Your Wisconsin Outdoor Community

Minocqua Area Fishing Report

Nice week to fish, until weekend biting winds took their toll on the fun.  With temps cresting into the 50’s until Saturday, fishing was unusually pleasurable for mid-November.  Reading on lakes ranged from a low of 42 degrees to highs of 46 degrees surface.  With Tuesday’s forecast of rain and highs in the 50’s, that will be the last we will see of temps hitting 40 degrees for a while, so expect the inevitable.

Musky:  Good – Strongest on suckers with lake temps now in 40’s.  Still worth casting gliders and twitch baits as well as lighter rubber baits to draw attention.  Best activity has been mid-late mornings through mid-afternoons.

Yellow Perch: - Good – Anglers still finding nice eaters along 10-12’ weeds using small minnows.  Not jumbos, but nice 9-10” fish.

 Northern Pike:  Good-Fair – Not many targeting, but some nice Pike to mid-30” range taking suckers meant for Musky.

That’s it for fishing reports for now.  A reminder, that the Musky season remains open through the month of December, BUT…you can only fish from shore or a boat for Musky.  Ice cannot be a base to fish from for Musky (No tip-up fishing).

While deer season in the Northwoods has not been what it used to be, gotta say seeing some trail cam pics of nice bucks this year.  Could be last year’s mild winter helped survivability and antler growth.  Signs of rutting good so despite a late gun season opener, hopeful for some good success to our hunters.

Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sports Shop
https://www.kurtsislandsports.com/

Hunting Dog Injured In Rusk County

On Aug. 28, 2024, USDA-Wildlife Services verified that wolves injured a Bluetick trailing hound dog in the town of Cedar Rapids, Rusk County.

Dog owners are reminded to exercise caution in wolf occupied areas. Conflicts between hunting dogs and wolves are most common during the bear training and hunting season. Dogs have also been depredated pursuing other wildlife including fox, coyotes, bobcat, rabbit, snowshoe hare and upland birds. More information is available on the DNR's website.

Current Caution Areas

When wolves attack dogs in hunting or training situations on public land, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources creates wolf caution areas to warn hunters that a specific pack has attacked a dog or group of dogs. View current caution areas on the DNR website.

Report A Wolf Attack

Anyone suspecting a wolf attack should call 1-800-433-0663 (southern Wisconsin) or 1-800-228-1368 (northern Wisconsin).

Protecting Wisconsin from Gray Wolves

In 2022, gray wolves were relisted under the Endangered Species Act in a misguided and not-backed-by-science federal effort to increase their populations. However, a report by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources found that there are over 1,000 wolves in Wisconsin – well above the state’s population goal of 350.

There is no question that the gray wolf population is inflated in Wisconsin. The population spike has had catastrophic effects on our state with wolves attacking farmers’ livestock and families’ household pets, and shrinking deer and other wildlife populations.

There was a time where we needed to protect and recover the gray wolf, but now we are well beyond a manageable population in Wisconsin. That is why I joined my colleagues in introducing the Trust the Science Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support last week, to remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List and return population regulations back to those who know best – the individual states.

Wisconsin’s farmers should be able to protect their livestock and hunters should be able to carry out their role as effective and responsible stewards of wildlife without federal government overreach. I’m proud to see the Trust the Science Act pass out of the House and hope to see it make its way through the Senate and to President Biden’s desk so we can return to responsible, scientifically backed wildlife conservation policy.

Sincerely,

Rep. Derrick Van Orden
Serving Wisconsin's Third District

Emerald Ash Borer Detected In
Washburn, Taylor Counties
 

A mature green emerald ash borer crawls on the bark of a tree.
Emerald ash borer has been detected in Washburn and Taylor counties for the first time, leaving only one Wisconsin county without a positive detection. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has detected the presence of emerald ash borer (EAB) for the first time in Washburn and Taylor counties. Burnett is now the only county without a detection since EAB was first discovered in Wisconsin in 2008.

DNR staff members collected larvae samples in the town of Springbrook and the city of Medford. A USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service identifier confirmed these larvae as EAB.

