Wisconsin received more needed rain in the last week, which also finally ushered in some cooler, fall-like temperatures. The entire state received from 1 to 2.5 inches of rain and wildfire danger levels have now dropped to low or moderate statewide. The cooler nighttime temperatures and rainfall are helping to lower water temperatures following the unseasonably warm weather that continued through most of the month. The rain has also raised water levels on streams and rivers, with some now running at near seasonal norms, while others continue to run low.
The weather has lead to unpredictable fishing patterns on northern Wisconsin lakes. Anglers needed to try a variety of live and artificial baits to try and match the right combination to specific bodies of water. There has been some improved walleye and musky action with the water temperatures cooling and fall patterns developing. Crappie fishing has been good in some areas with nice catches reported.
Southern Wisconsin lakes have cooled off slightly but not enough to trigger heavy fall feeding activity yet. Anglers have been catching bass and northern pike. Inland trout fishing improved with the rain and cooler temperatures. Inland trout fishing closes on Sept. 30 on most waters. Brook and brown trout will be staging for their fall spawning activity soon.
Walleye action continued to improve on the Fox River and they were also starting their run down the west shore of Green Bay. Perch action remained very good with large catches of small to medium fish being reported along the bay. Northern pike action was reported to be good to very good in Sturgeon Bay and Little Sturgeon Bay.
Out on Lake Michigan, mostly smaller salmon and a few rainbows were being taken by anglers trolling 50 to 150 feet down in 75 to 500 feet of water. Shore anglers have been catching good numbers of chinooks and some rainbows from piers. The rains and higher flows have finally triggered fall trout and salmon spawning runs on Lake Michigan tributaries. Steelhead and chinook have begun moving up most streams, but still in fairly small numbers. The Root River Steelhead Facility began operations this week.
The Mississippi River stage stayed pretty steady this week again. The water level was around 7.0 by the end of the week; however, rain throughout the Mississippi River drainage might cause a rise in the entire river. A lot of floating weeds continued to make fishing difficult in most areas, with walleye and sauger action slow this week.
Archery deer hunters are starting to report increased success finding deer around oak trees as they feed on the plentiful acorn crop. Some nice bucks are being seen in forest openings and field edges toward dusk and most bucks have now rubbed the velvet off their antlers. Grouse are becoming more visible as vegetation is dying back.
Fall turkey season opens Oct. 1 with 85,400 permits issued for the 40-day season that runs through Nov. 9. State wildlife officials say hunters should be able to look forward to an excellent fall season, with good turkey production reported this year and the states wild turkey population now extending well into the northern part of the state.
Waterfowl hunters had mixed success over the weekend with signs of the waterfowl migration picking up. Duck numbers are quite abundant on certain marshes with blue- and green-winged teal, shovelers, mallards and wood ducks numerous, and some wigeon and early migrant divers come into the state.
Canada goose numbers are increasing at Horicon Marsh with some 35,000 to 50,000 birds now on the marsh and numbers expected to increase with the cold fronts moving through Wisconsin. The peak numbers will be more than 200,000 by early to mid-November.
Kettles of hawks are being seen gathering on winds as they are winging their way southward, with some reaching impressive heights. While the early wave of migrant warblers has already passed through southern Wisconsin, yellow-rumped warblers, ruby-crowned kinglets and white-throated sparrows are still abundant in woodlots.
A few monarch butterfly stragglers are still floating and finding nectar sources on the many blue asters still blooming. Sandhill cranes are abundant and are gathering in flocks of upwards of 500 or more roosting in marshes.
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 - The Bois Brule River is flowing at 127 Cubic Feet per second (CFS), the 60 year average is 153. The fall colors have become much more pronounced in the past few days in the Brule area. The maples are at their peak now and the oaks leaves are now starting to turn various colors of red, brown, and orange. The fall colors are probably pushing 50 percent now. The weekend forecast for the weekend is partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the upper 60s. Between the fall colors and nice forecast it would be a great time to get out to visit the Brule River State Forest and hike/bike some of the trails, do some horseback riding, get out on the river to fish or canoe, or do some camping. The fruits (pods) from milkweed plants are very prominent now. They are about 2-4 inches with a rough bumpy appearance. They are filled with seeds that are attached to a downy fluff. This "fluff" gets carried away by the wind which then disperses the milkweed seeds. For more information on milkweed check out the Wisconsin DNR EEK website at . September has turned out to be a very warm month in Brule. The Brule DNR weather station recorded an average of 73 degrees for September. It was not the hottest on record but it was close to the record set in 1987 with the average high of 75. The average high in September in Brule since 1932 is 68 degrees.
