Additional rainfall in the last week statewide continues to have many of the state’s rivers and streams running at very high levels. Severe thunderstorms across southern and central Wisconsin this week dropped as much as 4 to 6 inches of rain in some isolated areas, with many areas receiving up to 2 to 3 inches. Many rivers were rising and at or approaching flood stage. The Kickapoo River was out of its banks at Wildcat Mountain State Park. The Baraboo, Black, Rock, Crawfish and lower Wisconsin rivers were all running very high.
The constantly changing weather of the past week has made for some real inconsistent fishing action, and kept anglers watchful of the skies. In the north, bass fishing, both for largemouth and smallmouth, has been especially erratic. Largemouth bass have yet to fully set up in their typical summer pattern and smallmouth have been particularly picky in the lures that they'll hit. Musky action continues to improve with the warmer water temperatures and many anglers have reported a lot of follows and some decent catches 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.
Anglers on Green Bay were having some decent success this week with perch and some good walleye action along both the east and west shore. On Lake Michigan, condition mid last week were some of the best of the year thus far, with light and variable winds and temperatures in the low to mid-80s having boat ramps filled to capacity. But by Sunday, flat seas turned into white caps from strong southerly winds combined with scattered rain. Boaters along the lakeshore averaged four to six fish mixed with a few limits, with the catch dominated by chinook salmon and rainbow trout. Shore and pier fishing has been good on southeastern Wisconsin harbors, with rainbows, chinook, and a few browns being caught.
With fishing on Wisconsin’s Great Lakes in full swing, anglers who are trolling in deeper waters are reminded to steer well clear of any potential obstructions including commercial trap nets. In Lake Michigan, such nets are set off Two Rivers, Manitowoc, Sheboygan and in Door County. In Lake Superior, nets are set in several locations between Houghton Point and Bayfield. Information on the Lake Michigan trap nets can be found on the DNR website and on the Lake Superior trap nets (exit DNR) on the University of Wisconsin Aquatic Sciences website. (Both pdf documents open in a new window.)
The summer nesting season is past peak for most species of birds. Wetlands with open water are brimming with broods of coot, grebes, waterfowl and other wetland species. Many ducks and geese are now actively molting and using areas of deeper water or thicker cover to avoid predation. Some fall migrants are already winging their way through the state, with the first reports of shorebirds such as lesser yellowlegs and least sandpipers.
This is good time to watch for and remove some invasive plant species, such as purple loosestrife and spotted knapweed. Check the DNR website for information. Also, people should be aware that the invasive plant wild parsnip is rampant this year in some areas. Wild parsnip is a tall invasive plant which produces small yellow flowers. Contact with plant fluids causes blistering of the skin. These blisters are aggravated by sunlight, and it may take years for the scars the blisters create to disappear.
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.
Statewide Birding Report
The summer nesting season is past peak for most species of birds. Many birds have hatched their broods and are even working on second broods in some cases. Wetlands with open water are brimming with broods of coot, grebes, waterfowl and other wetland dependent species. Many ducks and geese are now actively molting and using areas of deeper water or thicker cover to avoid predation. Some fall migrants are already winging their way through the state. The first reports of shorebirds have come in from appropriate habitat. These have been mostly lesser yellowlegs and least sandpipers. Despite the heat and the amount of song tapering off, this is still a great time of year to go out and observe some interesting behavior in our nesting and migratory birds.
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NORTHERN REGION
Superior DNR Service Center area
Brule River State Forest -
Hayward DNR Service Center area
Tuscobia State Trail - The trail is in good condition. Many people have been reporting bear sightings on the trail as well as fawns and grouse broods.
Spooner DNR Service Center area
Purple loosestrife and spotted knapweed just starting to bloom, so now is a good time for control methods. Cut and treat stems with herbicides or pull if herbicide is not possible. Cut plants to reduce this year's seed source.
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - Water temperatures on most waters across the North have been in the low to mid-70s. Weed abundances do seem to be relatively low for this time of year, as many lakes and flowages have only light to moderate weed growth in many areas that typically have thick weed beds. It appears that the dark-stained run-off water, the result of heavy rains in the last few weeks, has limited plant growth and many mid-depth weed beds will continue to be rather sparse throughout the summer. The constantly changing weather of the past week has made for some real inconsistent fishing action, and periodic rain showers have kept anglers watchful of the skies. Bass fishing, both for largemouth and smallmouth, has been especially erratic 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 good largemouth bass action has been reported from 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 also improved with the warmer water temperatures and many anglers have reported a lot of follows. Some decent catches are 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-water 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.
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NORTHEAST REGION
Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
Fishing has been slow due to winds and high water. Temperatures at the landings are in the high 70s with water clarity low.
