Wisconsin’s game fishing season will open Saturday, May 3 to a wide variety of fishing conditions. The big concern for the fishing opener in the north is whether many popular lakes will be free of ice Saturday morning.
Unseasonably cold weather along with snow flurries slowed the spring progression. Below average temperatures are forecast through the weekend. Some of the larger lakes through Bayfield, Sawyer, Price, Iron, Vilas and Oneida counties are still ice covered. Ice went out on the Chippewa Flowage and the Willow Flowage this week. Most waters in Price and Taylor counties have opened up, but as of mid week, popular lakes farther north, such as Big Arbor Vitae, Minocqua, Big St. Germain, and Muskellunge Lake still were socked in with ice and will almost certainly be for the opener.
Anglers are reminded that bass fishing in the northern bass is catch and release only from May 3 through June 20. Also new this year, artificial lures and barbless hooks must be used for bass fishing during the catch-and-release season. The musky season opens May 3 in the southern zone and May 24 in the northern zone, with Highway 10 the dividing line.
Opening weekend anglers can expect to find that northern pike and perch have completed their spawning rituals and should be starting their spring feeding binge. Walleye however, will likely be in various stages of spawning or immediate post-spawn condition, which could make them tough to catch. Trout lakes and spring ponds should have all been stocked by opening weekend and trout anglers should enjoy some good action.
Walleye spawning is now complete in southern Wisconsin and fish should be in their normal patterns. Opening weekend should be prime time to find early spring panfish in southern lakes. Panfish are expected to be in shallow-warm bays unless a cold front moves through. Bass fishing should be good near cover of any type. Northern pike should be active as well. Water levels may be a little high but, are expected to be in relatively good shape for trout fishing.
Walleye spawning is winding down on the Fox River in Green Bay. Some walleye were still being caught on the river, but they were moving down river and out to the bay. Suckers were still being caught in many Lake Michigan tributaries. Anglers fishing at Lake Michigan harbor piers had some success this week for brown trout. Anglers trolling Lake Michigan and Green Bay reported a mixed bag of brown trout and a few lake trout.
The Mississippi River crested on Sunday at 17.1 feet, which is more than a foot over flood stage. By Monday of this week the river started to drop and is now at about 16.7 feet. The forecast for the Mississippi River is for it to drop rather rapidly this week. Bluegill, perch, and crappie action was again slow this week due to the high water. Fishing below dams for sauger and walleye was also pretty slow this week.
Anglers are being reminded to be very careful with fire this weekend. Fire danger is high in the south and moderate in the north. There were of 50 wildfires in the last week that burned 27 acres, and damaged or destroyed three buildings and threatened another 13. Remember, anyone who starts a wildfire, can be held responsible for the cost of suppression, injuries, and damages.
Maples, oaks and willows are budding out in the south. The early spring wildflowers were opening, including hepatica, bloodroot, marsh marigolds, and Dutchman's breeches. Garlic mustard is also coming up in force and is beginning to flower in the south. Now is the time to get out and pull this invasive plant before it goes to seed.
Cool temps and lots of rain have slowed migration this spring; however; birds continue to push in despite the gloomy weather. Many southern Wisconsin birders are reporting the first real movement of neo-tropical migrants including orioles, grosbeaks, indigo buntings, warblers and flycatchers. And the first ruby-throated hummingbirds were reported in southern Wisconsin this week, so now is the time to put out hummingbird feeders if you haven’t already.
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 Birding Report, May 1, 2008
Cool temps and lots of rain have slowed migration this spring; however; birds continue to push in despite the gloomy weather. Many southern Wisconsin birders are reporting the first real movement of neo-tropical migrants including orioles, grosbeaks, indigo buntings, warblers and flycatchers. Now is the time to put out hummingbird feeders. Rare birds sighted this week include a Bullock's oriole in Walworth County, an eared grebe in Oconto County, Franklin's Gull in Dane County and an Audubon's warbler in Sparta. Northern Wisconsin birders are still mired in early spring with some lingering redpolls and fox sparrows along with the recent influx of short-distance migrants. In the marshes, birders near Horicon heard many American bitterns, Virginia and sora rails, sedge wren, marsh wren and some yellow-headed blackbirds. This next week should bring a good push of neotropical migrants and grasslands birds like grasshopper sparrow and bobolink. As always, see [www.ebird.org/WI] (exit DNR) for sightings and to report sightings to help track this spring's migration.
