Wisconsin Outdoor Report as of August 18, 2011
Moderate temperatures and low humidity in much of the state made for more pleasant conditions for outdoors activities. Angler survey shows August is still a good time for fishing for many species, and anglers in many parts around the state proved that over the week.
In lakes and rivers in the Upper Chippewa Basin, which includes Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties, anglers enjoyed some pleasant fishing 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. The fish seemed to be active along the weed edges and deep break lines, with jerks baits and swim baits the most productive. Action for both largemouth and smallmouth bass has been consistent and some very nice fish have been caught and released in the last week.
Rough boating conditions on Lake Michigan over the weekend in Sheboygan and Ozaukee counties kept fishing pressure down. In Racine, once the lake settled down, trollers have been catching chinooks along with a few rainbows and coho. Most fish have been found in 80 to 140 feet of water, and flashers and flies as well as spoons have produced. Green glow-in-the-dark, purple, and blue spoons have produced, as well as blue and green flies. Perch fishing has dwindled in Racine, and shore fishing for trout and salmon remains slow as well.
In Lake Michigan near Kenosha, fish have moved further offshore since the weekend winds. Trollers have recently had success catching chinooks and a few rainbows and coho in 90 to 140 feet of water. Perch fishing has slowed in Kenosha for both boats and shore anglers. A few brown trout have been caught in the harbor, but those have been few and far between.
Walleye fishing is still going good on the Wolf River in Waupaca County. Drag a half of a night crawler on the bottom and you'll have a chance at some great success. Crappies are starting to bite too.
Anglers on the Wisconsin River have been finding good smallmouth bass fishing in Columbia and Sauk counties now that waters have returned to near normal stage. Topwater lures seem to be the key.
On the Rock River, catfish are still being caught as well as some panfish. Some catfish are being found dead along that river so DNR is asking anyone finding a fresh specimen or a catfish near death to contact local fisheries staff so they can obtain a sample for testing to try to pinpoint the problem.
The cicadas are out and calling throughout the afternoon hours and it's a great time for butterfly watching. Monarchs and yellow swallowtails have been seen in numbers as well on various wildflowers like compass plant, bergamot, and cup plant.
Reports of deer are picking up. At Willow River State Park in west central Wisconsin, the deer fawns are losing their spots. Look for a doe and two fawns on the hillsides not far below the boat launch along the road. They tend to be out around evening meal time.
At Brunet Island State Park, it's been birds, birds, birds. Bald eagles, kingfishers, scarlet tanagers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, great blue herons, red winged blackbirds, sandhill cranes, red polls, and robins are just the start of the list staff have reported.
Wildflowers are putting on a show as well.
An updated web page Natural Resources Monthly, links to more information about August phenology, activities at their peak this time of the year, including butterfly watching, and online resources to help find new outdoors experiences and information to enjoy. Go to DNR's home page at dnr.wi.gov and look on the left-hand side for "natural resources."
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.
