Big smiles at the southwest Winnebago registration station as Darren Pautsch’s fish just squeaks in over 100 pounds and is the biggest fish for the day (a 101-pound, 74.9-inch, F1 female).

Feb. 20, 2025 Harvest Update

We are only 3 days away from the end of the Winnebago spearing season, and there are some spearers who have not given up. Twenty-seven lake sturgeon were harvested throughout the system today (4 juvenile females, 12 adult females and 11 males).

The biggest was a 109.7-pound, 75.5-inch, F1 female speared by Patrick Nolan.

We still did not hit the 90% harvest trigger on the Upriver Lakes today. With 1 juvenile female, 1 adult female and 3 males being harvested today, we continue to sit just a few fish below the 90% trigger for the male harvest cap. But, for now, the Upriver season continues to stay open.

View the full details in today’s harvest report.

While we have seen some really big fish this year, it is always interesting to remember that these 100+ pound fish started from much smaller origins. When little, some think these fish barely resemble their older selves.

Ten-inch-long sturgeon with sharp scutes and almost dalmatian-like spots can look drastically different from their 100-pound selves.

To start, little sturgeon have modeled speckling along their bodies to help them camouflage with the surrounding environment. They also have sharp scutes that help protect them from predators. You can even see some of these features on the smaller individuals speared during the season, particularly those less than 40 inches in length. But why wouldn’t the older individuals still need these protections? Because in Lake Winnebago and other locations where lake sturgeon reside, once they get bigger, they have no natural predators. This means they can lose their camouflage, and their scutes wear down and become smooth without adverse effects on their safety. But did you know that there are some species of sturgeon that keep their sharp scutes their whole life? Pretty neat.

Please note that due to effort, the Pipe, North Winnebago and Winneconne registration station will remain closed tomorrow. Please check the Winnebago sturgeon spearing website or the Winnebago sturgeon spearing regulations for the next closest registration station and plan accordingly. Thank you.

A DNR fisheries biologist holds a lake sturgeon captured on the Wolf River during electrofishing.

It Takes A Village: Oshkosh Gamefish Crew

Finally, we would like to introduce the gamefish management team from the Oshkosh office, which includes DNR Senior Biologist Angelo Cozzola, Biologist Jason Kohls and Biologist Nate Schimanski.

The Winnebago System comprises almost 17% of Wisconsin's inland waters and annually draws thousands of people to its spectacular fisheries. Because of this, the other gamefish species in the system also need close management. Our gamefish team works hard to monitor and manage the many species that call the Winnebago System home.

To complete this task, major survey efforts throughout the year include the spring walleye assessment and tagging effort to ensure the walleye population is healthy and that angler harvest remains sustainable. They also conduct rotational fyke netting and electrofishing surveys on the Winnebago System lakes targeting northern pike, bass and panfish species.

For those that regularly fish Lake Winnebago, you might have seen our large DNR vessel out completing the fall trawl survey. The main objectives of this survey include the assessment of year class strength, relative abundance and general population trends for a variety of species. In its modern capacity, the survey dates back to 1986, providing a lengthy time series of catch data for comparison over the years. This allows biologists to compare past and present species abundance, as well as the outlook for future years through the comparison of annual year class strengths. The most recent trawl survey report can be found online.

Just like the sturgeon program, the gamefish team also conducts scientific research to make sure that all management decisions are based on the best information. Recently (2015-2020), a reward tag study was conducted to improve annual estimates of walleye harvest in Winnebago System waters. Results from the study showed that the angler harvest was being underestimated.

The improved understanding of walleye harvest in the system was a major contributor to the walleye bag reduction in 2020. Similar to lake sturgeon, regulations for the rest of Winnebago System species are based on survey results and research projects. Overall, the work done by the gamefish management team helps to ensure that the fisheries of the Winnebago System remain healthy.

The Oshkosh gamefish management team works very closely with the sturgeon program because of their proximity to Lake Winnebago. The gamefish management team's main contributions to the sturgeon program include the spring spawning assessment, spearing registration and the sturgeon transfer on the Wolf River. If you run into them while viewing the spawn or registering your fish, they are a great resource for your nonsturgeon-related Winnebago System questions!

Fisheries staff (left to right) Jason Kohls, Nate Schimanski and Angelo Cozzola with a large lake sturgeon captured in the Winnebago trawl survey.

No Ice Is 100% Safe

If using UTVs on the ice, here are a few basic safety tips to remember:

• Remember UTVs are heavy. They are the heaviest recreational vehicle out on the ice, often being close to 3,000 pounds. This is similar to a car or truck.
• Have a plan in case you do go through the ice.
• Roll your window down when traveling on the ice and make sure you can easily open your door – drive slow and turn the radio down so that you can use eyes and ears to watch and hear for potential issues coming up.
• Make sure you have life jackets or some other type of floatation for every occupant of the UTV.
• Recovery for the UTV or other vehicle is the responsibility of the owner/operator. After 30 days, the owner can be fined each day after 30 days.
• Recovery rates for the machine can also be very expensive.
• This may not be the year to explore new locations – stick to known areas that typically have better ice conditions.
• Never consume alcohol or drugs before or during your ride.
• Carry a cell phone, and let people know where you are going and when you’ll return home.
• Watch for pressure ridges or ice buckling. These can be dangerous due to thin ice and open water.

Remember – the DNR does not monitor ice conditions. Local fishing clubs, outfitters and bait shops are the best sources for local current ice conditions.  

Check out the DNR’s Ice Safety webpage for more information on staying safe on the ice, including tips for creating ice claws and what to do if you fall through ice.

Additional information on the Winnebago System sturgeon spearing season can be found on the DNR website.