Winnebago System Sturgeon Spearing Regulations

Reminders

Registration Stations

See below for registration station locations.

To help with the registration process, the DNR asks that all harvested sturgeon be placed on your tailgate or in an easily accessible location. Please follow the signs and cones at each registration station to ensure a smooth registration.

Tags, Licenses And Permits

• Spearers must possess a paper copy of their sturgeon spearing license/tag at all times while spearing. A receipt of purchase, driver’s license or GoWild card does not meet this requirement.
• It is ILLEGAL to possess more than one copy of a carcass tag.
• Carcass tags MUST BE validated immediately upon harvest by removing the validation stub.
• There is mandatory in-person registration of all harvested fish. Fish must be presented at a registration station by 2 p.m. the same day the fish is harvested.

Season Forecast

Dear Winnebago Sturgeon Spearer,

First off, I cannot tell you how excited I am to see everyone preparing for the 2025 Winnebago lake sturgeon spearing season. After last year’s horrible ice conditions and the looming U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listing decision, many of us are just looking forward to the upcoming season. But here we are, with the knowledge that the spearing season and all its great traditions will continue. Now, we can only hope that colder weather is around the corner creating great ice conditions for the season.

For some spearers, the 2024 season will likely not be forgotten anytime soon. Particularly for those successful spearers who went to great lengths for their success, including hauling gear and fish off the ice by hand. In total, 432 lake sturgeon were speared during the 2024 season.

The winter of 2024 was a moderate El Niño year. The effects of an El Niño year can exacerbate warm weather and bad ice conditions. In the last three decades, there have been other years with low harvest as well. Most of these years also had bad ice conditions and coincided with El Niño years. Thankfully, we are moving away from the strong El Niño year and hoping for cold weather and good ice.

Here are some additional updates as everyone prepares for the 2025 season. Chironomid larvae densities on Lake Winnebago have increased from the last two years, with densities closer to normal. Although we didn’t see an increase in gizzard shad numbers during our most recent trawling assessment, homeowners around the lake report seeing more along the shorelines. Hopefully, both the increase in the chironomid densities and gizzard shad mean we are leading up to a good spearing season on Lake Winnebago. As for the Upriver Lakes, the chironomid densities continue to be low, though the Upriver Lakes usually have lower densities than Lake Winnebago. Fingers crossed we have good water clarity this year.

As always, please be safe if you are taking to the ice this year. Remember, the DNR does not monitor ice conditions, so check with the local fishing and spearing clubs before heading out. For all others, please do not hesitate to come out to any of the registration locations to chat with DNR staff and celebrate with our successful spearers, all while getting a chance to see one of these legendary behemoth fish up close. Good luck to all this season. I can’t wait to see everyone on the ice.

Margaret Stadig

DNR Winnebago Sturgeon Biologist

Seasons

Hours

7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Lake Winnebago

Feb. 8 through Feb. 23, 2025 on Lake Winnebago, or until any of the pre-set harvest caps for Lake Winnebago are reached or any of the pre-set Winnebago system-wide harvest caps are reached, whichever comes first (as per trigger closure rules).

Upriver Lakes (Lake Butte Des Morts, Winneconne and Poygan)

Feb. 8 through Feb. 23, 2025 on the Upriver Lakes, or until any of the pre-set harvest caps for the Upriver Lakes are reached or any of the pre-set Winnebago system-wide harvest caps are reached, whichever comes first (as per trigger closure rules).

A limited drawing spear fishery was implemented on the Upriver Lakes in 2007. Spearers can either apply for an Upriver Lakes sturgeon spearing license or purchase a preference point (thus not included in the drawing for that season) by Aug. 1. Applicants are notified by Oct. 1 of whether they were successful in receiving authorization to purchase an Upriver Lakes sturgeon spearing license. Group drawing applications of up to four persons are accepted, and the group will carry the preference points of the group member with the fewest points.

Spearers that are not drawn for an Upriver Lakes sturgeon spearing license receive a preference point and can purchase a Lake Winnebago sturgeon spearing license. Applicants drawn for an Upriver Lakes sturgeon spearing license will lose their accumulated preference points regardless of whether they purchase their Upriver Lakes sturgeon spearing license.

Spearers can only buy a license for either Lake Winnebago or the Upriver Lakes, but they cannot buy one for both. License sales for the Lake Winnebago season end Oct. 31. The Upriver Lakes sturgeon drawing fishery limits participation to 500 tags in 2025 and will have an allotment of the overall sturgeon harvest caps. Upriver Lakes tags can be transferred to a youth (age 12-17) or a person holding a valid Class A, B, C or D disabled permit.

License & Tag Requirements

License Requirements

To spear sturgeon, residents must purchase a sturgeon spearing license for $20 and nonresidents must purchase a sturgeon spearing license for $65.

Only persons 12 years of age and older are eligible to spear sturgeon. No sturgeon spearing license may be issued or purchased after Oct. 31, 2024 except for:

1. Wisconsin residents that turn 12 between Nov. 1, 2024 and the last day of the 2025 spearing season; or
2. Wisconsin residents serving in the Armed Forces that are home on leave during the 2025 spearing season.