The detections will not result in regulatory changes because EAB was federally deregulated on Jan. 14, 2021, and Wisconsin rescinded its statewide quarantine effective July 1, 2023.

EAB will continue to spread in northern Wisconsin, significantly impacting the state’s ash resource. This is a good time to review the DNR’s updated EAB webpage for information and resources on this invasive species and the EAB Silviculture Guidelines to understand ash management options.

For those looking for treatment options, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s EAB webpage provides information on insecticide treatment for ash shade trees.

The DNR, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension and tribal partners continue to track EAB’s spread. Detection information aids in EAB readiness planning, management and biological control activities.

With 66 new municipal detections already reported in 2024, map updates continue to occur regularly. Visit the Wisconsin EAB Online Detections map to see where EAB has been found in Wisconsin or to report new detections.

https://datcpservices.wisconsin.gov/eab/index.jsp

Upcoming Ice Fishing Events 2/13/24

Feb 17th – Lake Tomahawk Family Fisheree – Lake Tomahawk

Feb 24th – 3rd Annual Newbold Fire Dept Ice Fishing Tournament – Muskellunge Lake

Feb 24th – Winter free fishing contest – Any Lake – Sponsored by County Line Station

Feb 24th – Kids Ice Fishing Day – Lake Minocqua – Sponsored by Northwoods Chapter of Muskies, Inc

Mar 2nd – KISS Annual High School Ice Fishing Tournament – Lake Minocqua
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Free Fun Weekend June 3-4
 

a young boy running across a bridge
State park admission fees, fishing licenses and trail passes are waived for all visitors June 3-4, 2023. / Photo Credit: Travel Wisconsin

Find your adventure this weekend during the 11th annual Free Fun Weekend, June 3-4. State park admission fees, fishing licenses and trail passes are waived for all Wisconsin residents and non-residents.

With 50 state parks, 15 state forests, 44 state trails, 84,000 miles of rivers and streams and roughly 15,000 lakes, the DNR invites Wisconsinites to discover a new favorite park, trail, forest or recreation area or to try a new activity during Free Fun Weekend. This is the perfect time to get outdoors and find your adventure in Wisconsin.

Find a full list of Wisconsin state properties, activities and maps by visiting the DNR’s website. Reserve a shelter or campsite through the DNR’s online booking system. Before heading to a state park, trail or waterbody near you, here are some helpful things to know:

STATE PARKS

Vehicle admission stickers will not be required.
All state parks and trails will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Programs and events are posted online on the DNR’s website.
 TRAILS

All linear/rail trails will be open to the public, including ATV trails and horseback riding trails.
ATVs, UTVs and OHMs are exempt from registration requirements. Resident and non-resident all-terrain vehicle operators do not need a trail pass to ride state ATV trails.
FISHING

Residents and non-residents will not be required to have a fishing license or trout/salmon stamps.
All 2023-2024 fishing regulations apply, including bag and length limits.
This is the perfect time of year for small and largemouth bass, panfish and northern pike to be active.
New to fishing? Check out free clinics hosted at state properties.
Locate launches and shore fishing access points near you.
  BOAT LAUNCHES

All DNR boat launches are open.
Boats must be registered, which can be done either online or via mail.
Minimize the spread of aquatic invasive species by removing plants and animals from boats before and after launching, draining all water from compartments, and never move live fish from any waterbody.
  SAFETY

Always wear a life jacket when fishing from a boat, kayak, canoe or paddleboard.
Use boat lights after sunset.
Never consume alcohol or drugs before or during an ATV/UTV ride or while operating a boat.
Wear a helmet and protective clothing such as eye protection, gloves, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt while riding an ATV/UTV.
All children under the age of 18 must have a minimum Department of Transportation standard motorcycle or ATV helmet - bicycle helmets are not legal.
Keep your speed in mind as weather and terrain conditions vary or change.
Grab your family and friends and head outdoors for Free Fun Weekend! Take the trail less traveled and head to some lesser-known “hidden gem” state properties. Make sure to tag your Free Fun Weekend photos with #OutWiGo.

