Upriver Lakes Sturgeon Spearing Outpaces Lake Winnebago on Wednesday

A sturgeon (file photo)

(WTAQ-WLUK) — For the first time during the 2024 season, spearers on upriver lakes Poygan, Winneconne and Butte des Morts took more sturgeon than those on Lake Winnebago.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says 12 fish were speared on the upriver lakes: one juvenile female, three adult females and eight males. On Lake Winnebago, a total of nine were speared: four adult females and five males.

DNR officials say the amount of open water on the north end of Lake Winnebago increased overnight. It is recommended anyone going onto the ice check with local fishing clubs as warm temperatures continue.

Six each were registered at the southwest and Indian Point stations on Lake Winnebago.

See the daily totals.

For the season, spearers have registered 201 fish: 143 from Lake Winnebago and 53 from the upriver lakes.

The largest fish of the day came from Lake Poygan. Jay Stelmach speared the 78.8-pound, 70.4-inch male.

Spearing ends Feb. 25 unless harvest caps are met sooner.