The regular inland fishing season opens this Saturday, on the earliest date possible – May 1 -- but very early spring conditions have fishing conditions more like mid to late May across the state. Ice went out on lakes much earlier and quicker than most years, with ice off even northern lakes by early April. Fisheries biologists say fish are in a later stage of the spawning cycle than normal and that anglers may need to change their tactics to match the warmer conditions.
In the north, northern pike, walleye, musky and perch spawning seasons went very quickly and all species have mostly completed spawning. Smallmouth and largemouth bass have begun to show up in the shallows, but their spawning seasons are still several weeks away yet. As the water warms into the mid to upper-50s, panfish will move to shallows in greater numbers. In many of the smaller lakes, some nice crappie, perch and bluegill have already been observed in the dark-bottomed bays that get a lot of sun.
The 45th Wisconsin Governor’s Fishing Opener will take place Saturday at Lake Arbutus in Jackson County. Joining Gov. Jim Doyle at the event this year will be DNR Secretary Matt Frank, local legislators and officials, and media from in and outside of the state.
The musky season opens May 1 in the southern zone but not until May 29 in the northern zone. The northern bass zone is catch and release only from May 1 through June 18, although anglers are not limited to barbless hooks and artificial bait this year. Wisconsin residents and nonresidents 16 years old or older need a fishing license to fish in any waters of the state. About 1.4 million licenses are sold each year to adult anglers in the state and Wisconsin trails only to Florida in the number of days nonresident anglers spend fishing here. Fishing licenses can be purchased online; at DNR license vendors; or by calling toll-free 1-877-WI LICENSE (1-877-945-4236). The 2010-2011 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations incorrectly lists a slot size limit on walleye for North and South Twin lakes: there is no slot size limit and the lakes are under the statewide 15-inch minimum size regulation. Also, Kentuck Lake has a minimum length limit on musky of 40 inches.
While waters are warmer than usual for early May, state recreational safety specialists are cautioning anglers and boaters that water temperatures are still very cold for people. If someone falls overboard and isn’t wearing a life jacket, there is a strong possibility they could become the victim of hypothermia or a cold-water drowning. A successful boating outing starts with wearing life jackets, as well as staying sober and being alert to others on the water.
Anglers are also reminded to follow rules that help prevent the spread of the deadly VHS fish disease or any aquatic invasive species. New rules effective last fall now make it illegal to leave a boat landing with aquatic vegetation attached to boats or trailers and you must drain all water from boats before leaving landings.
And anglers and anyone else venturing out is being cautioned that despite things greening up, current fire danger remains very high across much of the state, and could hit the extreme level if the state doesn’t receive badly needed rain. Anglers need to be extra cautious with any kind of fire. If you are building a campfire or cooking fire, make sure the area 10 feet around the fire ring is completely free of any burnable material. Don’t have a fire on windy days. Never leave any fire unattended and always make sure the fire is DEAD OUT before leaving the area. Boaters heading north should be aware that some popular lakes and flowages have very low water levels, some down 3 feet or more. Launching boats may be difficult at some landings.
Wild turkey hunters continue to report good success through the third hunting period, with many nice birds still being seen. Spring beauty, bloodroot, hepatica and trailing arbutus are already nearing the end of their bloom, but trilliums and wild strawberries are now blossoming across the state.
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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Statewide Wildfire Report
Current fire danger across the state is High to Very High and burning permits are suspended in many areas. Check out the DNR’s fire danger web page for more information.
http://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/Fire/Fire_Danger/Wis_Burn/StateCounties.asp Sixty five wildfires burned 33 acres in DNR protection areas around the state this past week. Seven buildings were destroyed and another 18 were threatened. The main causes of this week’s fires were arson, equipment, and debris burning. Citizens are urged to report any suspicious behavior to local authorities. With the open fishing weekend just ahead, anglers are urged to be extra cautious with any kind of fire. If you are building a campfire, cooking fire, or warming fire, make sure the area 10 feet around the fire ring is completely free of any burnable material (e.g. leaves, grass, blankets, tents, etc). Don’t have a fire on windy days. Always make sure your fire is DEAD OUT before you leave the area. Never leave any fire unattended. Remember, if you start a wildfire, you can be held responsible for the cost of suppression, injuries, and damages.