Marinette County - Some nice bluegill have been caught below the dam at Peshtigo using worm and bobber. Some bass and walleye were being caught in the Menominee River from the Railroad Bridge up river to the Hattie Street Dam. Salmon were still being caught in the bay, in 60 feet of water with the hot spot being Chambers Island. Pounded copper seems to be hot in the stained water.
Oconto County - Anglers at Stiles Dam catching a few bluegills and an occasional bass. Fast water and floating debris has been making it difficult to maintain a decent drift. Anglers at Oconto Breakwater and Oconto Park II were reporting a few walleye being taken in the 20 foot range on crawler harnesses. Some perch were being caught in the weed beds, though the size is running small.
Green Bay DNR Service Center area
With fishing on Wisconsin’s Great Lakes in full swing, anglers who are trolling in deeper waters are reminded to steer well clear of any potential obstructions including commercial trap nets. In Lake Michigan, such nets are set off Two Rivers, Manitowoc, Sheboygan and in Door County. In Lake Superior, nets are set in several locations between Houghton Point and Bayfield. Information on the Lake Michigan trap nets can be found on the DNR website and on the Lake Superior trap nets on the University of Wisconsin Aquatic Sciences website.
Brown County - Bayshore Park anglers have had some good walleye action. Most anglers have been fishing crawler harnesses. Anglers have been fishing water depths ranging 8 to 24 feet of water depending on the day. Perch fishing is still hit or miss. Minnows or worms seem to be working the best for perch anglers.
Manitowoc County - Heavy fog early in the week created havoc for area anglers, but by mid-week the fog lifted and created the best fishing conditions of the year thus far. Light and variable winds the rest of the week with temperatures in the low to mid-80s left boat ramps filled to capacity. Water temperatures fluctuated daily, ranging from the mid-50s one day to the low 60s the next. But by Sunday, the flat seas turned into white caps from strong southerly winds at 10-15 combined with scattered rain. Boaters along the lakeshore averaged 4-6 fish mixed with a few two or three person limits. Piers were also crowded with anglers, as anglers are now consistently landing large kings and rainbows. Out of Two Rivers, fishing has been best in 35-60 feet of water between both the Two Rivers’ water towers. A few boats have been fishing the gap of the Two Rivers’ piers and off the lighthouse in 40-60 feet of water. Off Manitowoc, the best depths have been a little deeper than Two Rivers, 50-70 feet. Some boaters have also been fishing the gap of the piers in Manitowoc, catching 12- to 15-pound kings and a few rainbows but with less numbers than out deeper. Flasher-fly combos, spoons, and J-Plugs have all been working with green still the color of choice for all three. Green glow J-Plugs and flasher-flies on the down riggers have worked for the morning bite, but after that the action has been spread out. Down riggers set in the 20-30 foot range resulted in a steady catch all week. Both the Two Rivers and Manitowoc piers have been packed full this past week. The catch has been dominated by 12- to 15-pound kings mixed with 9-13 pound rainbows. Casting with green champs and jigging with gulp minnows have been reported for taking most of the kings and a few rainbows. Using alewife on bottom or on bobber four feet down has also been very successful with both species. If possible, be on the piers fishing early since most fish have been taken between 4-5 am. Good luck to everyone in the Two Rivers Kiwanis fish derby.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Door County - The second week week of July continued with humid and warm temperatures with the only relief coming from sporadic showers and windy conditions. After a wet June it looks as if July will follow suit. The young month has already had a generous amount of rainfall, and bumper crops look to be had county wide. Anglers were still able to hit the water with mixed reports of fish being caught. With changing weather conditions happening daily, fishing around the Door was mediocre this week. Success picked up toward the end of the week with the best catch reports coming out of Ellison Bay and Gills Rock. Some very nice catches of rainbow trout were seen in Sturgeon Bay early in the week, likely due to some of the weather conditions and changing water temperatures. Near limit catches were reported out of Ellison Bay and Gills Rock toward the weekend with most success being had on flasher fly combos and a variety of spoons. Some anglers reported having good success using j-plugs as too. Baileys Harbor remains productive and followed the trend of other spots this week with fishing picking up more towards the weekend. Overall fish were being caught countywide all the way up to Washington Island. Perch anglers were having some decent success this week, the only obstacle being catching fish of decent size. Crawlers suspended off the bottom brought in a very wide variety of fish, whereas minnows brought in mainly perch. Some smallmouth bass anglers were seen on the water this week with good reports of fish being caught. Tube jigs and a variety of plastics were popular choices working rocky areas in 10-15 feet of water. Few reports came in from walleye anglers, but some fish were still being found along the Green Bay shoreline. Trolling stick baits and crawler harnesses have produced the most fish. Chaudoir’s Dock anglers have been fishing perch with some success. Most have been fishing south of the landing in 20 feet of water. Minnows have been working the best rigged on a slip bobber or a bottom rig. Anglers are also catching a few walleye with most being caught on a crawler harness. Anglers fishing walleyes have also reported numbers of drum and catfish being caught as well. Little Sturgeon Bay anglers have been having good success on perch fishing in the weeds in the bay. Bass anglers continue to do well with good numbers of bass being caught on slip bobbers and leaches. A few walleye are being caught by anglers trolling, most have been caught on crank baits. Sturgeon Bay anglers have been catching some perch. The best action has been in the weeds off the state park. Anglers are having to sort through a lot of small fish to catch a respectable meal.
