Wisconsin Outdoor Report as of July 5, 2012

[379 Peterbilt]

Extremely dry conditions continued across southern and central Wisconsin this week, while areas of the north continued to receive some significant rain, with 4 to 5 inches reported in Forest County early in the week. The hot, dry weather pattern is predicted to continue, which will keep current fire danger elevated. Emergency burning restrictions remain in place in 11 counties in the southern third of the state. Activities that can result in the start of wildfires, such as outdoor burning, ash/charcoal disposal, fireworks, campfires, and outdoor smoking are prohibited until further notice. Many local municipalities have been implementing their own restrictions. In the past week, 52 wildfires burned in DNR protection areas around the state.
The record hot sunny weather has triggered blue green algae blooms in waters across the state. Exposure to this algae poses a health risk to people and pets, with a report of a dog dying from exposure this week in Oneida County. People and pets should avoid contact with water that has a blue-green scum, and both people and pets should shower or rinse off after swimming in any Wisconsin water body. More information on blue-green algae can be found on the DNR and Department of Health Services (exit DNR) websites.
Water levels are very low on some southern rivers and lakes, with the lower Wisconsin River continuing to run at about half its normal flow. There are lots of sandbars and lots of shallow water, which will mean slow going for the paddlers in the 47th annual canoe and kayak race from Spring Green to Muscoda this weekend The Black River has dropped in the last week. The North and South Forks of the Flambeau River are still about average, but have been dropping.
With the July Fourth Holiday and the hot-humid weather, recreational boating activity seemed to trump fishing, and angling pressure has been relatively light in the last week. Water temperatures have warmed into the mid 80s on most lakes. In the north, bass fishing has been especially erratic in the last couple weeks and many anglers have reported some very slow days of fishing. Musky action has stayed pretty good with the warm water temperatures and many anglers have reported a lot of follows with some decent catches being made, with most fish in the mid 30-inch range and a few up to 46 inches also reported. Walleye success continues to be generally slow, with the best action found in mid-depth weed beds and the open pockets within these beds. Panfish action has been fair, with some decent catches of crappie, bluegill and rock bass still being made.
The Bassmaster tournament on southern Green Bay over the weekend was very successful, with many large smallmouth bass caught, with the largest a 5 pound, 11 ounce fish caught in the final day. Salmon and trout action on Lake Michigan leveled off again in some areas, but was still going fairly strong. Chinook action continued to slow down some, but increased numbers of rainbow trout were reported.
Geese are regaining their flight feathers after molting. Young raccoon, skunk and fox are ranging out farther from den sites, while the young from second clutches of rabbits and squirrels are venturing from their nests. Native prairie grasses and flowers are way ahead of schedule, with it looking more like August than July. Yellow and purple coneflower, compass plant, cup plant, rosinweed, prairie phlox, purple prairie clover, and butterfly weed are already in full bloom.
 

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.

 Wildfire Report
In the past week, 52 wildfires burned in DNR protection areas around the state. Fortunately, the fires were extinguished while they were still small in size and no structures were lost. The causes of fires have been quite varied: equipment, railroads, debris burning, fireworks, and a few others. A continued hot, dry weather pattern is predicted, which will keep fire danger conditions elevated. Emergency burning restrictions (EBRs) have been put in place in 11 counties in the southern third of the state, including all of Crawford, Richland, Sauk, Columbia, Marquette, Green Lake and portions of Iowa, Grant, Dane, Adams, and Juneau counties. Emergency burning restrictions apply to the designated areas that are outside incorporated cities and villages in these counties. EBRs put restrictions on activities that can result in the start of wildfires, such as outdoor burning, ash/charcoal disposal, fireworks, campfires, and smoking. Many local municipalities have been issuing fire danger advisories or implementing their own outdoor burning bans; these restrictions are at the discretion of local government. The public is urged to be aware of any burning restrictions in the area where they live or are visiting. Go to dnr.wi.gov and search ‘fire’ for fire danger information.