Firewise Tip: Reduce the probability of wildfire loss if by adopt Firewise landscaping practices in the area 100-200 feet around your home. Check out the DNR’s Firewise web page for ideas: /p>
Northern Region wildfire report - Brule / Cumberland Dispatch Groups: Fire Danger is at Very High and may go to Extreme if no measurable precipitation is received. Burning permits are still canceled. Thanks to the watchful eyes of fire tower lookout personnel, initial attack crews have been able to keep acreage lost to wildfire to a minimum. This already long spring fire season has had fire crews working long hours, but they remain committed to protecting people, homes and property in Wisconsin. Cumberland Dispatch Group reports 5 new fires this week burning 1.1 acres. Prescribed burning has been accomplished on 4 sites this week, totaling 632 acres. Brule Dispatch Group reported five new fires for the week burning 1.12 acres.
One 67-acre prescribed burn was accomplished this week. Park Falls-Woodruff Dispatch Groups reported 30 fires burned approximately 13 acres with 6 structures saved and 6 structures receiving damage this week. Prescribed burning: Three prescribed fires on 155 acres occurred this week.
South Central Region wildfire report - Current fire danger is High. Burning permits are required for burning after 6 pm in DNR protection. Any day time burning must have a special burn permit from the DNR Fire Control Ranger. Anglers and turkey hunters are urged to be cautious with campfires, cooking fires and warming fires while out this weekend during the fishing opener and the continued turkey seasons. Three wildfires burned just over 4 acres this past week. The largest was a 3.4-acre fire in Columbia County, started by equipment, that burned out into the marsh. In Sauk County, a fire caused by debris burning threatened a residence and was contained to a quarter of an acre. The debris pile was burning near the edge of the woods when it escaped and the winds pushed the forest fire towards the home. Prescribed burning: This week, 35 prescribed fires were completed on 3,700 acres, improving grassland and savanna habitat, setting back invasive species, and reducing fuel loads.
West Central Region wildfire report - In the parts of the West Central Region where the DNR is responsible for wildfire suppression, 13 fires burned approximately 25 acres in the last week. Five structures were saved due to fire suppression response. An elderly gentleman caused a 1.3 acre fire in Portage County which threatened his home and two neighboring homes when he attempted to burn debris without a permit and contrary to burning restrictions. The presence of gravel ATV trails and a neighbor wielding a garden house helped suppression efforts. In Juneau County, a wildfire on private and county property was contained to 17.8 acres in size due to efforts by three fire departments, the DNR, and the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Tractor plows and six water drops by a Single Engine Air Tanker were critical in suppression efforts. The cause of this fire is still under investigation. Prescribed burning: Two prescribed fires which took place in the region over the last week, included a 220-acre prescribed burn on the Clark County Forest to promote oak regeneration and a 7-acre prescribed burn on the Big Roche a Cri Fishery Area in Adams County to promote native prairie.
Northeast Region wildfire report - Fire control personnel felt a bit of a reprieve over the weekend when fire danger briefly dropped to Moderate with the rains. However, little or no measurable rainfall was received in northern portions of the region - rain amounts dropped off quickly north of Green Bay with only 0.10 of an inch measured at Peshtigo and none at all in northern Marinette, northern Oconto and Florence Counties – and fire danger was back to High by Sunday. It doesn’t take much to increase fire danger this time of the year – just a lack of rain, a windy day, warm weather, and low humidity. Forest fuels remain very dry, especially north and west of Green Bay. There were 8 wildfires that burned 7 acres in DNR protection areas this week. The largest was a 5-acre fire in Waupaca County that destroyed a shed and threatened 3 other buildings. The main causes of wildfire this week were equipment and arson. Current fire danger is Very High across the region and burning permits are suspended. Rain is predicted for Friday or Saturday, however, unless it is substantial, it will do little more than lower the fire danger for a few hours or a day at best. ATV trails are now open in Marinette County. Recreationists are reminded to stay on the trails – a hot exhaust parked over dry leaves can cause a wildfire. Eight prescribed burns were completed on 92 acres in the Waupaca area this week, meeting objectives such as invasive species control, fuel reduction, and habitat improvement.
