WDNR Outdoor Report as of March 26, 2009
Wisconsin has had a wet beginning to spring, with different parts of the state receiving anywhere from half an inch to more than 3 inches of rain in the last week. Water levels are very high on some rivers, especially on the Rock River, where slow-no-wake rules have been put in place in Jefferson County as well as Rock County. The Mississippi River was at 9.6 feet at Prairie du Chien this week, up more than a foot from last week, and expected to reach the 10-foot mark late this week or early next week.
The wet weather continues to have trails in parks and forests saturated and horseback and mountain bike trails remain closed. Bicyclists should continue to not use any of the limestone-screened linear state bike trails until they dry out completely. Using the trails when they are wet can leave ruts that will remain after the trails finally do dry out.
Ice is going out on lakes and rivers, with the Madison lakes opening up completely this week. Northern pike are spawning and fish refuges have been posted on the Yahara River. Ice went out of the Amnicon River in Douglas County last week. The "ice road" from Bayfield to Madeline Island across Chequamegon Bay is now closed, and the shuttle service and wind sled and have started running.
The Fox and Wolf rivers are now open in the northeast but anglers have been having only limited success for walleyes. Walleye and brown trout were being caught on the Menominee River in Marinette, but there have been no reports of steelhead moving in yet. Anglers are also watching the Peshtigo River for signs of steelhead movement. Fishing has been good on the Manitowoc and Little Manitowoc rivers, with anglers catching steelhead and browns that ranged from 6 to 10 pounds. Anglers fishing the West Twin River around the Shoto dam also caught some nice fish.
In the southeast, the Sheboygan and Pigeon rivers are relatively high, and fishing has been slow other than a few steelhead and browns. Boaters out of Port Washington have been catching browns in 30 feet of water. Anglers fishing the Milwaukee River have been taking a few rainbows and browns. The Milwaukee River remains relatively high, but some steelhead have been caught. Steelhead have also been caught in the Menomonee River and Oak Creek. Water levels on the Root River have dropped considerably in the past week, and water clarity has improved. A few browns and steelhead were being caught and fisheries crews have been processing fish at the Root River Steelhead Facility to collect eggs for hatcheries.
The spring bird migration picked up this week. Loons began arriving on Lake Monona in Madison as soon at the ice went out. Meadowlarks are back on their territories and are calling. Pintail ducks and common mergansers have been seen migrating along the Lake Michigan shoreline, and there is also some great waterfowl viewing on Pool 9 of the Mississippi River between Lynxville and Ferryville.
Tom turkeys have been observed strutting on sunny days over the past week. Goldfinches are molting their olive colored winter feathers and are sporting a bi-color yellow and olive coat. Bluebirds are displaying and pairing up at houses and are beginning to gather grass as a mating behavior. Great horned owl young are still fuzzy but have grown quite a bit and are almost ready for flight.
Silver maples are flowering and tapping of sugar maples picked up this week. The first deer ticks have been spotted already, so be on the lookout for them when working in or visiting the sugar bush.
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A three-minute audio version of this report can be heard by calling (608) 266 2277.
A new report is put on the line each week.
DNR Northern Region
Superior DNR Service Center area
Amnicon Falls State Park - The ice went out of the river March 18. There is a good flow in the river but still some snow in the woods. With rain forecast this week, the river should be at its highest by the end of the week. The snowshoe trail is down to mostly hard pack snow and ice.
Ashland DNR Service Center area
Big Bay State Park - People are advised not to try and cross the ice with their vehicles during the spring ice break up. A few unfortunate people have lost their vehicles this season trying to cross the ice after the road was shut down. There are ice cracks forming daily and without warning. The Madeline Island Van service and Wind sled departure and arrival times vary from the ferry schedule; please call (715) 747-5400 for the 24-hour recorded message for the Van schedule and ice road conditions. Big Bay State Park is located 8 miles from the landing of the van service/wind sled dock. These services do not transport people to locations around the island and both services only support passengers unlike the ferry service which supports vehicles also. Ski and snowshoe trails at Big Bay State Park have succumb to the warm spell experienced recently. Trails are in poor condition for skiing and snowshoeing with the loss of the snow pack. Please stop at the park's contact station for more information on were to go within the park for your designated activity. Pet owners are reminded that pets must be on a leash at all times while visiting the park.