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Warm temperatures continue in the Park Falls area though nighttime temperatures are cooler and the area has experienced frost. Welcomed rainfall fell over much of the area helping to reduce fire danger and dry dusty conditions. Fishermen are finding improved walleye and musky action with the water temperatures cooling and fall patterns developing. Crappie fishing has been good and some nice catches have been reported. Archery hunters are reporting some success and many hunters are finding deer actively around oak trees as the deer are enjoying feeding on the plentiful acorn crop. Fall colors continue to progress and many leaves have fallen. Grouse are becoming more visible as the vegetation declines and larger openings are created in the forest. Bear hunters continue to pursue bear and a number of bear have been harvested recently. Fall turkey season opens Oct. 1 and opportunities look promising. Turkeys can be found searching for acorns near oaks. Waterfowl hunters had mixed success over the opener and some movement of waterfowl has occurred with recent winds from the north. Some nice bucks are being seen in forest openings and field edges toward dusk. State law prohibits shining after 10 p.m. from Sept. 15 through Dec. 31. Also check local ordinances in your area, which may prohibit shining.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - The rainy weather of late and the various hunting season combined to result in some pretty low fishing pressure across many lakes in the Upper Chippewa Basin. Musky anglers seem to be providing most of the fishing activity and they have reported some pretty good action. Most anglers have still been using artificials, but some have begun to use live suckers. Both baits have been providing some good action, but look for the sucker bite to continually improve with the falling water temperatures. Most of the musky have been found on the deep edges, with the shallow weeds still producing some pretty good action as well. The anglers using suckers have reported that most of the fish have been smaller and in the 30 to 36-inch size, but they have been seeing a few fish in the 40-inch range. Walleye fishing has still been on the slow side, though a few anglers have reported some decent catches of 12 to 15-inch fish. Large fathead minnows are becoming the preferred bait and this trend should also continue with the drop in water temperatures. Panfish angling has been fair and some good catch of crappie and bluegill have been made along the emergent weed lines.
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Anglers will need to bring their bag of tricks for fishing trips right now. The unseasonably warm weather has led to unpredictable fishing patterns. Many bodies of water are experiencing algae blooms and the warm temperatures were keeping them from dissipating. A variety of live and artificial baits are needed at this time to try and match the right combination to specific bodies of water. Grouse hunters have not encountered a great deal of success due to the expected low numbers of birds and leaf cover right now. Waterfowl season is now open with the best activity being associated with beds of wild rice. Area flowages are producing some good waterfowl opportunities as very low water levels have exposed sand bars and mud flats which in turn have duck food readily available. There are signs of the migration beginning as more geese and a few divers are showing up in the area. Bow hunting reports are positive right now and with the good acorn crop this year focusing your attention there will increase your odds of spotting some deer. Conservation wardens report they are encountering violations of the deer feeding and baiting rule. Be sure to check to regulations, as there are some changes to the baiting and feeding rules in effect this year. A reminder that it is illegal to shine wild animals between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. from Sept. 15 through Dec. 31. Some areas prohibit this practice altogether by local ordinance. Persons involved in this type of activity should check with the local Sheriffs Department or local town officials about restrictions in your area.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NORTHEAST REGION
Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
Fall salmon runs are picking up on area tributary streams. Smallmouth bass action is also picking up on the Menominee and Peshtigo rivers. Good reports of yellow perch bag limits being filled on Green Bay waters. Inland lake game fish action is also picking up as Muskies and walleyes strap on the feedbags for winter. Fall turkey hunting season opens this Saturday with many turkeys being seen along the edges of woods and in recently harvested cornfields. Fall colors are progressing quickly and are expected to last only a short time this year due to the drought conditions of the summer. High Falls and Johnson Falls flowages have been drawn down and work will continue on the dam structures through December.
