Mixed results for spearers on Sunday

The second day of the 2013 sturgeon spear fishery was much like opening day, successful harvest on the Upriver Lakes and below average harvest on Lake Winnebago.  

DNR officials report there were 74 sturgeon harvested from the Upriver Lakes and 21 sturgeon harvested from Lake Winnebago Sunday, which brings the season totals to 214 on the Upriver Lakes and 60 on Lake Winnebago.

The largest fish of the day (77.5 inches, 118.0 pounds) was speared by Melvin Lisowe and registered at Quinney. Melvin harvested the only sturgeon greater than 100 pounds on Lake Winnebago Sunday, while 3 fish greater than 100 pounds were harvested on the Upriver Lakes.   

Throughout opening weekend there were 70 adult females harvested from the Upriver Lakes and the DNR says spearers are quickly approaching the adult female harvest cap of 83 fish. They are five adult females shy of the 90% trigger and 13 adult females short of the 100% trigger. So fishing will continue on the Upriver Lakes Monday, but the season will close if 13 or more adult females are harvested.  

As for the Lake Winnebago spear season, it appears that this will be the third straight 16-day season. DNR officials say water clarity has been poor throughout the season, and reports Sunday indicated that conditions were getting worse in some areas of Lake Winnebago.