Wisconsin Outdoor Report as of July 6, 2006
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General | Northern Region | Northeast Region | Southeast Region | South Central Region | West Central Region
Although most of Wisconsin received some rain in the past week, conditions remain very dry in north central, northwestern and central Wisconsin. Fire danger levels are now at high level across much of the state. Water levels on streams and rivers in the north is quite low, with many paddlers having to pull boats through riffles and many rapids too low to navigate. However, the pleasant weather over the holiday still brought out many outdoor enthusiasts and boating activity was high on many lakes and rivers. Water temperatures were reaching the low 80s on some northern lakes. Many lakes are seeing some dense weed growth in the shallows and blooms of filamentous algae are also showing up on top of these weeds.
Fishing success has been generally good, but many anglers have switched to artificial baits because of the difficulty of keeping live bait alive in the warm water. Largemouth and smallmouth bass have been providing the most consistent action. Bass are settling into their typical summer patterns. Largemouth have been holding fairly tight to thick woody cover and smallmouth having also been moving to the mid-depth woody cover. Musky action has been slowly improving, with some 40-plus-inch fish reported in the last week. Bucktails and top water baits have been some favorite baits. Walleye success has been erratic. Panfish action has been generally good, with some nice catches of crappie and bluegill coming from suspended fish near mid-depth cover.
Boating activity on southern lakes increased dramatically with the warm weather over the Fourth of July holiday. Anglers were fishing mostly just early or late. Anglers continued to catch bluegills in approximately 15 feet of water. The best success has been on leeches and small jigs with a wax worm. Anglers continued to have success with largemouth and smallmouth bass. The best success has been on the out side of weed beds.
Walleye activity has still been good on Lake Winnebago reefs, Lake Poygan, and on the Wolf and Fox rivers. Some good white bass activity was being reported on Lake Winneconne. Anglers fishing the River were hooking walleyes on leeches, while panfish were still being found in the bayous.
Salmon and trout anglers trolling Lake Michigan had another good week with nice catches of chinook salmon, brown trout, and rainbow trout. Fishing from piers continued to be slow. Water levels on Green Bay are very low, but have come up in recent weeks and there have been reports of some algae outbreaks along Green Bay shorelines.
Anyone outdoors last Friday evening on and along the Mississippi River certainly noticed a huge swarm of mayflies, but the hatch that actually large enough to be captured on the National Weather Service's Doppler radar in La Crosse, which tracked the swarm drifting north with time. Along the length of the river channel.
Whitetail antler development is progressing and bucks sporting some nice racks have been reported. Resident Canada geese are nearing the end of their molt and are beginning to fly after a few weeks of being flightless. Ospreys young are still being seen in the nest but they are getting ready to fledge. Frogs still being hear include green frogs, bull frogs, still some eastern gray-tree frogs and mink frogs. The most often frog heard at this time of year is the green frog with its banjo call strumming away.
Jack pine budworm damage is beginning to show up in the north. What looked like healthy trees a couple of months ago now look orange from the budworm chewing through the needles causing them to dry out. The budworm is a native insect that experiences cyclical outbreaks every 10 to 12 years.
Raspberry development continues and some good picking should be found when the berries ripen. Blueberries are ripening in Vilas County, and the first reports sound very promising with very large fruit. Timely rains have given the plants the much needed boost. A wide range of prairie plants are blooming including yellow coneflower, compass plant, purple prairie clover, ox-eye sunflower, butterfly weed, cup plant, leadplant, rosinweed, rattlesnake master, spiderwort and prairie blazing star.
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.