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Wildfire Conditions for May 1, 2008
A total of 50 wildfires burned 27 acres this week. The main causes were equipment and debris burning. Three buildings were damaged or destroyed by wildfire, and another 13 were threatened. This week, 114 prescribed burns were completed on 4,591 acres. A member of the public received third degree burns on his legs when a burning debris pile escaped. Please remember that any fire, even small flames can cause serious injury very quickly. Check the forest fire pages of the DNR Web site for more information.
Northern Region Wildfire News
A SEAT -- single engine air tanker -- drops water on a fire in Burnett County.
Photo by Jay Riewestahl
In parts of Northern Region where DNR is responsible for wildfire suppression, 30 fires burned a total of 10 acres with 4 structures saved and 1 structure receiving damage this week. The fire danger is Moderate across the region. Prescribed burning is taking place with a total of five prescribed burns on 1,230 acres completed this week. Last week, a string of 16 fires that were three miles long started in Burnett County. The fires are currently under investigation. A SEAT (single engine air tanker) was brought in to drop water on the fire which proved very effective and helped to keep the fire out of a young red pine plantation. Rain is predicted for opening fishing this weekend. Remember, burning is only allowed from 6 p.m. to midnight with no burning on Sundays or legal Holidays.
South Central Region Wildfire News
Six fires burned 1.2 acres this week. Although the fires were small, on three separate occasions, they threatened to damage or ignite structures. This week, 91 prescribed fires were completed on 2,946 acres. Fire danger is High in the region and burning permits are required.
West Central Region Wildfire News
In the West Central Region there were nine fires reported that burned a total of 6 acres. A barn and an outbuilding were destroyed in a fire last week when a debris pile that was thought to be extinguished, re-ignited. One, 4-acre prescribed burn was completed in the Black River Falls area. Fire danger is currently listed as Moderate and burning permits are required.
Northeast Region Wildfire News
In parts of the region where DNR has wildfire suppression responsibilities, there were a total of 10 fires this past week that burned 6 acres. On two of these fires, structures were threatened. The current fire danger is Moderate across the region.
Firewise Tip: With the open fishing weekend just ahead, anglers are urged to be extra cautious with any kind of fire this time of the year. Anglers who build campfires, cooking fires, or warming fires, should 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 campfires, cooking fires, warming fires, and smokes are DEAD OUT before leave an area. Never leave any fire unattended. Remember, anyone who starts a wildfire can be held responsible for the cost of suppression, injuries, and damages.
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NORTHERN REGION
Superior DNR Service Center area
Brule River State Forest - Spring conditions have been a little less than ideal for those who are looking to get out and enjoy a warm spring weekend. Last weekend started out with wind, snow, and cold temperatures...it is looking like this weekend is going to be similar. Birds continue to filter into the northland. Pine, and palm warblers, brown thrasher, ruby-crowned kinglets, tree swallows yellow-bellied sapsuckers are just some of the birds that have been observed. Dandelions are just starting to appear along the warm sides of buildings. The Wisconsin fishing opener is Saturday May 3, opening up the remainder of the Bois Brule River and it's tributaries for fishing. The Bois Brule River flow has gone down to 267 cubic feet per second (cfs). Last week the flow was around 400 cfs. The 63 year average flow is 247 cfs. April turned out to be the snowiest month of 2008 with 24 inches of accumulated snow. April actually "outsnowed" the previous three months combined, which totaled 22 inches of snow. There is a workday is planned for May 10, 2008 starting at 10 a.m. at the Afterhours Archery course. This workday will focus on repairing target backstops, removing debris from target trails, and placing targets. An informal meeting will convene around noon with turkey sandwiches provided. Please bring any side dishes and beverage you wish to provide. In the case of rain, the rain date for this workday will be May 17, same time and place. Also, bring your bows and plan to shoot the course once it is all set up for the year. Even though the Annual Brule River Sportsmen's Club Brule River Spring Clean-up day turned out to be a windy, snowy, and cold day, it that did not stop people from showing up to clean up litter along the river corridor. Close to 30 people braved the weather conditions on Saturday April 26 to pick up what they could see through the snow. Due to the poor conditions some sites were not reached. Some people have volunteered to go back to these sites in the next couple of weeks. Cleanup volunteers are still needed for the “unclaimed” sites. (If interested call Dennis Smet at 715-372-8377).