Green Bay DNR Service Center area
Brown County - The Fox River has been steadily improving for walleye. It hasn't been producing anything this summer except a few sheepshead and catfish. Most were being caught on minnows in the shallows by the railroad bridges at night or in the channel during the day. Bass and perch were pretty much zero all summer again. Some pretty hefty channel cats continued to be caught at Voyager as well as the whole lower half of the bay. There were still some reports of some larger northern caught in the channel by anglers trolling for musky, as well as some medium sized ones off Voyager using minnows and twisters by anglers fishing for walleye. A few rumors about the musky situation on the Fox, but no hard data yet. The Suamico River has finally been producing some perch off shore around the boat landing. They were mostly on the smaller side, but they have been getting bigger as weeks go by. Some larger ones were being found in 20-25 feet around the lighthouse in the morning hours and along both Little Tail and Long Tail in the evening hours. Some were pretty big, with the average size around 8-9 inches. Walleye were starting their run down the west shore of the bay. Many 16- to 20-inchers were being caught anywhere from 6-15 feet between the Oconto and Pensaukee rivers. Duck Creek has been very slow all year. Mostly white perch and bullhead have been caught during the day on crawlers. However, the perch action has now begun. Once again, they were a little smaller, but keepers nonetheless Also keep an eye out for walleye on both the Suamico and Duck Creek. There were some caught there in spring, so maybe this fall. Bay Shore Park was still doing very well. Especially in the morning anglers were reaching limits in a few hours. The gobies seemed to have calmed down a little bit, but the white perch seem to be gaining momentum. Most of the action was still straight out on the flats in 25-30 feet, but now that the gobies have been calming down, there has been some luck in shallower, around 15-20 feet. There has been some big 12-inchers caught there, but also still some gobies. The walleye action has been so-so along the east shore south of Bayshore; anglers have had to put in some time and try many different baits to find out what they are after that day. Some 22- to 26-inchers were seen at Volk's Reef in recent weeks, but no reports this last week.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Door County Warm days and cool nights with a little rain toward the end of the week about sums up the weeks weather. The foliage is starting to take on its fall color; however, it will still be a while before it hits its peak. On Lake Michigan lots of smaller salmon and a few rainbows, were being taken by anglers trolling 50 to 150 feet down in 75 to 500 feet of water. More and more salmon have been moving into the Sturgeon Bay ship canal. Several nice fish were taken from the piers at the Coast Guard Station and the banks of the canal. Spoons in green, blue and silver all were reported as taking fish. Perch action remained very good with large catches of small to medium fish being reported, along with lots of perch in the 7 to 11 inch range, and even a few fish pushing a foot in length. The larger perch were coming off the deep reefs and weed beds in 10 to 30 feet of water, and from 25 to 40 feet over mud flats. The area around Snake Island was still good to excellent for anglers using minnows, worms, crabs and jigs, in 5 to 15 feet of water. Good action was reported in the deeper waters of Green Bay from Henderson Point south. Lots of small bass were still being caught from shore, with more and more of the larger fish starting to show up. The best action for bigger bass was still on the deeper off shore reefs. Gulp's watermelon, spinner baits and tube jigs continue to produce fish. In Little Sturgeon Bay there was action in 18-20 feet of water on Poorboys in goby color, along with gulps in green/white and pink/red. Northern pike action was reported to be good to very good in Sturgeon Bay, Little Sturgeon Bay and the area around Henderson Point. There were still reports of a lot of catfish in the 10-pound range being caught in the bays of southern Door County. Chaudoirs Dock was going strong once again. Unfortunately, the white perch were popping up here more than anywhere else. There were some keeping them and say they taste pretty good. Little Sturgeon Bay has been busy, especially on the weekends. There has been relatively no keeper perch in Little Sturgeon itself, but there has been more success around the outside of Henderson Point in deeper water. The problem is when it is rough, anglers couldn't get out to find the bigger ones. The water is cooling down, however, so they will start coming in. As for bass, the weather has been spooking them in past weeks, but it has stabilized a bit. The best news is the northern have really been biting recently on just about everything including spinners, Shadraps, and spoons. They have been pretty decent sizes, too. Sawyer Harbor has been on the slower side this last week. There were a few really tough days where everyone was surprised they could not find any. Most bass anglers have been sticking to the rocky point off Cabot point and the rocky shore of Pott Park. The east of the islands right in the harbor seemed to be the best place to catch any perch of decent size, but unfortunately the gobies were also there. Crawlers and leeches work the best for perch, but also the gobies. Try using minnows instead.