DNR Northeastern Region
Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
Marinette County - The recent rains are diminishing the snow pack throughout the county. Deer activity is increasing as access to forage under the snow is becoming easier. Geese and sandhill cranes are being observed flying to open water areas. Milder temperatures will soon be causing the buds to swell on the shrubs and trees that leaf out early. Waterways are opening up with the addition of the run-off. Ice conditions are unsafe on area lakes. Walleye and brown trout were being caught in the Hattie Street Dam area on the Menominee River. There have been no reports of steelhead moving in yet. Anglers are having the best success rigging their rods with "invisible" line for walleye. Anglers are also watching the Peshtigo River Dam area in Peshtigo for signs of steelhead movement.
Oconto County - The Lower Oconto River is open between the County Highway J bridge and the Stiles dam area. Fly fishers will soon be hitting the water in hopes of a steelhead, although browns are also present this time of year. Egg sacks are the preferred bait in combination with chartreuse and pink flies. Leech patterns also are a favorite. The recent rains will add to the flow producing favorable conditions for the annual migration and spawn.
Green Bay DNR Service Center area
Manitowoc County - On the Manitowoc and Little Manitowoc rivers, trout fishing was pretty good throughout the week. Many anglers were ice fishing at the north end of the marina. Ice conditions were changing rapidly, so extreme care should be used anytime when venturing out onto the ice. Anglers were catching nice rainbows and browns that ranged from 6-10 pounds. Most anglers were using spawn sacs or jigging with wax worms. Fishing from the piers was a little slower, although a few anglers reported some success off the south pier. On the Little Manitowoc River, anglers were catching some nice rainbow trout near Highway B. In Two Rivers; angler pressure was very low all week. A few anglers were casting spoons from the north pier, but had very little success in catching fish. On the West Twin River, angler pressure has been concentrated around the Shoto dam. Fishing was steady all week and produced some nice fish. Anglers using spawn sacs or rooster tails were able to land rainbow trout ranging from 6 to 8 pounds in weight. On the East Twin River angler pressure was low all week. A few anglers were fishing in the Mishicot dam-village park area but no reported success.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Peninsula State Park - As of March 24, scattered patches of snow remain on the ground. Sections of back roads remain snow or ice covered. It's a good time to climb Eagle Tower, hike to Eagle Bluff Lighthouse on Shore Road (not presently open to traffic.), or hike any of the park's 20 miles of trails. All trails are open to hiking, but closed to bicycling, due to wet conditions. The waters of Green Bay remain frozen. Do not venture out onto the ice, as conditions are very unpredictable. Only the Tennison Bay campground is open at this time. Water systems are shut down, though a central drinking water supply is provided.
Wautoma DNR Service Center area
Deer ticks have been spotted already, so be on the lookout for them. There have been more car-deer incidents recently; deer are moving around now due to the warm up. There hasn't been much luck fishing in the area due to the weather being stuck in the transition from winter to spring. The fishing should be hopping again soon.
Oshkosh DNR Service Center area
The ice is now out on the Fox and Wolf rivers in Northeast Wisconsin. Anglers have been having only limited success with walleyes in the river right now. Sturgeon guard is still in need of night shift volunteers. Please email DNRSturgeonGuard@wisconsin.gov if you are interested in volunteering.
DNR Southeast Region
Silver maples are flowering. The snowdrops are in bloom, as are a few crocuses. Most daffodils are still poking their way through last year's leaves although a few growing right along the sunny side of the houses will be blooming soon. Robins are feeding heavily on last year's crabapples. It is not that uncommon for the robins (and other birds) to get a little disoriented from eating a few too many of the fermented berries. The colors on the male mourning doves are brightening up as well as on the house finches. The goldfinches are just starting to show a splash of their namesake color, but many still wear their drab winter garb. House sparrows are unenthusiastically carrying grass and straw to the next boxes, but this will change in the near future. The kinglets are moving into the area, confirmed by their high-pitched peeps being heard from the treetops. Meadowlarks are back on their territories and are calling. Pintail ducks have also been seen in communities along Lake Michigan and common mergansers have been migrating along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Sheboygan County. The birdfeeders are not as busy anymore and now is a good time to clean up the seed waste on the ground before moist conditions cause it to turn moldy. Cleaning under the feeders, as well as the feeders themselves, also reduces the chances of spreading salmonella, a bacterial disease that can be fatal for birds.
Kettle Moraine State Forest - Pike Lake Unit - Trails are open to hiking and much of the snow and ice is now gone from the trail surface, but some slippery sections do remain. There are many wet and muddy areas due to the spring thaw. The campground opens for the season on April 24.
Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit – As of March 25, the Southern Unit has experienced heavy rain over the past 24 hours. People venturing out on the trails will experience some cooler temperatures than the previous week with lows in the 20s and highs only in the 40s. Off and on rain and snow showers predicted for the upcoming week. Trail conditions may still be icy in some sections (particularly the pines). The majority of trails are wet and muddy. Equestrians are asked to refrain from using the trails until they have a chance to dry out and stabilize. Mountain bike trails- are currently closed and will be closed the month of March. This is the time of year when the frost is coming out of the ground, it makes the ground soft and susceptible to damage if it were to be used. The trails will be evaluated each day beginning April 1 to determine when they can be open for use. For more information contact the forest headquarters at 262-594-6200. Current trail conditions can be obtained at 262-594-6202.
Kohler-Andrae State Park - Most of the snow in the area has melted. Some parking lots and road shoulders still contain piles of snow. Nature trails and hiking trails may contain slippery areas. Mourning doves, juncos, blue jays, black-capped chickadees, goldfinches, downy woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, and cardinals are all daily visitors to the office feeders. Common red polls are still being reported. The sandhill cranes have returned. The blue birds and red winged black birds are back. Eastern towhees are back. Sanderling Nature Center is closed until May 1, 2009. Construction of 30 new campsites at Kohler-Andrae State Park is nearing completion. The new campsites will be available for use in July, 2009. Reservations for the new sites are currently being accepted for dates July 15-Nov. 1.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan the Sheboygan and Pigeon rivers remain relatively high, and fishing has been slow other than a few steelhead and browns caught on spawn near the Kohler dam. Boaters have been taking browns and rainbows on large crank baits in water less than 30 feet deep. Fishing off the piers in Sheboygan has been slow.
Ozaukee County - In Port Washington fishing on Sauk Creek has been relatively slow, but anglers near the power plant and off the pier have been catching browns on spawn sacs and spoons. Boaters out of Port Washington have also been catching browns on spoons and crankbaits in 30 feet of water.
Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee, ice in McKinley Marina has been breaking up, and anglers fishing off the docks have been catching occasional brown trout. Anglers fishing the Milwaukee River under the Hoan bridge have been taking a few rainbows and browns. The Milwaukee River remains relatively high, but some steelhead have been caught in Kletzsch Park. A few steelhead have also been caught in the Menomonee River and Oak Creek.
Racine County - In Racine water levels on the Root River have dropped considerably in the past week, and water clarity has improved. Most fish caught recently were taken from the pools in the golf course between Colonial and Quarry Lake Parks, as well as taken up at the dam. A few browns and steelhead were caught on spawn sacs or small egg imitation flies. DNR crews processed fish at the Root River Steelhead Facility on Monday, March 23. Chambers Creek strain steelhead were spawned, and 171 steelhead were passed upstream. Fish will be processed again next week.
Kenosha County - In Kenosha, anglers fishing in the harbor have been catching some browns on spawn.
DNR South Central Region
Dodgeville DNR Service Center area
Wyalusing State Park – The Mississippi River level at Prairie du Chien was 9.6 feet this week. Trails should be free of snow and ice. Small pockets of snow may still remain on north facing slopes. Some trails may be muddy. A half mile hike on Sugar Maple Nature Trail will lead visitors to the frozen waterfall at Pictured Rock Cave. At this time, all of the park roads have been opened. This is subject to change, dependent on more snow. The recent warm weather has brought a return of spring migrants as well as the return of bird watchers. Recent new arrivals to Wyalusing include: turkey vultures, American white pelicans, great blue herons, sandhill cranes, northern flickers, eastern phoebe, red-breasted nuthatch, brown creepers, gray catbirds, fox sparrows, red-winged blackbird, eastern meadowlark, pine siskens, and eastern bluebirds. A flock of white-winged crossbills was sighted over last weekend in the pine trees near the intersection of the indoor group camp and Cathedral Tree Drive. Whether they are still there is not known. Water is being turned on at the indoor group camp and final preparations are being made for the first group to arrive in mid April.
Governor Dodge State Park – Cross-country skiing is now closed for the season. All trails are open for hiking. Keep in mind, this time of year hikers may encounter almost any condition on the trails from dirt, rocks and mud to water, snow and ice. Even a spring shower can cause slippery, muddy conditions. Be prepared to encounter all types of conditions on the trails and plan accordingly. Horse and mountain bike trails remain closed. They will reopen May 1, conditions permitting. Campsites in the Twin Valley campground are open on a first come basis. No flush toilets or showers will be available until late April. The backpack and group camping areas will open for the season April 1. Reservations for holiday and summer weekends are already starting to fill up. Spring turkey hunting is allowed for 12 permit holders only during the first three permit periods in April/early May. Periods run Wednesday through Sunday beginning April 15, April 22, and April 29 this year. There is also a youth turkey hunt in the park on April 11-12.
