It was great to see so many participants and their families come out once again to the registration stations. The season on the Upriver Lakes is closed. | If you asked some of the nearly 13,000 people on the icy surface of Wisconsins Lake Winnebago system on opening day of the 2017 lake sturgeon spearing season, youd get a wide variety of answers. Keyshia Wilz speared the largest sturgeon from the Upriver Lakes with a 138.2-pound, 76.1-inch female. The warm weather may have prevented many spearers from taking to the ice, but it did make for an enjoyable weekend at the registration stations. Ice conditions were excellent opening day. Since around the 2000s, the DNR has tagged over 20,000 fish with these PIT tags in the Winnebago system. WINNECONNE Wis. (WBAY) - Thousands safely headed out on the ice looking for the perfect spot to catch a sturgeon for opening weekend of the 2022 sturgeon spearing season, enjoying the sport rich . In the Upriver Lakes, the largest harvest was in 2000, and saw2,169 sturgeon speared. One fishery occurs on Lake Winnebago, where the number of licenses sold for that fishery is not restricted, and an individual spearer can only purchase one license per season. 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. Both came from the Pipe registration shack, including the fish speared by Alex Wilkens at 101.6 lbs. This weekend, many spearers were seen pulling their shacks on both Lake Winnebago and the Upriver lakes before the forecasted warm weather and rain set for tomorrow. The lake, at its deepest, is only 21 feet, with an average depth of about 15 feet. FV or MV stages indicate a fish that is not yet sexually mature. The small Village of Stockbridge, Wisconsin has trademarked the name Sturgeon Center of the World and it certainly seemed like it on Februaru 11, opening day of Wisconsins 2017 Lake Winnebago system sturgeon spearing season. Ice conditions are worsening in the Winnebago System. Tomorrow, the Neenah registration station will reopen. Paynes Point Hook and Spear told Action 2 News there is 13 to 16 inches of ice in the area right now but its starting to melt. It was good enough that spearers reported seeing the bottom in many locations around Lake Winnebago. This year also yielded the highest-known opening day shanty count, with 2,079. Most of the fish on the top 11 "Heavy Hitters Club" chart, including the current record, were speared between 2010 and 2013, coinciding with strong hatches of the gizzard shad. With one of the largest lake sturgeon populations in North America, the Winnebago System supports an annual spearing season that will run for a maximum of 16 days (Feb. 26) or until any of the predetermined harvest caps have been met. Any fish harvested from Lakes Butte des Morts, Winneconneor Poygan (the Upriver Lakes) must be registered at one of the registration stations on the Upriver Lakes. When Gizzard Shad populations are plentiful, they prove to be a good food source for the Lake Sturgeon. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | Site requirements | Accessibility | Legal | Privacy | Employee resources, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Today, another large female was speared just off of downtown Oshkosh. The Pipe station on Lake Winnebago processed the most fish of the day, with 124 sturgeon passing through. Sturgeon, a large fish found in rivers and lakes across the. Despite conditions, some spearers struck gold. Get tips for staying safe on the ice from the DNRs ice safety webpage. (WFRV) - The 2022 sturgeon spearing season officially wrapped up on Sunday with spearers already looking forward to next year. Joe Sheilds speared a 125.6 lbs., 73.4 inches, F4 female. The Pipe registration station saw the highest number of harvested fish for Lake Winnebago, with 124 lake sturgeon. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural . With so many big fish registered this year, many might have noticed that these larger individuals look slightly different from younger Lake Sturgeon in the population. The spearing season for this prehistoric fish will open on Feb. 13, 2021 for Lake Winnebago and the Upriver Lakes of Butte des Morts, Winneconne and Poygan, running for a maximum of 16 days or until any of the pre-determined harvest caps are reached. The Southwest Winnebago and Stockbridge registration stations both had the next most fish registered at just about 200 fish each. At almost 70 years old, she knew how to weather that storm. Gerald Petersons 154.9-pound, 83.4-inch female sturgeon speared on the third day of the 2017 season was about five inchers longer but only two-tenths of a pound heavier than Schumachers opening day trophy. Josh Ausloos speared the final "biggest fish of the day" for this season, a 106.9 pound, 75.4 inches, F1 female registered at the Pipe registration station. The Pipe registration station continues to have the highest daily harvest, with 11 fish and 354 fish for the season. A person who spears a sturgeon must accompany the fish to a DNR-operated sturgeon registration station by 2 p.m. on the day it was speared. We wish you good luck and clear water. There were no 100 lb. Registration Stations Registration stations have returned to pre-pandemic locations, and some will have drive-thru options. Pipe continues to put up big registration numbers, with more fish registered today (18 fish) than the other shacks combined. Although this female sturgeon was about 36, well within spawning age and spawning every four to five years, she was never handled or pit tagged by the DNR during the annual spawn surveys. The partnerships we have with the spearing community, the funding generated from sturgeon spearing and the donations from various sportsmans groups have made our movement, or telemetry, program possible. Andy Schumacher of Oshkosh, Sandys son (right), was staring into the depths in another shack when he got a cell phone call to help his mother with a big fish. 