2009 Lake Sturgeon Spawning
Until next year...

Wolf River Sturgeon Spawning Update (4/29/09)

Dear Winnebago Sturgeon Enthusiasts:

The 2009 sturgeon spawning season is pretty much in the books - we captured and tagged 1,231 sturgeon (including recaptures of fish we had previously tagged) over an eight-day period. As of yesterday evening (Tuesday, April 28) most of the spawning sites were quiet with maybe only a couple of straggler males hanging around at a site or two. Given the cold weather (actually cold water temperatures) the fish have had to spawn through during the last week and a half it is possible we could see a "second" run at some of the major sites like Bamboo Bend and Shawano Dam once the weather warms again to drive water temperatures close to the 60 F mark.

We have a "second" run almost every year but the number of fish participating is generally very small and the run is very short lived - a day or two at a site. The "second" and sometimes even "third" runs are made up of females that require a higher temperature for spawning and were not able to ovulate at the lower temperatures in the wide spawning temperature range of lake sturgeon, and males that had already spawned in the "first" run. Males will wait for a month or more for the "second" and "third" runs if there are still females waiting in the river to spawn at a later date and higher temperature. The males know these females are still there waiting for their optimal conditions. They will not wait forever though - at some point after mid-May, the females still waiting will just pack it in if optimal conditions do not occur, not spawn, and then begin the slow process of resorbing their large mass of eggs to recycle the materials for their next spawn four or more years from present. - Ron Bruch, senior sturgeon biologist, Oshkosh

Call the sturgeon hotline number for recorded daily updates: (920) 303-5444.

• Volunteer to guard sturgeon at their spawning sites on the Wolf River and protect the fish from poaching.

Lake Sturgeon Spawning/Viewing Locations on the Wolf River

Maps open to larger images. Sites are listed from North to South.

Shawano Dam in Shawano - Parking available on the east side of the river at the end of Richmond Street.

Bamboo Bend at Shiocton - on County Highway 54. Parking available on the north side of County Hwy. 54.

Wolf River Sturgeon Trail (near New London) - about 2 miles west of New London on County Highway X. Parking available on the south side of the river about 1/2 mile from the spawning site

During mid-April to early May, Lake Sturgeon travel upstream to their spawning grounds, giving the public a prime opportunity to see these
ancient ones up close.

Sturgeon spawning is dependent on water temperature and flow. During seasons when water flow is high and water temperatures rise slowly, spawning begins when water temperature reaches 53 degrees Fahrenheit. In contrast, during seasons of low water flow and more rapid water temperature rise, spawning does not begin until water temperatures reach 58-59 degrees Fahrenheit.