Fitchburg DNR Service Center area
Dane County - You would be hard pressed to find any snow in the area after this week’s heavy rainfall and warm temperatures. Most lake ice has gone out and a few anglers were fishing the open water with little success. Fishing should improve in lagoons and shallow water in a week or two as the water warms up. Trout anglers had good luck last weekend as streams were running fairly clear. Most anglers were catching trout on spinners and spoons. Conditions changed by midweek. Northern pke are spawning and fish refuges have been posted on the Yahara River. The spring bird migration this week has brought meadowlarks, blue winged teal, tree swallows, and shorebirds into the area. Goldfinches are moulting their olive colored winter feathers and are sporting a bi-color yellow and olive coat. Bluebirds are displaying and pairing up at houses and are beginning to gather grass as a mating behavior. They investigate multiple houses until finding the right one. Robins are fighting over territory. Chorus frogs are beginning to emerge as the frost comes out of the ground and can now be heard near wetlands. Pussy willows are budding out. Great horned owl young are still fuzzy but have grown quite a bit and are almost ready for flight.
Lake Kegonsa State Park - Spring is here! Sandhill cranes, robins and bluebirds have been spotted in the park. All trails are open to hiking. Many areas may be wet and muddy. Please use caution. The campgrounds will re-open on May 1. Reservations for weekends during the 2009 season are filling up!
Jefferson County - Anglers have been catching some keeper walleye on the Rock and Crawfish rivers in Jefferson County now that the ice has disappeared. The best luck has been using a jig and minnow or twistertails. Most of the fish are males; however, some females up to 29 inches have been caught in the Fort Atkinson area. The males are just beginning to flow. A few white bass have also been biting on twistertails near the mouth of the Crawfish River in Jefferson. Due to high water Jefferson County has enacted an emergency slow-no-wake ordinance on all the rivers and streams throughout the county. Boaters are reminded to read the signs posted at the landings as shoreline homeowners are again having to deal with flooding concerns. Tom turkeys have been observed strutting on sunny days over the past week, a good sign of spring.
DNR West Central Region
Baldwin DNR Service Center area
Willow River State Park - So far it has been a gentle transition from winter into spring. Trails are opening up from winter use. The Willow River is still running a bit high for good trout fishing. Other suggestions would be the upper Kinnickinnic or the Apple River. As always, wading anglers must be aware of cold water. The Willow Falls Hill looked passable late last week although all the ice was not out of there yet. The park road is free of winter ice in sheltered areas. Runoff may still cause some short icy areas in the mornings. The target date to have the campground (not to be confused with the construction work near the entrance) open to vehicles is around April 15. It all depends on how quickly the ground gets dry. The campground is sheltered on the south so it is slow to harden up enough for regular vehicle use. We don’t want vehicles stuck in the mud and the resulting damage to the campsite. The web site and the park phone recorder will have updates as we progress toward opening. Flush toilets and showers will be opened in May. The new office building is open and we are in the process of moving. The visitor’s area of the building is open but there are no exhibits up as of this report Wednesday afternoon March 25. The new building has window service for simple transactions such as sticker sales.
La Crosse DNR Service Center area
Chipmunks are emerging from their winter burrows, where they have spent the better part of winter in a state of torpor. Chipmunks are generally forest creatures, have large, fur-lined cheek pouches for carrying nuts and seeds, black and white facial stripes, and five dark stripes separated by four light stripes on the backs and sides of their bodies. Instead of depending on stored body fat to sustain them during hibernation, chipmunks awaken every couple weeks during the winter to feed on stored nuts and seeds. There are two species of chipmunks in WisconsinI: the eastern chipmunk, which is found statewide, and the least chipmunk, which is relegated to about the northern half of the state. Eastern chipmunks can be differentiated from their smaller cousins by their size and back stripes which do not cross the rump. Back dorsal stripes of least chipmunks, on the other hand, extend all the way to the base of their tails. Chipmunks typically breed from late March to late April, with two to seven bind and hairless young being born after about a one month gestation. Baby chipmunks are weaned in about 40 days. Chipmunks are preyed upon by long-tailed weasels, short-tailed weasels or ermine, bobcats, red fox, coyotes, red-tailed hawks, Cooper's hawks, snakes, and cats.
