Though fall is still in the air, winter is right around the corner. Those interested in heading onto the Lake Winnebago ice this winter for sturgeon spearing need to purchase their license by Monday, Oct. 31.
The season opens Feb. 11, 2023, for Lake Winnebago and the Upriver Lakes of Butte des Morts, Winneconne and Poygan.
Both resident and nonresident licenses can be purchased through the GoWild system or at any license sales location. The sale of sturgeon spearing licenses funds a variety of sturgeon management activities on the Winnebago system.
While there are unlimited licenses available for Lake Winnebago, the Upriver Lakes fishery is managed by a preference point system and limited to 500 permitted spearers. Applicants already authorized for an Upriver Lakes tag for 2023 have until the start of the spearing season to purchase a license but cannot purchase one for Lake Winnebago.
More information on harvest trends and management for the Lake Winnebago sturgeon fishery can be found on the DNR’s sturgeon spearing webpage.
