WINNECONNE, Wis. (WFRV) – Opening day of sturgeon spearing brought spearers back onto the ice across northeast Wisconsin on Saturday, with fish steadily coming into registration stations.
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Sturgeon biologist Margaret Stadig of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said the day felt active from the start, with consistent traffic at stations and a celebratory atmosphere returning after a challenging season last year.
“Opening day of sturgeon spearing season for 2026… it’s been a really good day… we’re actually seeing a lot of fish come in, probably more fish than we’ve seen come in in the last two or three years,” Stadig said.
She said strong water clarity and solid ice conditions helped create a good start, noting that more shanties were expected out across the system this weekend.
Stadig added that if large numbers of fish continue to come into registration stations, especially during peak midday hours, the season could move quickly toward harvest caps.
“This feels more like what I really enjoy about spearing season… there’s a lot of people out. we see a lot of fish coming in… everyone’s got a very nice kind of celebratory atmosphere,” Stadig said.
Stadig also reminded spearmen to follow registration rules, including validating tags immediately after harvesting a fish and keeping the sturgeon openly displayed while transporting it to a station.
Sheboygan’s John Juckem and his 26 lb sturgeon
Out on the ice, John Juckem of Sheboygan described the rush of watching a sturgeon pass beneath his shanty before making his move.
“Oh, it’s quite a rush… we saw a small little fish go by, and then a few minutes later, the sturgeon swam through,” Juckem said. “It’s just a beautiful fish… and it’s great how it brings everybody together in the community and the families.”
Among the fish brought into registration was a 90-pound sturgeon speared by Robert Fritsch of Menasha on Lake Poygan. Fritsch said the catch stands as the biggest fish of his life after decades on the ice.
Menasha’s Robert Fritsch and his 90 lb sturgeon
“That’s the biggest one I got… I got a few of them close to that size, but not quite 90,” Fritsch said.
DNR Warden Supervisor Lt. Ryan Propson said the warm weather that brought crowds out also comes with risks. He said shifting ice and changing conditions are possible in the coming days, especially with rain and snow in the forecast.
“It’s really nice to see people having fun… but the weather is kind of a double-edged sword,” Propson said. “Given another couple of days, that ice is going to start shifting around.”
Propson also noted a vehicle went through the ice near the Neenah-Menasha area earlier in the day, though the driver was able to get out safely. Wardens are urging spearmen to check conditions carefully and talk with others on the ice before traveling to unfamiliar areas.
Nearly 500 lake sturgeon harvested on Lake Winnebago in day one of spearing season
Longtime participants like Fritsch say the opening day energy goes beyond the size of the fish.
“Very special… I’ve been doing this for a long, long time… you’re talking for some 40 years,” Fritsch said. “The camaraderie… we all get together this time of the year and do our thing.”
