish, their mouths are only about the size of your fist. So, if you’re worried about swimming and interacting with these fish on Lake Winnebago during warmer months, please don’t fret. If you see one while on an excursion around the lake, just let them be and enjoy the site.

Please note, due to water clarity, the Pipe registration station will still be closed 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, and congrats to all our spearers.

As the snow fell, Matt Payette still managed to bag this 117.9-pound, 71-inch lake sturgeon from Lake Winnebago.

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.