Like clockwork but depending on weather and water temperature, thousands of lake sturgeon migrate up the Lake Winnebago system to spawn and lay their eggs in the rocks of the Wolf, lower Fox and Peshtigo rivers.
Watching the thrashing, splashing fish — many 6 feet long or more — becomes a spectacle for thousands of fascinated visitors in April and early May at special viewing areas in Shawano, New London and Shiocton.
Now joining the spring fun again after a three-year hiatus is a group of volunteers dedicated to protecting these prehistoric fish, the Sturgeon Guard.
Although this group of more than 100 volunteers enjoys their half-day shifts monitoring the spawn at the three public areas as well as several undisclosed sites, their mission is serious, explained Don Mielke, of Sherwood, the man credited with starting up the dismantled Sturgeon Guard.
Initially created by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and staffed by volunteers around the clock during the spring spawn, the Sturgeon Guard kept a watchful eye on these massive fish and those who might harm them for more than 30 years, according to the DNR website. Mielke helped behind the scenes for 25 years, but his dairy farming duties kept him from actual guard duty.
The COVID-19 pandemic derailed the successful program in spring 2020. Mielke — one of the original leaders of the Northern Half Chapter of Sturgeon For Tomorrow who still farms 285 acres — said a problem with inefficiencies in feeding a varying number of volunteers and the retirement of a cook kept the program down for two more years. The DNR officially closed the program in 2022, citing administrative difficulties and a lack of volunteers. But the DNR suggested the program could be revived if an agency stepped forward.
Mielke, 68, said he couldn’t figure out who would revive the guard, but looked in the mirror and said, “Well, why can’t you do it?” So in 2023, that’s what he did.
Volunteers from the Lower Cliff Fishing Club in Sherwood and funding from Sturgeon for Tomorrow got the ball rolling last year. Jen and Josh Reitz serve as his communications liaisons with the DNR and game wardens, as well as keeping up with posts on the Scutes the Sturgeon Facebook page (Scutes is the Sturgeon Guard mascot named for the largest sturgeon ever netted by the DNR, and a wooden replica of Scutes is at Shawano Dam). Scutes are the rows of bony structures that protect the fish, Josh Reitz explained.
Mielke’s right-hand man who helps with keeping the volunteers stocked with DNR pamphlets and other daily tasks is Glenn Mattern, who can take over his coordinator duties at a moment’s notice.
“We had to adapt a different format,” Mielke explained.
Coordinating the dozens of volunteers includes a pre-spawning season meeting with the DNR, daily texts from DNR senior sturgeon biologist Margaret
Stadig and a debriefing meeting after the season ends to discuss how to do things better.
The issue of feeding the troops is no longer an issue, either, because each volunteer receives a $40 Kwik Trip gift card for each shift they work, funded by Sturgeon For Tomorrow donations generated in part by the group’s annual banquets. Guard shifts are sunrise to 2 p.m. and 2 p.m. to dusk.
The early and current iterations of the Sturgeon Guard have been amazingly effective at putting most spring sturgeon poaching to a halt. Guard members helped nab sturgeon netters at a New London park one year, which prompted the program to monitor many lesser-known spawning areas without being obvious.
Technology in the form of cell phones keeps the guard members informed but also can be used in the event that those volunteers see someone getting a bit close to the thrashing, splashing action. Mielke said the guards are taught to take photos of any potential violations, and if necessary, follow violators to their vehicles and get photos of license plates, as well as calling the warden.
“They’ve got it in their minds that they’ve got to touch the fish,” he said, noting that doing so can result in a $303 fine. “We don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes.”
Roger and Kathy Woelfel of Sherwood, both retirees and Lower Cliff Fishing Club members who enjoy their Sturgeon Guard duties in New London, were easily spotted on the County Road X Sturgeon Trail in their fluorescent yellow vests one warm April afternoon as they answered questions and handed out pamphlets to dozens of sturgeon watchers.
Roger said he enjoys talking to kids and adults about the sturgeon.
“They soak it up,” he said.
Mielke said the only real requirement to be a Sturgeon Guard is to have a passion for the sturgeon, which number about 40,000 in the Lake Winnebago system — more than any other place on earth.
He’s exhibited that passion by helping the DNR with three tagging operations, by successfully spearing 25 sturgeon over the decades and also catching them with pole and line.
If you want to help the Sturgeon Guard and the fish they watch, donate to Sturgeon For Tomorrow, he noted. Those interested in more information can send an email to wisconsinsturgeonguard@gmail.com.
Ross Bielema is a freelance writer from New London and owner of Wolf River Concealed Carry LLC. Contact him at Ross@wolfriverccw.com.
Sturgeon Guard back on duty at Wolf River
