Upriver Lakes sturgeon season is over

POYGAN, Wi - The sturgeon season was a short one on the upriver lakes this year, hitting the cap numbers for adult females after just two days of spearing.  Spearing on Lake Winnebago could go on, however, for the entire 16 day season.  The cap for the adult female sturgeon harvest was hit on the upriver lakes, ending the season, but the overall harvest numbers are very low, with very limited success Lake Winnebago.

Spearers enjoy the upriver lake experience, because of the better chance of success.  "The success rate which runs almost 60 percent compared to 13 percent at Lake Winnebago, and it's a very high quality fishery because there's only 500 tags. You don't have a thousand people running around you with cars or snowmobiles or whatever scaring the fish," said DNR Fisheries expert Ron Bruch.

While the number of people on Lake Poygan is limited, just as many family memories are forged here. Like Dave Meier who pulled an 86 pounder from the water early this morning while in the shanty with his son. "I was a little nervous this morning," said Meier.  "I thought this is it. You plan all year and scout and only have two days to fish, but I'm happy. We got our fish. We're two for two. "

His son, Dave Meier Jr., was also excited.  "First time we ever got one when we were both sitting in the shack and just seeing the fish come in gets the adrenaline going. It was just a cool deal."

For spearers, the excitement is always high when they see the fish swimming by.  "It was really exciting. I was shaking a little bit afterward. After getting the spear, it happened so fast," said Sara Chikowski-Wunrow of Fremont.

Much like the spearing, the season, gone in a flash, closing on the upriver lakes in just two days.