LAKE WINNEBAGO, WI (WTAQ) – The 2021 sturgeon spearing season is officially in the books.
“This year was a really good spearing season. We had really good water clarity and ice conditions were the best we’ve had in a number of years,” said DNR Lt. Chris Shea. “Harvested a total of 1,831 fish from the system. 1,467 on Lake Winnebago itself, the rest of the fish were on the upriver lakes…Our highest harvest total since 2015 or 2016, I believe. It goes back five or six years.”
There were 77 sturgeon that weighed in over 100 pounds this season.
Meanwhile, whether it was just getting out of the house during times of COVID or a genuine desire to finally catch that prehistoric beast, participation was high.
“When we did our shack count on the first Sunday of the season, there was well over 4,000 spearing shacks on the system at that time…The amount of pressure we saw on the system this year was certainly high. Lots of people were enjoying the opportunity to get out there, especially as the weather got nicer,” Shea told WTAQ News. “We had a lot of participation not only in sturgeon spearing, but we had Battle on ‘Bago during the second weekend of the season as well. When those two things team up over that same weekend, especially in the Oshkosh area, we have thousands and thousands of people out on the ice…Neat opportunity for the people, a very unique Wisconsin tradition.”
As for the new COVID-related rules, Shea says they didn’t see many issues. Registration was drive-up only this year to minimize contact between spearers and those examining the fish.
“Made it safer for everybody to get out there and do their thing. Everybody was doing a good job of socially distancing and wearing their masks, so we certainly appreciate that,” Shea said.
For the DNR’s more detailed harvest report, click here.