Crawford County - As of March 24, the Mississippi River stage was at 9.6 feet and on the rise. Last week the river stage was just under 8 feet. The forecast for the Mississippi River is a few days of steady water levels followed by a gradual climb to over 10 feet. All of the Wisconsin and Mississippi river watersheds are ice free for the most part. Only a few backwater areas are still holding ice. Below LD # 9 at Lynxville the ice has been out for some time now and walleye anglers are out in force. Very little snow is left in the area. North facing slopes have even melted off. For the most part the frost is not out of the ground so travel into the fields is very muddy. Ice fishing is pretty much done in the area. Most of the back water areas are now open water and what remaining ice should go out soon with the rising water and increased current. A few anglers have been out in boats searching for bluegill, crappie and perch. Success has been slow, mainly due to the cold and rising water. Shoreline fishing at Cold Spring has been slow for bluegill and crappie. Cold Spring is considered inland water, not boundary waters. Different fishing regulations are in effect there and non-residents must possess a non-resident fishing license. Additionally the game fish (except panfish) season is now closed at Cold Spring. The boat landing at Gordon’s Bay below LD #9 is open. Walleye and sauger action was very spotty this week. Many of the sauger have been small. Walleyes have been harder to find. However those who arrive very early in the morning are catching some decent fish. Water temperatures are starting to rise slowly. Anglers are fishing the East Channel in Prairie du Chien with limited success. Small sauger and walleye have been taken with a few keeper sized fish. All the boat landings in the Prairie du Chien area are open. Many bald eagles have returned to the Mississippi River and are actively tending nests. A few eagles have been hanging around the open water of St. Feriole Slough and below the dam at Lynxville. Turkey gobbling activity is picking up. Many migratory birds are being seen returning to the area. Red-winged black birds, robins, sandhill cranes, great blue herons, and a wide variety of waterfowl have returned to the area. There is some great waterfowl viewing on the Mississippi River up in Pool 9 right now (Lynxville to Ferryville).
Eau Claire DNR Service Center area
Brunet Island State Park - The warm weather and rains have brought the ice fishing season to a close. The tapping of sugar maples has begun in the area. With the weather conditions, it may be a short season this year. Bald eagles are moving back into the area and have been seen feeding along the roadsides. Barred owls have continued territorial calling during the early night hours. Canada geese, robins, and blue birds have begun to arrive. Species of birds seen or heard include: goldfinches, ravens, crows, phoebes, northern juncos, chickadees, nuthatches, red headed and piliated woodpeckers, great horned and barred owls, mourning doves, and blue jays.
Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center area
Buckhorn State Park - Sandhill cranes have returned to the park! The lake is opening up quickly with the warmer weather and rain. People have been shore fishing by the Buckhorn bridge.
Roche-A-Cri State Park - The main gate is still closed. Parking is allowed in the Czech Ave lot. Trails may be muddy with warmer weather and rain
UPCOMING EVENTS AT STATE PARKS, FORESTS, AND TRAILS
WATCHABLE WILDLIFE OPPORTUNITIES AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS
Check with the park or forest of your choice for additional activities and special events not listed. Most events are free of charge; park admission sticker required unless otherwise noted. Events and times subject to change.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
• Havenwoods State Forest , Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 - Special Event - Wisconsin Birds of Prey. Havenwoods welcomes the staff from the Pineview Rehabilitation Wildlife Center. Visit with a variety of Wisconsin hawks, owls, and falcons. This free special event is for people of all ages. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. No admission sticker required.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
• Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 - Family Hike: Spring Scavenger Hunt. Join us on a scavenger hunt for some early signs of spring. We'll look for welcome arrivals like the first robin, red-winged blackbird, and flower in bloom. New in 2009! pend an hour on a family-friendly hike through Havenwoods. We'll use magnifiers, binoculars, and super-duper outdoor lookers to spend the morning in nature. 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 - A Day With the Stars. The study of astronomy marks its 400th anniversary this year. Come for a day of learning about the stars and other objects of the universe. At 2 or 6:30 p.m. learn about Saturn and all its rings. From 3 to 5 p.m., participate in some sun activities, view the sun through a solar scope and bring your personal telescope for fine tuning. To end the day, join local astronomers for some night sky viewing through telescopes from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Sky viewing held only if the skies are clear. Sponsored by Kevin Koski of Rustic Skies. Ice Age Visitor Center. 2-10 p.m.
• MacKenzie Environmental Education Center, Poynette, (608) 635-8110 - Maple Syrup Festival. Guided tours of the center's sugar bush and maple syrup-making process, horse-drawn wagon rides, pancake breakfast, demonstrations of home-made ice cream and maple syrup, live music, wildlife exhibit, raffle, and concessions. 9 a.m. - 2. p.m.
Wisconsin DNR Outdoor Report
Edited by Paul Holtan
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 7921
Madison WI 53707-7921
(608) 267-7517
Fax: (608) 264-6293
E-mail: paul.holtan@dnr.state.wi.us
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/news/or/
