(Wisconsin) The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding spearers interested in harvesting sturgeon from Lake Winnebago to their license before the deadline.
Spearers must purchase a license for the 2025 sturgeon spearing season by October 31st. DNR officials say there are an unlimited number of licenses available for Lake Winnebago, and residents and nonresidents can buy them through the Go Wild system or at any license sales location. All license holders must be at least 12-years-old. The Upriver Lakes fishery is managed by a preference point system and lottery that is limited to 500 permitted spearers. Successful Upriver Lakes tag applicants have already been notified for the 2025 season and have until the start of the spearing season to purchase a license. However, successful applicants cannot also purchase a tag for Lake Winnebago.
License sales help fund a variety of sturgeon management activities on the Winnebago system. The 2025 sturgeon spearing season opens on February 8th and will run for a maximum of 16 days or until any of the predetermined harvest caps are met.