Whitefish Dunes State Park - The lake levels are up slightly from last year but the shoreline has changed due to spring wave action. The strong waves have battered the shoreline vegetation and eroded parts of the shoreline. In addition the native vegetation continues to grow toward the lake making the beach appear as if it has shrunk. This causes the open sand area to decrease in size. The native vegetation holds the sand in place and slows the erosion which protects the shoreline during higher lake levels. Wildlife is out and about with signs of fox and deer on the beach and porcupines in the woods. The green throated warbler nest has been spotted with young. Snakes have been seen on the red trail, none are poisonous but the fox snake can act as if it is a rattle snake by shaking its tail in dry leaves. Remember not to feed the gulls or any other wildlife at the park or they will become aggressive toward other visitors for food. Mosquitoes are out in abundance, so don’t forget your bug spray. Summer wildflowers are in full bloom and abound about the park. The purple of the beach pea shows among the beach grass. Dune thistles are also blooming, showing off light pink flowers that are visited by bumblebees. While dames’ rocket, garlic mustard and hounds tongue are in their seed stage, make sure to remove them from your clothing and dispose of them in the garbage. The Friends of Whitefish Dunes are now on the web! Check out their website. The Friends are sponsoring a number of guest speakers and special events. Dog owners are reminded that the first segment of the beach is closed starting April 1st to dogs. The dog beach is still open.
Kewaunee County - The weather this was very unstable as a few different storm systems passed through the area. Two things in common throughout the week were temperatures in the upper 70s and lower 80s throughout the county and high humidity. The rainfall and changing wind directions has once again kept the water temperatures off Algoma and Kewaunee in the low 50s for the majority of the week. The Kewaunee pier fishing this week saw an increase in the amount anglers trying their luck but didn’t see a rise in the amount of fish being netted. The main fish being caught off the pier seem to King salmon with an occasional rainbow being caught. The fish seem to be biting on blue spoons and a few have been caught on live bait. The Kewaunee ramp saw a large amount of fish brought in compared to the last few weeks. The average catch per boat was about 7-8 fish but the average size has dropped down to about 10-11 pounds for the king salmon. The fish caught towards the beginning of the week were in waters about 120 feet but seemed to travel out deeper as the week grew on. The more successful anglers on Sunday were fishing in depths of 180 feet and about 100 feet down. The majority of fish seemed to have been caught on spoons but not one color seemed to stand out against the rest. This week the Algoma pier fishing saw a decline in the amount of anglers and fish being caught. This seems to be partly due to the cold water temperatures and the storms that came through the area. The fishing has been very much hit and miss all week with only a few small king salmon being caught. The fishing out on the lake out of Algoma seemed to be similar to a rollercoaster ride throughout the week. The week started off on the right foot with the average boat returning with 5-6 fish and quite a few limits being caught. The middle of the week saw the catch drop off to about 2-3 fish a boat and went back up to 5-6 fish during the weekend from the boats that weathered the storms. The fish on average seemed to be smaller than the last few weeks.
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SOUTHEAST REGION
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan trollers have been catching chinook, rainbow, and lake trout. Most fish have been caught in 30 to 120 feet of water, from the surface to 50 feet down. Shore fishing in Sheboygan has been good, with rainbows, chinook, and a few browns caught off both piers. Spoons and alewives have taken the most fish.
Ozaukee County - Trollers in Port Washington have found a mixed bag of fish between 50 and 110 feet of water. Good numbers of chinook, coho, rainbow, and a few browns and lake trout have been hitting spoons or flashers and flies, and fish have been anywhere from the surface to 60 feet down. Shore anglers in Port Washington have been catching perch on jigs and minnows fished near the power plant as well as off the harbor side of the pier. Anglers fishing the lake side of the pier have been catching rainbows, chinook, and coho. The most success has been with alewives, but some fish have been taken on spoons as well. Boaters fishing for perch in Port have been catching fair numbers on fathead minnows at the south pier.
Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee trollers have been catching mostly chinook, along with a few coho and rainbows. Fish have been caught in as little as 40 feet of water or out as far as 120 feet. Spoons have taken the majority of fish, although a few have been caught on flies. The best colors have been blue and white. For shore anglers in Milwaukee, the most consistent spot has been McKinley pier. Chinook have been caught off the pier after dark and before dawn. Most have been taken on alewives, but spoons have been producing as well. A few perch have also been taken off McKinley pier on small shiners just off the bottom. Boaters launching at Bender Park and fishing for perch have had some success at the boils off South Milwaukee and near the Oak Creek Power Plant. Small shiners have produced the best.
