By Mark Schram, myfishingpartner.com
The 2017 Winnebago System Sturgeon Spearing season is set to begin Feb 11th and will run until Feb 26, 2017 or when harvest caps are met. This annual event, held in east central Wisconsin, draws sportsmen from around the world to partake in this unique experience to hunt a prehistoric beast.
2017 will have a new registration process for hunters which harvest a sturgeon. Full details of the registration process can be found at the following link. https://myfishingpartner.com/new-changes-to-sturgeon-spearing-2017/
The 2016 season was characterized with poor ice conditions and resulted in a full season of spearing on Lake Winnebago. Harvest caps were met on the up-river lakes in 7 days, which typically reaches it’s harvest caps after the first weekend. Water clarity in 2016 was poor with visibility in the 5-7 foot range on Lake Winnebago. Overall, 2016 sturgeon spearers struggled with mobility and water clarity leading to a sub-par season.
Final harvest totals from 2016 were 396 fish from Lake Winnebago and 307 fish from Lake Buttes des Mortes/Lake Poygan. In some years, this would be the opening day harvest. Given that the annual permits which were issued exceeded 13,000 licensees – that left a success rate of just over 5%.
2017 Harvest caps have remained identical to the 2016 levels and the 2017 season will close when any of the harvest caps are achieved (or after Feb 26, 2017). The DNR will close the season, with one day notice, when 90% of any of the harvest levels are reached.
- 430 juvenile females
- 950 adult females
- 1,175 males
This year has seen excellent ice conditions. Ice depth ranges from 14-21 inches on Lake Winnebago, with slightly thicker ice on the upper river lakes.
Ice bridges were placed very early in January, allowing ample access to the lake. However, several unseasonably warm stretches have resulted in bridges being removed. Each warm spell was often accompanied with rain and then followed by a cold front. After several days of below freezing temperatures the bridges were reinstalled for car and truck travel. Overall, the main sheet of ice has been unimpaired by the warm ups and is in excellent shape.
On 2-7-17, the Lake Winnebago Region experienced another warm up and rain event with about a half an inch of rain falling. Many of the bridges were pulled off the lake to prevent the bridges from freezing into the ice. Access levels onto the lake is yet to be determined heading into the weekend.
Overall water quality has been good in 2017. In most areas on Lake Winnebago, visibility exceeds 8-10 feet over the past weekend. There are veins of dirty water, especially along the east shore. However, the rain runoff from Tuesday will likely have a negative impact this week, and if the dams to the north are required to be opened, it could have a significant impact on reducing water clarity.
What to expect in 2017: The sturgeon population is strong. The forage base has vastly improved from last year and has grown to near record levels. Water clarity is above average (prior to the rain). Access onto the lake is in question, but is likely to be a non-factor come Saturday morning. It is yet to be seen as to the severity of the heaves and cracks which have developed due to the recent precipitation.
sturgeon spearing on lake Winnebago. Photo by Mark Schram
2017 Predictions: Lake Poygan, Lake Winneconne and Buttes Des Mortes will excel in 2017 with harvest caps expected to be triggered well before the official end of the season. Myfishingpartner will predict a successful and shorten season, similar in length to 2015.
Lake Winnebago is a complete wild card. The impact of the recent rains has not been seen just yet. The majority of sturgeons are speared the first two days of the season, and water clarity may be an issue. Snow cover is now minimal, providing extra light into the water, but also raising the expectation that the fish will be deeper and harder to see to avoid the light. An algae bloom could become an issue into week number two without any snow cover. Access has been excellent over the entire lake, encouraging higher participation rates by spearers. Estimated sturgeon population is about 45,000 fish. 13,000 plus licenses have been issued.
Myfishingpartner predicts a longer season on Lake Winnebago, with the potential of an early cap out likely in the second week of the season. Water clarity will remain the ultimate variable.
Record fish? We know that the Winnebago system holds multiple record fish well over 200 pounds from spring DNR tagging. 2017 may produce a record in our estimation, based solely on the forage base strength over the past two years. The fish have plenty of food, and have recovered from three season’s ago when a forage shortage occurred.
If you have never experienced the culture of sturgeon spearing, this is a must see. Spectators often out number sportsmen, and the entire region is in festival mode. In many cases, it’s about the party and not the fish. Best viewing areas are at Wendt’s in Van Dyne, WI and the Stockbridge, WI Harbor bar. Typically, from 11 am -1 pm have the highest registration times. Get out and experience this culture! Fond du Lac convention and tourism has three full days of events scheduled in 2017.
Myfishingpartner.com will have season long coverage of sturgeon spearing, and daily updates can be found on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/myfishingpartner/ My Fishing Partner can also be found on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest and other social media outlets.