The sturgeon spearing license/tag must be carried by the licensee at all times while fishing for sturgeon with a spear and no person may use or carry the license/tag of another person. Lake Winnebago licenses are non-transferable, but Upriver Lakes licenses can be transferred to youth (age 12-17) or a person holding a valid Class A, B, C or D disabled permit.

Tagging Your Sturgeon

When And How To Validate Tag

Upon harvest, the carcass tag must be immediately validated by removing the validation stub of the carcass tag below the dotted line.

When To Attach Tag

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.

Protect Tag

It is the responsibility of the spearer to keep the tag protected and legible. Consider enclosing the tag in a sealed plastic bag.

Register

Any harvested sturgeon must be presented by the spearer at an official registration station by 2 p.m. the same day it was speared. Call in or online registration is NOT available for registering harvested lake sturgeon.

Group bagging is not legal. The person who speared the sturgeon must be the one to tag the fish.

Harvest Caps

Total harvest of sturgeon will be limited through pre-set harvest caps. Harvest caps for the 2025 Winnebago system spearing season are 350 juvenile females, 797 adult females and 1,252 males. Portions of the system-wide harvest caps have been allocated to the fisheries on Lake Winnebago and the Upriver Lakes as shown below.

The DNR will close the sturgeon spearing season on Lake Winnebago before the maximum 16 day season when any of the following conditions occur:

• At the end of a spearing day in which 100% of any one of the three Lake Winnebago harvest caps is reached or exceeded; or
• 24 hours from the end of a spearing day which concludes with a harvest of 90 to 99% of any one of the three Lake Winnebago harvest caps being reached.

The DNR will close the sturgeon spearing season on the Upriver Lakes before the maximum 16 day season when any of the following conditions occur:

• At the end a spearing day in which 100% of any one of the three Upriver Lakes harvest caps is reached or exceeded; or
• 24 hours from the end of a spearing day which concludes with a harvest of 90 to 99% of any one of the three Upriver Lakes harvest caps being reached.

The DNR will close the sturgeon spearing season on all waters of the Winnebago system before the maximum 16 day season when any of the following conditions occur:

• At the end of a spearing day in which 100% of any one of the three Winnebago system-wide harvest caps is reached or exceeded; or
• 24 hours from the end of a spearing day which concludes with a harvest of 90 to 99% of any one of the three Winnebago system-wide harvest caps being reached.

2025 Spearing Season Harvest Caps

Registration Station

A person who spears a sturgeon must accompany the fish to an official sturgeon registration station. Phone-in or online harvest registration is NOT available for sturgeon registration.

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.

To help with the registration process, the DNR asks that all harvested sturgeon be placed on tailgates or in another easily accessible location. Please follow the signs and cones at each registration station to ensure a smooth registration.

Stations are operated daily throughout the season by DNR fisheries staff. The registration process allows for collection of important biological information on the size, sex and tagging history of your fish. A metal registration tag will be attached to your fish during the registration process to signify to law enforcement staff that your fish has been properly registered. The registration tag must be retained until the carcass is consumed.

To avoid the “end of the day” rush, please bring your fish in as soon as possible after spearing it. You must be at the registration station and in line to register your fish by 2 p.m. on the day it was speared.

Some registration stations may be closed prior to the end of the season depending on spearing activity and volume of sturgeon registrations. Any early closures will be posted at registration stations and included in daily harvest reports posted on the DNR website.

Registration Station Locations

Regulations

Limits

Bag Limit: One (1) lake sturgeon per licensee

Minimum Length: 36 inches

Possession And Use Of A Spear

No person may have under their control any spear or similar device in any enclosure on the ice or waters of the Winnebago system except when authorized during established sturgeon spearing seasons during open spearing hours and while in possession of a valid sturgeon spearing license and unfilled carcass tag.

No person may take, capture, kill or attempt to kill sturgeon on the Winnebago system by any means other than spearing with a spear thrown by hand from inside a fishing shelter placed on the ice during the open spearing season.

It is illegal to spear a sturgeon and then release it back into the water.

Fishing Equipment Or Gear

It is unlawful to possess a fishing pole, hook-and-line angling equipment or other similar devices that could be used to catch fish in an ice fishing tent, shanty or ice fishing enclosure with ice holes larger than 12 inches in diameter or square.

The maximum width of a spear head is restricted to 18 inches or less as measured from the outside edge of the outermost tine, and tines can only be arranged in a single straight line. Please note that barbs are not considered a part of the tine and may extend beyond 18 inches.

Ice Shanties And Shelters

The door of any occupied shanty/shelter shall be such that the door can be readily opened from the outside. All shanties/ shelters must have the name and residential address or DNR customer ID number of the person owning or using the shanty. The name and address or DNR customer ID number must be painted or otherwise affixed on the outside with a minimum of 1-inch lettering. All shanties/shelters must be completely removed from the ice (for all inland waters south of Hwy 64) by the first Sunday following March 1.