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Ashland DNR Service Center area
Ashland County - Last week’s weather was hot and rain free, so lake and stream levels are on the way down. The fish bite was very slow and the annoying bugs continue to do what they do while people try. The Chequamegon Bay area of Lake Superior has cleared of heavy sediment suspension and the near shore fishing is starting up again. The weather forecast is for more hot weather with just chances for storms later in the day early in the week. Temps in the high 80s low 90s have kept boaters off the lakes during the heat of the day for the most part. However, beach goers have the beach areas well populated as they take advantage of the warmer than normal temps

Douglas County - The bass fishing has been fair in the area but a lot of the fish seem to be on the small side. Bluegill fishing has been good but the bigger fish are in deeper water now. The warm weather has really warmed the water up, which has increased the use of the waters by boaters, water skiers and swimmers.

Hayward DNR Service Center area
Sawyer County - Walleye on the Chippewa Flowage have slowed some with the warmer daytime temperatures. Individuals are catching a few walleye with the early morning or late evening being the best time. Live bait seems to be out-producing artificial with leeches and partial crawlers doing slightly better than minnows. Deeper wooded areas with weeds seem to be holding more fish the most other places. Magical depths seems to be 8-15 feet. Individuals fishing the depths are also picking up panfish. Musky are also giving action to those braving the afternoon heat. Top-water baits seem to be the choice of most musky anglers with buck tails and jerk baits being a close second. There seems to be more fish looking than taking on most days. River fishing has been good for walleye, bass and musky (North and South forks of the Flambeau and Chippewa rivers). Water levels have been staying pretty consistent with rain every now and then. Top-water baits were doing well for bass and musky, while live bait was producing a few walleye and catfish when concentrating in the holes. Anglers are reminded to land and release the musky as quickly as possible with minimal, if any, handling. Warm water and temperatures can stress the fish quickly resulting in death, even though released alive. Bear hound training started July 1 and there are individuals running evening in the 90 degree heat, so people may hear hound dogs barking. Most are running in very early morning before the temperatures start rising.

Spooner DNR Service Center area
Crex Meadows State Wildlife - Some bird species have fledged while others are still hatching on a later nest attempt. Wild bergamot and wood lilies are blooming. The heat is driving animals to water and wetlands to cool off and find food. With the hot weather, wildlife observation is harder. Morning and evening is the best time to try to spot wildlife. Be aware of the biting deer flies. Many programs are offered the week of July 9. Visit http://www.crexmeadows.org/events.htm for more information.

Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - With the July Fourth Holiday and the hot-humid weather, recreational boating activity seemed to trump fishing, and angling pressure has been relatively light in the last week. Water temperatures have warmed into the mid 80s on most lakes and this has made for comfortable swimming conditions. The warm water temperatures should also mean increased fish feeding activity – but success has only been fair. Bass fishing, both for largemouth and smallmouth, has been especially erratic in the last couple weeks and many anglers have reported some very slow days of fishing. Largemouth bass have yet to fully set up in their typical summer pattern (in woody cover, under bog edges, etc.) and they still seem to be holding near dense weed beds and around deep-water cover. Some fair largemouth bass action has been reported from the Chippewa Flowage and Nelson Lake, but most other lakes have been experiencing some low success. Smallmouth bass have also been tough to come by and they have been particularly picky in the lures that they'll hit. Some nice fish have been caught near mid-depth woody cover, and small finesse plastics have been the key in getting them to bite. Musky action has stayed pretty good with the warm water temperatures and many anglers have reported a lot of follows. Some decent catches were also being made, with most fish in the mid 30-inch range and a few up to 46 inches also reported. Many different types of baits have been successful, but top-waters, buck tails and jerk baits seem to be the favorites in the past week. Walleye success continues to be generally slow, with the best action found in mid-depth weed beds and the open pockets within these beds. Panfish action has been fair, with some decent catches of crappie, bluegill and rock bass still being made.

Price County - The heat wave and high water conditions in the Park Falls area seems to have actually caused musky fishing action to pick up. Anglers were reporting catches of 40-inch-plus muskies coming off the Turtle Flambeau Flowage, Park Falls flowages, Butternut Lake, and the Pike Lake Chain. Top-water baits were still producing along with jerk baits and large tandem blade buck tails. Canoeists and kayakers gave been enjoying good conditions at the popular stretches of the North Fork Flambeau River from Nine Mile landing to Oxbow and on the South Fork around Lugerville.