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Unseasonably cold weather along with snow flurries has slowed the spring progression. Below average temperatures are forecast through the weekend. Those enjoying the fishing opener will experience cold water temperatures and walleye spawning activity in the Park Falls area. Some of the larger lakes still have some ice cover, which may or may not clear entirely by the opener. Anglers will have no worries over insect problems, though ticks are being reported in most areas. Waterfowl numbers continue to increase in the area and are more visible on area waterways. The number and variety of birds visiting area bird feeders continues to increase as the migrants find their way back to their summer range. The risk of forest fires currently is low in the Park Falls area and buds are beginning to open in the woodlands. Please be sure to check if burning permits are being issued in your area before considering burning brush piles. Area rivers are above normal and canoeists and kayakers are advised to check conditions before deciding to paddle in faster high water. Caution is also advised when venturing out on the water in the spring when air temperatures are warm but the water is slowly warming and temperatures remain cold. Hypothermia can be a real danger if a person is exposed to the water without proper gear. Always wear a personal flotation device while enjoying paddle sports on the water and be sure to inform others of your trip plans and return time.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - The big concern for the fishing opener in the Upper Chippewa Basin is whether lakes will be ice free for anglers on Saturday morning. It was very cold last weekend with very little precipitation. Nighttime temperatures dipped below freezing and daytime highs did not exceed 50. In northern Sawyer County and southern Bayfield County (south of Hwy 2), many lakes were still ice covered as of Wednesday and were not expected to be open by the weekend. Ice went out on Moose Lake and parts of the Chippewa Flowage. As a result of the cool weather, water temperatures have been in the mid-40s, 3 to 5 degrees cooler than last week. Water levels are still very high on many lakes and flowages. By the weekend opener, ice will be out on dark-water lakes and flowages, but there may still be areas of ice on the deep, clear-water lakes near Hayward. Most waters in Price and Taylor counties have opened up, though Butternut Lake and the Pike Lake Chain still had some ice at mid-week but were expected to be completely open by the weekend. In general, flowages and shallow, stained-water lakes were open; but the deeper, clear-water lakes were still ice covered. Opening weekend anglers can expect to find that northern pike and perch have completed their spawning rituals and should be starting their spring feeding binge. Walleye however, will likely be in various stages of spawning or immediate post-spawn condition - which could make them tough to catch. Trout lakes and spring ponds should have all been stocked by opening weekend and trout anglers should enjoy some good action.
Flambeau River State Forest - Trails continue to be wet. Ice has been out on area lakes and both forks of the Flambeau River for over a week now. The South Fork is at flood stage, whitewater canoeing/kayaking should be good but dangerous, please use caution. The North Fork is also at a spring high. Redhorse are starting to nibble and should be good fishing within the next couple of weeks. Walleye are spawning. Red maple buds are starting to swell. Male catkins are off the trees. Bear are making an appearance and starting to play havoc on the birdfeeders. Beaver trapping is winding down, the season ends April 30 for the north.
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Opening weekend of fishing season begins on May 3 and will bring with it a wide variety of fishing conditions. Be sure to do some homework prior to venturing out on your favorite lake as you just might find it ice covered. Cold weather has hampered the traditional ice out across much of the north. Some smaller lakes are ice free but will have all stages of spawning fish. The predicted cool and wet weather through the weekend should prolong spring arrival. Crappies should start moving in along the shallows and stage prior to spawning. Bass opens this weekend as well but is catch and release only until June 14. Musky does not open until May 24. A reminder to anglers to make sure that you have a current fishing license and that the license is on your person when you are out on the water. Also, please remember that you must have the appropriate and correct number of personal flotation devices in your boat. Boater safety courses are currently being given and/or scheduled to begin. A Boating Safety Internet course is available on line. Bear are reported to be out and about and moving in to visit bird feeders and garbage cans. Homeowners should secure their garbage cans and to remember that bear consider birdseed to be quite a delicacy. Bringing in the bird feeders at night can eliminate a lot of work caused by bears coming in for an easy meal.
