OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – As more than 13,000 license holders get ready for the upcoming sturgeon spearing season, the recent warm weather is having an impact on those looking to venture onto the Lake Winnebago system ice.
“All of the registration stations that are usually open will be open, and so if you are out spearing, we’ll be there,” said Margaret Stadig, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources sturgeon biologist. “So, with what’s going on in weather, opening weekend might be a little slow.”
Stadig said recent warm weather kept DNR staff off Lake Winnebago.
“We usually wait until the ice is safe enough to take a truck out. And it just didn’t do that long enough this year, so we weren’t able to do water clarity. I’ve kept my ear to the ground. I’ve heard anything from we’ve got great water clarity in some areas to not-so-great water clarity.”
Stadig said ice conditions may keep many spearers away on Saturday’s opening day.
“Last year, we had half the number of shanties out that we had in 2022. Just again, based on the shifting ice conditions this year, likely less.”
She said that could lead to a lower harvest.
“The last time we had poorer ice conditions was 2017, when both the Winnebago system and upriver lakes went the whole 16 days. And that time, only 500 fish — just over 500 fish — were harvested. So that’s likely what we’re going to see.”
“Last year, we saw 1,400. Probably going to see closer to kind of that 500 range.”
The season is set to begin Saturday morning.
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