Lights, Underwater Cameras, Depth Locators

The use of artificial lights as an aid during spearing is prohibited during sturgeon spearing. This prohibition begins 48 hours prior to the season opener and runs the duration of the season. Underwater cameras and other forms of technology may be used, but any lights on the camera must be disabled (turned off, taped-over or non-illuminating).

Ice Hole Restrictions

No person may cut, use or maintain an ice hole larger than 12 inches in diameter or square for the taking of fish in any manner through the ice except spearing sturgeon on the Winnebago system during the open season. The total area of a sturgeon spearing hole or combination of holes may not exceed a total of 48 square feet, measured at the surface of the ice. Ice holes larger than 12 inches cut, used or maintained for spearing may not be covered by a shelter, shanty or similar device, except during the period from 48 hours before and continuing through the open sturgeon spearing season.

Ice Hole Marking

Sturgeon spearing ice holes must be marked with at least two strips of wood that extend a minimum of three feet above the ice. The wood strips must not exceed 1.5 inches in width and .25 inches in thickness (wood lathe meets the requirement).

When you first set your shanty, cut a hole and freeze the lathe into the ice for better marking of sturgeon holes. Lathe markers stuck in snow banks are NOT adequate because the lathe no longer marks holes when warm weather conditions melt snow.

Litter

It is illegal to place or deposit any materials (including fish, fish parts or other biodegradables) on the ice or lake bed that cannot be retrieved. Any material used in a sturgeon spearing hole must be removed by the sturgeon spearer when the hole is abandoned or if requested by a warden. Any material that is left on or frozen in the ice or waters is the responsibility of the person who left the material (including tar paper, wood, cardboard or any other litter used adjacent to shanties).

Transportation

It is unlawful for any person to transport an unregistered sturgeon in or on any motor driven vehicle unless the sturgeon is openly exposed. “Openly exposed” means open to view by a person in a passing vehicle.

It is illegal to possess an unregistered sturgeon speared from Lake Winnebago outside the highway boundary area delineated as follows: from the intersection of highways 10 and 114 in Menasha, east on Highway 114 to Highway 55; south on Highway 55 to U.S. Highway 151; south on U.S. Highway 151 to Winnebago Drive in Fond du Lac; west on Winnebago Drive to Scott Street; west on Scott Street to Highway 45; north on Highway 45 to Main Street in Oshkosh; north on Main Street to Waugoo Avenue; east on Waugoo Avenue to Bowen Street; north on Bowen Street to County Highway A; north on County Highway A to Highway 114 in Neenah; east on Highway 114 to the intersection of Highways 10 and 114 in Menasha.

It is illegal to possess an unregistered sturgeon speared from the Upriver Lakes (Butte des Morts, Winneconne or Poygan) outside the highway boundary area delineated as follows: from the intersection of Highways 45 and 21 in Oshkosh west on Highway 21 to Highway 116; north on Highway 116 to County Highway B; west on County Highway B to County Highway D; west on County Highway D to Highway 49; north on Highway 49 to County Highway H; east on county Highway H to Highway 110; east on Highway 110 to County Highway II; south on County Highway II to County Highway M; south on County Highway M to Highway 116; east on Highway 116 to Highway 45; south on Highway 45 to Highway 21.

Spearing of Rough Fish

Spearing of any species of fish other than sturgeon from the Winnebago system is prohibited during the sturgeon spearing season, except that a licensed sturgeon spearer with a valid unused sturgeon carcass tag and valid fishing license may retain or dispose of any carp taken incidentally while sturgeon spearing. Any carp incidentally speared must be removed from the water, bank or shore and properly disposed of.

Sturgeon Eggs and Meat

It is illegal to sell, purchase, barter or trade sturgeon eggs/roe/caviar/meat at any time.

Bartering is the exchange of goods or services for other goods or services without using money. This also means it is illegal to give, keep or accept any portion of lake sturgeon, including but not limited to eggs/roe/caviar/meat, as payment.

Guiding

No person may engage or be employed for any compensation or reward to guide, direct or assist any other person in sturgeon spearing/fishing unless the person is issued a guide license by the DNR.

Guiding includes receiving compensation of any kind (monetary, gratuity, physical items, etc.) for services rendered. Some examples of guiding would include providing a shanty with the ice hole already cut, placing out decoys, providing/renting equipment or other activities that assist the angler/spearer to locate, attract and/or harvest fish. Please contact your local Conservation Warden with any questions.

Sturgeon Guard

Sturgeon are very susceptible to illegal harvest and harassment when they are spawning along the river’s rocky shorelines. Each spring, Sturgeon Guard volunteers have an opportunity to protect lake sturgeon from poaching and harassment at their spawning sites on the Wolf, Embarrass, Little Wolf and Upper Fox rivers while educating the public about this unique fish species.

The Sturgeon Guard program works in collaboration with DNR biologists and game wardens, in addition to conservation groups like Sturgeon for Tomorrow and Shadows on the Wolf.

If you are interested in volunteering for Sturgeon Guard during the 2025 spawning season, please contact Josh Reitz or Don Meilke via email for more information, or visit the DNR website.