Water clarity check on Lake Winnebago ahead of Saturday’s sturgeon spearing opener

Conditions under Lake Winnebago ice near Harrison, February 10, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online

LAKE WINNEBAGO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Nearly 10,000 license holders getting ready to take to the ice for the upcoming sturgeon spearing season .

Early reports are pointing toward clearer water, and possibly a higher harvest.

About two miles off the Lake Winnebago northern shoreline, Lake Park Sportsmen’s Club Vice President Kevin Streck is looking for clear water.

“Clarity started out really good two weeks ago. We had crystal clear water on the north end, but Mother Nature kind of had a different idea for us. We lost about the bottom three feet in the last week or so,” said Streck.

Spearers typically need about 12 feet of clear water to be successful. DNR Sturgeon Biologist Margaret Stadig says crews recently surveyed 21 sites around Lake Winnebago. Water clarity averaged 13.8 feet.

“At that point in time, water clarity is probably the best we’ve seen it in over a decade, which was fantastic. But things on Winnebago shift very quickly, and unfortunately, I’ve been getting reports from anglers around the system that water clarity might not be as great as we were hoping. Usually, it’s we don’t have enough snow and we get an algal bloom. I don’t think that’s the case. Usually, it’s precipitation comes down and kind of stirs up the bottom and causes a lot of turbidity. We haven’t had that either,” said Stadig.

With opening day approaching, Stadig says she hopes time will help.

“I was really hoping that this was going to be a year where all of those stars were going to align for our spearers. And it’s still possible. We’ll see what happens, but the system changes so quickly,” she said.

On Tuesday morning, Streck says his test revealed water clarity of about 15 feet.

“I’m hoping it gets better. Unfortunately, the weather is supposed to be warm this next week. We might get a little runoff and that’s going to cause the water to get stirred up a little bit more. We’ll make the best of it,” he said.