The first lake sturgeon to arrive at the registration station on Saturday morning. Photo by: Sarah Bauer, 2/09/2008 at Lake Winnebago

A lake sturgeon about to have additional samples taken from it after Eric Leis (background, USFWS) has taken the fish health samples. Photo by: Sarah Bauer, 02/09/2008 at Lake Winnebago

Sarah Bauer (USFWS) trying to read the scale for the largest fish observed at the registration station for the day. It was 161 lbs. and 76 in. Photo by: Eric Leis, 02/09/2008 at Lake Winnebago

February 9 was opening day of lake sturgeon spearing on the Lake Winnebago System.  The weather appeared to cooperate with the spearers and the water clarity was about 17 feet yielding ideal conditions for a successful harvest. 

Dave Wedan of the La Crosse National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office and Eric Leis and Sarah Bauer of the La Crosse Fish Health Center traveled to Lake Winnebago to collect samples from the fish for disease monitoring.  The disease of primary concern was the Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus, VHSv. 

In spring of 2007 a freshwater drum kill was observed in the lake due to VHSv.   In addition, the fish were also tested for other viruses and a variety of bacterial pathogens.  In previous years the sturgeon have not tested positive for any viruses.  The results of this year’s tests are still pending.