Over the past few days, most parts of Wisconsin have received moderate amounts of rainfall, but the northern half of the state remains in a long-term drought. Rainfall in the far north has been relatively light and, as such, most river and stream levels continue to be very low. Many flowages have also seen water level declines, with both the Chippewa Flowage and Turtle-Flambeau Flowage reported to be down about 3 to 4 feet.
Although the summer overall remains on the cool side, temperatures for the past week were normal or slightly above over the state. Fishing success was pretty good in the Northwoods in the past week with both the weather and the fish cooperating. Sunny skies and warm temperatures made for some pleasant angling conditions, with musky and bass becoming especially active. In Lake Michigan, some salmon have already begun to get darker as the fall spawning run gets closer and there have even been some fish being spotted up the Kewaunee River. Water temperatures out on the lake have warmed up since last week up into the 50s and even the 60s by the end of the week. Windy conditions this week have made for rough fishing on Lake Winnebago.
The blueberry season has ended and the blackberry crop overall is expected to be minimal. Snapping turtles will be hatching soon and monarchs will also begin their migration. Late summer and early fall are good times to do some bird watching. Often times, fall migrants do not move through an area as rapidly as they do during the spring migration and birdwatchers may have a little more time to actually "watch" the birds. Fall warblers can challenge even the most observant birdwatcher, making for difficult but rewarding identification lessons. Remember that most birds do not sing in the fall to the extent that they do in the spring. The Wisconsin and Kickapoo Rivers are settling down after Sunday?s rain. Both rivers are a fairly clear. The sand bars on the Wisconsin River are in great shape for camping. All trout streams in the area are in good shape with normal flow and water clarity is fair. Insects like mosquitoes and deer flies are out in large numbers. Mosquitoes are really a problem in the river bottoms while the deer flies are in the wooded areas. Another hatch of gnats came out after last week?s rain, although the hatches have been short lived. Stinging nettle and poison ivy still pose a problem for outdoor enthusiasts. August is the month when the ?ornery? wasps start to invade picnics and other outdoor activities.
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.
Back to Top
________________________________________
NORTHERN REGION
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - Fishing success was pretty good in the Northwoods in the past week with both the weather and the fish cooperating. Sunny skies and warm temperatures made for some pleasant angling conditions, with musky and bass becoming especially active. Musky success showed a nice little surge and most anglers reported some good action from small and medium-size fish (32" to 42"). The fish seemed to be active along the weed edges and in the shallower weed beds. Topwater baits, soft-bodied lures and slower moving stick baits were the most productive. Any time of day has produced action and was mostly dependent on local weather conditions. Action for both largemouth and smallmouth bass has been consistent and some very nice fish have been caught and released in the last week. Largemouths have pretty much settled in to their summer pattern and have been relating to the thick cover. Weedless topwater baits and soft plastics have been the most productive and have to be fished in the weed pockets, in the woody cover, or tight to the bog/marsh edges. Smallmouths have been a bit tough to find in the lakes but action continued to be good on the flowages and larger rivers. Soft plastics and finesse baits have been the most productive lures and the fish have been relating to wood that is near deeper water areas. Walleye action has also picked up a notch and a few anglers have been reporting some decent catches. Leeches and crawlers fished along the weed edges and in weed pockets have produced most of the fish, though some have also been found on the deeper gravel and rock bars. Panfish action continues to be fair. Larger bluegills have been a little tough to find but some decent catches of crappie and rock bass have been reported. Rainfall in the far north has been relatively light and, as such, most river and stream levels continue to be very low. Many flowages have also seen water level declines, with both the Chippewa Flowage and Turtle-Flambeau Flowage reported to be down about 3 to 4 feet.
Back to Top
________________________________________
NORTHEAST REGION
Green Bay DNR Service Center area
Manitowoc County - This week, anglers in the Manitowoc/Two Rivers area had a very good week of fishing. Most of the hot fishing was from local piers, although boat anglers still had some good days. The weather was cooperative for most of week which allowed for some productive trips. The morning bite seems to be out producing the evening bite although nice quality fish are being caught throughout the day. In Manitowoc, most boat anglers have been trolling in shallow water between 20 and 90 feet. The most successful anglers have been fishing in 40 to 70 feet of water running baits deep and far behind the boat. A variety of baits like dodger and fly combinations, j-plugs, spoons, and diving stick baits were used to catch fish this week. Orange and yellow spoons worked well for a few boats this week as well as flies with bright florescent dodgers. On the piers, anglers had a great week. Large catches of Chinook were common throughout the week. Most pier anglers were casting silver or gold spoons with reflective tape colors of green, blue, or white. Over the weekend, a few anglers were fishing the mouth of the Manitowoc River and landed a couple nice Chinook salmon ranging from 14 to 17 pounds. In Two Rivers, boat anglers were also trolling in shallow water. Some boats had nice catches while others had only a few fish. Catches were dominated by Chinook salmon with a few rainbow trout and lake trout mixed in. On the piers, anglers landed many fish throughout the week. Success has been split from casting spoons or fishing off the bottom with alewives or smelt. Catches were mostly Chinook salmon but a few rainbow trout and brown trout were also landed.
Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
Marinette County - Fishing pressure is picking up on the Lower Menominee River with anglers searching for walleye using Rapalas. The salmon bite is continuing to progress with anglers reporting nice catches. There is still plenty of time to hit the inland trout streams and enjoy a few of the many waterfalls in the county. The blueberry season has ended and the blackberry crop overall is expected to be minimal.
Oconto County - The inland lakes have been busy with more folks staying closer to home. Trout fishing on the North and South Branches of the Oconto River should produce some nice catches. A nice handicap/disabled fishing pier is located on County T north of Boulder Lake Campground on the South Branch of the Oconto River. The Nicollet Forest has some beautiful wilderness areas to explore before school begins. The fire danger is low at this time due to the much needed rain received the past week.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Kewaunee County - For the first time in a while, the weather this past week felt like summer around the area. This last week had above average temperatures as well as some rain towards the end of the week. Some salmon have already begun to get darker as the fall spawning run gets closer and there have even been some fish being spotted up the Kewaunee River. Anglers have been reporting some success casting spoons for trout and salmon off of the piers in Algoma and Kewaunee. Most of the fish are being caught during the night, but some are being taken during the day. Anglers that have been going out on the lake had some good fishing throughout most of the week with just a few times when fishing was difficult. Kings and steelhead still account for most of the catch with there being more kings than steelhead being caught. Anglers have found that the fish have moved out a little since last week due to some rising temperatures. Water temperatures out on the lake have warmed up since last week up into the 50s and even the 60s by the end of the week. Most fish are being caught in water depths between 50 and 100 feet with most anglers fishing over water that is in the 90 to 140 foot range. Most anglers have been using a combination of dipsies and flashers and flies, but spoons and J-plugs have also been having success as well. The most common colors seem to be either a bright green or blue.
Oshkosh DNR Service Center area - Windy conditions this week have made for rough fishing on Lake Winnebago. A couple reports of big perch bags using hellgrammites have come in. Snapping turtles will be hatching soon and monarchs will also begin their migration.
Back to Top
________________________________________
SOUTHEAST REGION
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County ? In Sheboygan, anglers fishing on the end of the south pier or halfway out on the north pier have been catching Chinooks and browns. Both green & silver spoons and alewives have been producing. Sheboygan trollers have been taking mostly Chinooks along with a few coho and rainbows, and the best catches have been in 40 to 70 feet of water on a variety of spoons and J-plugs.
Ozaukee County ? Pier anglers in Port Washington have been catching Chinooks on alewives and spoons and shore anglers near the power plant have been taking browns and a few Chinooks on spawn. Trollers out of Port have reported Chinooks, coho, and browns taken 20 to 30 feet down in 40 to 70 feet of water. Green or orange spoons have produced fish, as well as glow-in-the-dark J-plugs.
Milwaukee County ? In Milwaukee, McKinley pier has produced some late night Chinooks taken on glow-in-the-dark spoons. Browns have been caught from shore behind the Summerfest grounds, and a few Chinooks have been caught off the pier in Grant Park on spoons. Trollers out of Milwaukee have been catching Chinooks, coho, rainbows, and lake trout 25 to 35 feet down in 40 to 60 feet of water; and browns have been taken in the harbor.
Racine County ? Shore fishing off the piers in Racine has been good, with Chinooks and steelhead hitting glow-in-the-dark spoons. Shore anglers have also been catching browns in the harbor and in the lower stretches of the Root River. Trollers out of Racine have been finding coho, rainbows, and Chinooks in as shallow as 20 to 30 feet of water either right off the harbor or north near Wind Point. Glow-in-the-dark spoons and J-plugs have been producing.
Kenosha County ? In Kenosha, brown trout fishing in the harbor has been hit-or-miss. On good days, shore anglers have taken fair numbers of browns on spawn sacs or white tube jigs. Shore anglers at the mouth of the Pike River have been catching a mix of Chinooks, browns, and rainbows in the early morning hours and at night. Glow spoons have produced the best. Kenosha trollers have been catching Chinooks, browns, and rainbows in around 30 feet of water off the mouth of the Pike River.