Peninsula State Park - All hiking and biking trails are dry and in excellent condition. Fall foliage color remains minimal. Expect peak colors in mid October. Although recent rains have been beneficial, conditions remain somewhat dry. Peninsula State Park golf course is open until the end of October. Eagle Bluff Lighthouse is open and providing guided tours seven days per week between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. until Oct. 17. The parks annual "Halloween" hike will be held Oct. 8. American Folklore Theatre has ended its season in Peninsula State Park's amphitheater.
Kewaunee County - Anglers trolling Lake Michigan have had mixed results throughout the week. Rainbow trout and smaller sized chinook salmon have been taken in anywhere from 80 to 400 feet of water and 40 to 150 feet down. The best bite has been in deeper waters using spoons, dodger/flies, and j-plugs. Some anglers have had success catching spawning chinooks trolling near shore while using spoons and stick baits. Most of the action this week has been in the harbors and rivers. Chinook salmon, rainbow trout, and brown trout action has taken off at the piers and harbors of both Kewaunee and Algoma. Various spoons in blue, green, and silver have worked the best and a few fish were taken with marshmallows and spawn. Water temperatures in the harbors have been in the mid 60s. Recent rain showers have raised the water level in the rivers this past week. Chinook salmon have been staging in good numbers in the deeper waters of the mouth of the Kewaunee River. A few chinooks have made it farther upstream, but they are still not running in good numbers. Anglers have had success using spawn sacs, artificial spawn, as well as various flies.
Oshkosh DNR Service Center area
Lakeshore Team (Brown, Outagamie & Calumet counties) Wildlife Report - Fall has arrived, as many signs indicate the end of the summer. Over the past week many warblers have been heard and seen foraging among the forest vegetation. Large numbers have been near High Cliff and Peninsula state parks, and the Killsnake and Brillion wildlife areas. While Appleton Octoberfest was occurring, many hawks were seen gathering on winds above the city winging their way southward. Scores of birds were floating in a three dimensional aspect as some were reaching impossible heights others were skimming over the building tops. These kettles lasted throughout early morning hours to early afternoon and are common this time of year. Places to observe these encounters can be obtained along the Fox River on the many Appleton parks, near High Cliff or out by the Outagamie County airport. Leaves on trees are falling early due to the stress of having low moisture throughout the growing season. Some show great hues of the autumn color, especially near some wetlands and wildlife lands in Calumet County. Moisture received is starting to accumulate in some wetland areas but probably not enough to lend any landing points for the upcoming waterfowl season in the southern zone in Calumet, Brown and Outagamie counties. Where isolated ponds have water, both wood ducks and mallards are taking advantage of the food sources nearby. Mourning doves are still found concentrated in a few sites in both Outagamie and Calumet Counties near some wildlife areas. Grasslands comprising of prairie are slowly turning their growing color of green to hues of brown, yellow and red on many of the wildlife areas, especially in Calumet County. Feather-like seeds on Indiangrass give a silent but noticeable wave for the many spiders and insects making their forays amongst the vegetation. Migrating birds are taking advantages of the abundance of food sources as well as resident birds such as turkeys, which are seen feeding on grasshoppers and crickets near edges of the forest and prairie. A few short-eared owls have been seen on Brillion and Killsnake wildlife areas close to dusk seeking out the abundant voles in the grasslands. A few monarch butterfly stragglers are still floating and finding nectar sources on the many blue forbs of the prairie which comprise of New England and Silky asters. While many are beginning to hunt for game species, prospects for hunting with the camera abound. Sandhill cranes are still abundant near the Killsnake and Brillion wildlife areas where sometimes in the evening upwards of 500 or more are coming to roost in the marsh. The Brillion Nature Center is still a prized site for many observations by cruising the 6 miles of trails through marsh, prairie and forest. Approximately a 3/4 mile of trail is accessible where bluebirds are still seen near the main building. For further information please call at (920) 756-3591 or go to their Web site at .
