Where to find information about 2023 Sturgeon Spearing in the Winnebago System:

Winnebago System Sturgeon Spearing – WDNR

2023 Sturgeon Spearing Regulations – WDNR

  • A spearing license is required to participate in sturgeon spearing
  • There are two fisheries: the Lake Winnebago fishery and the Upriver Lakes fishery – each require a separate license
  • Bag limit is 1 lake sturgeon per licensee, minimum length of 36 in.
  • 2023 Season opens: February 11 at 7 am
  • 2023 Season closes: Lasts for 16 days OR until any of the sex-specific harvest caps are reached for that fishery, whichever is first
  • Follow the links above to see the 2023 harvest caps
  • Spearing can occur from 7 am – 1 pm each day the fishery is open
  • Fish need to be registered at a Wisconsin DNR operated registration station by 2 pm on the same day the fish is harvested
  • Registration stations have returned to pre-pandemic locations – see the map below!
  • Ice holes must be marked with at least 2 strips of wood extending a minimum of 3 feet above the ice, and not exceed 1.5 in. wide and 0.25 in. thick
Map of Wisconsin DNR's registration stations for the 2023 sturgeon spearing season in the Winnebago System

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance recovery initiative. Contact us at wwinfo@fwwa.org