Wisconsin Statewide Fishing report 3.30.12The mild cool-down in the last week, which still has temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above normal for this time of year, has slowed some activity. Northern pike and musky are already done spawning in the south. Sturgeon were actively spawning but the drop in water temperatures slowed that activity. That could pick up again with a warm-up in the forecast. Sturgeon had made it upstream as far as the Shawano dam.
The walleye run on the Wolf River and throughout the Lake Winnebago System came early and fast and walleyes have begun making their way back to the lakes. Prime spawning activity lasted just a couple days. On the Wisconsin River the walleye run is in full swing below the Nekoosa Dam to the Petenwell Flowage, but is about complete below the Wisconsin Dells dam with many fish showing back up in Lake Wisconsin. Walleye runs are near peak on the Menominee and Peshtigo rivers in the northeast.
The ice is now out on Lake Superior and people are preparing for smelt fishing which opens April 1. Lake Superior anglers have been capitalizing on early warm weather and ice out bringing in some good catches of trout and salmon from along the south shore. Strong numbers of steelhead were still being caught on the Lake Michigan tributaries in Manitowoc, Kewaunee and Sheboygan counties. Rain in the last week had tributaries in the south running high and muddy, but good numbers of anglers were still fishing the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Root rivers and Oak and Sauk creeks, but success has decreased in recent days.
While the game season is closed on many inland lakes, anglers have been having some good early success for crappie and bluegill especially in the southern and southeastern lakes. White bass and suckers are running and providing some very good action and dip netting.
Ashland County The ice is now out on Lake Superior and people are preparing for smelt fishing. Some Lake Superior streams will also open for fishing trout on March 31.
Sawyer County People have been fishing redhorse for little over a week now with varied results. If there are a couple consecutive sunny days, the fish seem to be biting better. As usual, the redhorse prefer deeper pools in the river and a piece of night crawler or large worm is the best bait on a plain hook. The South Fork of the Flambeau seems to always produce fish earlier than the North Fork of the Flambeau or the Chippewa River. Redhorse fishing will pick up as the weather warms up. With pretty much all of the lakes in Sawyer County ice free, the walleye are just starting to poke around in the shallow water and have really not started an all out spawn yet. With most water temps in the very low 40s, the few fish in the shallows are mostly feeding and not spawning. This will also pick up as warmer air temperatures raise the water temperature.
Polk County Lakes in the southern portion of the county no longer have ice on them. People are fishing from shore and boats for early panfish, targeting crappies. Crappies caught from shore have been small.
Vilas County Lakes are free of ice and the spring fish run had started and walleyes were just starting to begin spawning, .but cooler weather has returned slowing spawning progress. The panfish bite has been slow, but with ice off some anglers have begun open water fishing with limited success. Suckers have also been running in some locations.
Langlade County All the ice has been off for at least two weeks on area lakes and rivers. Walleyes are spawning and tribal spearing is ongoing.
Peshtigo The walleye run is in full swing with temperatures at the landings in the mid to upper 50s. There has been a fair amount of fishing pressure with both boaters and shore anglers. Large numbers of suckers are showing up on the Oconto and Peshtigo rivers.
Marinette County The spring fish run has slowed a little over the past few days. With the cooler temperatures and windy conditions fishing activity has also dropped. Anglers are still having success from shore and from boats on the Menominee and Peshtigo rivers. Reports are indicating that most of the walleye have spawned, but a few female walleye were still being caught that were full of eggs. Spawning activities should be expected to end in the coming days. Along Lake Michigan, shore anglers and boaters were reporting fishing was slow at the Peshtigo Harbor with a few northern pike being caught and the occasional walleye. Walleye and suckers are thick at the Peshtigo dam, with most anglers using stick baits or jig heads and twister tails for walleye. Boaters at the mouth of the Menominee River have been jigging for walleye with good success, one boat reporting 20-plus walleyes were caught in a four hour period. Anglers from Stephenson Island to the Hattie Street bridge have been casting stick baits for walleye with most of the success coming early mornings and evenings.