NORTHERN REGION
Superior DNR Service Center area
Brule River State Forest - Dry conditions continue to remain in the Brule area. For the month of June the total rainfall was 1.97 inches (the historical average for June is 3.79 inches). The year to date precipitation is 10.24 inches (3.5 inches under the historical average of 13.79 inches). The extended forecast calls for more dry, nice days ahead with a slight chance of thunderstorms on Saturday. The native Turk's-cap lily, small purple fringed orchid, and black-eyed Susans are blooming. The non-native Saint-Johns-wort, rabbit foot clover, and butter-and-eggs are also blooming. Raspberries are ripening. Fire danger is at moderate to high (depending on the area of Douglas and Bayfield counties). The dry conditions are apparent as one drives along the roadsides. The ferns and grasses are showing signs of stress by turning yellow. The dry conditions are affecting the Bois Brule River also. The River was flowing at 105 cubic feet per second (cfs) early this week, the 61 year average for this time of year is 154 cfs. The low river conditions did not stop the canoeists and kayakers over the Fourth of July weekend. The Bois Brule River saw quite a bit of activity throughout the long weekend due to the beautiful weather. Jack pine budworm damage is beginning to be seen from the Iron River area up to the Chequamegon National Forest. What looked like healthy trees a couple of months ago now look orange from the budworm chewing through the needles causing them to dry out. This damage can result in the tops of the trees dying or killing the entire tree (older trees are more susceptible to long term damage). The budworm is a native insect that experiences cyclical outbreaks every 10 to 12 years. Archers are reminded that there is an archery trail located at the site of the Afterhours Cross Country Ski Trail just west of Brule along Hwy 2 at the junction of Hwy. 2 and Afterhours Road. The course is a 29-target, walk-through course, with shots ranging from 10 yards to 70 yards. Field points must be used on the excelsior backstops. A sand pit to shoot broad heads is located behind the warming house. An archery club has been started up for anyone interested in improving the trail. Score cards are available at the trailhead.
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
The Park Falls area experienced pleasant weather over the holiday and outdoor enthusiasts had a fun weekend. The Flambeau River water levels are low and paddlers are experiencing some minor difficulty in a few areas. Boating activity was heavy over the holiday weekend as visitors enjoyed water sports. Anglers were having better success during morning and evening hours, though some panfish were being caught during the day near weed edges and areas with structure and cover. Musky anglers report fair success with some fish in the 40-inch range being caught. Bass fishing continues to be good on the Flambeau River, but walleye success has not been as steady. Numerous young waterfowl are being seen on area lakes and many visitors have enjoyed watching the young loons with their parents. Daisies, black-eyed Susan, chicory and Queen Anne .s lace are just a few of the flowers visible on the landscape. Wetland areas are beautifully decorated with blooming water lilies. Raspberry development continues and some good picking should be found when the berries ripen. Whitetail antler development is progressing and bucks sporting some nice racks have been reported. ATV enthusiasts are active on trails and some area trails can be quite busy, please ride safely. Wardens are contacting many adult ATV riders on public trails accompanied by children that are not wearing helmets. Children under 12 are required to wear a helmet at all times while riding on areas open to public use. Children at least age 12 but under age18 are required to wear a helmet when riding on areas open to public use except when traveling for the purpose of hunting or fishing. Please protect yourself and young riders.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - Generaly dry conditions persist across much of northwest Wisconsin, with most lakes and streams continuing to experience very low water levels. Many lakes are seeing some dense weed growth in the shallows and blooms of filamentous algae are also showing up on top of these weeds. Low river levels are also limiting recreational activities and canoeists are having to walk through many of the rapids and riffle areas. Fishing success has been generally good with largemouth and smallmouth bass providing the most consistent action. Largemouth bass are settling into their typical summer patterns and have been holding fairly tight to thick woody cover. Some good action has also been seen in the early morning hours on top water baits fished over the dense weed beds. Smallmouth bass having also been moving to the mid-depth woody cover and some nice catches have been made on small, finesse plastics and crayfish-type baits. Musky action has been slowly improving, with some low 40-inch fish reported in the last few days. Bucktails and top water baits have been some favorite baits of late. Walleye success has been erratic, with a few nice catches coming on leeches fished in and along weeds edges near dark. Panfish action has been generally good, with some nice catches of crappie and bluegill coming from suspended fish near mid-depth cover.