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. Then in her 50s, the lake began rumbling as the first fuel-injected snowmobile took to the ice in 1991. Licenses are issued through a drawing where priority is granted to applicants with the most preference points. This was the first year since 2020 that registration stations were back to supper clubs and other businesses, after the COVID-19 pandemic caused a shift to drive-thru stations. Ice conditions, however, likely prevented many from participating this year. Despite the slow day, a record-setting fish was caught! That fish is incredible! Hes like three miles out in the lake. Published Feb 16, 2023 3:37 PM EST. Gishkowsky told Field & Stream that he had to call for help in order to hoist the giant fish from a 3-foot by 5-foot hole that he cut out of the ice with a chainsaw. Photos are a great way to show the spearing tradition and keep the memories alive for years to come. View the full details in todays harvest report. 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. Southwest Winnebago had four fish registered, the highest on the lake today. The next season was held in 2005, which was the shortest for the area only one day and was strategically set out of concern for overharvesting. It was another slow day with 11 fish harvested on Lake Winnebago no juvenile females, 5 adult females and 6 males. Upriver, there are still 3 adult females left until the 90% trigger is activated or 11 more adult females until the 100% cap is reached. Lake sturgeon spearing is highly regulated in Wisconsin, with limited numbers collected annually in the Winnebago system. We will continue to post updates on what stations are open or closed. The season on the Upriver Lakes is closed. Only one sturgeon speared on the Lake Winnebago system has weighed in at over 200 pounds, butthe Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says that record could soon be shattered. Every February, people migrate to the Winnebago System to take part in the annual lake sturgeon spear fishery, said Ryan Koenigs, DNR Winnebago sturgeon biologist. Those caps are 1,200 male sturgeon, 875 adult females, and 400 juvenile females. This is why many of the largest fish registered are indicated as F4s. Your safety is a top priority. Today, 73 sturgeon were harvested on Lake Winnebago (13 juvenile females, 26 adult females, 34 males). Sunday's harvest totaled 261 sturgeon, with 211 fish from Lake Winnebago and 50 from the Upriver Lakes. Most spearers fish in groups comprised of family and friends. This winter event is rich in tradition, and 2021 will be another year for spearers to uphold or create new traditions in pursuit of the fish of a lifetime.. Congrats to all successful spearers. Liv Halbach, his daughter studying fisheries at Stevens Point, was working the station as a volunteer with the DNR. Sturgeon spearing in Wisconsin is a sport rich in tradition and culture. DNR staff have conducted an annual spring spawn survey since 1975. While we get excited about seeing the big fish come in, it is also good to see smaller fish as well. More information on harvest trends and management for the Lake Winnebago sturgeon fishery can be found on the DNRs fisheries webpage. Hopefully the tides will turn, and the forecasted lows will help solidify ice conditions. After spearing his fish, he registered it at the Indian Point registration station. Follow her on Twitter at @daphlemke. This includes those shanties where the hole is temporarily covered. For females, stages F1 and F2 indicate a fish that was not ready to spawn this year or even next. David Propson Follow her on Twitter at@daphlemke. Indian Point registered the most fish Upriver with 73 fish. Guide to Wisconsin Spearing, Netting, and BaitHarvest Regulations2020-2021 Effective April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021 Includes regulations on: Rough Fish Spearing Dipnetting Rough Fish Bowfishing and Underwater Spear Fishing Harvesting Turtles, Frogs, Crayfish and Minnows Catfish Bow and Hand Fishing Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. The 2023 sturgeon spearing season has begun. for a successful spearing experience. 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). While we all continue to hope for cold weather, Monday's forecast continues to look bright, sunny and warm. This was the lowest harvest day this season, bringing the total to 1,020 Lake Sturgeon harvested for Lake Winnebago and 1,305 for the entire Winnebago system so far this season. The Lake Michigan basin contains the Lake Winnebago system where Gishkowsky speared his monster sturgeon earlier this week. Contact Daphne Lemke atdlemke@gannett.com. (WFRV) - Day eight of sturgeon spearing season proved to be a bit more fruitful for spearers out on Lake Winnebago. In 1980, she saw the introduction of the first flip-top portable canvas ice shanty. It is the proportion of Lake Sturgeon harvested that have these tags from the spring to the sturgeon harvested that do not have tags that help the DNR understand the general population size of Lake Sturgeon in the system. Length, weight, sex and tagging information are collected from each registered fish, which is used to determine season length. In most cases, items are attached to a string or can be "hooked" for removal. It allows the DNR to assess the population, implement habitat projects, conduct research projects and implement the best management for this world-renowned resource, Koenigs said. There are enough resources for the fish to grow to over 100 lbs. Here are some of our best shots from opening day. By the time itwas speared byJonathan Eiden in 2019, its weight had reached only 171 pounds, though this still-impressive catch