Upper Wisconsin Basin fisheries report (Oneida, Vilas, Lincoln, Langlade, Forest and Florence counties) - Fisheries staff have just begun netting surveys in the southern areas of the region. However, in northern Oneida and Vilas counties there is still lots of ice on the lakes and will cause some grief for anglers this coming weekend. Air temperatures have dropped into the 20s each night. As of April 30, popular area lakes such as Big Arbor Vitae, Minocqua, Big St. Germain, and Muskellunge Lake still were socked in with ice and will almost certainly be for the opener. Larger deep-water lakes like Tomahawk, Trout, and Fence Lakes certainly will have full ice cover well into next week. If the area gets warm weather later in the week and some rain, the smaller Vilas County lakes have a 50 percent chance of being ice free. The smaller shallower lakes should be out in Oneida County this week. The Willow Flowage as well as the Eagle and Three Lakes Chains are open. On a more positive note, late ice-out dates generally mean better fishing since walleye have just finished spawning and are eager to bite. Male walleye will hang around shallow rock bars waiting for any remaining females to spawn for at least a week after the peak spawning activity.
Antigo DNR Service Center area
Council Grounds State Park - The ice has finally melted off of Lake Alexander. The docks are in at the Boat Landing and ready for opening weekend of fishing. Small walleyes are being caught below the dam. The campground will open on May 1, but flush toilet buildings will not open until May 22. Spring peepers can be heard through out the park. Volunteers are needed for spring clean-up: raking, garbage pick-up, and trail maintenance. If you are interested please contact Sara at (715) 536-8773.
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NORTHEAST REGION
Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
Marinette County - The fishing opener is just around the corner, be aware of the new catch and release rule for the northern bass zone. Artificial lures and barbless hooks must be used if fishing for bass north of Highway 64 in the county. Stream water levels are excellent right now although water temperatures are cool due to the latest cold front. Trout anglers should have no problem accessing their favorite streams this weekend. Ticks have been active although the cold weather may have slowed them down a bit. The walleye bite has moved to the mouth of the river and the style of fishing has gone from trolling with stick baits to jigging with minnows. Color is not an issue when using live bait. Brown trout were being caught in the 8 to 12 foot range using planer boards and stick baits, the fire tiger along with blue and silver raps seem to be your best bet. I observed a few perch anglers on the lighthouse pier but the strong current and the amount of debris in the water is making the fishing very difficult. Turkey action cooled slightly with the strong winds and colder weather of the weekend although hunters are still reporting some success.
Oconto County - Stiles dam has still been producing more than its share of suckers with the occasional walleye being caught on jigs and twister tails, chartreuse and red seem to be the colors of choice. The Oconto breakwater close to the mouth and just inside the mouth is seeing some truly spectacular catches of smallmouth bass. Toward evening, walleye anglers have been descending on the pier and claiming to be having good luck fishing with a variety of stick baits.
Green Bay DNR Service Center area
Brown County - On the Fox River in Green Bay, walleye spawning is winding down. Some walleye were still being caught on the river, but they were moving down river and out to the bay. Anglers have been finding some success trolling for walleye on the bay. Shad raps and other stick baits are working best off boards. Crawler harness bite will improve as water temperature warms. The white bass spawning run is starting.