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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. Moderate temperatures and low humidity 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 (28 to 40 inches). The fish seemed to be active along the weed edges and deep break lines, with jerks baits and swim baits being the most productive. Any time of day has produced action. Local weather conditions were the key. A weekend musky tournament on Butternut Lake, just outside of Park Falls produced some very good action for participating anglers. A total of 23 legal fish were tallied during the two-day tourney, with the largest 44 inches long. The winning team notched five legal musky -- all caught within an hour and a half's time, with the second and third place teams both doubling up. Most anglers, though, reported quite a bit of activity,-with many sub-legals caught and released, a lot of follows and short hits, and a fair number of legal -sized fish being lost at the boat. Action for both largemouth and smallmouth bass has been consistent and some very nice fish have been caught and released in the last week. Largemouth 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 wood or tight to the bog/marsh edges. Smallmouth have been a bit tough to find in the lakes but action continued to be good on the flowages and larger rivers. Soft plastics have been the favorite baits and the fish have been relating to wood near deeper water areas. Walleye action has also picked up a notch and a few anglers have been reporting some very nice catches. Leeches and crawlers fished on the mid-lake rock humps and along the weed edges have produced most of the fish. Panfish action continues to be fair. Larger perch have been a little tough to find but some decent catches of bluegill, crappie and rock bass have been reported. - Skip Sommerfeldt, fisheries biologist, Park Falls
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NORTHEAST REGION
Shawano and Brown counties - The cicadas are out and calling throughout the afternoon hours. Not sure which of the 76 species we have calling right now, but they are in fine form regardless. It is also a great year for butterflies. Recently I have seen large groups of them hanging out under apple trees eating on fruit that has fallen and is rotting. The high winds of last week blew a fair amount of fruit off the trees, both apples and plums, and the bees and butterflies have been reaping the benefits of this earlier than usual crop. Monarchs and yellow swallowtails have been seen in numbers as well on various wildflowers like compass plant, bergamot, and cup plant. Does and their fawns are starting to get into patterns of morning feeding in the same field day after day. People who are interested in watching deer should also consider participating in the summer deer observation survey done by DNR. - Jean Romback-Bartels, acting northeastern region director, Green Bay
Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
Marinette County - A drive home from Green Bay to Eagle River through the Peshtigo River State Forest, Governor Thompson State Park, the Pike Wild River and the Nicolet-Chequamegon National Forest offered ample opportunities to see wildlife. I saw a partridge (not in a pear tree, but in the middle of the road); two wild turkey hens with seven polts; a wild turkey tom; a doe with her fawn; a buck in velvet; a buck with two does; the whitetail of an unknown deer as it leaped off; a cute black bear cub and another small black bear approximately 15 miles west of the bear cub.- Kristin Hess, real estate specialist, Green Bay
Oconto County - Phragmites is now starting to bolt in several counties in the Northeast region. Bolt means that the seed heads are starting to emerge. They are easy to pick out with their dark purple hue and they are actively growing. For those out there wanting to know when to treat it -- now is the time! I'm out flying the shoreline today to take a look at infestations of where aerial spraying will occur very soon. From the air, these plants are very easy to pick out. Our estimates of 3,300 acres along the shoreline is very close, and a lot of phragmites is targeted for an herbicide treatment along the shoreline. We have gotten an excellent positive response from the public to get rid of this highly aggressive weed from the now exposed lakebed. Spraying will occur once all approvals are in place. We are anticipating aerial spraying to occur around Labor Day. The ground work may start at the end of August once all approvals are granted. - Heidi Springborn, phragmites control coordinator, Green Bay
Green Bay DNR Service Center area
Manitowoc County - Strong west winds Tuesday switched to the southwest at 10 to 15 miles per hour with gusts up to 20 mph consistent through Friday. Winds switched out of the north Saturday at 10 to 15 and switched to east-northeast for Sunday. Air temperatures remained steady in the lower 70s along the lakeshore. The west winds during the week dropped the water temperatures several degrees, but temperatures still remain at 67 to 70 degrees throughout the area. The weekend was relatively quiet with 2-4 foot rollers reported by the few boats that ventured out. The fishing slowed down by the weekend for rainbow trout, with many coolers carrying small chinook salmon and rainbows all less than five pounds. Throughout the week, boaters consistently targeted 120 to 200 feet of water, with fish coming in as shallow as 70 feet of water. This depth ranged from north of Two