Sturgeon Spearing Numbers Drop on Day 4 of 2026 Season

Warm weather and deteriorating ice conditions impact Lake Winnebago harvest

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reported 111 sturgeon were speared on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, as part of the state's annual sturgeon spearing season on Lake Winnebago. This was a decline from previous days, with the largest fish caught weighing 135.3 pounds and measuring 78.5 inches.

Why it matters

Sturgeon spearing is a unique cultural tradition in Wisconsin, drawing thousands of participants each year. The annual harvest helps manage the sturgeon population in Lake Winnebago, one of the largest and most renowned sturgeon fisheries in the world. However, warm weather and unsafe ice conditions can impact the success of the season.

The details

Of the 111 sturgeon speared on Tuesday, 43 were adult females, 42 were males, and 26 were juvenile females. Four of the fish weighed over 100 pounds, with the largest being a 135.3-pound, 78.5-inch female caught by Zachary Boehnlein. Since the season began on Saturday, a total of 1,092 sturgeon have been speared on Lake Winnebago, along with an additional 279 on the upriver lakes.

  • The sturgeon spearing season on Lake Winnebago began on Saturday, February 15, 2026.
  • The season on the upriver lakes of Poygan, Winneconne and Butte des Morts ended on Monday, February 16, 2026.
  • The overall sturgeon spearing season is scheduled to end on March 1, 2026, unless the harvest caps are met sooner.

The players

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

The state agency responsible for managing Wisconsin's natural resources, including the annual sturgeon spearing season on Lake Winnebago.

Zachary Boehnlein

A spearfisher who caught the largest sturgeon of the day, a 135.3-pound, 78.5-inch female.

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What they’re saying

“The DNR urges people to check with local fishing clubs before going out onto the ice.”

— Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (fox11online.com)

What’s next

The DNR expects spearing numbers to drop considerably on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, due to overnight rain forecast to further deteriorate the ice conditions on Lake Winnebago.

The takeaway

This year's sturgeon spearing season on Lake Winnebago has seen a decline in numbers due to the warm weather and unsafe ice conditions, highlighting the challenges that climate change can pose to traditional outdoor activities in Wisconsin.