WINNECONNE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Frigid temperatures marked day three of the 2021 sturgeon spearing season.
The campaign continues not only on Lake Winnebago, but also on the Upriver Lakes of Poygan, Winneconne, and Butte des Morts.
At the drive-thru sturgeon registration station at Marble Park in Winneconne, Nicholas Duesterbeck is celebrating what he calls the catch of a lifetime, so far.
“It’s 37.5 inches, and just a touch over 10 pounds.”
Duesterbeck tells FOX 11 he was getting ready to leave the shack on Lake Poygan, when the fish came through the hole.
“I’m about to grab the handle, my dad says, whoa, whoa, right there. So I turn around and the fish comes in, sits right on the bottom. It was there for five or ten seconds, kind of taking a look, if we think he’s big enough.”
The legal sturgeon minimum length is 36 inches.
“I went ahead and threw it, pulled it up, gaffed it., and pulled it out, and it was a pretty quick experience. It felt like an hour. Probably took 10 seconds, if that,” said Duesterbeck.
Garrett Friedauer is also celebrating his first sturgeon. He speared a 60.7 pound, 62 inch fish on Lake Poygan.
“Oh yeah, it’s exciting. I’ve seen multiple fish, but it’s cool to have my hands on the spear.”
Craig Loomans is from Slinger. He harvested a 34.8 pound, 54.8 inch sturgeon Monday morning. He says conditions couldn’t be much better.
“Ice, we had about 18 inches where I was at. Clarity was excellent. I could see the bottom. I was only in six feet of water. I could have read a newspaper. It was really good.”
The Department of Natural Resources manages the season on the Upriver Lakes.
It’s limited to 500 spearers, and has a lower harvest cap than Lake Winnebago.
The DNR says spearers have more success because the water is shallower and typically clearer than Winnebago.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said in total 170 fish were harvested on Monday.
134 sturgeon were speared on Lake Winnebago, while the other 36 were harvested along the Upriver Lakes.
Registration stations along the northern part of Lake Winnebago continue to lead the daily number of fish registered.
To view the Wisconsin DNR’s full day three statistics, click here.
