for a successful spearing experience. Both fish were among 19 sturgeon weighing over 100 pounds speared on Saturday, and 33. Sturgeon Spearing: Fishing for the Living Dinosaurs of the Midwest For many, the season is defined by the time spent with loved ones, not the harvesting of a fish. 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. It will be interesting to see what the warmer weather this winter does for the Gizzard Shad populations in Lake Winnebago and if it influences the number of large, heavy lake sturgeon we see next spearing season. You could see a line of trailers along Merritt Avenue in Oshkosh that people used to get their four-wheelers out onto the ice. This can be almost 30 additional pounds. Both fish were among 21 sturgeon weighing more than 100 pounds speared on Saturday, and 26. This is why many of the largest fish registered are indicated as F4s. There is a big difference, Don Herman of Sunk? Copyright 2023 WBAY. A saw is needed to open a hole in the ice, although this service can typically be obtained at a cost. As we approach the weekend, we wish all the spearers luck. In Wisconsin, lake sturgeon inhabit the Mississippi, Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior Drainage basins. Continue to be safe if you are headed back out tomorrow. Male stages are similar, with M1 males not ready to spawn, while M2 males were ready to spawn in spring 2023. For those headed back onto the ice tomorrow, be sure to put safety first. I tried to lift it up, and I cant hardly lift it. The Pipe registration station saw the highest number of harvested fish for Lake Winnebago, with 124 lake sturgeon. Spearers who wish to participate in Lake Winnebago must purchase a license for Lake Winnebago before the Oct. 31 deadline. The equipment needed to participate in sturgeon spearing is relatively specialized. 'Sturgeon general': Wisconsin state biologist charged with caviar scam Updated: Feb 27, 2022 / 10:42 AM CST. Winnebago and the Upriver Lakes remain slow. 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. If you plan on registering your fish there, please head to the next closest registration station. The DNR tries to tag as many Lake Sturgeon during the spring with these PIT tags as possible. Todays largest fish was a 154.0 lbs., 79.5 inches, F2 female speared on Lake Winnebago by Michael Eggers. Any fish harvested from Lake Winnebago must be registered at one of the registration stations on Lake Winnebago. Sixty-one fish were harvested between Lake Winnebago and the Upriver Lakes. Sturgeon spearers are allowed to harvest fish from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and must register their catches by 2 p.m. each day at a DNR-operated registration station. Today, spearers reached between 90-99% of the harvest cap on the Upriver Lakes. Wisconsin 2023 Sturgeon Spearing Season Opens Feb. 11 Once the hole is cut, the equipment used to attract and harvest a fish is often hand-crafted heirlooms passed down through generations. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Despite conditions, some spearers struck gold. More:Mild weather adds to celebrations on opening day of sturgeon spearing season. That fish is incredible! (WFRV) - The sun wasn't the only thing shining on the second to last day of the sturgeon spearing season. All rights reserved. Season Photos Sturgeon spearing in Wisconsin is a sport rich in tradition. Some locations will continue to offer the drive-thru registration option. Its a great experience!. Locations can be found in the sturgeon spearing regulation packet or on the DNR's sturgeon spearing webpage. 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. 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. There are six drive-thru stations. And as always, if you head back onto the ice tomorrow, remember to be safe. It has not made it the easiest season for spearers to navigate. Dive and Ice Service said. Congrats to everyone who successfully speared a fish. Updated: Feb 27, 2022 / 06:14 PM CST. Red worm abundance was up on the Upriver Lakes this year, but the harvest was more affected by ice conditions than anything else. With more snow coming, we will see what weather conditions have in store for the Winnebago spearers. Minnows can be used provided they are in a sealed container. The WI DNR records indicate that 491 sturgeon were harvested in Lake Winnebago which ranked 51st highest dating back to 1941 (80 seasons). There were 21 fish harvested over 100 lbs., with 16 from Lake Winnebago and 5 from the Upriver Lakes. Korey Krupp scored the biggest fish on Lake Winnebago, a 135.5 lbs, 76.1 inch, F4 female. During the 2022 season, 12,694 people purchased spearing licenses and spearers harvested 1,519 sturgeon from the entire Winnebago System. All rights reserved. Both came from the Pipe registration shack, including the fish speared by Alex Wilkens at 101.6 lbs. I called him up, and I said, Sean I need some help over here.'. The second day of the 2023 Winnebago Sturgeon spearing season was considerably slower than yesterday. Gishkowsky, who lives on the lake, said hes having the sturgeons roe processed into caviar, and hell be smoking the meat. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | Site requirements | Accessibility | Legal | Privacy | Employee resources, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. It is restricted to 500 license holders per season due to the higher success rate of licensed spearers (62% vs. 9% on Lake Winnebago). These scutes will then wear down, and either fall off or, as the lake sturgeon gets larger, the skin will envelop the scute. Tomorrow, the Neenah registration station will reopen. The heat index ranged from 120-128F during the summer, some of Wisconsins highest temperatures recorded. The validated tag must stay with the sturgeon until presented at a DNR-operated registration station. Once again, congratulations to all our successful spearers. Most spearers fish in groups comprised of family and friends. 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 . Today, 29 fish were harvested on Lake Winnebago with 3 juvenile females, 15 adult females and 11 males. 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 Indian Point registration station led the way for the Upriver Lakes, with 73 fish registered. LAKE WINNEBAGO, Wis. - Anglers in Wisconsin are camping out on the ice this weekend, spear in hand, with the hopes of snagging a freshwater giant. At the start of the new millennium, at about 60 years old and roughly 74 inches long, she started to feel vibrations from the music playing around the lake after the convenience of the iPod was invented by Apple in 2001. For the season, the Upriver Lakes harvested 33 juvenile females, 74 adult females, and 178 males, for a total of 285 fish. Not only were spearers successful today but they were also treated to some large fish. It brings families and friends together. The latest survey results and comparisons to the last two surveys are included in the report below. In 2020, the biggest fish snagged from the Upriver Lakes was 140 pounds and 75 inches, speared by Vincent Catania of North Fond du Lac, but 2021 beat that catch by over 10 pounds with Steven Lenz's. Past warnings led to expansive investigation, prosecution of sturgeon caviar ring. Ice Fisherman Spears Massive 177-Pound Sturgeon | Field & Stream 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). The two largest fish speared on the system in 2020 were just 70 lbs. Check out the Heavy Hitters Club, the largest fish speared over 170 pounds on the Lake Winnebago system since 1941. My birthday is Feb. 11, and if I wanted a birthday party growing up, it was a birthday party on the lake.. It was great to see so many participants and their families come out once again to the registration stations. 2004 also nearly heldthe record for largest harvest within the caps, at 1,854 sturgeon, but 2015 beat it out with 1,870. Registration Stations Registration stations have returned to pre-pandemic locations, and some will have drive-thru options. Likewise, any sturgeon harvested from lakes Poygan, Butte des Morts or Winneconne must be registered at one of the Upriver Lakes registration stations. at the Poygan registration station, speared by Rebecca Van Handel. Each spearing group has its traditions that they celebrate with each passing year. Sturgeon spearing: Here's what records have been set and broken - Yahoo! For up-to-date details and numbers throughout the season, visitdnr.wisconsin.gov. Wisconsin sturgeon spearing season on Winnebago System: Basic facts This is it; today wrapped up the 2023 sturgeon spearing season! The effort pays off for individual spearers as well: existing sturgeon now have a better opportunity to grow older and older and bigger and bigger. 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.