Rivers to the dome south of Manitowoc. A few boats earlier in the week continued to have success in 400 to 500 feet of water for rainbows, with a few nice chinooks landed out deep as well. Glow easter egg, glow and regular watermelon, blue dolphin, and several different orange spoons on 5 and 10 colors of leadcore, dypsies, and riggers worked for rainbows and chinook. Also run green/green dodger/fly combos on the riggers 60 to 90 feet down for chinook. Pier fishing remains quiet with no known trout or salmon caught this week off of both Two Rivers and Manitowoc. The few perch anglers trying the Manitowoc harbor had some success this week. A few perch were caught in the 8-12 inch range fishing slightly off the bottom using plastic jigs tipped with a small piece of night crawler. If you observe any violations, please call 1-800-TIP-WDNR (1-800-847-9367).- Craig Gates, fisheries technician, Mishicot
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Door County - Anglers fishing perch in Sturgeon Bay have been finding good success fishing between the bridges in town. Also some perch are being caught in Sawyer Harbor in 8-10 feet of water. Small perch minnows or night crawlers have been the hot bait. Bass fishing was hit or miss last week with most anglers finding larger fish in deeper water. A few anglers have been fishing musky in Little Sturgeon Bay with limited success. Most are reporting a few follows, but very few fish actually committing. Musky fishermen are also reporting catching a few nice sized northern pike. Perch have been slow with most anglers targeting deep weed lines. Walleye fishing has been consistent on Larson's Reef with most fish being caught in 15 to 20 feet of water. Chaudoir's Dock County Park is now open and anglers are starting to catch fish. Perch anglers have been finding numbers of smaller fish, but most anglers are catching a meal's-worth of keepers per trip. Walleye have been biting as well with anglers trolling or drifting for them. In Bayshore Park, perch have slowed some since last week with most anglers catching a few keepers. Anglers have been targeting 15 to 20 feet of water for the best success. Perch anglers have been catching numerous catfish and drum as well. A small jig tipped with a minnow has been producing the most perch. Walleye fishing has been consistent the last few weeks with anglers catching them while trolling harnesses. The best water depth seems to change by the day so some experimentation is needed. Pier anglers have reported fishing being slow, with drum and gobies making up the bulk of the catches. On the Fox River, Anglers have been fishing walleye with some success; most have been drifting while vertical jigging. Anglers are catching big numbers of catfish and drum as well. Shore anglers have caught a few perch but most have been small. On the Suamico River, walleye fishing has been good with anglers trolling harnesses to catch fish. Most have been targeting 15 feet of water. Some perch are being caught as well. - Nick Everson, fisheries technician, Green Bay
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SOUTHEAST REGION
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County - Ramp fishing pressure has gone from high to low. The catch rate has also slowed down. Anglers have been scattered out on the lake anywhere from 70 feet to 200 feet. Spoons have been the best lure that has had some success at getting fish to bite. The best colors for spoons have been purple or red. Chinook salmon has been the main catch followed by some rainbows and a few lake trout. Sheboygan pier fishing pressure has been light as well, and the catch rate has remained poor for trout, salmon and yellow perch. The water temperature was around 68 degrees F ahrenheit and the water has become muddy. Most trout and salmon fisherman have been casting spoons.
Ozaukee County - Port Washington ramp fishing pressure has been light. The catch rate has remained slow. Green, purple, or white spoons being trolled anywhere from 60 ft to 175 f eet have produced some fish. Chinooks have been the main catch. In Port Washington Piers-Fishing pressure has been light and the catch rate has remained slow. Trout and salmon fishing has been non-existent, while yellow perch fishing has remained slow. The muddy water pier temperature was around 66 Fahrenheit. Port Washington shore fishing pressure has been light to moderate at times and the catch rate is hit or miss. Some rainbow trout have been reported, and caught by fisherman using minnows off the bottom. Yellow perch fishing has been hit or miss, fisherman are using minnows. The water temperature was 68 Fahrenheit. - Top Moon Lee, fisheries technician, Plymouth
Milwaukee County - The fishing off Milwaukee has changed over the past several days. Trollers had been catching decent numbers of chinook and rainbows and a few coho and lake trout in 60 to 90 feet of water, but the weekend wind has made fish more difficult to target. Shore fishing remains slow around most of the Milwaukee area, and perch fishing has tapered off for both shore anglers and boaters.
Racine County - In Racine since the lake has settled down, trollers have been catching chinooks along with a few rainbows and coho. Most fish have been found in 80 to 140 feet of water, and flashers and flies as well as spoons have produced. Green glow-in-the-dark, purple, and blue spoons have produced, as well as blue and green flies. Perch fishing has dwindled in Racine, and shore fishing for trout and salmon remains slow as well.