Racine County - In Racine trollers have been catching good numbers of chinook and a few coho and rainbow trout. Fish have been near shore, with the best action in 30 to 50 feet of water. Shore fishing in Racine has also been good, with decent numbers of chinook, rainbow trout, and coho taken off the piers. Both spoons and alewives have taken fish. Perch fishing from shore has slowed, but for those fishing in boats, the perch bite has been fair, with the break walls and the bubbler providing good action at times. Minnows and crab tails have both produced, as have jigs.
Kenosha County - In Kenosha the trolling bite remains consistent, with good catches coming from as shallow as 40 feet of water, to as deep as 100 feet. Nearly all methods have produced fish at times. Fishing in the Kenosha harbor has been fair, especially in the evening hours and into the night. Silver & green spoons as well as glow in the dark have been catching fish, as have tube jigs. Most fish have been brown trout, and activity has been good from the Best Western all the way out to the ends of the piers. Perch fishing has been slow from shore, but boats out for perch have been having a good bite in the mornings. Minnows have been the most consistent producer, but others are having luck with jigs and plastic.
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SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Fitchburg DNR Service Center area
Jefferson County - Anglers are having good luck catching bluegill on Mud Lake south of Lake Mills. Some of the fish are up to 9 inches in length. The fish are biting the best on waxworms on a small jig. Mud Lake is a no motors lake. Water levels are higher than normal for this time of year on the upper Rock and Crawfish Rivers aiding boaters but slowing fishing success.
Military Ridge State Trail - The trail has been receiving a lot of use and is in great condition. Warning to all trail users: Wild Parsnip is rampant this year, and due to an early spring will have a longer than usual growth period. Wild parsnip is a tall invasive plant which produces small yellow flowers. Currently they are around three and four feet tall. Contact with plant fluids causes blistering of the skin. These blisters are aggravated by sunlight, and it may take years for the scars the blisters create to disappear. Friends of the Military Ridge Trail are constructing a new Kiosk in Riley, this kiosk will explain briefly the history of the trail and rail road, and touch base about Aldo Leopold.
Glacial Drumlin State Trail - Highway 26 is under construction at the moment, so be aware of heavy equipment and possibly confusing detour signs. Wild flowers are in bloom and young animals are coming of age such as turkeys, deer, and geese. For a while, White Pelicans could be seen at the marsh, but have not been seen recently. Use of the trail seems heavier then recent years. Be sure to have a trail pass to access the trail to avoid any fines. The Sand hill station campground contains 16 sites, is not under full occupancy and can be reserved.
Aztalan State Park - Guided tours are offered every Sunday afternoon by an authored archaeologist for people to learn about the history of the 500 people who settled hear about 100 years ago.
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WEST CENTRAL REGION
Eau Claire DNR Service Center area
Brunet Island State Park – Canada geese goslings are quite numerous this year and are growing quickly. The phoebes have hatched their second round of chicks. Other species of birds seen or heard include: common loons, belted kingfishers, sandhill cranes, golden finches, red polls, mallard and bufflehead ducks, red winged blackbirds, mourning doves, nuthatches, ravens, black capped chickadees, piliated woodpeckers, great horned owls, and barred owls. Fireflies and monarch butterflies are in great abundance. The whitetail does are still having fawns, and quite a few young gray and red squirrels are out on their own. Blackberry and raspberry vines are forming fruit . Wild bergamot, brown eyed susans, lesser daisy fleabane, the water lilies, some of the aster varieties, orange hawkweed, wild columbine, ox eye daisy, wooly yarrow, the
Wildcat Mountain State Park - Trails remain wet and muddy after heavy rains fell on July 14. The Kickapoo River banks were full. The canoe landing was under water as of July 15. Dry clear weather is predicted for the next few days. The river will start to recede. The conditions will be changing daily. Make sure to check conditions before canoeing.
Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center area
Buckhorn State Park - Trails are in great condition for hiking with the warmer weather and many visitors have been camping, picnicking and fishing. The kid's fishing pond has had many visitors using the new parking lot. Kids have been catching and releasing small bluegills and bass from the pier at the pond. Many visitors have been enjoying the warm weather swimming at the beach. People have been catching fish from the pier and at their campsites. There are still some occasional mosquitoes so it is a good idea to bring bug spray. Butterfly weed , lead plant, goldenrod, and milkweed are blooming in the park.
Roche-A-Cri State Park - Many wildflowers are blooming in the prairie. Friendship Lake is just a mile down the road and has a swimming beach. The stairway up the bluff is closed permanently due to deteriorating lumber. A $354,600 project to replace it has been approved. We expect to seek bids for the project sometime this year. The petroglyph viewing platform at the base of the mound is still open and several miles of hiking trails are available. This Saturday, July 17th is the "Learn to Geocache" program at 2pm. Meet at the kiosk shelter.
