Wisconsin Statewide fishing report 4.1.10The warm weather has caused ice to go out on lakes nearly two weeks before average. Lakes are now open through northern Wisconsin, with only the largest lakes still holding any ice, and even they are expected to open by this weekend. Walleyes have begun spawning on northern lakes and Wisconsin?s Chippewa Indian tribes began spearfishing the night of March 31.
Anglers are reporting that fish are being caught in the Bois Brule River but it sounds like it is the resident fish being caught, with nor reports of Lake Superior run steelhead so far. Along Lake Michigan, anglers on the Sheboygan River have been catching steelhead and browns. A few steelhead have been taken in upstream stretches of Sauk Creek on yarn flies. Anglers fishing the Milwaukee River have been catching a few browns and rainbows. Flows are low on the Menomonee River and Oak Creek, but some steelhead have been taken from both. Water levels and clarity are good on the Root River and fair numbers of steelhead and browns have been found. The Root River Steelhead Facility processed 183 steelhead on Monday, March 29.
Brule River State Forest ?
Anglers are reporting that fish are being caught in the Bois Brule River but it sounds like it is the resident fish being caught?so far no reports of steelhead from the lake. It is also reported that most of the fish that are being caught are "spawned out." The above average temperatures that the northland has been experiencing recently have given many of the spring events a head start. Killdeer, chipping sparrows, sandhill cranes, and red-winged black birds are back. Wood frogs are calling with their "quack like" calls and spring peepers are beginning to peep from their wetland homes. Turkeys can also be heard with their loud, distance covering gobbles. Red tail, rough-legged, and marsh hawks, woodcock, and tundra swans are migrating through. Lakes are either open or close to being open of ice. This is getting many people thinking about getting their boats registrations renewed. Boat registrations or renewals can be done by filling out a boat registration form found at local DNR offices, registering or renewing online at
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/cs/registrations/wivrs/ , or stopping by a DNR validation station
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/cs/registrations/snowatvstations.htm .
Sheboygan County -
In Sheboygan, fishing on the Pigeon River has been slow, but anglers on the Sheboygan have been catching steelhead and browns throughout the river. Spawn and spinners have both taken fish. A few rainbows and browns have also been caught off the south pier on spawn sacs and crank baits.
Ozaukee County -
In Port Washington a couple of lake trout have been taken on shiners off the pier. A few steelhead have been taken in upstream stretches of Sauk Creek on yarn flies and spawn sacs.
Milwaukee County -
In Milwaukee anglers fishing the Milwaukee River along the wall under the Hoan bridge have been catching a few browns and rainbows, as well as perch. Spawn and small shiners have produced the most fish. Flows are low on the Menomonee River and Oak Creek, but some steelhead have been taken from both. In the Milwaukee River anglers have been catching fair numbers of steelhead on yarn flies at Kletzsch Park.
Racine County -
In Racine water levels and clarity on the Root River are good. Fair numbers of steelhead and browns have been found throughout the river. Fish have been found both in deep holes and shallow, faster moving water. Drifting spawn sacs or small tube jigs has been effective in the deeper holes, and fly anglers have had the most success with small egg patterns. Fish were processed at the Root River Steelhead Facility on Monday, March 29. Both Chambers Creek and Ganaraska eggs were taken, and 183 steelhead were passed upstream. The next processing day will be Monday, April 5. Fishing in the Racine harbor has been slow.
Kenosha County -
In Kenosha flows on the Pike River are low, and steelhead fishing has been rather slow. In the harbor anglers are catching a few steelhead and browns on white tube jigs or spawn sacs.