Taylor County – Anglers have been reducing midday activity on the water and targeting area lakes early and late in the day due to the heat. Bass are active but northern pike seem to prefer the deeper water. Panfish were being caught in the deep water with some nice bags being produced. Bear dog trainers are out training their hounds as the heat allows. They are reminded that they are responsible for their dogs and encroachment onto lands without permission by themselves or their dogs is illegal.

Flambeau River State Forest - The South Fork of the Flambeau River is moderately low, and the North Fork is slightly low but great for paddling. The weather has been extremely hot making the beaches a wonderful place to spend some time. As with most of Wisconsin, the forest has been hot and hitting record highs in most places! Muskies have been biting and smallmouth bass have been active. Lots of broods of turkey and grouse are being seen. Watch out for ground wasps, they are active and do not like to be disturbed! The horseflies and deer flies are out. Basswood trees are blossoming and very fragrant when nearby. On Saturday, July 7 the forest will hold its Annual Scavenger Hunt. Kids of all ages will be encouraged to participate in this annual event. The event will start off with a few fun games before everyone rushes out to find the 25 listed objects. Prizes will be given to all participants. (Smokey Bear may make a surprise stop) Connors Lake picnic area. 1 -2 p.m.

Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Vilas County – Heat, heat, heat! Fish are being caught in deeper weed edges and surface action has improved for musky particularly during the evening. Eaglets have begun to stretch their wings and raspberries are ripe.

Rhinelander DNR Service Center area
Oneida County - Muskie action has been good on area lakes with 19 fish caught and released at a recent tournament the biggest being 48 inches. Bass were also biting well and walleye action has been slow with surface temps at 72 degrees. The number of people recreating on the water to stay cool has climbed with the water temperature. When around the water everyone should remember to wear a personal floatation device and not attempt to swim beyond their abilities. Fawn are becoming more visible.

Antigo DNR Service Center area
Langlade County – The weather has been hot – high 80s and 90s this past week. Recent rainfall has improved some of the dusty areas. Fishing has been slow, though some nice catches of fish were reported being caught off of Enterprise Lake on a jig and a leech in 12-14 feet of water. Boating and swimming has been in full swing and Wolf River tubing has also been busy, although the river is low and slow.

Council Grounds State Park - Trails are in good condition. Wisconsin Public Service is drawing down the Wisconsin River below the Alexander Hydro Dam. The water on the river will be drawn down 6 inches per day until the river is at 6 feet. It will not affect conditions on Lake Alexander. Bears have been spotted occasionally in the park, so please keep all food put away and pick up any garbage in your campsite.


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Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
With the hot and humid weather this past week many people took to the water. Fishing pressure was moderate as was pleasure boating and rafting.

Marinette County - Fishing on the Peshtigo River has been slow with a few fresh water drum, catfish, and smallmouth bass being caught down river from Klingsborn landing to the mouth. With the Peshtigo River bridge and dam construction, the upper Peshtigo is running muddy. Perch anglers running out of Little River were getting a few fish in 8 to 10 feet of water adjacent to weed beds. Trolling on the Menominee with crawler/harness has been producing catfish, drum, smallmouth, and some walleye. The hot spot seems to be from the Turn Basin to the mouth of the river, with periods of low light being best. Salmon and trout fishers have been having good success fishing spoons in 100 feet of water 80 feet down. Most fish were being caught on spoons with bright colors. Kings are in the 10 to 16 pound range with brown trout in the 6 to 10 range.

Oconto County - Fishing for panfish below the Stiles dam has been good with some nice bluegill and crappie being caught with slip bobbers and garden tackle. Spinners and small stick baits have been effective on smallmouth bass from the Stiles dam to the mouth of the Oconto River. The walleye bite on the Bay from Pensaukee Landing to Oconto Park II has been fair, fishing in 15 to 30 feet of water. Crawler/harnesses were working well. Some larger fish were being caught on larger raps being trolled at the same water depths. Mornings and evenings have been best. Some perch were starting to show up in 15 to 20 feet of water adjacent to weed beds, minnows and crappie rigs have been the bait of choice.