Manitowoc County - Fishing in Manitowoc County was fair this past week. Weather conditions were mixed with some heavy precipitation and strong winds throughout most of the week, which made fishing difficult. Anglers fishing from the Manitowoc piers had some success this week fishing for brown trout on the north and south piers. Catfish anglers also had a good week of fishing. Anglers who used spawn sacs just off the bottom were able to catch catfish throughout the week. Anglers trolling Lake Michigan had a good Sunday morning landing a mixed bag of brown trout and a few lake trout. Most brown trout ranged from 3 to 6 pounds. On the Manitowoc and Branch rivers, fishing was slow over the weekend because of fast and high water. On the West Twin River fishing pressure was low. A few rainbow trout anglers were fishing the smaller dam at Shoto on Saturday, but caught mostly suckers. On the East Twin River fishing pressure was also low over the past week. A couple rainbow trout anglers were fishing just downstream from the Village Park on Thursday with no success. In Two Rivers, boat anglers trolling on Lake Michigan have a fair week despite poor weather conditions. Some anglers were able to land some nice brown trout trolling along the shoreline with stick and crank baits or spoons. Inside the harbor, anglers caught catfish and bullheads. Catfish have been active throughout the week, with successful anglers using liver or cut-bait. Most catfish ranged from 5 to 7 pounds, with larger ones around 12 pounds.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Door County - For the most part the weather this week was less than beautiful. Most days were cool and overcast with scattered showers. Friday brought some heavy thunderstorms and high winds, which continued on Saturday. Brown trout action continues to remain good with anglers trolling both the Lake Michigan and Green Bay sides Door County picking up some nice fish. The rains this week resulted in continued good flows of water out of the streams and some decent Steelhead continue to be taken. Please be careful when wading the streams, the high water levels and fast flows make for dangerous conditions. Northern pike were beginning to be taken by anglers fishing the shallows in some of the bays, such as Little Sturgeon and Riley’s. The areas between the bridges in Sturgeon Bay were also starting to produce some northerns. There are lots of suckers in all of the streams.
Kewaunee County - Steelhead are still in all tributaries of Lake Michigan, though fishing success was variable. The Kewaunee River, Silver Creek, and Stoney Creek were still getting a fair amount of anglers. Trolling on Lake Michigan has mostly been weather dependant this past week with action on the slower side. Algoma appears to have more anglers fishing for brown trout. Browns were reported a little farther out from shore than typical for this time of year. Suckers were still plentiful in Lake Michigan tributaries.
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SOUTHEAST REGION
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan, fishing on the Sheboygan and Pigeon rivers has been slow, as well as off the piers. Boaters fishing in 10 to 30 feet of water between the Sheboygan harbor and the power plant have been catching fair numbers of brown trout.
Ozaukee County - In Port Washington water in the harbor has been very dirty after significant rainfall this past weekend. As the water clears up, brown trout and steelhead should be near the power plant and around the pier.
Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee, shore anglers fishing behind the Summerfest grounds have been catching a few browns on spawn sacs fished off the bottom or on shiners under a slip bobber. Oak Creek has produced a few brown trout near the mouth, and small tube jigs and spawn have both produced fish. Boaters fishing around the Milwaukee harbor have been catching decent numbers of browns.
Racine County - In Racine boaters fishing in 10 to 20 feet of water have been catching brown trout. On the Root River, DNR crews emptied the Root River Steelhead Facility last Thursday and are now done collecting fish for the season. Major flooding and poor conditions hampered efforts this spring, and only 241 steelhead were processed with roughly 100,000 eggs collected. Fortunately, over a million steelhead eggs were collected at the Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility in Kewaunee, so DNR egg-taking goals have been met for this year.
Kenosha County - In Kenosha fishing in the harbor has been slow overall, but a few browns have been caught on spawn sacs.
Inland fisheries team report
Washington, eastern Fond du Lac, and inland Sheboygan counties - The opening week of fishing season should be prime time to find early spring panfish in area lakes and trout in area trout streams. Walleye spawning is now complete in southern Wisconsin and fish should be in their normal patterns. Panfish are expected to be in shallow-warm bays unless a cold front moves through. Bass fishing should be good near cover of any type. Northern pike should be active as well. The Onion River, Mullet River and Nichols Creek in Sheboygan County should be in good shape for trout fishing. Water levels may be a little high but, are expected to be in relatively good shape.
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SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Dodgeville DNR Service Center area
Green County - Turkey hunters have been met with precipitation for most of the last week, limiting the amount of time some hunters are willing to spend in the field. Regardless of the rain, the turkeys were still strutting and gobbling in full force. The Pecatonica River is still out of its banks and the Sugar River is still high, but both rivers are on there way down, hopefully in time for the game fish opener.