demonstrated the potential for the lake system's fish. System-wide harvest caps for the 2021 Winnebago system sturgeon spearing season are 430 juvenile females, 950 adult females and 1,200 males. As neither of these fish were speared through the ice, however, Schroeder kept his record until 2004. Spearers with tags for Lake Winnebago may continue to harvest sturgeon on Lake Winnebago until harvest caps are reached or until the Lake Winnebago System harvest caps are reached. The 2021 sturgeon spearing season is scheduled to open Feb. 13 and run a maximum of 16 days or until predetermined harvest caps are met. According to the Wisconsin DNR, "The Winnebago system is home to one of the largest lake sturgeon populations in North America and hosts a unique winter spear fishery" (WI DNR). At 154 pounds with only the beginning stages of eggs, we can only imagine how big this female would have weighed next year when she would have been ready to spawn. Be safe! The longest-held record was Elroy Schroeder's 1953 catch, measuring 180 pounds and 79 inches. Still, there are guide services available that range from cutting a hole to providing a fully furnished shack. For the season, 1,405 fish were harvested on the entire Winnebago system (155 juvenile females, 599 adult females and 651 males). 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. The sturgeon must then be brought toan official registration stationand registered by 2 p.m. on the day it was speared. As the spearing season wraps up, many of the sturgeon ready to spawn this year are going to look towards the Upriver Lakes and the Wolf River to prepare for their migration. If you planned to register your fish there, please head to the next closest registration station. The season is from . The southeast corner of Lake Winnebago saw the highest harvest for the season. The last day continued to prove to be exciting on Lake Winnebago with cold weather and sunshine. We hope to see all these future spearers successfully registering fish when they are old enough. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural. And as always, if you head back onto the ice tomorrow, remember to be safe. Moving forward, the Neenah registration station will remain closed for the rest of the season. Although regulations have changed through time, the premise of using a spear to harvest a sturgeon through the ice has remained constant. Only 7 fish were harvested from Lake Winnebago today, with 1 juvenile female, 3 adult females and 3 males. Photos of cutting in, shanty life, spearers with their catch or any other part of the spearing tradition are encouraged. Both fish were among 19 sturgeon weighing over 100 pounds speared on Saturday, and 33. Wherever theres a crowd, theres someone trying to figure out an angle on how to make a buck. The validated tag must stay with the sturgeon until presented at a DNR-operated registration station. LAKE WINNEBAGO, Wis. (WBAY) - Sturgeon spearing season is officially here! The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources published their opening day report. We will continue to post updates on what stations are open or closed. For many, the season is defined by the time spent with loved ones, not the harvesting of a fish. The Schumacher family has a long history on the lake, and was profiled in the Emmy-award-winning Frozen Chosen, a sturgeon-spearing documentary currently available on Netflix. Female stages are V, 1, 2, 4 or 6, while male stages include V, 1 or 2. The system-wide harvest caps are 430 juvenile females, 950 . This can be almost 30 additional pounds. One hundred and five fish were harvested between Lake Winnebago and the Upriver lakes. In the end, though, it revolves around the opportunity to tag one of the largest fish in North America. This fish was speared by Kenneth Rach. Its a family atmosphere. Fish and Wildlife Service have positively impacted lake sturgeon recovery efforts across North America. To learn more, visit our sturgeon registration stations and ask our friendly DNR staff about F6 females. Spearers with tags for the Upriver lakes can continue to spear until 1 p.m. tomorrow, Feb. 18, 2023. Contact:DNR Office of CommunicationsDNRPress@wisconsin.gov. When sturgeon are young, they have sharp scutes along their bodies that are modified scales used for protection. At 30 years old, she was most likely enjoying the warmth and searching for some tasty chironomids below the waters surface in 1969, the same time Neil Armstrong was looking down on earth, becoming the first man to walk on the moon. Some locations will continue to offer the drive-thru registration option. Like many of us, lake sturgeon are looking for warmer spring weather. While other species of sturgeon, such as Atlantic and Gulf sturgeon, have scutes, these sturgeon will keep the scutes for their lifetime. The Pipe registration station took the lead in the number of fish registered on opening weekend with 124 fish and has consistently had the highest registration numbers throughout the season with a final count of 399 fish. reach out to Angie Gade at 920-517-6749. Gishkowsky used a seven-tine detachable spearhead affixed to an 8-foot pole to spear the monster fish before Wendts gaffed it and hauled it out of the ice. Proving that you dont need a fancy decoy to attract a sturgeon, Chuck Wagner of Algoma lured a sturgeon close enough to spear with a homemade painted piece of PVC pipe. Mild weather adds to celebrations on opening day of sturgeon spearing season, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Spearers who could get out onto the ice safely experienced a warm, sunny day and good water clarity. The Quinney and Poygan registration stations will remain closed. These catches do show, along with DNR observations, thateven larger sturgeon are lurking in the depths, evading capture.