Oconto County Shore anglers at Stiles dam are reporting large numbers of suckers being caught along with walleye and few nice northern pike. Stick baits and spoons have been working best. People at the J bridge have been catching walleye floating jigs tipped with minnows on the current seams. Susie's rapids was also producing some walleye and the occasional northern pike, with anglers mainly casting spoons and stick baits. Boaters out of Oconto Breakwater Park have been trolling for brown trout and northern pike with some success; spoons and stick baits have been the baits of choice
Brown County Anglers have been trolling Green Bay with crank baits for walleye in 4 to 10 feet of water. The overall bite has been a little slow, but anglers have been successfully landing a few. Also anglers are incidentally catching a few northern pike, drum, and an occasional carp. Walleye fishing on the Fox River continues to be good with the spawn well under way. Most anglers have been either casting or trolling crank baits or jigging along the river channel for best success. Anglers casting crank baits by the dam have been catching some of the largest fish. Fishing has been best at night for most anglers with the bite slowing considerably during the day. Anglers jigging or trolling have been catching mainly smaller male walleyes in greater numbers. Boat anglers have been catching white bass and yellow perch as well. Shore anglers have also been catching walleye along Voyager Park with best success at night. They are also reporting catching a few catfish and drum.
Manitowoc County The recent rains have brought the water levels of area rivers and creeks up a few inches and kept their water temperatures stable in the mid 50-degree range, except for the Manitowoc River, which is in the upper 50-degree range already. The high water temperatures along with a plateau in fishing success could indicate that steelhead won't be in tributaries much longer. Though anglers were still having some steelhead success with spawn sacs, in-line spinners, and small jigs. Area rivers have been giving up some decent catches of northern pike with some big fish present. The big lake has continued to produce brown trout for those trolling and also for pier anglers. The hot lures have been flashy spoons, spinners, and spawn sacks from piers. Trollers generally seem to be doing the best with spoons. Reports of decent catches are from areas around marinas and in water less than 25 deep, though action can be irregular.
Kewaunee County Strong numbers of steelhead are still being caught on the Lake Michigan tributaries in Manitowoc and Kewaunee counties. Top spots include the East Twin River downstream from the dam in Mishicot, the West Twin River below the dam in Shoto, and the Kewaunee River. Some of the smaller tributaries are getting good numbers of fish with less fishing pressure. Anglers are indicating they are seeing more spawned out females and believe the run is beginning to wind down. The sucker run is picking up with good success from local dip netters.
Wautoma The annual walleye run is well on its way a full month early. Anglers were picking up spawned out females and males on the trip back to Lake Winnebago. White bass are being caught already on the Wolf River a month and a half before the normal fish run. The Wolf River sturgeon run may be winding down with fish showing up at the Shawano dam already.
Green Lake County Sturgeon were spawning in Princeton with water temps in the river around 60 degrees. Walleye anglers were having success on Lake Puckaway casting small spoons and spinner baits. Walleye fishing has been slow on the Fox River near Berlin, but this may get better this week. Panfish were moving into the shallow bays on Big Green Lake.
Waupaca County The Wolf River walleye run is coming to an end. Sturgeon are actively spawning and some white bass were being caught. Some anglers have had success catching crappies on the Chain O Lakes. Anglers have been finding crappies in about 5 feet of water near structure. Anglers have reported good success so far during the early catch and release trout season.
Waushara County Ice long gone on area water bodies. Walleyes are about done spawning; sturgeon are spawning but have been slowed by colder temps.
Winnebago County Temperatures are beginning to become more normal for March and April. With the warmer temperatures, early the walleye run on the Wolf River and throughout the Lake Winnebago System came early and fast. Female walleyes are not spent of eggs and the walleyes have begun making their way back to the lakes. The run came very fast and the prime spawning activity lasted just a couple days. Anglers continue to see success throughout the Winnebago system and anglers are beginning to pick up walleyes on Lake Winnebago itself. Sturgeon spawning activity continues on the Wolf River and on the Fox River near Eureka. Numerous sturgeon have been observed at the Eureka Dam. Every year there are a stock of sturgeon that run up the Fox River towards Berlin and return to this location to spawn in future years.
Wolf River Sturgeon Spawning Report March 28
Slow, but nonetheless a very successful day today?crews did not tag a lot of fish, but we were able to capture and tag some fish at a very nice spawning site on private property north of Leeman where fish have only been tagged perhaps once or twice before. They also tagged a few fish at the Pines where they have worked the past two days as the spawning activity (at least for now) is winding down at this site. Spawning activity did significantly increase at a site upstream of Highway 156, also on private property. Crews did not tag fish at this site though, so a University of Wisconsin Madison researcher could work to record the sounds the males make during their spawning bouts. UW and DNR are working together on a special project to record and analyze the sounds males make while they are releasing sperm during spawning bouts with females. The sounds are very similar to a grouse drumming. From preliminary sound recordings made last spring, researchers found that the sound is very low frequency almost too low for humans to hear. People may feel the sound more than hear it when near a lake sturgeon spawning group. The management application from this work will be to help biologists possibly be able to document lake sturgeon spawning is occurring without even seeing the fish. One of the outcomes from the work beyond describing the sound is to describe the equipment needed to hear or record the sound. The males only make this sound when they are spawning with ovulating females - so if a biologist can document the sound, they know they have spawning lake sturgeon. This is especially important for programs attempting to restore naturally reproducing sturgeon populations that take decades to build up enough adults from stocking before they can be seen during the spawning season.