Horicon DNR Service Center area
Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area - Spring was advancing rapidly last week with day-time temperatures in the 70s and warm evenings. Black willows were leafing out rapidly along with other trees and shrubs, bringing the first hint of green to the woodlots. The early spring wildflowers were opening, with hepatics, bloodroot, marsh marigolds, Dutchman's breeches and others in flower, and the migration of birds was well under way. The recent cool temperatures and north winds have slowed this progress down temporarily, but as temperatures rise again and winds shift to the south we will again see the changes of the season. By the first week of May it is common to see the first local nesting Canada geese hatching out along with the arrival of the first hummingbirds, Baltimore orioles and other spring birds. Over the next three weeks numerous migrant birds will return, with an influx of a variety of warblers, flycatchers, vireos, and other common summer birds. This is a time of rapid changes in nature and every day will bring something new during the coming weeks.
Fitchburg DNR Service Center area
Devil’s Lake State Park - The lake level is high, but there has not been any damaging flooding. Mountain bike trails are closed to bikes and will remain closed as long as trails are muddy enough to be easily damaged, probably at least until mid or late May. Most of the 29 miles of hiking trails are now open, but expect more than usual mud, standing water and slippery sections. Tumbled Rocks Trail is temporarily closed due to high water, and the East Bluff Woods Trail is temporarily closed awaiting maintenance work on some washouts. The lake water is very near the south shore road, but nothing is closed at the time. Swimming beaches are underwater. The north shore boat landing and adjacent parking lot is closed and water-covered. DNR staff did some prescribed burns in Roznos Meadows in the southern section of the park last week. Even after Friday’s torrential rains, there were still some smoldering hot spots left for vigilant rangers to mop up. Turkey vultures, sandhill cranes, and Canada geese are back. Chickadees are singing their spring mating songs. Though hidden from view, owl chicks are already hatched and are maturing in their nests. Spring peepers and a cacophony of other frogs are trilling, chirping, ribbitiing along streams, ponds and ditches every evening. Panoramic vistas show shades of bright greens smeared across the dark forest of tree trunks and branches as different species of trees are budding in a broad variety of greens. All campgrounds are now open. Water facilities (shower and restroom buildings, drinking fountains, water taps, RV dump/fill stations) are being turned on for the season section by section. For the next couple of weekends, these facilities may be open on an “as needed” basis depending on the weather. At least one shower/restroom building and one dump/fill station will be open. Pit toilet buildings will be open in camp areas where water facilities remain closed or turned off. The north shore Chateau will open for the season Saturday May 3, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. including boat rentals. The south shore concession and Ice Age store will be open by Memorial Day weekend, perhaps earlier.
Lake Kegonsa State Park - All trails are open to hiking and in good condition. The campground is open for the season. Reservations for upcoming weekends are filling up fast! The park is expanding its campgrounds. Construction will be occurring in the family and group campgrounds for the next couple of months.
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WEST CENTRAL REGION
Baldwin DNR Service Center area
All area waters are ice free, but the rivers are running high. The Mississippi and St. Croix rivers are very high, which will cause the St. Croix River to be slow-no wake speed for boaters river-wide for the May 3 walleye opener. The Stillwater River gauge is expected to read 683 feet by Wednesday or Thursday of this week. When the St Croix reaches this level, a river wide slow no wake rule is required to be in effect to protect shorelines and structures. Many boat access points may also be closed due to the high water. Trout streams, however, are looking good and unless the region gets additional heavy rain before the weekend, conditions for trout anglers on the Rush, Kinni, Trimbell and Willow rivers should be good. Anglers in St. Croix County are reminded that a county wide panfish bag limit of 10 is in effect starting this spring and Cedar Lake has a new walleye slot and bag limit. Walleye between 14 and 18 inches cannot be kept, with a bag of three, only one may be over 18 inches. Conditions on Dunn County waters of Tainter Lake and Lake Menomin should be good, but the Chippewa River is still quite high. Turkey hunting success has been very good in spite of poor weather conditions.