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NORTHERN REGION
Superior DNR Service Center area
Brule River State Forest - In preparation for this weekend’s Wisconsin fishing opener, the Solon Springs sixth grade class assisted the Brule Hatchery staff with the stocking of 700 brook trout in the Park Creek pond in Solon Springs. Because of the VHS rules, the trout did not come from the Brule hatchery this year, but instead came from the St. Croix Falls Hatchery. DNR fire control staff were also on hand to educate the students about the wildland fire program. Each of the students got to "practice putting out a fire" by hosing down a tree. The northland is looking greener as the trees are leafing out and the plants on the forest floor are pushing their way up. Marsh marigold is creating a golden carpet in some of the wet areas. Leatherleaf is also putting on a show in the wet areas…look closely, they are easy to miss. Regular burning permits remain suspended due to the fire danger. As of Thursday, April 29 the fire danger is set at very high. Rain is forecasted for Thursday night through Friday, however rain amounts may be light and the area coverage spotty. Dry weather is forecasted for the beginning of the new week. In a supported expedition stretching across five months and several states, two people, Mike and Kate will circumnavigate Lake Superior on foot, hiking as close to the shoreline of the Lake as possible. They will be undertaking not just a scientific expedition but personal sojourn: Throughout the hike, Mike and Kate will be recording important data about the ecology of the shoreline, the people and places they encounter, the streams they cross, and the adventure of a lifestyle as focused nomads. They will speak and present along the way, and partnering with a group of dedicated professionals and organizations, publish articles, writings and thoughts on this website to share with the world their discoveries, their insights and feelings and dreams. Their expedition should cross the Brule River sometime Friday, April 27. See their website at
www.fullcirclesuperior.org The Brule River State Forest will hold its Spring Public Meeting April 30 at 7 p.m. at the Brule Town Hall, 5820 Maple Street, Brule. Property staff with expertise in forest management, operations, enforcement, and recreation will be available to discuss the state forest's plans for the next year. For more information contact Dave Schulz, Forest Superintendent at (715)-372-5678.
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - The ice has been gone from the Northwoods lakes for about four weeks and with the cold nights, water temperatures have been holding in the low to mid-50 degree range. The northern pike, walleye and musky spawning seasons went very quickly this spring and all species have completed their reproductive rituals for the year (though a few paired-up musky may continue to be seen in the shallows over the next week or so). Smallmouth and largemouth bass have begun to show up in the shallows, but their spawning seasons are still several weeks away yet. As the water warms into the mid to upper-50s, look for increased numbers of panfish to move up shallow in greater numbers. In many of the smaller lakes, some nice crappie, perch and bluegill have been observed in the dark-bottomed bays that get a lot of sun. Perch have also completed their annual spawning ritual, with crappie beginning theirs as the water warms to the upper 50s and bluegill when the water hits the mid to upper 60s. Angling pressure on area waters in the last few weeks has been generally light, with just a few sucker and panfish anglers out trying their luck. Panfish success has been fair, with some nice crappie and bluegill being found in 3 to 5 feet of water in shallow, warm-water bays. Sucker fishing has also been fair with some decent catches of redhorse and white sucker coming from the deeper holes on the Flambeau and Chippewa Rivers. For the game fish opener this Saturday, all fish patterns look to be about two to three weeks ahead of normal, so anglers should adjust their tactics accordingly. Walleye should be fully recovered from the stresses of spawning and should be well into their spring feeding binge. All typical spring tactics should be productive -- especially jig and minnow combinations on the deep break lines and rocky drop-offs. And don't overlook the shallow crank bait bite near dusk, as stick baits casted along shore should provide some good action as well. One word of warning - boaters and anglers on the larger flowages should be very careful as very low water levels have created some hazardous conditions. Some flowages (such as the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage) are 2 to 3 feet below normal and there have already been reports of bent props and ruined lower units.
