1969 and 1973 are tied for smallest harvest years, yielding eight sturgeon each. The largest fish harvested today was an 81.1-pound male which was 64.5 inches long. MADISON, Wis. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is preparing for the sturgeon spearing season opener on Feb. 11, giving spearers a chance to harvest Wisconsins largest and oldest fish species. In the spring, as sturgeon migrate through rivers to their spawning grounds, the DNR collects data on their health and population through stock assessments, as well astagging and tracking. As it gets warmer, of course the ice will deteriorate on top first. If they see any eggs that look like salt and pepper (unsuccessfully laid eggs), then they know they have an F6 female. While there are unlimited licenses available for Lake Winnebago, the Upriver Lakes fishery is managed by a preference point system and limited to 500 permitted spearers. Congrats James! About 42,000 sturgeon are in the Winnebago system, and this year's harvest limits in Lake Winnebago for the sturgeon spearing season are capped at 430 juvenile females, 950 adult females and . And though the DNR sold 13,219 sturgeon spearing licenses for the 2023 season, up from 12,694 in 2022, only 3,100 shacks were counted on the Feb. 11 opener, down from about 6,000 the previous year. Why? This means there is still 1 adult female left until the 90% trigger is activated or 9 more adult females until the 100% cap is reached on the Upriver Lakes. In total, 115 juvenile females have been harvested, 481 adult females, and 442 males on Lake Winnebago. The snow and winter weather likely caused the slow spearing day. WINNEBAGO SYSTEM STURGEON SPEARING - Wisconsin DNR As the snow passes and the sun comes out, spearers are starting to take to the ice again. Its a great experience!. Korey Krupp speared the largest sturgeon from Lake Winnebago with a 135.5-pound, 76.1-inch female. Both years reported very low water clarity, with visual depths recorded at six and eight feet into the water, respectively. ATTENTION STURGEON SPEARERS: The sturgeon spearing season on the Upriver Lakes is now closed and Upriver Lakes spearers with unfilled tags can no longer harvest a sturgeon. Wisconsin 2023 Sturgeon Spearing Season Opens Feb. 11 One of the nine fish was the 90.7 lbs., 77.9-inch F1 female speared by Russel Gulig. This array expanded from 22 receivers in just the Wolf River in 2004 to more than 60 as of 2022 throughout the entire Winnebago system, including Lake Winnebago and the upper and parts of the lower Fox River. Not only were spearers successful today but they were also treated to some large fish. The DNR tries to tag as many Lake Sturgeon during the spring with these PIT tags as possible. The winter spearing season has been active since 1932 on Lake Winnebago and 1952 on the Upriver Lakes, with regulations adjusting over the years, according to reports from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. This fish was speared by Kenneth Rach. Keep close attention to local spearing/fishing club reports. However, the most licenses sold was 13,190 in 2016, a year that only saw3,831 shanties on opening day. The highest opening-day shanty count was 5,958 scattered across the lake in 2009, and the lowest recorded was 700 in 1979. It won't be long before spring become summerand Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. While we all continue to hope for cold weather, Monday's forecast continues to look bright, sunny and warm. Whats bad for ice is the wind and sun. Some fish are mounted as well. Locals report some decent Gizzard Shad values in this southeastern section of Lake Winnebago which is likely drawing spearers to this area. Spearers interested in fishing the Upriver Lakes must apply for a permit or purchase a preference point before an Aug. 1 deadline. The southeast corner of Lake Winnebago saw the highest harvest for the season. Fair to good water clarity is considered to be 12to 15 feet deep, though several years have reported up to 18 feet. There were 169 lake sturgeon harvested Upriver (20 juvenile females, 46 adult females and 103 males) and 353 harvested on Lake Winnebago (35 juvenile females, 171 adult females and 147 males). This includes those shanties where the hole is temporarily covered. Then in her 50s, the lake began rumbling as the first fuel-injected snowmobile took to the ice in 1991. Korey Krupp speared the largest sturgeon from Lake Winnebago with a 135.5-pound, 76.1-inch female. Small fish means more new fish are growing in the population. We cant wait to see everyone out on the ice next year. Both fish were among 19 sturgeon weighing over 100 pounds speared on Saturday, and 33. Tuesday was another nice day on the ice with sunshine and cold weather. If you planned to register your fish there, please head to the next closest registration station. She even lived long enough to see the first commercial space flight in 2004. shy of the system record (record is 212 . The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is preparing for the sturgeon spearing season opener on Feb. 11, giving spearers a chance to harvest Wisconsin's largest and oldest fish species. Sturgeon spearing day 1: great memories, fewer shacks, Fewer sturgeon spearers due to poor ice conditions, Willie Nelson celebrating 90th birthday with 2-day concert event, Note titled hit list found at Sturgeon Bay High School, Human remains found in marshy location in Little Lake Butte des Morts in Fox Crossing, More than 48,000 people died by suicide in the US in 2021, FIRST ALERT WEATHER: Wet mix with snow and rain sticks around, CONSUMER FIRST ALERT: Check scams don't die, Public File Assistance Contact - (920) 432-3331.