Visiting the Winnebago System on sturgeon spearing season day 2
On Wisconsin Outdoors saved 2000 papers from our 100,000 January/February press run specifically to give us an excuse to tour the Winnebago system and drop papers at registration stations, restaurants and taverns as spearers and onlookers celebrated day 2 of the season. If you have not participated in this great event one way or another, I highly recommend you jump in soon. Besides, what more romantic way to celebrate Valentine’s Day then standing among a bunch of bloody 100 pound fish with your best girl?
Lori Ellis and the spearing community celebrate in front of hanging sturgeon at Wendt’s on the Lake after day 2 of the season Sunday, February 14 on the Winnebago system.
February 14, 2021 Highlights
Publisher note: The information below provided by the Wisconsin DNR with photos, graphs and more detailed information can be viewed on this website under Outdoor News or inland Fishing.
Day 2 of the 2021 sturgeon spearing season saw a decrease in harvest. In total, 265 fish were harvested on the Winnebago system, with 207 coming from Lake Winnebago and 58 coming from the Upriver Lakes. The registration stations on the north end of Lake Winnebago had the highest totals again today, with the Harrison Town Hall station (52) leading the way. The Winneconne (Marble Park) registration station (23) registered the most fish on the Upriver Lakes. The Upriver Lakes harvest has surpassed 50% of the allotted cap for both males and adult females. However, the Upriver Lakes season will likely continue into mid/late week. Lake Winnebago and system-wide harvest caps remain in the distance and are unlikely to be met during the upcoming week.
The largest fish harvested on Lake Winnebago today was 121.6 pound (76.1 inches) F4 female speared by Reid Crump. Reid’s fish was registered at Grundman Road. Steven Loker harvested the largest fish on the Upriver Lakes: a 119-pound 74.1-inch F4 female harvested on Lake Poygan. Females at the F4 reproductive stage are lake sturgeon that would be spawning this coming spring.
The clear skies on day two of the season allowed for aerial shack counts to be conducted. Lake Winnebago totaled 4,326 shacks. The east (894) and southeast (872) zones of the lake had the highest number of shacks, while the west (455) zone had the least. The Upriver Lakes shack count survey resulted in 389 total shacks observed. The majority of shacks counted on the Upriver lakes were on Lake Poygan (329).
Pretty Lake Lalapalooza
During the Lalapalooza, a successful angler shows the reason the next state record pike is expected to come from Pretty Lake.
The 4th Annual Mike Hart Lalapalooza ice fishing event on Pretty Lake left most participants freezing cold…but toasty warm. You figure it out. My inner warmth came from tasting Hart’s venison tenderloin and ring bologna just off the grill. It makes a hunter realize why he hunts. The actual hunt is only part of it. A slice of tenderloin…or any part….nice and pink on the inside and sizzling off the coals…well, you get it. We’re all Pigs at heart.
“Mike told me fish like structure…so I set my tip-up right in front of where the DNR said Mike and his neighbors could build this one on the ice,” said one angler. And you thought Wisconsin outdoorsmen are dumb?
A few fish actually interrupted the eating festivities and forced the few unlucky anglers to leave the grills, run through the tundra, and answer a flag swaying in the breeze. Big fish was a 29-inch pike.
Thanks Mike. I only put on 5 pounds this year.
Shoot straight.
Dick Ellis