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Upper Wisconsin Basin fisheries report (Oneida, Vilas, Lincoln, Langlade, Forest and Florence counties) - Ice-out occurred a good two weeks earlier than normal, and fisheries crews began surveying during the last days of March -- going down as one of the earliest on record. Above average temperatures brought walleye and musky in immediately and their spawning activity was wrapped up by mid-April. In a typical year anglers usually find post-spawn walleye up shallow and feeding heavily. However, this year the spawn will have long been past and anglers may need to mix up techniques a bit and be willing to try other methods if traditional ones do not work. Chances are most fish will have moved off the shallow rock bars and shorelines – anglers may want to try a bit deeper, near the breaks and deep bars instead. Though jig and minnow combinations are popular baits during the opener, it may not be out of the question to use leeches (if you can find them). A good bet is that walleye will be in a mid-to-late May pattern. The extreme drought is also continuing in the north. Several popular waters in our area such as the Rainbow Flowage, Big Muskellunge Lake, and Lake Lucerne to name a few will be very difficult to launch in due to low water conditions. Weather models predict the drought to continue through July, and even if lots of precipitation occurs, it will likely take several seasons to completely fill the lakes again.
Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest – The area is still experiencing extremely dry conditions. With March precipitation totals of 0.45, and April 0.44, users of the forest are asked to use extreme caution when partaking in many outdoor activities. Many trees and shrubs are trying to bud out and Juneberry blossoms are starting to grace the landscape. Spring beauty, bloodroot, hepatica and trailing arbutus are nearing the end of their bloom, with trilliums, strawberries and blueberries starting to appear. Many of the campgrounds are open for the fishing opener on May 1, with self registration available. South Trout, Cunard, East Star, Plum and Sandy Beach remained closed until May 24. Shower facilities are opening April 30. The boat landings on the forest are in good shape considering the tough conditions. All ramps with moderate to severe ice push have been repaired, and the ones with slight shifts are being repaired. All boarding docks have been installed at the waters edge, with breakaways from the dock approaches. There will be no pier installed at Razorback, Big Muskellunge on Hwy N and Laura Lake, similar to last season.
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NORTHEAST REGION
Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
Brisk winds and cool temperatures kept fishing pressure on the Bay to a minimum. Water temperatures at the landings are in the mid to upper 50s.
Marinette County - Large numbers of sturgeon are in the Peshtigo River up by the power house for viewing. Walleye are still being caught at the mouth of the Peshtigo River drifting while fishing lead jigs tipped with minnows. The Turn Basin on the Menominee River has been producing some walleye trolling stick baits, Clowns and Fire Tigers.
Oconto County - Stiles dam anglers have been seeing some nice catches of brown trout thanks to Trout Unlimited having released their annual fish at the Iron Bridge. Not much happening out on the Bay due to weather conditions. Oconto Park II is giving up some nice sized Bullheads fishing on the bottom with crawlers
Shawano County - Trilliums are blooming. Trees are budding out and fiddlehead ferns are poking out of the forest floor.
Green Bay DNR Service Center area
Brown County - Fox River fishing has been good for rough fish. Drum and carp have been caught in good numbers from the dam all the way to the river mouth. Anglers have been targeting the river channel and deep holes for these species. Some walleye and white bass were also being caught. Lower Green Bay anglers have been trolling for walleye with mixed results. Some boats have been doing quite well on flicker shads. Anglers have also been catching a few incidental northern pike and musky.