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
A recent cold front and a series of storms moving through the area have adversely affected fishing. Some catches of panfish continue to be the savior for many of this week .s anglers. There were numerous reports of active bass; however most are sub-legal in length. Musky anglers have reported fairly good action over mud flats on area flowages. Weed growth and water temperatures are about normal for this time of year. Be sure to check boats and trailers for any types of weeds that may be attached prior to launching. Playing your part by removing this aquatic vegetation could be the difference between keeping a lake free of invasives and infesting the water. Blueberries are ripening in Vilas County, and the first reports sound very promising with very large fruit. Timely rains have given the plants the much needed boost. Antler development on the bucks is now very visible. There have been numerous reports of turkey and grouse broods seen in the area. Be cautious of deer crossing roads; more often than not the fawns are close behind. A reminder to hikers and others who just like to walk around in the woods . the wild parsnip is blooming. This is a plant that people do not want to encounter and should be added to the list of items to avoid, along with poison ivy, oak and sumac. The wild parsnip contains a juice that causes severe burns to the skin when exposed to the ultraviolet light rays from the sun. The skin reacts by producing blisters that can last for several weeks and produces a brown scarring on the skin that can also last for months, or even years. Once the plant dies and dries, it ceases to emit the juice and cannot cause a reaction when in that state. The plant is tall with yellow clusters of flowering stems that are about four feet in height. The wild parsnip usually towers above the natural vegetation surrounding it. Area service centers have small, descriptive cards available to the public that will help in identification of this and other problem plants and insects. Anyone who comes in contact with this plant, should cover their skin right away until they can wash the affected area with soap and water. To help minimize the effects of the exposure, cover the contaminated area with a cool, wet cloth. Do not rupture any blisters that may appear. The blisters usually do not itch, nor do they spread. If the blisters do eventually rupture, let the skin remain over the area for as long as you can. Keep the affected area clean and use an antiseptic cream to help prevent infection.
NORTHEAST REGION
Green Bay DNR Service Center area
Manitowoc County - In Manitowoc, salmon and trout anglers trolling Lake Michigan had a good week with nice catches of Chinook salmon, brown trout, and rainbow trout. Anglers found a lot of success fishing the shallower depths between 30 and 60 feet where the water temperature and wind conditions made for good fishing conditions. Anglers fishing from the south pier had a slow week, but were having some action fishing a few hours before sunrise. Inside the harbor, perch fishing has been a little slow, although the perch harvested were between 10 and 12 inches in length. In Two Rivers, anglers trolling Lake Michigan had a good week for Chinook salmon. Additionally some anglers returned to port with some nice rainbow trout, lake trout and coho salmon. Anglers fishing from the piers did not have a good week of fishing with only a few salmon and trout caught. Fishing inside the harbor has been steady for bullheads and carp. Smallmouth and crappie anglers had a fair week with a few nice catches.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Door County
Peninsula State Park - Water levels in the Bay are still very low, but have come up in recent weeks. There have been reports of some outbreaks of Cladophora algae along Green Bay shorelines, including the park. The park had large crowds for the Fourth of July weekend. There are no campsites available through the weekend. Campers are reminded that fireworks are prohibited in state parks. All trails are in great shape, but somewhat wet in low areas. Mosquitoes are abundant in some parts of the park.
Kewaunee County - The weather this week was mostly humid and sunny, with a few heavy storms passing through. Weather forecasted for the first week of July is mostly sunny with little chance of precipitation. Water temperatures remain in the upper 50s. Overall, not much has changed this week for anglers trolling Lake Michigan for salmon and trout. Some days have been better than others, but anglers continue to bring in decent numbers of chinook, coho, rainbow and a few lake trout as well. Similar to last week, boats have been concentrating in depths of 100-180 feet of water. Some charters are having success in deeper water around the 200 + foot range. Chinooks have been active anywhere from the surface to 100 feet down while rainbow trout have been caught from the surface to 60 feet of water. Dodger/fly combinations and spoons continue to produce equally. Green and white dodgers behind green, aqua, chartreuse, flies continue to be the hot colors this week. Dipseys have been producing well. Spoons in orange, blue, or green have also been producing. Shore fishing, for salmon and trout, continues to be rather slow throughout Kewaunee County. However, some anglers fished along time and did pick up a few rainbows and browns fishing with alewives or spoons.
Wautoma DNR Service Center area
With the July 4th holiday being on Tuesday, the weekend was broken up so boating pressure dropped sharply from Sunday through Monday. The boating pressure did increase on Tuesday but with many people already home, tourists numbers were down. Fishing in the Wautoma Team area has been slow with some success on panfish being seen. Actual fishing numbers has been lower than in other years. Good compliance has been seen for boating regulations with high traffic on some waters but few violations seen. Some operating while intoxicated citations were made.