Willow River State Park - Due to unseasonably cold weather, it may not be possible to get water turned on and buildings open in the campground for the weekend of May 3. Possible frost below ground is still capable of damaging the pipes. Campers will find dry wood (oak) along the trail from the campground to the beach. Cutting trees that are already down is allowed with hand tools only, no power saws. Runners were reporting good trails. The hills are a “Fitness Course” for runners, walkers, and skiers. More on this topic is on the Parks web site under Current Conditions, Willow River. Trout fishing is closed until May 3. The river is running high and dirty. Lake anglers have been few and have had limited success at the dam. A few bluegills have been caught. The panfish limit on the lake is now 10 fish. The cool weather has shut down the frog calling. Frog calling generally starts when water temperatures rise above 50 degrees. The air temperature was near 80 degrees the day the frogs were heard calling. The white suckers are finished spawning below Willow Falls. Another common spring wildlife sighting in the falls area is the eastern fox snake. This harmless snake can shake its tail fast enough against something dry to make a buzzing sound, often mistaken for a rattlesnake. Large numbers of the fox snake may be seen on warm days in the falls area until they disperse. These snakes are also common in the area of the Little Falls dam. Turtles, like frogs, also need the water above 50 degrees to become active.
La Crosse DNR Service Center area
Toads and gray tree frogs are calling. House wrens, upland sandpipers, palm warblers, prairie warblers, and brown thrashers are some of the recent songbird arrivals. Hummingbirds, orioles, bobolinks, rose-breasted grosbeaks, scarlet tanagers, and many warblers will be arriving soon. Speaking of hummingbirds, now is the time to put out hummingbird feeders so they are in place when the birds arrive. Fill hummingbird feeders with a nectar mixture of four parts water to one part cane sugar, which is boiled and left to cool. Turkey hunters are reporting average success despite adverse weather conditions. Two-year old gobblers appear plentiful and are responding readily to hunters' calls and decoys. Turtles and many amphibians are on the move now. Drivers should watch for them crossing roads near wetlands, especially during warm weather, and try to safely avoid them. The first Canada goose broods are starting to show up. Early mallard broods will not be far behind.
Crawford County - Last week at this time the Mississippi River was at 14.7 feet. The big river crested on Sunday at 17.1 feet which is more than a foot over flood stage. By Monday of this week the river started to drop and is now at about 16.7 feet. The forecast for the Mississippi River is for it to drop rather rapidly this week. The Wisconsin River has been on the rise but it appears to be stabilizing. The Kickapoo River has been rising also but severe flooding conditions are not present so far. The Mississippi River is seeing barge traffic and light recreational boating traffic. Bluegill, perch, and crappie action was again slow this week due to the high water. Perch action at the dams has slowed. Bluegill and crappie action was slow throughout the area. Fishing from the shore at Cold Spring was slow this week also, mainly because much of the area is under water. Not much of a bite going on for either crappie or bluegill. Anglers fishing at Cold Spring are reminded that those waters are considered inland waters where the game fish season is closed. The boat ramp this past week was under water and extremely hard to access. The Ambro Slough complex and Sturgeon Slough did not see much fishing activity either because of the high water. The Spring Lake is full of water as is the entire Ambro Slough complex. Fishing below the Lynxville dam for sauger and walleye was pretty slow this week. There were a few days last week where anglers were able to come off the water with a few walleyes or sauger, otherwise action was slow. The boat landing at Gordon’s Bay is completely under water and unusable. Some shore anglers have been fishing on the long wall at the dam with limited success with perch, northern and walleye. Anglers can park in the lot at Lock and Dam #9 and walk down to the wall, however you might need knee or hip boots to access the wall. The second turkey season closed Sunday and hunters were met with a variety of weather patterns, mostly bad. High winds, heavy rain, and fog and cold temperatures hampered some hunts. Even though, a fair number of hunters were able to bag their gobbler. Most hunters report fair gobbling action with a decent number of sightings. Bald eagles are starting to occupy nests along the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers. Some of the best viewing areas can be found on Pool 9 in the Lynxville/Ferryville area and in the Pool 10 area around Prairie du Chien. Canvasback, bluebill, bufflehead, red head, mallard, wood duck, teal, shoveler and many other species of ducks are still here to some degree. Pelicans, geese, and some swans are also present. Sandhill cranes, robins, blue birds, red-winged blackbirds and other song birds have returned and are starting to nest. Turkeys are in the thick of their mating ritual. Rooster pheasants are crowing and some ruffed grouse drumming has started up. A chorus of frogs can be heard on warm days throughout the day.
