Feb. 21, 2024 Harvest Update

Spearers continue to find ways to head out onto the ice for these last few days of the spearing season. At this point, all of the harvesting action is happening on the southwest portion of Lake Winnebago.

Today all the harvested sturgeon on Lake Winnebago were registered at the Southwest Winnebago registration station with 0 juvenile females, 2 adult females and 3 males speared. Throughout this season, 50% of the harvest for the entire system has been registered at the Southwest registration station (193 of 383 lake sturgeon).

Currently, 114 lake sturgeon have been harvested Upriver. Today 3 were harvested (1 juvenile female, 0 adult females and 2 males). All were registered at the Winneconne station.

View the full details in today’s harvest report.

This warm weather reminds us that spring is just around the corner. The lake sturgeon will soon start their migration up the Wolf River to their spawning sites.

During the spawn, hundreds of lake sturgeon will take to the shores of the Wolf River to spawn on the rocky substrate near the surface. Because of this spawning behavior, the Sturgeon Guard ensures that the lake sturgeon can spawn without interference and disturbance.

For those who enjoy watching the lake sturgeon spawn or might want to help this species, do not forget that you can sign up to be part of the Sturgeon Guard. If you’re interested in learning more about the Sturgeon Guard or want to help guard at a spawning site, please use this form to sign up.

The Poygan, Neenah, Stockbridge and Quinney registration stations will remain closed tomorrow. All other stations will remain open.

We will continue to include registration station updates in our daily emails, or you can check the DNR Winnebago System Sturgeon Spearing webpage for updates.

No Ice Is 100% Safe

Here are a few basic ice safety tips to remember:

• Carry a cell phone, and let people know where you are going and when you’ll return home.
• Wear proper clothing and equipment, including a life jacket or a float coat, to help you stay afloat and to help maintain body heat.
• Wear ice creepers attached to boots to prevent slipping on clear ice.
• Carry a spud bar to check the ice while walking to new areas.
• Carry a few spikes and a length of light rope in an easily accessible pocket to help pull yourself – or others – out of the ice.
• If you fall in, remain as calm as possible. While attempting to get out of the water, call for help. Anyone who attempts to rescue you should use a rope or something similar to avoid falling through themselves.
• Do not travel in unfamiliar areas or at night.

Have a plan in place noting where you will be and when you plan to return. Along with leaving a written note of your plans, keeping a charged cell phone is also recommended.

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.