 There is only one more day for spearers to seek success for this elusive fish during the 2026 Winnebago sturgeon spearing season.
Feb. 22, 2026 Harvest Update
The second weekend of sturgeon spearing has come to a close, and many spearers are reporting that the cold weather has helped firm up the ice.
With another 36 lake sturgeon harvested today, this brings the Winnebago System total to 202 juvenile females, 662 adult females and 660 males.
With the 19 adult females harvested today, we have reached the 90-99% Winnebago System-wide harvest cap for adult females. Spearers with an unfilled Lake Winnebago tag have until 1 p.m. tomorrow (Monday, Feb. 23) to harvest a sturgeon. At that time, the 2026 sturgeon spearing season will CLOSE.
It seems that many spearers are still finding good ice and clear water on the east side of the lake, as 21 lake sturgeon were registered between the Pipe, Quinney and Stockbridge stations.
Our largest fish of the day came from the Pipe registration station. Trevor Theyerl harvested a 138.1-pound, 80.3-inch female.
Click here to view the full Day 9 Harvest Report online.
As we head into the last day of spearing this year and the first season in a long time to close early, it is a good time to remember how lucky we are here in Wisconsin. It takes an extremely healthy population to sustain any amount of harvest of lake sturgeon, especially through a spearing season. There are only two populations in the United States that support a spear harvest for lake sturgeon.
The only other lake sturgeon spear fishery is the season on Black Lake in Michigan. While there are many similarities between the two seasons, one very distinct difference is that the Black Lake season has a harvest cap of 6 fish. This year, the cap was reached in 48 minutes – much different from our 10-day season this year. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t any less excitement and energy surrounding the Michigan season.
It continues to be a testament to all the great management, as well as the assistance from the conservation and spearing groups, that the Winnebago System can sustain a long season and that 1,524 lake sturgeon have been harvested so far this year.
Congrats to all successful spearers, and we hope a few more of you find success tomorrow as we close out the season.
 Trevor Theyerl speared the only 100-pound lake sturgeon today with this 138.1 pound, 80.3-inch female.
No Ice Is 100% Safe
Before heading out on a frozen waterbody, it's crucial to prepare and plan. Here are a few safety tips to remember:
- 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 your eyes and ears to watch and listen for potential hazards.
- Recovery for a UTV or another vehicle is the responsibility of the owner/operator. After 30 days, the owner can be fined each day after 30 days.
- 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.
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