We regret that the Return the Sturgeon Program and therefore Sturgeon Fest is on hiatus for 2020 due to COVID-19 safety concerns. The system is highly regulated with pre-set harvest caps to control populations. Local fishing clubs and conservation groups maintain access points for getting onto the lakes by plowing roads and lining them with evergreen trees, but they've had difficulty getting out on the lake. “Spearing is a family tradition that draws everyone together for the thrill of getting a fish,” he said. "The sport's real allure will always be the social culture you just can't experience anywhere else.". Numerous activities on shore kept people busy during Sturgeon Spectacular while thousands were out on the ice trying to spear a sturgeon fish. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The minimum spearing age is 12 years old. Copyright 2020 © Good Karma Broadcasting | Website design by Outer Banks Media. "When you look at the odds, even in a good year, only 13 percent of spearers actually get a fish," Koenigs said. (Lake Winnebago) DNR Sturgeon Biologist Ryan Koenigs says you can expect another long sturgeon spearing season on Lake Winnebago. and last updated 2020-01-13 19:35:35-05 OSHKOSH, Wis — We're a month away from sturgeon spearing season right now, but last year at this time anglers were driving their cars out … Spearing enthusiasts have a close watch on weather leading up to opening day. He’s reporting a solid 16 to 18 inches of "old ice" in the area, and 9 to 10 inches of "new ice" where there was open water about a quarter-mile out, just a week ago. Please copy and paste your YouTube or Vimeo, etc. Andy Abhold of De Pere was about 10 years old when he was first learned how to scout for sturgeon. Local sturgeon spearer shows a way to cook the large fish. The largest harvest year occurred in 1993, when 3,173 sturgeon were speared during the season. The license deadline for purchasing sturgeon spearing licenses for the 2020 spearing season is just two weeks away! The 2020 sturgeon spearing season on the Winnebago System will get underway on February 8, 2020 but spearers much purchase their license in advance of an October 31, 2019 deadline. share link here. "A bigger problem is the amount of ice buried underneath the snow.". The 75.6-inch female weighing in at 155.6 pounds and carrying 30 pounds of eggs was likely 60 years old, according to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The first modern sturgeon spearing season on Lake Winnebago occurred during the winter of 1931-1932, but it wasn’t until 1952 that the first spearing season occurred on the Upriver Lakes. Because Wisconsin's strong sturgeon population continues to thrive, year after year, spearers have an opportunity to hunt some really big fish. Click to see The Reporter's special offers at fdlreporter.com/subscribe and download our app on the App Store or Google Play. Sturgeon spearing is a different experience than ice fishing and the equipment is a little different, too. Koenigs says water clarity is not as much of a factor on the Upriver Lakes, but is an important one for success on Lake Winnebago. Koenigs says water clarity is not as much of a factor on the Upriver Lakes, but is an important one for success on Lake Winnebago. Koenig's said this year's caps are set at 430 juvenile females, 950 adult females and 1,200 males. The club is offering ATV and snowmobile rides as well as other activities geared for families. It's designed for spearing fish rather than using a tip up, line, rod and net. Last season, more than 5,000 ice shanties dotted the lake, and he expects the same this year. With the harvest limit of five to six fish, the season can usually be counted in minutes. The largest fish of the day was 142.3 pounds, 80.0 inches, and registered at Wendt's by William Thern. Lake Winnebago is host to the largest naturally self-sustaining lake sturgeon population in the world, which is estimated to be around 19,000 females and 24,000 adult males. FOND DU LAC – Benjamin Berger of Omro takes seriously the ancient battle between man and the fish lurking beneath the icy waters of only four Wisconsin lakes. Spearers must be off the lake by 1 p.m., so a good time to view all the big fish starts around noon. Day 2 of the 2020 sturgeon spearing season was highlighted by snow storm Eleanor and big fish. The wave of arctic air could firm things up, but a recent major snowfall to the sturgeon spearing region hinders ice-buildup by acting as a layer of insulation across the lake. Tuesday, January 14th 2020. Scott Blanck, president of Friendship Fishing Club on the west side of Lake Winnebago, said members will lay out an icy road where Cemetery and Fisherman’s Roads meet in Van Dyne, once it's safe to venture out. A spearing