Willow River State Park -
The Willow River is flowing at an early summer level and clarity, a rare treat for trout anglers this time of year. The lake opened up completely on Saturday. All trails are open and dry although rain is predicted. The campground road will open to vehicle traffic on April 16. Water will be on in the toilets, showers, and dump station will be open April 29. Campers wishing to use the campground before April 16 will need to carry in a tent from the road. The new campground up near the office opens later in the year. Reserve America is working on the Willow River campground maps and on the web site so they are not taking any reservations for Willow River until April 7. Those with reservations at Willow River have had their camp site number changed, not the site itself. If your reservation was for site # 70, that site number has changed to #368. Reserve America will be contacting all that already have reservations. When you check in for the campsite, the key information we need is your name, more than the site number. Please have your reservation number along as well. With the coming camping season and the resumption of construction work, two of the parking lots used for cool weather access to trails will be closing to day users. The group camp lot will be closing to all but group campers and the lot at the ?200? campground near the old office will be closed for construction work. The new office lot is not a trail head so visitors will need to use lots farther down in the park to access trails. Signs will be posted or access blocked as the camping and construction resumes.
La Crosse
All gates are wide open at the Dresbach dam so the Mississippi River is flowing high and fast. Anglers need to find quieter areas out of the main channel current to fish. A few walleyes are being taken below the Neshonac dam on the La Crosse river where the game fish season is open all year. Waters above the Neshonac dam do not open for game fish until the first Saturday of May. The fish refuge area below the Onalaska spillway is closed until April 26.
Merrick State Park -
Fishing has been slow. The river has crested and is now receding but remains high. The dock will be installed after the water returns to normal. The north campground is open. The south and island campgrounds are closed until the water recedes. The trails are in good condition. The flush toilet/shower building is still closed. Water is available at the main office.
Crawford County -
The Mississippi River continues to rise very slowly. Last week the river was at the 13.8 foot mark. Currently the Mississippi River is at 14.67 feet and rising. The forecast for the Mississippi River is a very slow rise before cresting out later this week around the 15 foot mark. All the ice is now gone on all backwaters. Most of the boat landings along the Mississippi River and its back waters are difficult to use. Some are even closed due to the high water. The Kickapoo and Wisconsin Rivers are in good shape for this time of year.
Fishing activity is as follows:
Prairie du Chien Area?s Lower bottoms and Ambro Slough Complex:
The high water makes fishing a bit difficult around the Prairie du Chien area. Swift current is makes panfish hard to find. Generally the panfishing scene is quiet in the area. Some anglers are trying slack water areas with limited success. Walleye and sauger anglers have been trying the mouth of the Wisconsin River with some success. Heavy jigs are required because of the current. Some anglers have been trying the Roseau Slough area for walleyes with limited success. The deep hole in the East Channel across from Lawler Park has been quiet for walleye and sauger.
Cold Spring: Fishing here remains very slow and the ice is gone. Reports of a few small bluegill and an occasional crappie have been reported by those fishing from boats. Cold Spring is considered inland water. The game fish season closed on Monday March 8th. Some have been fishing outside the tracks on the Mississippi River that is open to fishing all year. Some walleye and bass action has been reported along the railroad tracks.
Mississippi River: The boat landing at Gordon?s Bay is closed because of the high water. Some anglers are launching further south near the intersection of CTH D and STH 35. A small stream, which connects to the big river is full of water and even bigger boats can be launched there. Fishing activity below the dam has been spotty. Some decent walleyes have been taken along with some smaller sauger, mainly early in the morning and later in the day. Anglers will have to use heavier jigs to get to the bottom. Perch activity has been spotty but some real nice fish are being taken. Most of the perch action is along the long wall at the dam or on the Iowa side of the river. Anglers are dead lining with night crawlers for perch. Also, a few northern pike have been caught.
Minocqua Area Fishing Report
This should be it! There were nine (9) anglers on Big Arb this morning (3/29), it was cold enough Sunday through Monday to actually build ice on the pond. This past Friday when temps dropped to single digits Big Arb was MAKING ice.. Booming loud enough so anglers couldn't hear themselves talk. It through the bite off, but picked up pretty well come Saturday.
If Tuesday isn't the last day of safe ice, Wednesday will be.
No reports of smelt or suckers running yet.
Information compiled from the WDNR Outdoor report and private sources