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOUTHEAST REGION
Southeast Wisconsin finally received much needed rainfall on Sunday. Most areas in the region received nearly an inch of rain, with some places getting anywhere from 2 to 4 inches. Water levels on all local tributaries came up, and chinook have finally started moving upstream. As of Oct. 1, fishing on Lake Michigan tributaries is not allowed from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise. Night fishing hours reopen on Saturday, May 6, 2006.
Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan near-shore water temperatures warmed back up into the high 60s after strong northeast winds on Saturday. Prior to the warm up, shore anglers had been catching a few chinooks off the piers. Spoons in orange, silver, or chartreuse had been the most productive. Trollers off Sheboygan have been catching chinooks outside the harbor to 100 feet of water. Spoons in blue, green, wonder bread, and glow-in-the-dark have produced the most.
Ozaukee County - In Port Washington shore anglers fishing the harbor have been catching decent numbers of chinooks on spawn sacs. Trollers off of Port have been catching chinooks and a few coho from the harbor out to 80 feet of water. Both spoons and J-plugs in glow-in-the-dark, white, and silver have been effective.
Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee when near-shore water temperatures have been cool, anglers fishing off McKinley pier had been catching chinooks and a few rainbows on spoons and alewives. Trollers off Milwaukee have been catching good numbers of chinooks, along with a few cohos in and around the gaps and out to 80 feet of water. Spoons and J-plugs have been productive from 15 to 60 feet down.
Racine County In Racine trollers fishing in 80 to 100 feet of water have been taking chinooks and a few coho on a variety of lures. Anglers fishing the Root River in the rain on Sunday were taking good numbers of chinooks below the weir in Lincoln Park. Most fish were taken on flies, either egg sucking leeches or woolly buggers. The Root River Steelhead Facility started operations Monday morning. There were 270 chinooks and three coho passed upstream on Sept. 27. The next processing day will be Thursday, Sept. 29.
Kenosha County In Kenosha good numbers of browns and chinooks remain behind the Holiday Inn. Shore anglers have had the most success using white tube jigs. A wave of chinooks ran up the Pike River over the weekend. Anglers have been finding chinooks near the access at Highway A.
Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and Washington counties - Fishing on the Milwaukee River in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and Washington counties for smallmouth bass has been steady. Recent rains and cooler water temperatures should improve opportunities. Recent rains and higher flows may be the trigger for steelhead movement upstream from Lake Michigan.
Walworth and inland Racine and Kenosha counties - Lake water temperatures have cooled off slightly but not enough to trigger heavy fall feeding activity yet. Anglers were catching bass and northern pike in 15 to 25 feet of water. Northern pike were biting on crank baits and suckers. Bass were hitting crank baits, night crawlers, and minnows. Early morning and evening have been good for bass in 4 to 8 feet of water.
Washington, eastern Fond du Lac, and inland Sheboygan counties - Fishing conditions have been improving in area lakes and streams with recent rains and cooler temperatures. Trout fishing closes on Sept. 30 for most waters. Brook and brown trout will be staging for their fall spawning activity soon. Reproduction was very good following the last drought and hopefully there will be good trout reproduction from this fall. Northern pike and musky should become far more active now.
Kettle Moraine State Park - Pike Lake Unit - All trails are open for hiking. The cool crisp air of the fall season is a great time to view the explosion of fall colors while walking the forest trails. Be sure to check out the view of the forest from atop the observation tower on Powder Hill. The forest is about a week or two from peak fall color at this time. The last night of camping for the 2005 season will be Saturday Oct. 15. Swimming buoys marking the beach area have been removed for the season. There are no lifeguards on duty in the state forest. Water quality remains good in the beach area.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Dodgeville DNR Service Center area
Military Ridge State Trail - The beginning of fall colors can be seen along the trail. The trail is in good condition. There is a short detour around a section of the trail between County Road K (east of Barneveld) and Mounds Road (in Blue Mounds). The deck and railings will be replaced on several bridges (bridges #4 through #10), so this section of the trail will be closed and impassable. Trail users can use County Highway ID to bypass the construction zone. Construction work will continue through October and into November. The City of Verona is constructing a new year-round restroom facility/picnic shelter along the trail just west of Highway 69. This facility will be accessible for trail users and the construction work does not affect the trail itself.