Milwaukee The steelhead and brown trout fishing in Lake Michigan has been pretty good off of Oak Creek. Those catching good numbers of fish have been surface trolling spoons.
Lakeshore State Park Brown and rainbow trout are hitting spoons and other baits. Fishing has been heavy at the south end of the park behind the Marcus amphitheater over the last few weeks.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County In Sheboygan boaters have had decent catches of brown trout and a few lake trout on a variety of crank baits. Blue, green, and orange colors have all been productive. Boaters remained near shore, concentrating in water less than 20 feet deep. Shore anglers fishing the south pier have been catching some brown trout on green & silver or gold spoons and on shiners. Sheboygan River anglers have been catching steelhead on flies near the Kohler dam, and a few northern pike and suckers have been caught as well. Recent rains have left the river high and muddy with an average water temperature of 54 degrees. The Pigeon River has had few steelheaders present, but anglers have been netting suckers of the Lakeshore Bridge.
Ozaukee County In Port Washington, boaters have been catching limits of brown trout using minnows and spoons. Anglers fishing off the pier have been taking good numbers of browns and occasional rainbows on shiners, silver or green & silver spoons, and spawn. Near the power plant, shore anglers have been catching browns and a few rainbows on spawn sacs and shiners. Sauk Creek is high and muddy after rainfall on Friday.
Milwaukee County In Milwaukee, brown trout were being caught in the harbor and between the gaps with crank baits and on various colors of spoons including sliver and green. A few coho and lake trout were also being picked up with similar presentations. Boats fishing out of Bender Park have been catching some browns and a few coho on spoons, crank baits and flies. The shoreline along Summerfest is producing browns and some rainbows with the most successful presentations focusing on minnows and spawn sacs, with a few additional fish being caught on spoons. A few perch were also being caught on live bait as well. Browns and a few rainbows were being caught at Jones Island on minnows and spawn sacs, but success has varied day to day. On the Milwaukee River, heavy rainfall on Friday has the river running fast and dirty. Rainbows have been caught up at Kletzsch Park on flies and spawn sacs, but not as many as have been caught in the past few weeks. A few bass and northern pike have been caught near Estabrook Park as well. On the Menomonee River anglers in large numbers at Miller Park were still catching rainbows around the stadium, but success has decreased in recent days. Most anglers had the greatest success near the bridges with flies. Additionally a few northern pike were caught in the same area while anglers were targeting rainbows. Water temperatures readings were approximately 56-58 degrees on both the Milwaukee and Menomonee Rivers. On Oak Creek, rainbows continue to move up with flies producing most of the fish, but spawn sacs could also be successful.
Racine County In Racine, browns and coho have been caught on the east side of the harbor on spoons of various colors, with blue being the most productive. Minnows rigged up on a slip bobber also picked up fish throughout the day. On the Root River, dirty water and increasing flow rates brought about from the recent rainfall did not deter anglers from fishing the river in large numbers, but success rates have decreased from previous days. Small flies and floating spawn sacs have had the greatest success. Also, fishing farther upstream still seemed to lead to more successful trips. Water temperatures in the river were recorded around 56-58 degrees. DNR crews processed steelhead at the Root River Steelhead Facility on Tuesday, March 20. Eggs were collected from both Chambers Creek and Ganaraska strains, and a total of 109 steelhead were processed with 62 of those passed upstream. The next fish processing days are scheduled for Monday, March 26 and Monday, April 2.
Waukesha County Panfish action has been picking up on the bigger lakes in Waukesha County. Fisheries samples are showing that walleyes are in the shallows, but have not spawned yet. Muskies and northern pike are done for the most part. Early season trout anglers are taking advantage of the warm temperatures in south eastern Wisconsin. Early season trout anglers are reminded that the season is catch-and-release only and anglers must use artificial lures while fishing for any species on trout streams. People are also reminded that the 2012 Annual Spring Fish and Wildlife Hearing will be held on Monday April 9, 2012 at 7:00 PM. In Waukesha County the hearing will be held at the Richard T. Anderson Education Center at Waukesha County Technical College.
