The Wisconsin DNR says this year’s sturgeon spearing season was very successful.
In their daily report, the department says 1,540 total lake sturgeons were harvested this season, with 1,261 coming from Lake Winnebago and 279 from the Upriver Lakes.
Yesterday’s biggest catch was an adult female at 104 pounds.
An announcement from the DNR also said that this is the first year in a while that spearers had great ice conditions during opening weekend and very good water clarity.
That resulted in the “best opening weekend in over a decade.”
The last time the Winnebago system closed early was back in 2005, when the season only lasted eight days.
This year, the season lasted 11 days before the DNR closed the season.
Warmer weather and rain during the week slowed down harvest significantly.
After two years of harvests below 500 lake sturgeons, it’s good to have a year where many spearers were able to find success.