Last Revised: Thursday July 15 2010
Additional rainfall in the last week statewide continues to have many of the state’s rivers and streams running at very high levels. Severe thunderstorms across southern and central Wisconsin this week dropped as much as 4 to 6 inches of rain in some isolated areas, with many areas receiving up to 2 to 3 inches. Many rivers were rising and at or approaching flood stage. The Kickapoo River was out of its banks at Wildcat Mountain State Park. The Baraboo, Black, Rock, Crawfish and lower Wisconsin rivers were all running very high.
The constantly changing weather of the past week has made for some real inconsistent fishing action, and kept anglers watchful of the skies. In the north, bass fishing, both for largemouth and smallmouth, has been especially erratic. Largemouth bass have yet to fully set up in their typical summer pattern and smallmouth have been particularly picky in the lures that they'll hit. Musky action continues to improve with the warmer water temperatures and many anglers have reported a lot of follows and some decent catches 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.
Anglers on Green Bay were having some decent success this week with perch and some good walleye action along both the east and west shore. On Lake Michigan, condition mid last week were some of the best of the year thus far, with light and variable winds and temperatures in the low to mid-80s having boat ramps filled to capacity. But by Sunday, flat seas turned into white caps from strong southerly winds combined with scattered rain. Boaters along the lakeshore averaged four to six fish mixed with a few limits, with the catch dominated by chinook salmon and rainbow trout. Shore and pier fishing has been good on southeastern Wisconsin harbors, with rainbows, chinook, and a few browns being caught.
With fishing on Wisconsin’s Great Lakes in full swing, anglers who are trolling in deeper waters are reminded to steer well clear of any potential obstructions including commercial trap nets. In Lake Michigan, such nets are set off Two Rivers, Manitowoc, Sheboygan and in Door County. In Lake Superior, nets are set in several locations between Houghton Point and Bayfield. Information on the Lake Michigan trap nets can be found on the DNR website and on the Lake Superior trap nets (exit DNR) on the University of Wisconsin Aquatic Sciences website. (Both pdf documents open in a new window.)
The summer nesting season is past peak for most species of birds. Wetlands with open water are brimming with broods of coot, grebes, waterfowl and other wetland species. Many ducks and geese are now actively molting and using areas of deeper water or thicker cover to avoid predation. Some fall migrants are already winging their way through the state, with the first reports of shorebirds such as lesser yellowlegs and least sandpipers.
This is good time to watch for and remove some invasive plant species, such as purple loosestrife and spotted knapweed. Check the DNR website for information. Also, people should be aware that the invasive plant wild parsnip is rampant this year in some areas. Wild parsnip is a tall invasive plant which produces small yellow flowers. Contact with plant fluids causes blistering of the skin. These blisters are aggravated by sunlight, and it may take years for the scars the blisters create to disappear.
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.
Statewide Birding Report
The summer nesting season is past peak for most species of birds. Many birds have hatched their broods and are even working on second broods in some cases. Wetlands with open water are brimming with broods of coot, grebes, waterfowl and other wetland dependent species. Many ducks and geese are now actively molting and using areas of deeper water or thicker cover to avoid predation. Some fall migrants are already winging their way through the state. The first reports of shorebirds have come in from appropriate habitat. These have been mostly lesser yellowlegs and least sandpipers. Despite the heat and the amount of song tapering off, this is still a great time of year to go out and observe some interesting behavior in our nesting and migratory birds.
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NORTHERN REGION
Superior DNR Service Center area
Brule River State Forest -
Hayward DNR Service Center area
Tuscobia State Trail - The trail is in good condition. Many people have been reporting bear sightings on the trail as well as fawns and grouse broods.
Spooner DNR Service Center area
Purple loosestrife and spotted knapweed just starting to bloom, so now is a good time for control methods. Cut and treat stems with herbicides or pull if herbicide is not possible. Cut plants to reduce this year's seed source.
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - Water temperatures on most waters across the North have been in the low to mid-70s. Weed abundances do seem to be relatively low for this time of year, as many lakes and flowages have only light to moderate weed growth in many areas that typically have thick weed beds. It appears that the dark-stained run-off water, the result of heavy rains in the last few weeks, has limited plant growth and many mid-depth weed beds will continue to be rather sparse throughout the summer. The constantly changing weather of the past week has made for some real inconsistent fishing action, and periodic rain showers have kept anglers watchful of the skies. Bass fishing, both for largemouth and smallmouth, has been especially erratic 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 good largemouth bass action has been reported from 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 also improved with the warmer water temperatures and many anglers have reported a lot of follows. Some decent catches are 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-water 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.
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NORTHEAST REGION
Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
Fishing has been slow due to winds and high water. Temperatures at the landings are in the high 70s with water clarity low.