Oshkosh DNR Service Center area
Walleye activity has still been good on live bait on Lake Winnebago near Garlic Island and north of Garlic Island in and near Mansur Reef, Haystack Reef, Stevens Reef and Lighthouse Reef. Trolling in the deeper waters was producing walleyes. Also, walleyes were being caught on crawler harnesses about 4.5 miles north of the mouth of the Fox River. Perch were just getting started to bite, with some activity off of the west shore. The ranged in size from 6 to 7.5 inches, with bigger ones being found near Fond du Lac off of Cemetery Road. On Lake Poygan, walleye activity was good as a whole with the south end producing best results with crank bait. Pretty good white bass activity was being observed on Lake Winneconne off of bridges. There was also some bluegill action in the shoreline and channels. On Lake Butte Des Morts, some 20-plus-pound flathead catfish were being pulled-in on night crawlers and stink bait. Anglers fishing at Rainbow Park on the Fox River reported some crappie action in the early morning hours from 4 to 7 a.m. Trolling along the Hwy. 41 bridge was producing 15- to 15.5-inch walleyes on night crawlers. Anglers fishing the Wolf River were hooking walleyes on leeches, while panfish were still being found in the bayous.
Oshkosh wildlife management staff banded 260 giant Canada geese in western Fond du Lac and southern Winnebago counties last week. Canada geese are molting their flight feathers right now, so we can round up the flightless birds and put the leg bands on them. Banding was also done in the Green Bay and Horicon areas. Wildlife staff are banding these geese to get a better idea of where birds move to. Recaptures and band returns by hunters help us to determine movements of these geese. Observers are starting to see turkey broods. Fawns are now more visible, often venturing out with the doe. Young swallows are flying like pros and city ducklings are being rescued from city sewer grates.
Lakeshore Area (Calumet, Brown and Outagamie counties) - With the onset of July, many of the prairie species are now flowering. Many of the public lands within the Northeast Region over the past 10 to 15 years have been planted to a wide range of prairie forbs (broad-leafed plants) for diversity and for nesting cover. These are yellow coneflower, compass plant, purple prairie clover, ox-eye sunflower, butterfly weed, cup plant, leadplant, rosinweed, rattlesnake master, spiderwort and prairie blazing star. Besides bringing nesting value, these plants bring a wealth of insects for wildlife to forage on or to seek nectar sources. Esthetics of these colorful plants are a wonderful way to feast one .s eyes on the great outdoors and to enjoy a great outing. A great area to view restored prairie sites is the Killsnake Wildlife Area in Calumet County. The beautiful start for the week has brought bright sunshine and dry weather. The third period for frogs calling throughout Wisconsin has started. Frogs heard during this time period are green frogs, bull frogs, still some eastern gray-tree frogs and mink frogs in the far northern counties. The most often frog heard at this time of year is the green frog with its banjo call strumming away. While fireworks are shooting all around, people should be careful for some species of wildlife. Where bird houses and nesting are occurring, avoid firing any fireworks nearby. This adds to the stress for cavity nesting birds as they are trying to fledge their young. Birds affected are bluebirds, tree swallows, great-crested flycatchers, purple martins, woodpeckers and chick-a-dees. Resident Canada geese are now beginning to fly after a few weeks of being flightless. These waterfowl have been increasing within the state over the past decade and are a common site in many of our urban areas. It is also a signal that we have reached the halfway point in the summer season. While the rain earlier in the year has created some areas with biting insect problems, during the daylight hours it is pleasant to walk on wildlife areas to view a wide variety of wildlife utilizing these properties. Ospreys are still present on Brillion Wildlife Area and can be viewed at the Brillion Nature Center near the marsh overlook. Young were seen still in the nest getting ready to fledge and make their maiden flight. Any mudflats that are now being exposed because of the drier weather are a welcome sight for shorebirds probing into the mud or finding snails or invertebrates within the shallow water areas. Last of all be on the lookout for purple loosestrife, which is beginning to flower. Make notes of where it is on the landscape and report it to a local DNR biologist or master gardener. Many people are now placing biocontrols on these plants to control the spread of it as well as to reduce the species.
SOUTHEAST REGION
Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan fishing off the piers has been slow for perch, but occasional brown trout have been caught at night on alewives fished on the bottom. Sheboygan trollers have been catching mostly chinooks, with a few coho and rainbows mixed in. Most fish have been taken in 80 to 100 feet of water on a dodgers and flies, spoons, and J-plugs in a variety of colors. Eastern kingbirds are still feeding young still in the nest (nestlings).
Ozaukee County - In Port Washington shore fishing has been slow, although off the pier occasional perch have been taken at dawn and dusk on small jigs. Trollers have been catching chinooks, along with a few rainbows and coho. The majority of fish have been taken in 70 to 110 feet of water on blue or green flies or spoons.