Kenosha County Fishing activity has picked up considerably in the last two weeks. With the unseasonably warm March temperatures, anglers have reported having good luck on crappies in shallower water and at the mouths of channels. Early morning and evening bites have been best. Catfish have also been active in the evenings, with anglers most commonly using fathead minnows or night crawlers. Anglers are reminded the game fish season does not open until Saturday, May 5, 2012 on most inland waters. During this time, it is illegal to pursue game fish species (even if catch and release fishing).
Racine County Fishing activity is in full swing in the eastern portion of the county. The Root River is stacked with rainbow trout and anglers have been very successful at catching these fish. White suckers have been right with the rainbows as usual and are fun to catch if nothing else. With all of the warm weather northern pike have moved up to the Waterford and Rochester dams with some anglers having success. Crappies and some white bass have also been caught at the Rochester Dam. Area lakes have been slow for any panfish west of I-94 in Racine County. The Urban Ponds are also being stocked with the trout and are only open to youth and disabled anglers for a couple weeks yet. This is a great chance to take your kids for a little fishing trip.
Walworth County A Walworth County Chapter of Walleyes for Tomorrow was formed in January 2012. The walleye wagon has been placed in the Abbey Harbor in Fontana Wisconsin. They have plans of collecting eggs sometime in the next couple of days. Walleye activity is increasing on the lake and the club is setting out test nets on Thursday March 29 to see if the females are ripe. If all goes well they will have eggs in the incubator by this weekend.
Grant County With the past couple of weeks of un-seasonably warm weather, the largemouth bass fishing has increased everywhere. Anglers were catching bass in many locations on the Mississippi River including Potosi Point, the Cassville Lock and Dam #10 spillway, the Platte River railroad bridge. Many bass 15-17 inches have been caught, with many undersized bass sized 12-13 inches caught and released. This early year bass fishing has provided great fishing opportunity for the youth anglers having easy access and few casting obstructions at the Potosi Point public boat landing. Anglers were also catching yellow perch and bluegills at O Leary Lake below lock and Dam #11 near Dubuque, as well as below the Cassville Spillway. This past weekend an 18-year-old Dubuque high school student fishing from shore, landed an Iowa state record yellow perch from the Mississippi River pool 12. The 16-inch, 2-pound 7-ounce fish broke the previous record by one inch and one ounce.
Green County The sucker run is in full swing and the water is heating up fast. Some areas are already seeing temps in the 60s.
Dodge County Anglers are having good success on catfish on area lakes and mixed results on walleye, northern pike and panfish on area rivers. People are reminded that snagging is illegal and ANY fish not hooked in the mouth must be returned to the waters live.
Columbia County Walleye spawning is about complete on the Wisconsin River with many fish showing back up in Lake Wisconsin (fishery crew caught and marked numerous walleye below Wisconsin Dells dam).
Rock County Anglers have been taking advantage of the warm weather and biting fish at the local dams. Many northern pike, walleye, and crappie were being caught at those locations. A few catfish, white bass and bluegill were also being located by anglers in Rock County waters. Anglers are reminded that the Rock River is the only water that is open for attempting to catch game fish until the first Saturday in May.
Chippewa County Many families have been taking advantage of the pleasant weather to do some sucker fishing. As an added bonus, they have been catching a lot of fish as well. Anglers and boaters are anxious to get on the water giving local marinas an early boost to their busy season.
Eau Claire County With the warm weather fish runs are way ahead of schedule. DNR fisheries staff are running a survey on the Eau Claire River and found that suckers are running and perch and walleye are in spawning locations already. Anglers are starting to catch perch and suckers in places that they normally catch fish in mid April.
Wood County The spring walleye run is in full swing on the Wisconsin River below the Nekoosa Dam to the Petenwell Flowage. Anglers were having success from shore and boats, As a reminder, on the Wisconsin River (including all sloughs, bayous, and flowages upstream to the first dam or highway bridge) in Wood County motor trolling is permitted. The minimum length limit on muskellunge is 45 inches. The minimum length limit on northern pike is 32 inches with a daily bag limit of one. There is a 15-inch minimum length limit on walleye and sauger, but fish from 20 through 28 inches may not be kept and only one fish over 28 inches is allowed.
Minocqua area fishing report
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/minocquafishingreport.htm
Lake Michigan Fishing Report and tips
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/lmfishingtips.htm
Wausau Area fishing report
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/wisconsinriverfishingreport.htm
Chippewa Flowage fishing report
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/chippewaflowagefishingreport.htm
Information compiled from the WDNR Outdoor report and private sources