Shawano County - Water is starting to turn green with the high temperatures being seen in the area. Boating activity and fishing are still high though. Use of rivers is increasing. With high temperatures and sunshine come an increase in the plant growth and folks are reminded to take an extra minute to clean off the plants on their boat and empty their live wells. May deer with fawns, and turkeys, ducks and geese with little ones are being seen. It has been a good year for wildlife.

Green Bay DNR Service Center area
Brown County - Bayshore Park anglers were targeting walleye and perch. Walleye action was slowing down. Anglers were using crank baits most of the time and some were using night crawlers. Perch success was very low. Night crawlers were the main choice of bait, although a few people used minnows. Sheepshead and gobies were still being caught.

Manitowoc County - The salmon fishing has leveled off after very good fishing in the beginning of the week. Boats were catching good numbers of rainbows. Anglers targeting lake and brown trout were having success. The best success for rainbows and salmon has been between 45 and 180 feet with some boats doing well both shallower. The salmon have been progressively deeper because of the warming water as of late. Explaining the shallow bite early in the week, temperatures of around 60 degrees were at 180 feet, 56 degrees at 80 feet, 53 degrees at 50 feet were reported out of Two Rivers. Very cold water was reported in Hika Bay mid-week, after the west winds. Angers that were catching good numbers of fish were often throwing the kitchen sink out there and bringing in a nice mixed bag. With the slowing salmon bite, possibly because of all the boats out from the salmon derby, some boats were running more high lines than usual and having good success with rainbows. The hot bait for rainbows have been orange spoons. The evening bite has been slowing down some. This is possibly due to the very calm conditions as of late along with the high boat traffic. Fish are moving into their summer patterns. Pier fishing has been less erratic than it has been since the spring. Anglers were catching good numbers of kings early in the morning and certain evenings have been very productive. Some very large rainbows were coming off the Manitowoc and Two Rivers piers. Alewives fished near the bottom have been producing kings and rainbow trout. Spoons fished on the inside portions of the piers and in shallower water have picked up the majority of brown trout. Kings up to 18 pounds were being caught on an array of spoons with some catching multiple fish per outing. There is still cold water near shore from the last sustained west wind, but it is warming up. With water temperatures continuing to increase on inland lakes, most panfish, bass, and northern pike will be using deeper water at some point of the day. Weed lines and deep sections of lakes may hold fish depending on the body of water. If there is very thick vegetation such as Eurasian water milfoil or lily pads over an adequate area of the lake this may attract bass or bluegill looking for some sort of cover. Fish can be caught with top-water or live bait below a float for bluegill.

Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Door County – With the hot temperatures this week, fishing pressure has picked up a little bit from last week. It has also increased the water temperature in Sawyer Harbor and on Little Sturgeon Bay to about 74 degrees. There were many pleasure boaters out this weekend in Sawyer Harbor and on Little Sturgeon Bay. Anglers have still been catching smallmouth bass throughout Door County waters including Little Sturgeon Bay to Sturgeon Bay, Egg Harbor, Ephraim, and Sister Bay on the bay side and Bailey's Harbor north to Rowley's Bay. A variety of methods have been working but soft plastics remain the favorite. Shore anglers, wading anglers, and anglers using kayaks were also catching some smallmouth bass but the catches have not been as strong as earlier in the spring. They key for shore bound anglers is to find a place with adequate depth and cover. The Bassmaster tournament anglers over the weekend manage to catch good numbers of large smallmouth using a variety of techniques. Many anglers targeted southern Door County waters. Reports range from catching some smallmouth bass deep to catching fish in the 10-15 foot zone. Soft plastics including drop shotting rigs and soft plastic jerk baits produced catches. Little Sturgeon Bay was very busy during the tournament. Walleye action has been slow and perch numbers have been very low. Anglers fishing from boat, shore, and pier were using night crawlers for perch and used tubers (mainly green) for smallmouth bass. Some perch were being caught in the Sturgeon Bay ship canal area from both boat and shore though not in large numbers and action picked up a little bit at Chaudoir's Dock. Sawyer Harbor anglers were targeting smallmouth bass and perch. Shore anglers were targeting perch and also caught some rock bass. Night crawlers were the main bait for perch and rock bass, but spinners and plastics (green and watermelon in color) were the most used for smallmouth bass. Sheepshead and gobies were numerous. At Chaudoir's Dock, anglers were targeting perch and walleye. Walleye is slowing down and perch is starting to pick up. Anglers were using night crawlers, leeches, and minnows. Perch were being caught in about 23 feet of water. Only a handful of walleye were caught, using cranks baits mostly. Sheepshead and gobies are still numerous. Rock bass continue to provide steady action at a number of shore locations throughout the county and have been a favorite of families looking to catch some fish; look for rock piles, docks, or other structure and cover. Bluegills were also biting in certain shore areas. Look for deeper vegetation near shore. Chinook salmon action continued to be good with rainbow trout continuing to be a strong part of the catch. However, the day time catch has dwindled with most of the fish being caught in the dawn/dusk time periods. Anglers have been fishing the Lake Michigan side up to Gills Rock, mostly over 120-140 feet of water and targeting a variety of depths with deeper depths working during the day and baits in the upper column producing during sunset and sunrise times. In addition, there continue to be reports of salmon catches in northern Green Bay as well as in the deeper water near Gills Rock and Ellison Bay. Colors and choice of lures have continue to vary widely. Boaters are reminded to watch the weather forecasts before heading out on the water. Strong summer storms when forecast can turn a weekend of fun and relaxation into a long night on a boat while riding out a storm. Numerous boaters were in this predicament in Egg Harbor on July Fourth when a storm came up and the waves built with strong winds, causing one 38-foot boat to lose its anchor and end up on the beach with severe damage and other boats that were rafted together suffered damage from striking each other during the storm.

Kewaunee County - Chinook salmon fishing continue to be excellent. This week, however, had a number of calm, sunny, and hot days, which limited the mid-day bite. Those who got out earlier and stayed later caught more fish. Some chose to be patient during the day and stuck to the shallower water that produced in the dark while others headed east and put some miles on in search of offshore steelhead and an occasional chinook, coho or lake trout. Surface water temperatures jumped 10 degrees in the past week to the low to mid-60s, but cool water wasn’t too far down, and many bites at dawn and dusk came 25 to 75 feet down over 50 to 125 feet of water. A few private trollers even worked shallower after several days of west wind upwelled cooler water near the beaches. Once again, flasher and fly combos and glow spoons were the stars in the dark for many, while others had good luck with a combination of those plus J-Plugs and glow squids. Some trollers were also using cut plugs and scent or whole herring/herring strips behind large flashers. They believe the scented or natural-looking baits lead to more daylight hookups when the bite is slower. When it’s calm and clear, anglers often run glow baits higher in the water column -- from near-surface to about 50 feet down -- to entice the sight-feeding kings. Best times to fish under the moonlight vary. Sometimes it’s from dusk to midnight, and other times from midnight to 4 a.m. Night trolling can be challenging and is probably not for the beginner but it can really produce. For day-time steelhead, colorful spoons run in the top 40 feet of water are the ticket, often in 150 to 300 feet of water.

Wautoma DNR Service Center area
Green Lake County - Many people were out enjoying Big Green Lake and Lake Puckaway over the weekend. With the hot weather, both public beaches on Green Lake were full Saturday and Sunday. Smallmouth bass continue to be the best bite on the Green Lake. Look for them in 10-15 feet of water, and leaches or tube jigs seem to be the best baits. The Fox River near Princeton has been producing good numbers of catfish, with some very large flathead catfish being caught.