Marinette County - Some nice bluegill have been caught below the dam at Peshtigo using worm and bobber. Some bass and walleye were being caught in the Menominee River from the Railroad Bridge up river to the Hattie Street Dam. Salmon were still being caught in the bay, in 60 feet of water with the hot spot being Chambers Island. Pounded copper seems to be hot in the stained water.
Oconto County - Anglers at Stiles Dam catching a few bluegills and an occasional bass. Fast water and floating debris has been making it difficult to maintain a decent drift. Anglers at Oconto Breakwater and Oconto Park II were reporting a few walleye being taken in the 20 foot range on crawler harnesses. Some perch were being caught in the weed beds, though the size is running small.
Green Bay DNR Service Center area
With fishing on Wisconsin’s Great Lakes in full swing, anglers who are trolling in deeper waters are reminded to steer well clear of any potential obstructions including commercial trap nets. In Lake Michigan, such nets are set off Two Rivers, Manitowoc, Sheboygan and in Door County. In Lake Superior, nets are set in several locations between Houghton Point and Bayfield. Information on the Lake Michigan trap nets can be found on the DNR website and on the Lake Superior trap nets on the University of Wisconsin Aquatic Sciences website.
Brown County - Bayshore Park anglers have had some good walleye action. Most anglers have been fishing crawler harnesses. Anglers have been fishing water depths ranging 8 to 24 feet of water depending on the day. Perch fishing is still hit or miss. Minnows or worms seem to be working the best for perch anglers.
Manitowoc County - Heavy fog early in the week created havoc for area anglers, but by mid-week the fog lifted and created the best fishing conditions of the year thus far. Light and variable winds the rest of the week with temperatures in the low to mid-80s left boat ramps filled to capacity. Water temperatures fluctuated daily, ranging from the mid-50s one day to the low 60s the next. But by Sunday, the flat seas turned into white caps from strong southerly winds at 10-15 combined with scattered rain. Boaters along the lakeshore averaged 4-6 fish mixed with a few two or three person limits. Piers were also crowded with anglers, as anglers are now consistently landing large kings and rainbows. Out of Two Rivers, fishing has been best in 35-60 feet of water between both the Two Rivers’ water towers. A few boats have been fishing the gap of the Two Rivers’ piers and off the lighthouse in 40-60 feet of water. Off Manitowoc, the best depths have been a little deeper than Two Rivers, 50-70 feet. Some boaters have also been fishing the gap of the piers in Manitowoc, catching 12- to 15-pound kings and a few rainbows but with less numbers than out deeper. Flasher-fly combos, spoons, and J-Plugs have all been working with green still the color of choice for all three. Green glow J-Plugs and flasher-flies on the down riggers have worked for the morning bite, but after that the action has been spread out. Down riggers set in the 20-30 foot range resulted in a steady catch all week. Both the Two Rivers and Manitowoc piers have been packed full this past week. The catch has been dominated by 12- to 15-pound kings mixed with 9-13 pound rainbows. Casting with green champs and jigging with gulp minnows have been reported for taking most of the kings and a few rainbows. Using alewife on bottom or on bobber four feet down has also been very successful with both species. If possible, be on the piers fishing early since most fish have been taken between 4-5 am. Good luck to everyone in the Two Rivers Kiwanis fish derby.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Door County - The second week week of July continued with humid and warm temperatures with the only relief coming from sporadic showers and windy conditions. After a wet June it looks as if July will follow suit. The young month has already had a generous amount of rainfall, and bumper crops look to be had county wide. Anglers were still able to hit the water with mixed reports of fish being caught. With changing weather conditions happening daily, fishing around the Door was mediocre this week. Success picked up toward the end of the week with the best catch reports coming out of Ellison Bay and Gills Rock. Some very nice catches of rainbow trout were seen in Sturgeon Bay early in the week, likely due to some of the weather conditions and changing water temperatures. Near limit catches were reported out of Ellison Bay and Gills Rock toward the weekend with most success being had on flasher fly combos and a variety of spoons. Some anglers reported having good success using j-plugs as too. Baileys Harbor remains productive and followed the trend of other spots this week with fishing picking up more towards the weekend. Overall fish were being caught countywide all the way up to Washington Island. Perch anglers were having some decent success this week, the only obstacle being catching fish of decent size. Crawlers suspended off the bottom brought in a very wide variety of fish, whereas minnows brought in mainly perch. Some smallmouth bass anglers were seen on the water this week with good reports of fish being caught. Tube jigs and a variety of plastics were popular choices working rocky areas in 10-15 feet of water. Few reports came in from walleye anglers, but some fish were still being found along the Green Bay shoreline. Trolling stick baits and crawler harnesses have produced the most fish. Chaudoir’s Dock anglers have been fishing perch with some success. Most have been fishing south of the landing in 20 feet of water. Minnows have been working the best rigged on a slip bobber or a bottom rig. Anglers are also catching a few walleye with most being caught on a crawler harness. Anglers fishing walleyes have also reported numbers of drum and catfish being caught as well. Little Sturgeon Bay anglers have been having good success on perch fishing in the weeds in the bay. Bass anglers continue to do well with good numbers of bass being caught on slip bobbers and leaches. A few walleye are being caught by anglers trolling, most have been caught on crank baits. Sturgeon Bay anglers have been catching some perch. The best action has been in the weeds off the state park. Anglers are having to sort through a lot of small fish to catch a respectable meal.