Kenosha County - In Kenosha fish have moved further offshore since the weekend winds. Trollers have recently had success catching Chinooks and a few rainbows and coho in 90 to 140 feet of water. Perch fishing has slowed in Kenosha for both boats and shore anglers. A few brown trout have been caught in the harbor, but those have been few and far between. - Cheryl Masterson, fisheries technician, Milwaukee
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SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Fitchburg DNR Service Center area
Dane County - Ginseng, early goose and dove seasons start Sept. 1, 2011. Geese have been actively working picked fields. Doves are bunching up. - James Grudzinski, conservation warden, Fitchburg
Columbia and Sauk counties - With the opening of the mourning dove season Sept. 1, dove hunters are reminded to make sure that they have an adequate supply of non-toxic shot if they plan on hunting state or federal wildlife management areas. Non-toxic shot is required when hunting doves on DNR managed lands and when hunting on federal properties such as national wildlife refuges that allow hunting, and on Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs). Anglers on the Wisconsin River have been finding good smallmouth bass fishing in Columbia and Sauk counties now that waters have returned to near normal stage. Topwater lures seem to be the key. - David Holmes, conservation warden team supervisor, Poynette
Rock County - Catfish are still being caught along the Rock River. Some panfish are being caught around Janesville also on the Rock River. Some catfish are being found dead along the Rock River and thus far it is unknown for sure what is happening to the catfish. Anyone finding fresh specimens or a catfish that is near death is encouraged to contact DNR fisheries staff so they can obtain a sample for testing to try to pinpoint the problem. - Michael Dieckhoff, conservation warden, Janesville
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WEST CENTRAL REGION
Baldwin DNR Service Center area
Willow River State Park - Is "Sweat-walking" season finally over with? Somewhat more average temperatures have returned but the rain has not let off. There's no predicting what effect the rain will have on the Willow River since the rain was not evenly spread across the area. Some places are as green as if it were May. In 13 years of work here, this reporter does not recall much of a presence of flying insects that annoy people on trails away from the river. They're out on the Oak Ridge Trail and most everywhere else, mosquitoes and no-see-ums. If you are going to stand around and look at things along trails, which most visitors are prone to doing, bug juice is a good idea. It works on the underside of a hat brim and on a shirt collar, rather than applied directly to skin. The ticks are still inactive. The deer fawns are losing their spots. Look for a doe and two fawns on the hillsides not far below the boat launch along the road. They tend to be out around evening meal time. It should be snapping turtle time soon when the new ones hatch. Some of those nests are probably right in the trails near water. With the Minnesota State Fair beginning soon, day use has a history of dropping off. If you have been put off by the weekend crowding, there are usually fewer people around at fair time, except Labor Day weekend. As of Aug. 14, there are still some campsites available for Labor Day weekend. None are open in the 300 loop and most are not electric sites-as of August 14. Most of the available site will not have shade. Please honor the handicap only restriction if those sites are open and reserve a different campsite. - Jeffrey Bolte, visitor services associate, Willow River State Park
Eau Claire DNR Service Center area
Chippewa County - Brunet Island State Park is open from 8:30 am to 8:30 p.m. every day. The Canada geese goslings are quite numerous this year and are growing quickly. The adults are molting. Birds we have been seeing or hearing include: bald eagles, kingfishers, scarlet tanagers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, great blue herons, red winged blackbirds, sandhill cranes, red polls, robins, mallard and bufflehead ducks, mourning doves, ravens, black capped chickadees, northern juncos, piliated and red headed woodpeckers, barred and great horned owls. Harebell, common milkweed, water smartweed, rabbits foot clover, marsh hedge nettle, the water lilies, some of the aster varieties, orange hawkweed and wooly yarrow are flowering. Hikers have many great opportunities within the park. Whether it's using the island's trail system, exploring the wilder areas of the park, or a brisk walk on the park road, you're sure to enjoy these beautiful woodlands. The south campground is open year-round with electric sites, hand water pump, and pit toilets available. Its showers and dump station are open. The north campground is open with pit toilets and hand water pump available. - Dave Hladilek, ranger, Brunet Island State Park
Waupaca County - Walleyes are still going good on the Wolf River in Waupaca County. Drag a half of a night crawler on the bottom and you'll have a chance at some great success. Crappies are starting to bite too, find some timber in the water and bring minnows. - Bryan R. Lockman, conservation warden, New London