Waushara County - The Wild Rose Hatchery Education Center will be open on July 4-8, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with guided tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Oshkosh DNR Service Center area
Calumet County - Conditions on Lake Winnebago are poor right now along the east shore. Hot and humid weather along with sporadic rains have caused a large blue-green algae bloom, which covers most areas of the lake. Lake temperatures are running in the 80 degree range. Anglers were still catching walleyes and those who venture out are reminded to use common sense when handling lake water. Pets should be monitored. The bloom has forced most PWC users and water-skiers/tubers to find alternative areas to recreate. Anglers are starting to search for perch on the lake with some fish being taken on live bait along the east shore. Since May, many grassland birds have been seen on Killsnake Wildlife Area. This year many dickcissels can be seen along Lemke Road, Aebischer Road and Stecker. Prairie forbs are in full bloom, which includes yellow coneflower, silphiums (compassplant, cupplant, rosinweed), prairie phlox, purple prairie clover, buttfly weed, Canada tick trefoil, nodding pink onion, etc. Ospreys can be seen on both Brillion and Killsnake wildlife areas, especially near the Brillion Nature Center [www.brillionnaturecenter.net] off of Deer View Road using the marsh overlook trail.

Fond du Lac County - The lakes in the northern unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest are producing big bluegills. The bigger bluegills have moved off the shallow flats and onto deep weed edges-look for 15-18 foot minimum depth with vertical weed edges in the vicinity. These fish are easily susceptible to a cricket hooked under a slip bobber. Good size bass were still being caught on the weed flats and weed edges with plastic baits/worms worked slowly.

Outagamie County - The hot dry weather has had an impact on the water levels of the Wolf River and surrounding water bodies. The local prop repair shop is enjoying the business but boaters should use caution as the water levels recede. When boating on a river the water levels can change dramatically from day to day as always boaters should use caution.


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Milwaukee DNR Service Center area
Kettle Moraine State Forest, Pike Lake Unit – It is very dry throughout most of Washington and Ozaukee counties. Goose banding was completed last week at sites in Sheboygan and Washington counties. Pike Lake/Plymouth DNR crews and volunteers banded 504 geese. Turkey broods are still being recorded as part of the 10-week brood survey.

Kohler-Andrae State Park - The beach conditions are ideal. Common milkweed, butterfly weed, spiderwort, yarrow, gray-headed coneflower, cup plant, jewelweed, common mullein, and coreopsis are blooming. Fireflies can be seen nightly. Wisconsin Great Lakes Beach testing results can be found at http://www.wibeaches.us.

Lake Michigan fisheries team report

Sheboygan County - Trollers in Sheboygan have been catching decent numbers of chinook, coho, and rainbows. Fish have been around 60 to 70 feet of water early in the morning, and then have been moving deeper to the 100 foot range as the sun gets higher. The rainbows have come from the top 30 feet of water, but the salmon have been deeper. Spoons have taken the majority of fish, but flasher and fly combinations have also produced. When conditions are good near shore, anglers fishing off the Sheboygan piers have been catching a mixed bag of brown and rainbow trout and coho and chinook salmon. A few whitefish have been caught off the piers as well. Most trout and salmon have been taken on alewives.

Ozaukee County - In Port Washington trollers have been catching mostly chinook, along with some coho, and rainbows in 85 to 150 feet of water. Spoons as well as dodger and fly or flasher and fly combinations have been productive. Port Washington anglers fishing off the pier have been catching decent numbers of brown and rainbow trout, and chinook. Alewives have taken the majority of fish.

Milwaukee County - Milwaukee trollers have been catching decent numbers of chinook and coho, along with a few lake and rainbow trout. Most boats have been focusing in 50 to 105 feet of water with baits about 30 to 60 feet below the surface. Decent numbers of big chinook have also been caught in 40 to 60 feet of water during low light hours. The best baits have been spoons or dipsey divers with flasher and fly combinations. White, blue, and watermelon flies have been producing. Spoons and soft plastics fished in the gaps have produced quite a few chinook as well. Fishing on McKinley pier remains good, with chinook and brown trout caught on alewives. Perch anglers have also been successful off of McKinley pier within an hour and a half of sunrise. Most perch have been caught on minnows under a slip bobber or on shrimp. The shoreline along Summerfest is producing a few brown trout, with most fish being caught on minnows but a few also taken on spoons. A few small browns have been caught off of Grant Park and along the Oak Creek power plant fishing pier, and a few perch have been caught off the power plant pier as well. Perch fishing for boaters at the boils and off of Oak Creek has yielded fish, but the bite seems to slow down about an hour and a half after sunrise.

