Sturgeon spawning update 4-30-2013
Dear Winnebago Sturgeon Enthusiasts:
The 2013 sturgeon spawning migration is in full swing and sturgeon are now spawning throughout the Winnebago System. Reports from this morning indicate that fish were spawning in Berlin and Princeton on the upper Fox River, the Manawa Dam on the Little Wolf River, and at various sites throughout the Wolf River. Our crews were able to tag over 300 sturgeon today: 125 at the Sturgeon Trail in New London, 78 at a site on private property in Shiocton, 50 at a site on private property in Leeman, and 52 at another private site in the Leeman area. As expected, the sturgeon run has gone very fast this spring and the fish are already spawning at sites further upstream. Spawning fish may still be visible tomorrow (Wednesday) at some of the spawning sites further down on the Wolf River at New London and Shiocton, but we have likely seen “peak spawning” at these sites. Sturgeon are starting to mass at the Shawano Dam, which is the furthest upstream that these fish can travel and thus the last spawning site to have spawning fish, and spawning will likely take place here over the next 2-3 days. Once again, if you have not had the chance to get out and see the sturgeon spawn this spring but would like to, please make plans to get out and see spawning fish over the next 2-3 days.