What to know about the 2026 sturgeon spearing season on the Lake Winnebago System

Learn about sturgeon, Wisconsin's largest and oldest native fish Wisconsin's oldest native fish, the lake sturgeon is carefully managed to keep its population healthy. This video covers the lake and shovelnose species. The 2026 sturgeon spearing season will begin Feb. 14 and last a maximum of 16 days, closing earlier if harvest caps are met.Spearers must possess a pre-purchased license and register any harvested sturgeon, which must be at least 36 inches long.The Department of Natural Resources reports a healthy lake sturgeon population in the Winnebago System. After a recent, sustained push of polar cold into Wisconsin, ice conditions are looking favorable for the annual sturgeon spearing...