Sturgeon awaiting warmer temperatures

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reports the Wolf River is five degrees from reaching prime temperatures for sturgeon spawning. “Water has to be at least in the mid 50s before they start spawning and it is 45 degrees at the Wolf River,” DNR biologist Ryan Koenigs said this week. Koenigs anticipates sturgeon could begin spawning as early as Saturday, but the annual journey up the Wolf could be delayed if river temperatures do not rise above 50 degrees. The run did not begin until April 30 last year. The annual run draws up to $350,000 in tourism to the city of Shawano and $3.5 million in areas surrounding Lake Winnebago, according toKoenigs.