Milwaukee County - At the Milwaukee lakefront shore fishing has been slow overall, but at Jones Island a few browns have been taken on silver spoons. Boaters launching from Bender Park have been catching limits of jumbo perch on minnows or shrimp at the boils. Milwaukee trollers have been catching a mixed bag of chinooks, coho, and rainbows. Most fish have been caught in 90 to 150 feet of water north of the harbor.
Racine County - In Racine a few rainbows have been caught off the piers on spawn, but perch fishing from shore has been slow. Trollers off Racine have been catching mostly chinooks and coho in 80 to 120 feet of water off Wind Point. Spoons and flies in green, blue, and white have been effective.
Kenosha County - In Kenosha perch anglers fishing from the south pier or at the mouth of Southport Marina have been most successful very early in the day. Boats looking for perch have found some along the breakwall in front of the harbor and at the bubbler. Whether from shore or a boat, minnows and small white jigs have consistently produced the most perch. Kenosha shore anglers have also been catching good numbers of browns in the harbor on silver spoons. Trollers out of Kenosha have been taking chinooks and rainbows in 40 to 80 feet of water, with decent numbers of the chinooks in the 15 . 20 pound range.
Richard Bong State Recreation Area - Fishing has been good on Wolf Lake and a little bit slower on the Urban Pond. Anyone 16 and older fishing at the park needs a license. If you are fishing on the Urban Pond you will also need an Inland Trout Stamp. The Beach and beach house are open, and water quality has been excellent.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Dodgeville DNR Service Center area
Iowa County - Yellow coneflowers (Ratibida pinnata), purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea) and various sunflowers are blooming, to name just a few prairie natives that are visible right now. Many species of butterflies can be seen hovering over the flowers. Ripe mulberries are attracting birds.
Fitchburg DNR Service Center area
Jefferson County - Some bluegill have been biting on Rock Lake and Golden Lake in approximately 15 feet of water. The best success has been on leeches and small jigs with a wax worm. Anglers on Rock Lake are catching some largemouth bass on leeches as well. The best success has been on the west side out from the weed beds. On the Rock and Crawfish rivers fishing success has slowed down significantly. A few catfish were still being caught on chicken livers and night crawlers but they were under half-a-pound in size. The water levels on the upper Rock and Crawfish Rivers have dropped significantly over the past week due to dry weather. Boating activity has increased dramatically with the warm weather and the Fourth of July holiday. Most boat landings are now full on the weekends with parking at a premium.
WEST CENTRAL REGION
La Crosse DNR Service Center area
A large mayfly hatch occurred along the Mississippi River Friday evening, June 30. The hatch began just after sundown, around 9 p.m. and continued through the early morning hours. Those with plans outdoors Friday evening on and along the Mississippi River certainly noticed the huge swarm of mayflies, and their attraction to light. Some roads across the Mississippi River in and around La Crosse were covered with bugs, piling into "drifts" on bridges over the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Local businesses with high intensity lighting soon found large piles of dead mayflies accumulating under the lights by midnight. The hatch was so dense that it was captured on the National Weather Service's doppler radar in La Crosse along the entire length of the river channel. The ambient wind flow was from the south on Friday evening, and the radar tracked the swarm of mayflies drifting north with time.
Black River Falls DNR Service Center area
Fire danger is high in the Black River Falls Area. Be careful with campfires and in outdoor recreation activities.
Monroe County - Anglers did well over the July 4 weekend in Monroe County, with most showing nice catches of panfish, bass, and even a legal musky or two. Many deer fawns have been seen in open areas and along roadsides, but are still in spots. Young geese have achieved all their color and many resident geese area inhabiting the Tomah area. Deer flies and mosquitoes are still a problem though even with the dry weather. Water levels in local ponds appears to be dropping. The area is dry overall and in much need of rain.
Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center area
Buckhorn State Park - Campsites have been filling up on weekends. Canoes and single person kayaks are available for rental. Mosquitoes haven .t been as bad recently as they were in previous weeks. Campers and day users have been enjoying the beach. A cold water rinse shower for washing off sand and algae is in the beach picnic area. Check out the new nature room at the park office! There is still an opening for the accessible cabin Sept. 4-7, 2006. The deadline for the youth deer hunt application is July 15.
Roche-A-Cri State Park - There have been plenty of available campsites during the week and on weekends. Very few mosquitoes out in the park. The picnic shelter by the kiosk/stairway is reservable and has electric, volleyball court and horseshoes. Great weather for hiking the many trails! Remember to take pictures for the annual photo contest!!