DNR Seeking Public Input On Great Lakes
Beach Listings
 

A crowd of people enjoy a sunny summer day at the beach of Kohler Andrea State Park.
Generations of Wisconsinites have grown up enjoying Great Lakes beaches and rely on our lakes for safe, clean water. / Photo Credit: Bob Fritsch

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking the public to help update Wisconsin's beach list to keep people safe on Great Lakes beaches this summer.

Each year, the DNR's beach program reaches out to the public, local beach managers and public health departments along Wisconsin's Great Lakes coasts to determine what changes are needed to the Wisconsin beach list and program information.

A beach is defined as any place where the public has recreational access to the water, regardless of whether the location is used for swimming. Boat launches, some natural areas and private beaches available to the public are included.

“Public comments ensure the Wisconsin beach list reflects locally-used names and the status of beaches and boat launches due to changing natural conditions and public access,” said Diane Packett, DNR Beach Program Manager. “We’d like people to let us know if any beaches are missing or not properly identified on the list and if there are some boat launches that are no longer active and should be taken off.”

This year’s proposed list includes a change to Herbster Beach in Bayfield County to create two separate beaches.

Public comments and local knowledge of Wisconsin's Lake Michigan and Lake Superior shorelines provide the best information about our 57 miles of coastal beaches.

The federal Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act is an amendment to the Clean Water Act which requires all coastal states – including Great Lakes states – to develop programs for effective water quality monitoring and public notification at coastal recreational beaches. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides grants to participating states to develop and implement a statewide beach program. To maintain Wisconsin’s eligibility for funding under the BEACH Act, state programs must provide an opportunity for public comment when changes to the list or monitoring program occur.

All Wisconsin beaches along the Lake Michigan and Lake Superior shorelines are identified and prioritized for water quality monitoring with these funds.

This federal funding allows communities with Great Lakes beaches to monitor for elevated levels of Escherichia coli (commonly referred to as E. coli), a bacterium that can cause illness if ingested. These bacteria are relatively easy to test for compared to other pathogens, so they serve as a helpful indicator of the possible presence of other health risks in the water, such as fecal matter, viruses and other bacteria or pollutants.

“This monitoring data helps local health officials determine when to close a beach due to unsafe conditions and to notify the public so that beach visitors can make informed choices about swimming at the beach,” said Packett.

The DNR continues to improve and upgrade the beach health database and website features and welcomes feedback throughout the year. Questions or comments can be directed to DNRBeachHealth@wisconsin.gov or DNR Beach Program Manager Diane Packett at 608-640-7511.

The proposed additions and changes to the beach list for 2023 are available online on the DNR’s website. Please email public comments on the beach listings to DNRBeachHealth@wisconsin.gov by Dec. 31, 2023.

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Beaches/BeachList.html

DNR Seeking Public Comment For Environmental Review Of The Village Of Randolph
Safe Drinking Water Loan Program Project

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the Village of Randolph is an applicant for funding through the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (SDWLP) to improve its public drinking water system. The project includes reconstruction associated with watermain, sanitary sewer and stormwater improvement along portions of Center Street, Church Street, 1st Street, Sunny Side Place and Grove Street.

Activities related to this project are minor actions under Chapter NR 150, Wis. Admin. Code, for which no environmental analysis is required; however, following the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program federal requirement 40 C.F.R. §35.3580, an environmental review must be conducted before funding this project.

The Safe Drinking Water Loan Program has determined that the project will not result in significant adverse environmental effects, and no further environmental review or analysis is needed before proceeding with funding the project.

The public is encouraged to submit comments regarding this decision and the potential environmental impacts of this project. Submit comments by June 5, 2023 to:

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
C/O Kevin Olson, Community Financial Assistance, CF/2
101 S Webster St.
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707
Kevin.Olson@wisconsin.gov or 608-234-2238

Based on the comments received, the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the funding process. The analysis would summarize the DNR’s consideration of the project's impacts and reasonable alternatives.