Sturgeon speared on Lake Winnebago, February 18, 2021. PC: Fox 11 Online
(WTAQ-WLUK) — It was another slow day of sturgeon spearing.
Spearers took a total of 31 fish from the Winnebago system, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reports. Of those, 20 were speared on Lake Winnebago: three juvenile females, nine adult females and eight males. Another 11 were speared on upriver lakes Poygan, Winneconne and Butte des Morts: three adult females and eight males.
DNR officials say spearers continue to report poor water clarity on Lake Winnebago’s east side, especially in southeast locations. As a result, the registration station at Pipe will remain closed on Friday.
Four sturgeon tipped the scales at more than 100 pounds, led by Luke Harness’ 148.3-pound, 79.5-inch female speared on Lake Winnebago.
Spearing on the upriver lakes is expected to go at least into the beginning of the weekend. The closest spearers are to a harvest cap is adult males on the upriver lakes, where spearers have reached 64% of the harvest cap. Reaching 90% triggers an automatic season closure the following day, while reaching 100% triggers an immediate closure.
Spearers on Lake Winnebago are less than 50% toward any of the harvest caps.
The season ends Feb. 23 unless harvest caps are met sooner.
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