SHIOCTON (WLUK) — The sights, and sounds of the season in Shiocton.
Sturgeon spawning has started. The splashing began in parts of the Fox, and Wolf River this week.
Pandemic concerns kept people away last year, but the crowds are back this season.
The tell-tale tails stirred up the shoreline at a place along the section of the Wolf River called Bamboo Bend. People lined the rocks Friday to take in the action.
“Oh, some big, some small, very active I would say. Very active,” said Cheryl Ingalls, Seymour.
“It’s like shark week, right? They all come around here, all the fins look like shark week. It’s a great opportunity to see conservation in the works,” said Jennifer Nieland, Green Bay.
“This is awesome. I’ve never seen this before, so I like to photograph, I’ve never photographed anything like this,” said Thomas Yarrington, Green Bay.
Wayne Van Straten, Shadows on the Wolf Club Vice-President, tells FOX 11…..
“The fish typically start spawning around 52 degrees, and the river temperature right now, is at 60. So, they’re in full-fledge spawn right now. There’s no turning back for these fish.”
Van Straten says the season arrived a little early this year.
“The river temperature came up, because you can obviously see there’s a lot of river bank this year. Last year, the water was over seven feet higher than is it right now, so there’s less water to warm up.”
COVID-19 concerns kept spectators away last spring. Van Straten expects 2021 to be different.
“Couldn’t organize. People couldn’t get close together. This year, the game’s a little different. People understand what’s going on, so just maintain your distance when you come and enjoy it. This is really a spectacle to see. It’s really something.”
The season typically runs anywhere from a matter of days, to a couple weeks.