Grant County
Wyalusing State Park - Trails are in good condition. There is a hint of fall color, with more color possible by this weekend due to the cool forecast. Sumacs add a brilliant red to the landscape and the sugar maples are the most colorful to date. According to local anglers, fishing activity has been very good. Nice catches of bluegills have been reported. Bluegills have been biting on night crawlers. The Mississippi River level at Prairie du Chien is 7.9 feet. Regular visitors at the Visitor Center bird feeders include: downy woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, goldfinches, mourning doves, and cardinals. Flocks of pelicans and egrets have been seen in the area on the Mississippi River. Flowers in bloom include: Joe Pyeweed, grey-headed coneflower, purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, woodland sunflower, evening primrose, great blue lobelia, cream gentian, New England aster, small flowering white aster, white snakeroot, stiff goldenrod, zigzag goldenrod, Canada goldenrod, small blue aster. Insects and caterpillars still about include: tiger swallowtail, woolly bear, yellow bear, eastern tent caterpillar, white-marked tussock moth, milkweed tussock moth, monarch, American daggermoth, banded tussock moth, walking sticks, goldenrod spider, ambush bug, bloodsucking conenose, milkweed leaf beetle. All of the reservable campsites in the Wisconsin Ridge Campground have been reserved for this weekend, but there are still sites available in the Homestead Campground. Upcoming programs include an Evening Paddle beginning at 5 p.m. Friday Sept. 30 from the boat landing. Canoe as a group through the sloughs and into the main channel, learning about animals, plants, history, and current river issues along the way. Watch the fall foliage on Wyalusing's bluffs change color from the backwaters of the Mississippi River. On Saturday, Oct. 1 there will be a "Back to Cool" program at 4 p.m. at the Point Lookout Shelter. Explore autumn in Wyalusing State Park, from migration to hibernation to fall color changes, in a hike along the Bluff and Sentinel Ridge Trails. Approximately length of program is 1 hour. Saturday night there will be a Spirits of the Past program at 7 p.m. at the Peterson Shelter. The history of Wyalusing State Park will come alive along a candlelit trail at the Annual Spirits of the Past.
Lafayette County - During the week of Sept, 20 -26 just over 3 inches of much needed rain fell in Darlington and throughout Lafayette County. Many of the small sloughs and ponds that historically held waterfowl in the fall have replenished themselves and are holding water again. Several teal, mallards, and wood ducks were observed on Yellowstone Lake in the rain over this past weekend. People fishing in the rain over the weekend on Yellowstone reported activity was slow. People were catching a few crappie, catfish, and walleye. Pheasant sseason should be great this year. Increased numbers of pheasants are being observed during the morning hours and throughout the day.
Horicon DNR Service Center area
Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area - The recent cold fronts have provided good migration conditions with Canada geese and ducks coming into the area from northern regions. While the early wave of migrant warblers has already passed through southern Wisconsin, yellow-rumped warblers, ruby-crowned kinglets and white-throated sparrows are abundant at this time among area woodlots. Great egrets and herons are readily seen on Horicon Marsh as they feed and prepare for their migration. Numbers of these and other marsh birds, including white pelicans, will decline over the next several weeks as they depart for southern wintering grounds. Sandhill cranes are currently increasing on the marsh and are commonly seen throughout much of October. Duck numbers are quite abundant on certain areas of Horicon Marsh. Blue-winged teal, shovelers, green-winged teal, mallards and wood ducks are numerous, but as in most years the coming cold fronts will take the blue-wings and wood ducks south as wigeon and early migrant divers come into the area. Waterfowl will find sufficient habitat on the marsh although low water will restrict their distribution. Canada goose numbers are increasing at this time with some 35,000 to 50,000 birds presently on the marsh and an expected increase with the cold front moving through Wisconsin on Wednesday. The peak season for visitors coming to Horicon Marsh occurs in mid to late October, while the true peak of Canada geese does not occur until November in many years. However, visitors tend to come not to see the absolute peak of geese, but for a fall experience when trees and in full color and other birds are abundant on the marsh. Once levels reach 100,000 to 150,000 geese on Horicon Marsh, their daily flight provide a great fall experience, but peak numbers will be more than 200,000 by early to mid-November. Visitors should keep in mind that the geese fly out of the marsh in the morning to feed in nearby fields and return during the last two hours of the day. So plan your visit to stay for the afternoon flight. During the day public naturalist programs are offered at the DNR Field Office located on the south end of the marsh each Saturday and Sunday until the end of October. For a complete schedule of activities check the DNR Web site at: . The water levels in Horicon Marsh remain low. Those interested in canoeing or hunting the marsh will find limited access to backwater areas. Hunters are reminded to scout the area before planning their hunt so that they can assess their ability to get around the marsh with the boats and other equipment they have.