Racine County - In Racine trollers have had great success using dipsey divers and flies or spoons from 40 to 80 feet down in 50 to 105 feet of water. Anglers have been focusing mainly on coho and chinook, though an occasional rainbow has also been caught. Those fishing from shore in Racine have had their best luck casting spoons at low light. Anglers have been catching a few browns from the pier and in the harbor. Perch fishing is relatively slow from shore with most fish caught on minnows under a slip bobber. Those in boats jigging for perch along the rock wall by Meyers ramp have had much better success with minnows under slip bobbers. A few additional perch have been caught by casting small crank baits. The best perch fishing has been within an hour and a half of sunrise.

Sturtevant DNR Service Center area
Racine and Kenosha counties – Anglers continue to report good luck on bass, fishing deep weed lines with soft plastics. Panfishers were targeting bluegills in 10-15 feet of water using split shot rigs or slip bobbers with night crawler chunks, wax worms, and leaf worms. Conservation Warden Kyle Dilley, Burlington, will be coordinating a Fox River Clean Up on Saturday, July 21 to lead an effort to improve the environment on the river and its banks. Contact him at 262-878-5612 for more details.


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Dodgeville DNR Service Center area
Grant County - The Wisconsin River is running very low. At 3,500 cfs, it is at about half the normal flow rate for early July. There are lots of sandbars and lots of shallow water. That will mean slow going for the paddlers in the annual canoe and kayak race from Spring Green to Muscoda this weekend. Fishing has also been slow on the river. The warm water temps (84-88 degrees) make fish inactive. Some species, like northern pike, are congregating at the mouths of cold-water tributaries. Catfish and walleye are probably laying low in the deepest holes they can find. Many does have been seen with 2 fawns in tow, often near rivers and streams.

Lafayette County - The fish on area waters have slowed down with the high water temperatures though some can be found in the cooler deeper waters. Most lake water surface temperatures in the area are still at or above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Does and fawns are becoming a regular sight as well as a few bucks in velvet.

Horicon DNR Service Center area
Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area - With the continued hot and dry conditions, many native prairie grasses and flowers are ahead of schedule. It looks more like August than July. Water levels in the Horicon Marsh remain low, with areas of mudflats or even dry surfaces. Geese are regaining their flight feathers after molting. Duck broods are being noted at various growth stages, from small ducklings (probably second nesting) to almost adult sized. Young raccoon, skunk and fox are ranging out farther from den sites. Most (if not all) of the heron colony on four-mile island has fledged.

Fitchburg DNR Service Center area
Jefferson County - Fishing has slowed down a great deal. Be watchful for cranes crossing roads. Also the young cranes and turkeys have been on the shoulder of area roads picking up grit and hunting for insects. A reminder again: Due to low water levels boaters are urged to use caution when operating on area lakes and rivers. There have been reports of boaters getting stuck on sand bars and mud flats just under the water surface and striking submerged rocks and stumps. This is taking place in areas that are navigable when water levels are closer to normal. *

Sauk County - The water temperature in area lakes are starting to heat up. The surface water on Devil’s Lake is 83 degrees making swimming an excellent choice for a recreational activity. Please remember to be careful on the water when boating for the lakes are getting congested. Please adopt a designated driver if you are out consuming alcoholic beverages on the lakes and rivers.

Janesville DNR Service Center area

Rock County - Boaters are reminded to use caution while recreating on county lakes and rivers due to low water levels with the lack of rain in southern Wisconsin. Fish kills are also occurring in the area on some waters due to the hot temperatures and low water. The public is encouraged to contact the DNR hotline, 800-TIP-WDNR, if they find locations where large numbers of fish are dying or dead so the situation can be documented and investigated.


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Baldwin DNR Service Center area
Willow River State Park - The Willow River is running at normal flow and generally good clarity. The weather is in a hot stretch so algae will grow and lessen the river clarity. The beach got some new sand last week. White-tailed deer fawns are still showing spots. It appears there are mosquitoes at Willow River, at least on the far end of the Trout Brook Trail, especially as the sun sets. The July Nature Center program calendar is posted at the office. Most of the free programs are on Saturdays. All Nature Center programs require vehicle admission. On Friday, July 6, meet a live milk snake from 2-3 p.m. On Saturday July 7, there is a scavenger hunt from 2-3 p.m.

