Notes: Wisconsin to update sturgeon management plan in 2018

Paul A. Smith
Milwaukee-Unknown

Lake sturgeon were present when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Now Wisconsin's oldest fish species is set for an updated management plan.

The public can help shape that plan by providing input at meetings held statewide in mid-February and early-March.

"Wisconsin's sturgeon team is in the early stages of a process to update the sturgeon management plan and we want to hear from anglers and others interested in sturgeon," said Ryan Koenigs, the sturgeon biologist who leads the Department of Natural Resources sturgeon team. "These meetings provide people an opportunity to comment on the state's sturgeon management program and will set the stage for development of the plan."

Lake sturgeon are currently managed under guidance from the 2000 Lake Sturgeon Management Plan. An updated plan will allow DNR staff and partners to continue to build on the previous plan's success, set new goals, and include management strategies for both lake sturgeon and shovelnose sturgeon management. The previous plan did not include shovelnose sturgeon.

The Wisconsin sturgeon management plan is being updated in 2018.

Public meeting dates, locations and starting times are:

  • Tuesday, Feb. 20 - Eau Claire, 6:30 p.m., DNR Eau Claire Service Center, 1300 W. Clairemont Ave..
  • Tuesday, Feb. 20 - Fitchburg, 6:30 p.m., DNR Fitchburg Service Center, 3911 Fish Hatchery Road.
  • Tuesday, Feb. 20 - Webster, 6:30 p.m., Larsen Family Public Library, 7401 W. Main St.
  • Wednesday, Feb. 21 - La Crosse, 6:30 p.m. DNR La Crosse Service Center, 3550 Mormon Coulee Road.
  • Wednesday, Feb. 21 - Oshkosh, 6:30 p.m., Coughlin Building, Conference rooms A and B, 625 E County Road Y.
  • Wednesday, Feb. 21 - Park Falls, 6 p.m. Public Library, 410 Division St.
  • Tuesday, March 6 - Ashland, 6 p.m. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, 2100 Beaser Ave.
  • Tuesday, March 6 - Oconto, 6 p.m., Oconto City Hall, 1210 Main St.

There also will be future opportunities for people to comment online, and materials prepared for the meetings will be posted online as they become available.

Wisconsin has long been regarded as a national and international leader in sturgeon protection, restoration and research - a reputation built since DNR began regulating sturgeon harvest on the Winnebago system in 1903.

Wisconsin offers sturgeon spearing season on the Lake Winnebago system as well as a hook-and-line season on multiple major rivers. In locations where sturgeon populations are not as strong, DNR and partners are working to rebuild sturgeon populations.

Fishing: Chuck Madenjian of U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Michigan and Russ Green from NOAA will give presentations at the Feb. 17 meeting of the Wisconsin Federation of Great Lakes Sport Fishing Clubs. The meeting will be begin at 8:30 a.m. and will be held at the Outboard Club, 732 N. Water Street, Sheboygan. Madenjian will present results of 2017 bottom trawls and acoustic sampling for forage fish in Lake Michigan. Green will be provide an update on NOAA's efforts to create the marine sanctuary in Lake Michigan. Coffee and donuts will be available at 8 a.m. The meeting is expected to conclude about noon. Visit 

 The Okauchee Fishing Club will hold a social meeting on Feb. 20 at Knights of Columbus, 1800 S. 92nd St., West Allis. Visit www.ofcfish.com for more information. 

 Tyler Yunk of Habitual Guide Service will give a presentation titled "Fishing Lake Michigan Tributaries for Salmon and Trout" at the Feb. 26 meeting of Wisconsin Fishing Club, Grainger's Sports Pub and Grill, 3400 Loomis Road, Greenfield. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Visit www.wisconsinfishingclub.com for more information.

 Tom Neustrom will give a presentation titled "Using Your Electronics to Catch Walleye, Smallmouth and Crappies" at the March 28 meeting of Walleyes Unlimited U.S.A., Pallas Restaurant, 1657 S. 108th St., West Allis. The meeting is free and open to the public; it starts at 7 p.m. Visit www.walleyesunlimitedusa.org for more information.

Birding: Dianne Robinson will give a presentation titled "Wildlife Management in Wisocnsin" at the Feb. 18 meeting of the Benjamin F. Goss Bird Club, Retzer Nature Center, S14 W28167 Madison Street, Waukesha. Robinson is a wildlife biologist with the Department of Natural Resources; she covers southeastern Wisconsin. The meeting begins at 6:45 p.m. and is free and open to the public For more information, visit www.gossbirdclub.org or contact club president Spence Stehno at pensacola634@gmail.com or (414) 940-2020.

Fly tying: Members of the Southeast Wisconsin chapter of Trout Unlimited will once again lead fly tying workshops through winter and into spring at the Oak Creek Community Center, 8580 S. Howell Ave., Oak Creek. The sessions run from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and are free and open to the public. The dates are Feb. 20, March 6, March 20, April 3, April 17, May 1 and May 15. Club member Greg Schick is the lead organizer of the sessions. To learn more about the events, contact Schick at g.a.schick@wi.rr.com.Noel J. Cutright Bird Club, Riveredge Nature Center, 4458 County Highway Y, Saukville. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.riveredgenaturecenter.org or call (262) 375-2715.  

Ice fishing jamborees: The 18th Annual Oconomowoc Rugby Club Fishoree will be held Feb. 17 on Okauchee Lake. The event will feature prizes for the top three fish in several categories, raffles and on-ice games. Fish may be weighed in from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, email Mike at michaeljbalda@gmail.com.