OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) — The 2020 Sturgeon Spearing season has come to a close.
Despite early concerns about ice conditions in the Lake Winnebago system, the 2020 sturgeon spearing season ended with a bang.
“Our total harvest for the system was 811,” DNR fisheries biologist Ryan Koenigs told WTAQ. “491 came from Lake Winnebago and 320 came from the upriver lakes.”
That’s compared to 786 last year. The two busiest days this year were Saturday and Sunday–the final two days of the season. Keonigs says that’s what made it unusual.
“As the season went on, spearers became more successful,” Koenigs said. “I think improving conditions are largely responsible for that.”
Several days of extremely cold temperatures improved ice conditions hampered by up-and-down temperatures throughout the winter.
“Despite less-than-ideal ice conditions and water clarity, we still had spearers that came out to participate in the 2020 spearing season,” said Koenigs. “And they managed to have some luck.”
There were fewer shanties out on the lakes this year. Roughly 2,000 shanties were counted for the 2020 season, down significantly from the 4,000 during an average year.