Manitowoc County - Strong easterly winds with cool temperatures in the upper 40s dominated the week’s weather. Heavy rain and wind advisories over the weekend created high, fast flowing waters in the area and waves 2 to 4 feet high on Lake Michigan. A small number of anglers looking for steelhead on the East Twin River had little success this past week. The sucker and steelhead runs appear to have come to an end. A few suckers have been caught on night crawlers near the Mishicot dam. West Twin River anglers fishing for steelhead had little success this past week, but a few steelhead have been seen attempting to jump the Shoto Dam. Most anglers tried their luck catfishing from the Shoto Conservation Club downstream to the Vets Park boat launch in Two Rivers, but the fishing was fairly slow. Manitowoc River fishing was relatively quiet this week with limited angler success. A few anglers ventured out for catfish with limited success. Those anglers fishing for northern pike near Cato falls saw the best action. Several northern were landed earlier in the week by anglers casting spoons and spinners of various colors. A few Little Manitowoc and Branch river anglers attempted to catch late season steelhead by floating orange yarn and spawn sacs however anglers had little success at either locations. Silver Creek water levels dropped to very low levels until the heavy rain over the weekend resulted in unfishable conditions with flooding in the low lying areas. Fishing pressure was very low this spring. At the Two Rivers and Manitowoc Harbors, winds calmed long enough during the early morning hours to get some good fishing in. Using orange casting spoons, a small number of brown trout were landed along with a few catfish. A small number of boats ventured out this past week out of both Manitowoc and Two Rivers Ramps ports. Boats averaged 1 to 3 brown trout in 8-12 feet of water. Those fishing slightly north of Two Rivers and between Silver Creek south to Hika Bay had better numbers with a mixed bag of lake trout, brown trout, and a few small chinook salmon. Spoons with any white combination on the dypsy with purple crank baits on high lines are hot. A few boats have started targeting lake trout north of Two Rivers in 30 to 40 feet, but watch for the trap net buoys.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Door County - The heavy winds experienced for much of April were somewhat subdued this week but not by much. Northeasterly winds have kept water temperatures cool in Green Bay and Sturgeon Bay, having a slight affect on fishing. There were scattered showers over the weekend, but not enough to keep anglers off the water. Brown trout fishing slowed somewhat this week with fewer fish being reported. Fish are still being caught outside of the Sturgeon Bay shipping canal and along the shorelines towards Green Bay. Working stick baits far behind planer boards in 4-20 feet of water has been productive. Browns have also continued to be caught out of Fish Creek and Egg Harbor, and Baileys Harbor on the lake side. Walleye action has picked up some from a week ago with good fishing in Sturgeon Bay. Large females have been reported along the shoreline heading west toward Potawatomi State Park, most luck being had on husky jerks and smithwick lures. Northern pike fishing has also picked up this last week in Sturgeon Bay and in marinas along the Green Bay side of the county. Live bait has been the most popular meal for pike, either jigging off bottom in the channel of Sturgeon Bay, or with shiners suspended with bobbers in the marinas. Husky jerks and spoons would be the best bet if using artificial baits.
Kewaunee County - This week brought varying conditions to Kewaunee County. The majority of the week the county experience high winds coming off of the lake with temperature in the lower 50s. The weekend brought much needed rain as well as strong winds that helped raise the stream water levels back up. Once again, high winds prevented many boats from leaving the Kewaunee ramp. The few boats that did manage to get out reported a few brown trout being caught on stick baits. There was little fishing pressure on the pier and none of the anglers reported any fish being caught. Brummerville Park was the only stream site to receive any type of fishing pressure as it seems that the steelhead have left the streams for the lake. A few steelhead were caught of flies but were very few and far between. The Algoma ramp experienced very light use this week due to the heavy winds and the anglers that did put a boat came back with no fish. The Algoma pier only saw a few anglers this week but had no reported success for brown trout. The fishing pressure at all of the streams dropped off drastically and the only stream that consistently had anglers was Stony Creek toward the lake shore portion of the stream. Above the Forestville Dam, anglers were reporting a few perch and other panfish biting on bobbers and worms.
