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Posts: 1314
Location: Menasha, WI | I wasn't listening intently but I thought I heard on the radio that the legislature has granted the DNR the authority to close the spearing season the day the quotas are hit rather than a 24 hour notice that they were going to close the season. Anybody else know about this change? |
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Member
Posts: 284
| Yup.
One day season this year is highly likely. Especially with the upper lakes being open. 250 adult females on day 1 will do it I think. |
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Member
Posts: 874
Location: Neenah, WI | Yup, that's pretty much the situation. I don't have the numbers in front of me so I can't comment on what the quotas are. Ron Bruch spoke at our meeting a couple of weeks ago and that's the info that he reported to us. He mentioned that there's a 200 + pounder cruising around Winnebago. He gave us a rundown on the telemetry study going on and plans to expand it in 2005. Transmitters are surgically implanted in the sturgeon and recording units on bridges keep track of their movements as they move downstream. Pretty neat stuff.
On a side note, bear in mind that if the ice conditions on the upriver lakes preclude spearers from getting out on opening weekend, they will be out of luck. That could extend the season on Winnebago due to the fewer number of tags sold for Winnebago. For the folks who don't live here: When licenses were sold the spearer had to declare for either Winnebago or the upriver lakes. The upriver tags are good for opening weekend only and can't be used on Winnebago. The upriver spearing only happens every 5 years and usually results in a high harvest due to high sturgeon population and shallow water.
The season opens Feb. 12. Good Luck and BE SAFE!!!!! |
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Member
Posts: 514
Location: Darboy USA | Dale,
If you looked at the numbers for this year, interestingly the amount of spearers on Winnebago was greater than it was last year?? I don't understand it, but that is what the dnr has published. I think maybe more guys thought that Bago would be 2 days and seperate when they bought their licenses because the final season ideas didn't come out until Sept. or early Oct. I believe.
Either way it will be a short season, 1 day is my guess. Hoping for good ice as I picked upriver lakes this year, going against an 50 year old family tradition on Bago. Hope I'm not jinxed for the rest of my life!  |
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Member
Posts: 874
Location: Neenah, WI | WOW!!!!! I didn't see the breakdown in license sales. That's a surprise. With spearing becoming so popular and successful it has turned into a 100 yard dash instead of the leisurely pursuit of the past. I guess it's just my age showing when I say I miss the longer seasons. I kinda like the half days, I just wish we had more of them!!! |
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Change in Sturgeon Spearing regs