Wisconsin Statewide Fishing report 3.16.12Unseasonably warm and in some cases record temperatures ? have all but erased the Leap Year snowfall and have hampered fishing success, but continue to bring songbirds, sandhill cranes and trumpeter swans to the state.
With the extremely warm temperatures this week, ice is rapidly disappearing from lakes. Lakes Mendota and Monona in Madison are completely ice-free. Lakes in northern Wisconsin still have ice, but what ice remains is honeycombed and dangerous and there are areas of open water in many locations. Wardens are urging all people to stay off any remaining ice.
Open water fishing continues to pick up with the spring steelhead run already underway on Lake Michigan tributaries. Steelhead were moving up the Sheboygan, Menominee and Root rivers and Oak Creek. Shore anglers have been catching brown trout at Port Washington and boaters have taken brown, steelhead and some lake trout out of the Milwaukee harbor. River anglers were reporting fair to good walleye action below dams on the Wolf, Wisconsin, Rock and Crawfish rivers.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) With the unseasonably warm weather, ice conditions have quickly deteriorated on all lakes across the Northwoods. Some lakes have developed patches of open water and most others are seeing large areas of honeycombed ice that is quickly becoming unsafe for any kind of travel. There have been reports of anglers falling thru weak areas of the ice cover, and the sunny, warm conditions of the next few days will only worsen ice conditions. As such, the ice should be considered extremely hazardous and no travel is recommended.
Marinette County Peshtigo Harbor anglers are fishing open water casting Rapala's or drifting live and dead bait looking for pike or trout. The Menominee River has been producing a few browns and rainbows along with a few walleye. Most of the activity is taking place around the Hattie Street Bridge.
Oconto County Oconto Breakwater Park anglers are casting for trout in the Oconto River, or fishing for pike with live bait and bobbers in the Open water.
Brown County The ice is gone from most bays and rivers. With the lack of ice the only fishing pressure has been at Fox Point Landing where boaters are catching walleye using jigs and minnows or Gulp Alive.
Door County Ice conditions are rapidly diminishing at Sturgeon Bay and fishable ice won?t last the week. Open water is visible from the southern bay all the way up to Door County. A few brave anglers are fishing in the shallow weeds at Little Sturgeon Bay for perch and pike. Anglers are reporting 4-6 inches of ice at best, but it won?t last the week.
Kewaunee County The ice on inland lakes is pretty much gone and unsafe. Some anglers are heading out onto Lake Michigan and the shores of the tributary streams searching for brown trout with limited success
Waupaca County The Wolf River is opening up pretty quick. Anglers are getting boats in the water in several launches down stream of New London. Not many fish in the system yet. Anglers are reporting catching lots of small walleyes down stream of Fremont. Area streams are high, making wading and fishing difficult.
Lakeshore State Park The ice is gone from the lagoons in, but anglers are still doing well from the shoreline, under the pedestrian bridge, and behind the Marcus Amphitheater. Nice brown and rainbow trout are hitting spoons and other baits.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County In Sheboygan shore anglers have been fishing the harbor near the Deland boat launch, but they have had limited success fishing for brown trout. Sheboygan River anglers have been catching decent numbers of steelhead below the Kohler dam. The Pigeon River has ideal streamflows, but fishing pressure there has been low.
Ozaukee County In Port Washington, shore anglers fishing near the power plant have been catching occasional brown trout on spawn. The water was muddy early in the week due to runoff in Sauk Creek, but it should clear up by the weekend. Anglers fishing the north slip have had less success than those fishing near the power plant discharge. Sauk Creek was high and muddy early this week, but should have ideal conditions by the weekend.
Milwaukee County Milwaukee boaters continue to have consistent brown trout action around the harbor gaps and in nearshore water about 40 to 50 feet deep. Nice size lake trout have also been caught in the same areas. Trolling silver spoons has produced fish. Boaters fishing off the Oak Creek Power Plant have been catching brown trout. Shore anglers fishing behind the Summerfest grounds have been catching occasional brown trout and rainbows, and spawn has produced most fish for them. Steelhead anglers have been out in full force on Oak Creek and on the Menomonee River near Miller Park. The Milwaukee River still has high streamflows, but it is finally dropping.
Racine County In Racine anglers fishing off the south pier have been catching occasional brown trout on spawns sacs or casting spoons. Flows on the Root River are high but starting to drop. Decent numbers of steelhead are in the river. The Root River Steelhead Facility is operational, and the first fish processing day is scheduled for Tuesday, March 20.
Kenosha County Shore fishing in the Kenosha harbor has been spotty. Shore anglers have taken a few brown trout on tube jigs. When trollers can get offshore from Kenosha, they have been catching brown trout and lake trout in 50 to 80 feet of water on spoons, and a few coho have been reported as well.
Jefferson County Anglers are catching walleyes and white bass from the Rock and Crawfish rivers. Water temps are slowly climbing which should bring more fish into the Rivers to spawn.
Marathon County Anglers on the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir report a lot of slush sitting on top of approximately 10 inches of marginal ice. Strong current is eroding the ice quickly. Water levels in the flowage are expected to rise a couple of feet by the end of this week. Some open water has been spotted near the main channel as it weaves through the flowage. Small Perch and small crappie are all that is being reported. Be careful, the ice is very dangerous right now.
Lake Wissota State Park Most of the snow has melted leaving a layer of ice beneath. If hiking the trails, use caution on the slippery surface. Ice remains in the bay so putting a boat in at the landing is not yet possible. Anglers are anxiously awaiting the open water period for their chance at some nice crappies. Crews intend to have the dock in about the last week of April.
Marathon County Anglers on the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir report a lot of slush sitting on top of approximately 10 inches of marginal ice. Strong current is eroding the ice quickly. Water levels in the flowage are expected to rise a couple of feet by the end of this week. Some open water has been spotted near the main channel as it weaves through the flowage. Small Perch and small crappie are all that is being reported. Be careful, the ice is very dangerous right now.
Portage County River flows on the Wisconsin River have increased due to snow melt in the north. Walleyes are biting and action will continue to improve as water temps increase the next several days. Three way rigs or jigs and minnows are working well right now on the current edges. Several area boat landings are closed and will remain so until river flows subside, which is predicted to be next week sometime. Please check ahead with someone in the area if you are heading out to the river to ensure the landing you want to use is open. Remember to have your life jackets on board prior to heading out onto the water. Ice conditions on lakes continue to deteriorate quickly with shorelines opening up. Please use caution on any ice.
Minocqua area fishing reporthttp://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/minocquafishingreport.htm
Lake Michigan Fishing Report and tipshttp://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/lmfishingtips.htmWausau Area fishing reporthttp://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/wisconsinriverfishingreport.htmChippewa Flowage fishing reporthttp://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/chippewaflowagefishingreport.htm
Information compiled from the WDNR Outdoor report and private sources