Buffalo River State Trail - Warm weather and rain has made the trail soft in spots. Grading will be done as conditions allow. ATVs are allowed year around on the Buffalo River Trail. Check with counties for their trail conditions and opening dates. Some wildflowers are beginning to bloom.
Great River State Trail - The warm weather and rain has made the trail soft in spots. Grading will be done as conditions allow. Enjoy the unique character of a flooded forest due to high water levels of the Black and Mississippi rivers. The best view is this is between Lytle's Landing and Trempealeau. Some wildflowers are beginning to bloom. The toilet buildings at Trempealeau and Lytle's Landing are open for the season. The Saint Clare Health Mission will be holding a fundraising half marathon and 5K walk/run on May 3. For more information contact
www.stclarehealthmission.org..
Merrick State Park - Fishing has been slow. The river is about 2 feet above normal. The boat dock will be put in once the river level returns to normal. Waterfowl are returning to the area. Some wild flowers are starting to bloom. The north campground is open for camping. The dump station is open and fresh water is available. From April 18 through May 16 the shower/flush toilet building will only be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The dump station is open and potable water is available.
Perrot State Park - With all the rain the past week the trail are very soft and muddy. Fishing has been slow and the river level is high. The dock will be installed after the water returns to normal. The spring wild flowers are beginning to come out. Spotted this past week are bellwort, blood root, rue anemone, wood anemone, hepatica, columbine and wild ginger. Sites 1-50 are open for camping. The flush toilet/shower buildings in the lower loop are open. The dump station is open and potable water is available.
Wildcat Mountain State Park - Trails are starting to dry out. Horse trails will open May 1. Spring flowers are starting to bloom, including hepatica, blood root and spring beauties. May apples are up but not blooming yet. Trout season opens May 3. The shower building will open the week of May 5.
Eau Claire DNR Service Center area
Brunet Island State Park - Most of the Cornell Flowage is open and the boat ramp is ice free. The docks have not been put in. Park trails are generally dry with occasional muddy areas. The chipmunks and ground squirrels have come out of hibernation. Spring peepers have emerged. Species of birds seen or heard include: the lake gulls, golden finches, mallard and bufflehead ducks, common loons, great blue herons, red winged blackbirds, phoebes, Canada geese, sandhill cranes, robins, mourning doves, nuthatches, ravens, black capped chickadees, pileated woodpeckers, great horned owls, barred owls, and bald eagles. The campground is open with electric sites, hand water pump, and a pit toilet. The campground shower facility, the picnic area flush toilet building, and the camper dump station are still closed.
Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center area
Buckhorn State Park - Many sites are open for camping. Some far sites are still closed. Sandhill cranes have been heard in the area and some robins seen. Osprey have started rebuilding nests. Many birds are starting to migrate through the Castle Rock area. Remember, park stickers are required for Launch C and D and there are no additional launch fees. Dates are still available for the accessible cabin in May, Sept, and Oct. Applications are available for the November Buckhorn Youth Deer Hunt. Contact the park office at 608-565-2789 for questions or to get an application. The 2008 application is also available on the park website through the DNR internet site. Spring turkey hunting in the park and Buckhorn wildlife area is 15C - special permit only. Turkey hunting for area 15 is allowed in the Yellow River Wildlife Area (formerly wildlife area B).
Roche-A-Cri State Park - Trails are in good condition for hiking. The main entrance is open and the first loop of the campground will be open May 2 for first come camping. If you register for an annual sticker it will be mailed to you. Early spring is a great time to get out and take photos for the annual photo contest.
Last Revised: Thursday May 01 2008
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/news/or/#top
