Walleye Movement Study In The Winnebago System And Upper Fox River (Acoustic Telemetry) And Changes To Lake Sturgeon Movement
Start Date: 01/14/2026
End Date: 01/14/2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: In-Person & Virtual Options; See Details for Information
Angelo Cozzola, Angelo.Cozzola@wisconsin.gov or 920-410-9170
The Winnebago System is home to one of the state's premier walleye fisheries. The walleye population of the system is known for its spawning migrations on the Wolf and Upper Fox rivers. In 2021, local fisheries staff started a walleye movement study to gain insight on spawning migration patterns, quantification of spawning ground use and general movement trends throughout the year.
This presentation will summarize the movement of over 100 sonic-tagged fish throughout the Winnebago System. Funding that made this project possible was provided by the Fox River Natural Resource Trustee Council, Walleyes for Tomorrow, the Sheboygan Walleye Club, as well as support from the general license sales.
Additionally, while most of the lake sturgeon spawning in the Winnebago system happens on the Wolf River, there is a small contingency that utilize the Little Wolf River. Lake sturgeon have been spawning at the Manawa Dam on the Little Wolf River since the dam was constructed in the 1920s. In 2024, the earthen portion of the Manawa dam collapsed after intense flooding causing a run of river flow and opening a large portion of river upstream for all fish species. But with only a small portion of lake sturgeon using the Little Wolf, it was uncertain how this new flow and area would affect the sturgeon spawning migration and use in the Little Wolf River. Therefore, the DNR has started an acoustic study to better understand sturgeon movement, use, and recruitment by lake sturgeon throughout the Little Wolf River. The second presentation will disclose those changes discovered from this study.
Funding that made this project possible was provided by the Sturgeon for Tomorrow and Winnebago sturgeon spearing license sales.
This meeting is part of the Northern Wisconsin Fisheries Spotlight Series, which allows the public to learn about game fish management and meet the DNR staff members working in northern Wisconsin.
Presenters: Angelo Cozzola, DNR fisheries biologist, and Margaret Stadig, DNR Winnebago sturgeon biologist
Join this meeting via Microsoft Teams.
Meeting ID: 219 194 919 387 65; Passcode: mJ9SX73q
Join by phone: 1-608-571-2209; Phone Conference ID: 723096490#
Join in person:
JP Coughlin Center, Room A
625 E County Road Y
Oshkosh, WI 54901