Fitchburg DNR Service Center area
Sauk County
Devil's Lake State Park - Turkey vultures are starting to wheel and circle in larger groups, preparing for their fall migration. Some days in the next few weeks you might spot many dozens at one time. The sumac leaves are turning red, and just a few leaves are begin to tumble down on windy days. Fall colors will be happening sometime during mid to late October. After that is the slowest time of year during November and December. Then things pick up again in January through March, with cross-country skiing and ice fishing. If the weather is nice weekends can still be very busy at Devils Lake. On a gorgeous fall weekend, its possible that even all 418 campsites can fill up. During the week, however, there are fewer people, and it is possible to enjoy the quiet serenity. Northern Lights and Ice Age campgrounds will close Oct. 11 after Columbus day weekend. Showers and the RV dump station will be closed for the winter after Oct. 11.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WEST CENTRAL REGION
Baldwin DNR Service Center area
Willow River State Park - In spite of recent rain, water levels and clarity have been excellent in the Willow River and Little Falls Lake. There is a very slight color change in progress as of Sept. 28. Larger flocks of Canada geese have been coming in to Little Falls Lake in the evenings. A deer fawn was born recently. Both the doe and fawn are thin. Heavy traffic continues on County Rd. A. The situation will exist into the end of October with the Stillwater, MN bridge closed. Campers are reminded that water will be shut off and buildings closed by the first full weekend of October. Pit toilets will be open. There will be no showers or flush toilets open. Rinse water will not be available at the dump station although tanks may be emptied. Water may be loaded into camper tanks at the service building after the campground water is turned off. Campsites are reservable until Oct. 31. The electric sites are the first to go. From Oct. 31 to April 28, 2006, all sites are first come-first served.
La Crosse DNR Service Center area
This fall's acorn crop appears to be above average, and hickory nuts and black walnuts are also abundant. Squirrels are currently busy harvesting and gathering hickory nuts and black walnuts, but they will turn their attention to acorns as hickory nuts and walnuts become depleted. Squirrel hunters are reporting fair success. As leaves fall from the trees increasing visibility, squirrel hunting success should also increase.
Mississippi River - Blue-winged teal, wood ducks, wigeons and coots are migrating through the La Crosse area in good numbers. Blue-wing numbers should peak this week. Unfortunately, coots and ducks appear to be dying from trematode infestations on Lake Onalaska again this year. The final diagnosis is not in yet. People finding groups of dead ducks along the Mississippi R. should call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at: 608-783-8405 or 507-452-4232.