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SOUTHEAST REGION
Kettle Moraine State Park - Pike Lake Unit - All trails are open. Hikers will find some wet and muddy spots on the trails. The campground and all campground facilities are open for the season. The main beach toilet building is open for the season. The north beach toilet building remains closed at this time. A portable toilet is available at the nature trail parking area year-round. Swim area buoys are not in place yet, but will be installed before Memorial Day weekend.
Kohler-Andrae State Park - All hiking and nature trails are open. White-crowned sparrows and eastern towhees were observed on April 25. All campsites are open. The park water system is open. This includes showers, flush toilets, water fountains, and the trailer dump station. Sanderling Nature Center will reopen May 1. School groups are encouraged to schedule a field trip by calling 920.451.4080. The Wisconsin Great Lakes Beach testing (
http://www.wibeaches.us) will resume in May. Many volunteers helped with the Earth Day Celebration on April 24. Even with the cold, rainy weather many projects were accomplished.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County - – In Sheboygan fishing has been rather slow overall, high winds and rainy weather kept most trollers off the lake over the weekend, the few boats that ventured out reported slow action with an occasional brown trout taken trolled off of a planer board in 10-30 feet of water. The rivers remain high and muddy after the recent rains.
Ozaukee County - Fishing in Port Washington slowed over the weekend with little or no action to report of, high winds made the lake un-fishable for trollers, one or two browns were reported being taken off the pier on spoons and shiners. Sauk Creel flows were high and clarity was muddy.
Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee fishing was slow, bad weather made conditions un-fishable for trollers over the weekend, and the area rivers were running high and muddy making fishing difficult at best. Only a few brown trout were taken on shiners fished below floats near the Jones Island area, early morning was best. Some stable weather will be needed before fishing improves.
Racine County - In Racine the Root River is steadily rising after weekend rains, a few steelhead remained in the river, with high muddy water the river is un-fishable until flows drop and clarity improves. High winds kept most trollers off of the lake over the weekend.
Kenosha County - Kenosha trollers have had a slow week, strong winds, kept most trollers off the lake, the few boats that made it out had little to no activity. Coho action is getting better as more and more fish have shown up just south of Kenosha harbor, stable weather and less wind this week will hopefully improve fishing and enable trollers to venture out. The pike river was high and muddy.
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SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
No reports.
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WEST CENTRAL REGION
La Crosse DNR Service Center area
Wild turkey hunters reported fair success last week. Unsettled, variable weather created difficulty for some hunters in their efforts to anticipate turkey behavior. Rufous-sided towhees, house wrens, yellow-rumped warblers, white-crowned sparrows, and savanna sparrows have moved into the area. Brown or Dekay's snakes were on the move during the warm weather. Generally, these snakes exhibit a major migration from their winter hibernacula in late April. These small, docile snakes feed on worms, slugs, and snails and are preyed upon by shrews, weasels, cats, other snakes, and some birds.
Black River Falls DNR Service Center area
Gov. Jim Doyle this Saturday will join local residents, county and state officials and media members for the 8 a.m. kick off of the Governor's Fishing Opener on Lake Arbutus in Clark County. The annual event also starts the state big game fishing season. Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank will be with the governor when he starts his fishing trip from the Russell Memorial Park boat landing.
Eau Claire DNR Service Center area
Brunet Island State Park – Park trails are generally dry with occasional muddy areas. Species of birds seen or heard include: the hooded mergansers, common loons, belted kingfishers, sandhill cranes, golden finches, red polls, mallard and bufflehead ducks, red winged blackbirds, phoebes, Canada geese, robins, mourning doves, nuthatches, ravens, black capped chickadees, piliated woodpeckers, great horned owls, and barred owls. There is a pair of bald eagles nesting on Cornell flowage. The south campground is open with electric sites, hand water pump, and a pit toilet. The north campground is open with pit toilets and water available.
Last Revised: Thursday April 29 2010
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