WISCONSIN — The Badger States' sturgeon spearing season opens Saturday and will run for 16 days, or until the harvest caps have been met.

Harvest caps

Upriver Lakes

  • Juvenile females: 70
  • Adult males: 79
  • Males: 246

Lake Winnebago

  • Juvenile females: 280
  • Adult males: 714
  • Males: 985

Winnebago System

  • Juvenile females: 350
  • Adult males: 793
  • Males: 1,231

Predictions

This year's water clarity is good, according to biologists. That means there should be a good harvest, however, warm weather could ruin the icy conditions. They also recorded low levels of lake fly larvae and red works, which could also affect the sturgeon distribution around Lake Winnebago.

For the full water clarity report, click here.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reminded spearers Tuesday that once they successfully get a sturgeon, the bottom of the tag must be torn off and then bring the sturgeon to a registration station by 2 p.m. of the day it was speared. Sturgeon harvested from Lake Winnebago must be registered at stations on the lake. Sturgeon harvested from lakes Poygan, Butte des Morts or Winneconne must be registered at one of the Upriver Lakes registration stations.

Related Stories