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Winnebago System Sturgeon Spearing

July 19, 2024

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Planning Ahead: The 2024 Spearing Season

The spearing season begins on the second Saturday in February and lasts for 16 days or until any of the sex-specific harvest caps for that fishery have been reached. The 2024 sturgeon spearing season will open on Feb. 10 at 7 a.m. and close on Feb. 25 unless one of the harvest caps is reached earlier.

Spearers can fish from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. each day the fishery is open and is required to register their fish at a DNR-operated registration station by 2 p.m. of the same day the fish is harvested. Length, weight, sex and tagging information are collected from each registered fish, which is used to determine season length.

2024 Winnebago System Sturgeon Spearing Regulations

Review the 2024 Winnebago System Sturgeon Spearing Regulations for the upcoming season.

Important information for the 2024 season

Lake Winnebago Water Clarity

Water clarity is one of the strongest predictors of lake sturgeon harvest in the Winnebago System during the spearing season. The latest water clarity report is available for review: Lake Winnebago Water Clarity Report, 2024.

Sturgeon Registration Stations in 2024

Registration Stations – Registration stations have returned to pre-pandemic locations, and some will have drive-thru options. To help with the registration process, the DNR asks that all harvested sturgeon be placed on the tailgate or in an easily accessible location. Please follow the signs and cones at each registration station to ensure a smooth registration. Locations with drive-thru options are marked in red.

Sturgeon Season Photos

Season Photos – Sturgeon spearing in Wisconsin is a sport rich in tradition. The DNR would love to see your highlights of the season. Photos of spearers with their catch, cutting in, shanty life, scenic views observed during the season or any other captivating spearing traditions are encouraged. Please include a brief description for use in future outreach efforts. Send us your photos using this photo submission form.

2024 Spearing Season Summary

Stay in the know with information about the sturgeon spearing season by subscribing to season updates.

The Sturgeon Spearing Tradition

The Winnebago system is home to one of North America’s largest lake sturgeon populations and hosts a unique winter spear fishery. Further, the system is one of only two locations where lake sturgeon can be harvested with a spear (Black Lake, Michigan is the other). The first modern sturgeon fishery took place in 1932. Although regulations have changed through time, the premise of using a spear to harvest a sturgeon through the ice has remained constant.

The spearing season and how you can participate

There are two spearfishing opportunities for lake sturgeon on the Winnebago System. Both require a spearing license to participate. One fishery occurs on Lake Winnebago, where the number of licenses sold for that fishery is not restricted, and an individual spearer can only purchase one license per season.

The other fishery takes place on the Upriver Lakes (Butte des Morts, Winneconne, and Poygan). It is restricted to 500 license holders per season due to the higher success rate of licensed spearers (62% vs. 9% on Lake Winnebago). Spearers interested in fishing the Upriver Lakes must apply for a permit or purchase a preference point before an Aug. 1 deadline. Licenses are issued through a drawing where priority is granted to applicants with the most preference points. All applicants that are not awarded a permit accumulate a preference point for use in future drawings. Following the drawing, there is no deadline for those who are successful to purchase a license on the Upriver Lakes.

Spearers who wish to participate in Lake Winnebago must purchase a license for Lake Winnebago before the Oct. 31 deadline.

The minimum spearing age is 12 years old. Youth who turn 12 years of age between Nov. 1 and the last day of the spearing season can purchase a spearing license after the deadline. Military personnel home on leave can also buy a license after Oct. 31. Licenses for both fisheries are $20 for Wisconsin residents and $65 for nonresidents and can be purchased through the GoWild system or at any license sales location.

The Use of Technology during the Sturgeon Spearing Season

In 2013, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was asked about using cameras in the sturgeon hole during the sturgeon spearing season. Two surveys were conducted in 2013 and 2018 to evaluate spearers opinions on technology. In 2019, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) and Sturgeon Advisory Committee voted to move forward with banning technology, and the DNR began working on a scope statement. Part of the scope statement included sending one final survey in 2021 to determine the growing interest in technology during the spearing season. The survey not only asked about on-camera opinions but also the use of the sturgeon hole and other technologies during sturgeon spearing and other recreational fishing activities. The survey also asked about spearers’ involvement in sturgeon management with the WCC or other committees, as well as general knowledge of lake sturgeon life history. The latest survey results and comparisons to the last two surveys are included in the report below.

Frequently asked questions about the spearing season

The questions below are some of the more frequently asked by spearers.

Do I need to tag my sturgeon?

Carcass tags must be validated immediately upon harvest by removing the validation stub. The validated tag must stay with the sturgeon until presented at a DNR-operated registration station. The tag does not need to be attached to the sturgeon unless the license holder leaves the fish.

What you need to know about tagging your sturgeon [PDF]

Can my friend sit with me in the shanty and not have a license?

Yes, the person with a valid license is the only person who can spear a fish. An unlicensed person or person, who has already filled their tag, cannot be inside a shanty alone with a spear. Note: As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the DNR urges spearers and spectators to practice social distancing and to wear a mask when social distancing is not possible.

What do spearers do with the fish after they are harvested?

Most fish are consumed by the spearer, with smoking and frying being the two most common preparation techniques. Some fish are mounted as well.

How do I register my sturgeon?

A person who spears a sturgeon must accompany the fish to a DNR-operated sturgeon registration station by 2 p.m. on the day it was speared. Any fish harvested from Lake Winnebago must be registered at one of the registration stations on Lake Winnebago. Any fish harvested from Lakes Butte des Morts, Winneconne or Poygan (the Upriver Lakes) must be registered at one of the registration stations on the Upriver Lakes.

What kind of equipment will I need to spear a sturgeon?

The equipment needed to participate in sturgeon spearing is relatively specialized. A darkened shack or enclosure is required for better visibility. A saw is needed to open a hole in the ice, although this service can typically be obtained at a cost. Once the hole is cut, the equipment used to attract and harvest a fish is often hand-crafted heirlooms passed down through generations.

For example, spearers typically use decoys as attractants. Most decoys are carved into the shape of a fish, but spearers are also superstitious by nature and have been known to deploy just about anything as a decoy, including copper jello molds, CDs, and white coffee cups. The spears used are also hand-made by local vendors and come in all shapes and sizes. Generally, the spears are constructed with long handles, 6-8′ in length, and have detachable spearheads. The equipment needed to get started with sturgeon spearing may seem intimidating. Still, there are guide services available that range from cutting a hole to providing a fully furnished shack.

What can I put on the bottom or use for a decoy?

Whatever is placed in the water must be removed or retrieved when requested. In most cases, items are attached to a string or can be “hooked” for removal. Decoy types are unlimited if they don’t involve any artificial lights (glow sticks are illegal) or hooks. Minnows can be used provided they are in a sealed container. Regulations related to minnow use and transportation (VHS rules) on the Winnebago system apply.

Can I be in a shanty after hours with a dismantled spear (head removed)?

Spearers can be in a shanty after hours, but they cannot be in one with a spear after hours. This includes those shanties where the hole is temporarily covered. If the spearhead is removed, it must be placed outside the shanty when occupied.