Crawford County - The Mississippi River stage stayed pretty steady this week again. The water level was around 7.0 by the end of the week; however, Sunday saw quite a bit of rain. The rain throughout the Mississippi River drainage might cause a rise in the entire river before the duck season next Saturday. Both the Wisconsin and Kickapoo Rivers saw a rise with the recent rains. Mississippi River still has numerous submerged dangers. Even if the water comes up a bit dead heads, wing dams, and slough closures all pose dangers to boaters. Some backwater areas and mud/sand flats could also cause problems. Barge traffic is moderate on the Mississippi River. Recreational boating traffic has slowed quite a bit now that most schools are back in session. Weekends however will still be busy but most boats are fishing or scouting waterfowl areas. This weekend Mississippi River users noticed a lot of wild celery floating down stream. The floating weeds made fishing difficult in most areas. Walleye and sauger action was a little slower this week. The best action seems to be in the morning or early in the evening. Anglers using live bait have been mainly using night crawlers or minnows. The last week floating weeds have been a problem. There has been limited action at the Roseau Slough, the Black Slough, wing dams around the Prairie du Chien and Lynxville/Ferryville. The islands along the main channel outside Lynxville, north and south of Cold Spring, and all the way up to Lansing have been producing some nice walleye, but not every day. Bluegill action was spotty again this week. Even in the Main Channel along rocky shorelines and in lower flow areas bluegill fishing has been slow. Perch action has been spotty. Striper (white bass) action was pretty slow this week. Some white bass were being taken up near the Lynxville dam and in the Prairie du Chien area. Both channel and flathead catfish continue to bite fairly well. Catfish were being caught in Pool 9 outside of Ferryville. Most catfish are being taken on cut bait, stink bait or night crawlers. Sheepshead were still very active and are biting on night crawlers. Bass anglers found some good days followed by some slow days. Spring Lake area, Garnet Lake, the main channel and most sloughs have produced bass. Some largemouth bass have been taken along woody shorelines and weeds in the back sloughs. Anglers fishing on Pool 9 have found bass along the weed edges along the small channels. Smallmouth bass have been active along the Main Channels especially along rocky shorelines and wing dams. Northern pike action was spotty this week. Inland trout anglers were reported some very good success early in the week. Recent rains will most likely disrupt the trouts feeding patterns. As more corn and soybean fields are picked the mourning dove hunting should improve. Successful dove hunters were finding the birds using picked grain fields, freshly cut alfalfa or corn fields. Duck hunters are actively scouting their areas. Most duck hunter will find water levels lower than average. Recent rains and projected rainfall might improve conditions. Local production of ducks like wood ducks, teal, and mallards look pretty good. Archery deer hunters are finding a few scrapes along the field edges and in the woods. Most are small in size and not very active. Deer numbers look very good and there were reports of a couple nice bucks taken this week. The beginning of corn and soybean harvest should make deer hunting even better. Recent rains will hamper crop removal however. Most of Crawford County lies in Deer Management Unit 74B. All deer hunters are reminded that 74B in NOT a T-Zone this year, therefore the free T-Zone tags that come with both gun and archery deer licenses CAN NOT be used in 74B. The White Pelicans can still been seen on Pool 9 in the area between Lynxville and Ferryville. The backwaters of the river systems are holding good numbers of wood ducks and other wild duck species. Young turkeys, pheasants and grouse are now able to fly very well. Broods look to be in good shape. Numerous turkey vultures still can be seen in the area soaring on the thermals up and down Pools 9 and 10. Also signs of migrating hawks can be seen in the area, especially along the Mississippi River. Most of the whitetail bucks have rubbed off their velvet. Red winged blackbirds are beginning to show signs of staging as large flocks can be seen flying throughout the county. Many fall prairie flowers are starting to bloom. Fall appears to be arriving a little early as this week some red and yellow colors have been seen. Black walnut, elm, and sumac are starting to loose their leaves. However most of the trees still carry green leaves. There appears to be a very good acorn, walnut, and hickory nut crop this year. Some farmers have begun chopping corn and the soybeans are getting ready to be harvested.
Wausau DNR Service Center area
Rib Mountain State Park - Fall color is arriving. Granite Peak Ski Area is once again offering fall lift rides to enjoy the scenic beauty and get a full appreciation of the color season. Trails are in good condition. Please note that park staff are working on improving the trail system through signage and surface improvements. Campground is open through the end of Oct. for first-come first-serve campers.Amphitheater and Shelter reservations will end at the end of Sept. Construction continues on Hwy. 51/39. There could be delays.
Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center area
Buckhorn State Park - The park and wildlife areas A and B are open for the early season of bow hunting (54A). This area is not a T-zone. Only regular bow tags or bonus permits for 54A are allowed. Small game, trapping and waterfowl are allowed in Wildlife areas A and B only. Fall turkey is allowed in wildlife Area B only (15). Pick up hunting maps with rules at the park office. The park office will register deer during open office hours. Many hunters were out during the weekend and we registered two does as of 2pm on Sunday. Some sites are starting to close for the season. Check with the park office for availability. Get your photos taken at the park in by Sept. 30th for the annual photo contest. Contact the park office for rules.
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/news/or/#top
