Wisconsin Administrative Code › Department of Natural Resources › NR 1-99 - Fish, Game and Enforcement, Forestry and Recreation › Chapter NR 20 - Fishing: Inland Waters; Outlying Waters › Subchapter II - Prohibited Methods › Section NR 20.10 - Special lake sturgeon spearing restrictions

Current through June 24, 2024
No person may do any of the following:
(1) Fish for sturgeon on Lake Winnebago
				  system waters by any means other than spearing with a spear thrown by hand from
				  inside a fishing shelter placed on the ice during the open season specified in
				  s.  NR 20.20 (73) (e).
(2) Fish with
				  or possess a fishing pole, hook and line or other similar devices that might be
				  used for the purpose of catching fish within any fishing shelter containing an
				  ice hole larger than 12 inches in diameter or square during the open season for
				  spearing lake sturgeon on waters specified in s.  NR 20.20 (73) (e).
(3) Cover holes cut in the ice which are used
				  or maintained for sturgeon spearing pursuant to s.  NR 20.11 (2) with a fishing
				  shelter except during the period from 48 hours before and continuing through
				  the open season for lake sturgeon spearing.
(4) Use or possess any artificial light while
				  sturgeon spearing in order to illuminate any waters open to sturgeon spearing
				  during the period beginning 48 hours before and continuing through the open
				  season for lake sturgeon spearing.
(5) Cut, use or maintain holes in the ice
				  larger than 48 square feet for sturgeon spearing pursuant to s.  NR 20.11 (2).
(6) Fish for sturgeon during
				  the open season by the method of spearing or possess or control a spear or
				  similar device within a fishing shelter on Lake Winnebago system waters from 12
				  a.m. until 7 a.m. on opening day, and from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. on opening
				  day and subsequent days.
(7) Fish
				  for lake sturgeon with a spear having a spearhead width greater than 18 inches
				  as measured from the outside edge of one outermost tine to the outside edge of
				  the other outermost tine, excluding barbs, or with tines arranged in any
				  formation other than a single straight line, or both, or possess such a spear
				  during the open season for lake sturgeon.
Note: Barbs are not considered to be part of the tine
					 and may extend beyond 18 inches.
(8) Possess, maintain or control a spear in a
				  sturgeon fishing shelter unless in possession of a valid sturgeon spearing
				  license and unused carcass tag for the waterbody on which that shelter is
				  located.
(9) Spear any fish other
				  than a lake sturgeon, except that during the open sturgeon spearing season when
				  the season for spearing rough fish is closed, a licensed sturgeon spearer may
				  retain or dispose of in compliance with s. 287.81 (2), Stats., any carp taken
				  incidentally while sturgeon spearing under subs. (1) to (8) in the portion of
				  the state open to sturgeon spearing, subject to all of the following
				  requirements:
(a) The person spearing the carp
				  shall be in possession of an unused sturgeon carcass tag for the water and
				  season during which the carp is incidentally harvested.
(b) The person spearing the carp shall be in
				  possession of a valid fishing license, in addition to the sturgeon spearing
				  license, unless exempt from the requirement to possess a fishing license under
				  s. 29.219, Stats.
(c) Any carp
				  speared shall be removed from the water, bank or shore.