While 2024 sturgeon spearing had unlucky results, warm winters have more of an effect on spring spawning

LAKE WINNEBAGO — Many spearers watched lakes Winnebago, Poygan, Butte des Morts and Winneconne in disappointment during the sturgeon spearing season this year, but this year doesn't necessarily set a precedent for future years.

Sturgeon spearing in Wisconsin has had ups and downs in its harvest since the beginning of the regulated season on Lake Winnebago in 1932.

The highest harvest was 3,173 sturgeon in 1995, before harvest caps were implemented, and the lowest was eight in 1969 and 1973.

The 2024 season was on the low side with 432 sturgeon speared across the Lake Winnebago system, sitting between 2017's 847-sturgeon season and 2006's 225-sturgeon season.

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Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Winnebago System Fisheries Biologist Margaret Stadig doesn't anticipate 2024 contributing to a pattern of low harvests on the lakes.

"The system has years of great harvest as well as years of low harvest," she said. "Low harvest years are usually either driven by ice conditions or water clarity. We have just had some warm years recently."

The thicker the ice, the more likely spearers will brave the lakes, especially if the ice can accommodate trucks and shanties.

However, 20 inches of ice wouldn't be of much help if the water clarity is less than 12 feet, when view of the bottom-dwelling sturgeon starts to get obscured.

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While a warm February could affect ice conditions during a season, a warm and rainy January is one factor that can affect water clarity, inviting algae to bloom, according to the DNR.

However, a warm winter will have more of an effect on when, where and how successful sturgeon spawning will be in the spring, according to Stadig.

"With low water levels, there are likely different locations where the sturgeon will spawn," she said. "Then, warm water temperatures will likely play a factor in how quickly the eggs hatch and their success."

Lake sturgeon typically travel upstream to their spawning grounds between mid April and early May, according to the DNR. If water flow is high and water temperatures rise slowly, sturgeon will start spawning when the water reaches 53 degrees, but if the flow is low and temperatures rise quickly, spawning will begin when the water is closer to 58 or 59 degrees.

Spectators often gather during spawning season to see the prehistoric fish up close, during which Sturgeon Guard volunteers protect the sturgeon from poachers.

For more about upcoming spawning, visit dnr.wisconsin.gov.

Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at dlemke@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: How warm winters affect sturgeon spawning in Wisconsin lakes