shanty, or dark-house as they are also called, is a little more specialized than an ice fishing shanty. Smoking seems to be the preferred way, but sautéing in butter works just fine too. When I go to spear that’s my sole focus,” Abhold said. Last year, clarity was only at about 6 1/2 feet, and a total of 951 sturgeon were harvested system-wide, compared to 2,158 in 2015 — the sixth largest harvest on record. Only one other opportunity exists in the world to spear lake sturgeon and that’s at Black Lake in Michigan. The 2020 sturgeon spearing season kicks off at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8 and will run for 16 days or until DNR harvest caps are reached, whichever comes first. Our subscribers make this coverage possible. 5. DNR officials say 12,411 licenses were sold for the sturgeon spearing season on Lake Winnebago and 479 for the Upriver Lakes. We look forward to seeing you and celebrating returning these fish to the Great Lakes in 2021! Jim & Linda's Lakeview Supper Club, W3496 County Road W, Malone, Wendt's on the Lake, N9699 Lake Shore Drive, Van Dyne, Stockbridge Harbor Bar & Grill, 191 W. Lake St., Chilton, Quinney Quencher, W3496 County Road W, Malone, Waverly Beach Resort, N8770 Fire Lane 1, Menasha, Payne's Point Bar and Grill, 1557 Payne's Point Road, Neenah, Critters Wolf River Sports, 700 W. Main St., Winneconne, Indian Point Tavern, County Trunk H, one half mile east of Tustin, Boom Bay Bar & Grill, 7884 Cut Off Lane, Larsen, Fond du Lac's Sturgeon Spectacular receives grant, Opening day scenes from the 2018 sturgeon spearing season, dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/sturgeon/sturgeonlakewinnebago.html, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Without hitting harvest limits, the season on Lake Winnebago could run a full 16 days. Last year, 53 lucky spearers brought in sturgeon which tipped the scale at more than 100 pounds. “Ice conditions are starting to look pretty good, we’ve got between  10 to 12 inches built up here,” he said. Fond du Lac's quirky, fun take on the legendary hunt is its Sturgeon Spectacular, which runs Feb. 7 through 10. Water clarity are the magic words that can make or break a sturgeon spearing season, said Ryan Koenigs, DNR sturgeon biologist. His method seems to pay off. Several sturgeon-themed events are planned for hearty winter-lovers. That's where he'll find the sturgeon feeding on their favorite food. Berger bagged the biggest prize of the 2018 sturgeon spearing season out of Lake Poygan. The DNR provides daily updates of the spearing season at  dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/sturgeon/sturgeonlakewinnebago.html or by calling the Sturgeon Hotline: 920-303-5444. If those numbers are reached before Feb. 24, the season will close early. The DNR has kept harvest numbers from as far back as 1941. The eggs were turned into caviar and the rest of the sturgeon was frozen in chunks, then smoked in small batches to enjoy throughout the year, Berger said. His prize is a prehistoric bottom feeder which can top 100 pounds and live for more than a century in Lake Winnebago and the Upriver Lakes of Butte des Morts, Winneconne and Poygan. RELATED: Fond du Lac's Sturgeon Spectacular receives grant, RELATED: Opening day scenes from the 2018 sturgeon spearing season. There’s Ice & Sailing world championships, a “Running of the Sturgeon” parade, outdoor curling, Wisconsin's state snow sculpting competition and the inaugural Sturgeon Spearing and Beering event at Lakeside Park, presented by Lakefront Brewery. Person Wanted On Multiple Warrants Killed Following Officer Involved Shooting In Winnebago County, Funeral Home Owner Dies Following Lake Winnebago ATV Incident, ATV Operator Dies After Crashing Through Lake Winnebago Ice. He describes the taste of sturgeon as “not flaky" — more like the consistency of a pork chop — and says the fish has to be meticulously cleaned of its fat, otherwise it will taste bad. The weekend weather forecast with highs of 44 degrees and possible rain further complicates anticipating conditions this early in the game. Farther north, Scott Engel at Otter Street Fishing Club in Oshkosh is worried about the weather. Without hitting harvest limits, the season on Lake Winnebago could run a full 16 days. The season kicks off Saturday. The 2019 season kicks off at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, and will run for 16 days or until set harvest caps are reached, whichever comes first. Water clarity are the magic words that can make or break a sturgeon spearing season, said Ryan Koenigs, DNR sturgeon biologist. A major snowfall could lay down a blanket of insulation and hinder ice build-up. License sales for 2019 totaled 12,411 for  Lake Winnebago spearers and 479 for the upriver lakes.