Whitefish Dunes State Park - The lake levels are up slightly from last year but the shoreline has changed due to spring wave action. The strong waves have battered the shoreline vegetation and eroded parts of the shoreline. In addition the native vegetation continues to grow toward the lake making the beach appear as if it has shrunk. This causes the open sand area to decrease in size. The native vegetation holds the sand in place and slows the erosion which protects the shoreline during higher lake levels. Wildlife is out and about with signs of fox and deer on the beach and porcupines in the woods. The green throated warbler nest has been spotted with young. Snakes have been seen on the red trail, none are poisonous but the fox snake can act as if it is a rattle snake by shaking its tail in dry leaves. Remember not to feed the gulls or any other wildlife at the park or they will become aggressive toward other visitors for food. Mosquitoes are out in abundance, so don’t forget your bug spray. Summer wildflowers are in full bloom and abound about the park. The purple of the beach pea shows among the beach grass. Dune thistles are also blooming, showing off light pink flowers that are visited by bumblebees. While dames’ rocket, garlic mustard and hounds tongue are in their seed stage, make sure to remove them from your clothing and dispose of them in the garbage. The Friends of Whitefish Dunes are now on the web! Check out their website. The Friends are sponsoring a number of guest speakers and special events. Dog owners are reminded that the first segment of the beach is closed starting April 1st to dogs. The dog beach is still open.
Kewaunee County - The weather this was very unstable as a few different storm systems passed through the area. Two things in common throughout the week were temperatures in the upper 70s and lower 80s throughout the county and high humidity. The rainfall and changing wind directions has once again kept the water temperatures off Algoma and Kewaunee in the low 50s for the majority of the week. The Kewaunee pier fishing this week saw an increase in the amount anglers trying their luck but didn’t see a rise in the amount of fish being netted. The main fish being caught off the pier seem to King salmon with an occasional rainbow being caught. The fish seem to be biting on blue spoons and a few have been caught on live bait. The Kewaunee ramp saw a large amount of fish brought in compared to the last few weeks. The average catch per boat was about 7-8 fish but the average size has dropped down to about 10-11 pounds for the king salmon. The fish caught towards the beginning of the week were in waters about 120 feet but seemed to travel out deeper as the week grew on. The more successful anglers on Sunday were fishing in depths of 180 feet and about 100 feet down. The majority of fish seemed to have been caught on spoons but not one color seemed to stand out against the rest. This week the Algoma pier fishing saw a decline in the amount of anglers and fish being caught. This seems to be partly due to the cold water temperatures and the storms that came through the area. The fishing has been very much hit and miss all week with only a few small king salmon being caught. The fishing out on the lake out of Algoma seemed to be similar to a rollercoaster ride throughout the week. The week started off on the right foot with the average boat returning with 5-6 fish and quite a few limits being caught. The middle of the week saw the catch drop off to about 2-3 fish a boat and went back up to 5-6 fish during the weekend from the boats that weathered the storms. The fish on average seemed to be smaller than the last few weeks.
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SOUTHEAST REGION
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan trollers have been catching chinook, rainbow, and lake trout. Most fish have been caught in 30 to 120 feet of water, from the surface to 50 feet down. Shore fishing in Sheboygan has been good, with rainbows, chinook, and a few browns caught off both piers. Spoons and alewives have taken the most fish.
Ozaukee County - Trollers in Port Washington have found a mixed bag of fish between 50 and 110 feet of water. Good numbers of chinook, coho, rainbow, and a few browns and lake trout have been hitting spoons or flashers and flies, and fish have been anywhere from the surface to 60 feet down. Shore anglers in Port Washington have been catching perch on jigs and minnows fished near the power plant as well as off the harbor side of the pier. Anglers fishing the lake side of the pier have been catching rainbows, chinook, and coho. The most success has been with alewives, but some fish have been taken on spoons as well. Boaters fishing for perch in Port have been catching fair numbers on fathead minnows at the south pier.
Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee trollers have been catching mostly chinook, along with a few coho and rainbows. Fish have been caught in as little as 40 feet of water or out as far as 120 feet. Spoons have taken the majority of fish, although a few have been caught on flies. The best colors have been blue and white. For shore anglers in Milwaukee, the most consistent spot has been McKinley pier. Chinook have been caught off the pier after dark and before dawn. Most have been taken on alewives, but spoons have been producing as well. A few perch have also been taken off McKinley pier on small shiners just off the bottom. Boaters launching at Bender Park and fishing for perch have had some success at the boils off South Milwaukee and near the Oak Creek Power Plant. Small shiners have produced the best.