La Crosse DNR Service Center area
Vernon County - Black caps or black raspberries are ripening around the area, although dry, hot weather may shorten their life span this summer. Black caps are common along roadsides, field borders, fencerows, and forest openings and are important to a wide range of wildlife for food and cover. Two reasons for their importance are their widespread occurrence and palatability. In excess of 100 bird species consume black raspberries, including such species as the ruffed grouse, robin, catbird, cardinal, and brown thrasher. Raccoons, chipmunks, squirrels, and black bears are also fond of these fruits, while deer and rabbits consume the leaves and stems. Thorny black raspberry brambles provide ideal cover and security for many types of small mammals, birds, and reptiles. The young from second clutches of rabbits and squirrels are venturing from their nests. Oftentimes rabbits and squirrels will give birth to two or three broods each year, with four to six young per brood. Early broods tend to number on the higher side of the range; later broods on the smaller side of the range. Both of these mammals are extremely productive species and are preyed upon by a wide range of predators.

Black River Falls DNR Service Center area
Black River State Forest - All-terrain vehicle trails are being groomed this week, which should result in excellent trail conditions. Unfortunately the area is gripped in a heat wave for the week. Improvement is expected for the weekend. The forest has not received rain in the last week and a half so trails are dusty. Ride with your lights on.

Jackson County -The flows on the Black River are tailing off after heavy rains have subsided the last two weeks. Anglers were starting to catch nice sized catfish using worms and stink baits, even during mid-day. Most northern pike being caught were in the 24-30 inch range, and buck tail spinners are this fish's favorite on the Black. Trout fishing has really slowed down in most of the stocked waters. Boating traffic on Lake Arbutus increased with the Fourth of July week. Make sure to do a safety inspection of all boating equipment before heading onto the water. A common thing people forget to do is test and recharge their fire extinguishers. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1989 is required to take a boating safety course in order to operate a motor boat. Remember to clean, drain and dry your boat before leaving Wisconsin waters. Prevention of the spread of aquatic invasives through education and enforcement is a priority on Lake Arbutus, as there are no infestations of non-natives on this water body. Everyone can do their part to keep it that way by removing all plants and weeds off of their trailers before driving away from the ramp. The Jackson County ATV trails are open and busy. Two accidents with injuries were reported last week, with operator inexperience being factors in both. Don't ride above your skill level just to keep up with the group. Ask your local warden questions if you see them out on patrol, they are there working for you. Have fun and be safe!

Eau Claire DNR Service Center area
Eau Claire County -With all the rain received in Eau Claire County last week the area rivers and lakes have been pretty high. Fishing has been slow but kayaking and canoeing has been great. A couple area beaches were closed because of high bacteria levels but they are opened again just in time for the forecasted hot weather over the weekend. Eau Claire and Clark County ATV trails have held up well with all the rain and conditions are great to get out and ride.

Wausau DNR Service Center area
Rib Mountain State Park - Trails are in good condition for a hike. New trails in the quarry area near completion, with a few minor details remaining, the trails are marked. Updated trail maps are available on-line and at the park office. Lots of deer, woodchucks and even an occasional turkey have been seen.

Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center area
Buckhorn State Park - Visitors continue to enjoy the hot weather by keeping cool at the beaches or boating. There is some algae floating around the lake already. If the water at one beach looks green, chances are the other beach will be clear and the algae will move out to another part of the lake the next day. There are occasional mosquitoes at the park even without having rain– remember your bug spray. Some campers are using thermocells (small device that repels mosquitoes) in their campsites, screen tents, and hanging out at the beach or out in a boat. As of July 1, campfires in the designated rings are still allowed. Check at the park office to see if any restrictions have been placed. Fireworks are not allowed in the state park or wildlife areas. Construction on Hwy. 82 in Mauston in underway from the interstate to Hwy 58. Expect delays as there are two lanes open.
 
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