Back to Top
________________________________________
WEST CENTRAL REGION
La Crosse DNR Service Center area - Late summer and early fall are good times to do some bird watching. Often times, fall migrants do not move through an area as rapidly as they do during the spring migration and birdwatchers may have a little more time to actually "watch" the birds. Fall warblers can challenge even the most observant birdwatcher, making for difficult but rewarding identification lessons. Remember that most birds do not sing in the fall to the extent that they do in the spring. That means birdwatchers need to rely more on keen eyesight and less on their hearing to locate and identify birds. Underwater vegetation in the Mississippi River is abundant again this year; noticeably better overall than last year. It should provide good feeding conditions for ducks and coots migrating down the corridor this fall. As usual, the most vegetation is located in Pools 7, 8 and 9 but good areas can also be found in all other pools bordering Wisconsin. Although this will help to spread duck hunting pressure, hunter numbers are expected to be very high due to the many dry areas elsewhere in the state.
Crawford County - A new slow no wake zone is now in effect on the Mississippi River?s main channel. The slow-no wake zone is approximately ? mile long and is located adjacent to the city of McGregor, Iowa. The area is marked with slow no wake buoys that line both sides of the navigation channel. For reference, the area affected is in the area of river mile 633.5. Boaters must maintain a slow-no wake speed through the entire length, shore to shore, between the states of Iowa and Wisconsin. Some heavy rain fell throughout the Mississippi River drainage basin this past week causing the river to rise slightly. Last week the river held below the 7 foot mark but currently it is at 7.05 feet. The forecast for the Mississippi River is for a slow rise to 7.4 feet by later this week. Even though the river may be on the rise, it is still at summer-time levels. Boaters on the Mississippi River should use caution now that the river is hovering around the 7 foot mark. Wing dams and closing dams could cause damage outboard motors. Additionally, sunken logs and rock piles outside of the main channel pose a serious danger to lower units. Boaters unfamiliar with the area should stay in the navigation channel or slow down and trim up their motors. Boaters are also advised to use caution at some boat ramps. Drop offs might exist at the end of the launch pad so don?t back your trailer in to far as the tires might drop off the end. This is caused by large vessels ?power loading?. The Wisconsin and Kickapoo Rivers are settling down after Sunday?s rain. Both rivers are a fairly clear. The sand bars on the Wisconsin River are in great shape for camping. All trout streams in the area are in good shape with normal flow and water clarity is fair. Insects like mosquitoes and deer flies are out in large numbers. Mosquitoes are really a problem in the river bottoms while the deer flies are in the wooded areas. Another hatch of gnats came out after last week?s rain, although the hatches have been short lived. Stinging nettle and poison ivy still pose a problem for outdoor enthusiasts. August is the month when the ?ornery? wasps start to invade picnics and other outdoor activities. There was an improvement in the bluegill action this week. Some nice sized gills were being taken off the wing dams along the main channel of the Mississippi River. Try fishing the shallower portions of the wing dams. The Ambro Slough, Black Slough, Fish Lake, the Upper and Lower Doubles and Big Missouri and Gremore Lake have been slow as the water is very low up there. Even so, try fishing the ?snags? on theses backwaters and sloughs or find weed edges. The most popular bait has been a chunk of night crawler or garden worms. Fishing at Cold Spring continues to be slow. 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. Boaters should also be aware that Cold Spring is a designated slow-no wake area. Perch fishing was slow again this week. Try fishing a chunk of nightcrawlers along deeper weed edges, or in 4 to 5 feet of water adjacent to the weeds. Walleye and sauger action was fair. Generally the early morning hours and later in the day has been the best for walleye action, especially during the weekends when recreational boating traffic is the heaviest. Trolling and casting crank baits or drifting with live bait is the primary method of taking walleyes. Jump around on wing dams to find active walleyes. Nightcrawlers and leeches have worked well too. Smallmouth and largemouth bass have been very active. Smallmouths can be found on closing dams and wing dams or rock shorelines on the Main Channel. Largemouth bass can be found in a variety of habitats. Plastics, spinner baits, and crank baits have worked well. Bass anglers report catching a lot of undersized fish. Both flathead and channel catfish activity was spotty. A variety of live baits have produced cats. Move around until active fish are located. Channel cats have been a bit more active than the flatheads. Sheephead are very active. A piece of night crawler fished off the bottom has been the best tactic. White bass action was very spotty. Watch for surface feeding fishing and work those areas in the Main Channel. Northern pike action continued to be very good. Look for northerns where small feeder streams enter the river or try fishing the weed edges. Many popular bass baits have worked well for northerns including spinner baits and plastic top water baits. Trout fishing has been very good even though vegetation and insects are staring to make fishing a bit more difficult. Many local streams produced some very nice brown and brook trout. A trapper?s education class will be held at the Boscobel Conservation Club during the weekend of August 22 and 23. Contact Al Krieg at 608-875-6251 for further details.
