Sturgeon speared on Lake Winnebago near Pipe, February 14, 2023 . PC: Fox 11 Online
(WTAQ-WLUK) — The 2025 sturgeon spearing season reached its one-week mark Friday, and it was a better day for those who took to the ice on the Winnebago system.
In total, there were 65 sturgeon harvested Friday — compared to 31 on Thursday and 42 on Wednesday. 12 juvenile females, 18 adult females and 35 males were taken across the Winnebago system.
41 were harvested on Lake Winnebago (9 females, 15 adult females and 17 males). Another three sturgeon weighing more than 100 pounds were speared Friday, bringing the total to 27 for the season.
Harvest was also steady on the upriver lakes Friday, as 24 were taken (18 males, 3 adult females and 3 juvenile females).
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, we are now at 75% of the male harvest caps on the upriver lakes. Totals for the upriver lakes this season are: 33 juvenile females, 38 adult females and 178 males.
The largest fish speared Friday came from the upriver lakes, when Jacob Thompson speared a 152.2 pound, 80-inch, F4 female.
Spearers taking to the ice Saturday are urged to remember that Battle on Bago will be occurring, and with winter storms dumping up to seven inches of snow across Northeast Wisconsin from Friday night to Saturday morning, spearers should also follow all ice safety best practices over the weekend.
Because of poor water clarity, the registration station at Pipe will remain closed. The Quinney station is the next closest.
Spearing continues until Feb. 23, unless harvest caps are met sooner.
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