Racine County - In Racine trollers have been catching good numbers of chinook and a few coho and rainbow trout. Fish have been near shore, with the best action in 30 to 50 feet of water. Shore fishing in Racine has also been good, with decent numbers of chinook, rainbow trout, and coho taken off the piers. Both spoons and alewives have taken fish. Perch fishing from shore has slowed, but for those fishing in boats, the perch bite has been fair, with the break walls and the bubbler providing good action at times. Minnows and crab tails have both produced, as have jigs.
Kenosha County - In Kenosha the trolling bite remains consistent, with good catches coming from as shallow as 40 feet of water, to as deep as 100 feet. Nearly all methods have produced fish at times. Fishing in the Kenosha harbor has been fair, especially in the evening hours and into the night. Silver & green spoons as well as glow in the dark have been catching fish, as have tube jigs. Most fish have been brown trout, and activity has been good from the Best Western all the way out to the ends of the piers. Perch fishing has been slow from shore, but boats out for perch have been having a good bite in the mornings. Minnows have been the most consistent producer, but others are having luck with jigs and plastic.
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SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Fitchburg DNR Service Center area
Jefferson County - Anglers are having good luck catching bluegill on Mud Lake south of Lake Mills. Some of the fish are up to 9 inches in length. The fish are biting the best on waxworms on a small jig. Mud Lake is a no motors lake. Water levels are higher than normal for this time of year on the upper Rock and Crawfish Rivers aiding boaters but slowing fishing success.
Military Ridge State Trail - The trail has been receiving a lot of use and is in great condition. Warning to all trail users: Wild Parsnip is rampant this year, and due to an early spring will have a longer than usual growth period. Wild parsnip is a tall invasive plant which produces small yellow flowers. Currently they are around three and four feet tall. Contact with plant fluids causes blistering of the skin. These blisters are aggravated by sunlight, and it may take years for the scars the blisters create to disappear. Friends of the Military Ridge Trail are constructing a new Kiosk in Riley, this kiosk will explain briefly the history of the trail and rail road, and touch base about Aldo Leopold.
Glacial Drumlin State Trail - Highway 26 is under construction at the moment, so be aware of heavy equipment and possibly confusing detour signs. Wild flowers are in bloom and young animals are coming of age such as turkeys, deer, and geese. For a while, White Pelicans could be seen at the marsh, but have not been seen recently. Use of the trail seems heavier then recent years. Be sure to have a trail pass to access the trail to avoid any fines. The Sand hill station campground contains 16 sites, is not under full occupancy and can be reserved.
Aztalan State Park - Guided tours are offered every Sunday afternoon by an authored archaeologist for people to learn about the history of the 500 people who settled hear about 100 years ago.
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WEST CENTRAL REGION
Eau Claire DNR Service Center area
Brunet Island State Park – Canada geese goslings are quite numerous this year and are growing quickly. The phoebes have hatched their second round of chicks. Other species of birds seen or heard include: common loons, belted kingfishers, sandhill cranes, golden finches, red polls, mallard and bufflehead ducks, red winged blackbirds, mourning doves, nuthatches, ravens, black capped chickadees, piliated woodpeckers, great horned owls, and barred owls. Fireflies and monarch butterflies are in great abundance. The whitetail does are still having fawns, and quite a few young gray and red squirrels are out on their own. Blackberry and raspberry vines are forming fruit . Wild bergamot, brown eyed susans, lesser daisy fleabane, the water lilies, some of the aster varieties, orange hawkweed, wild columbine, ox eye daisy, wooly yarrow, the
Wildcat Mountain State Park - Trails remain wet and muddy after heavy rains fell on July 14. The Kickapoo River banks were full. The canoe landing was under water as of July 15. Dry clear weather is predicted for the next few days. The river will start to recede. The conditions will be changing daily. Make sure to check conditions before canoeing.
Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center area
Buckhorn State Park - Trails are in great condition for hiking with the warmer weather and many visitors have been camping, picnicking and fishing. The kid's fishing pond has had many visitors using the new parking lot. Kids have been catching and releasing small bluegills and bass from the pier at the pond. Many visitors have been enjoying the warm weather swimming at the beach. People have been catching fish from the pier and at their campsites. There are still some occasional mosquitoes so it is a good idea to bring bug spray. Butterfly weed , lead plant, goldenrod, and milkweed are blooming in the park.
Roche-A-Cri State Park - Many wildflowers are blooming in the prairie. Friendship Lake is just a mile down the road and has a swimming beach. The stairway up the bluff is closed permanently due to deteriorating lumber. A $354,600 project to replace it has been approved. We expect to seek bids for the project sometime this year. The petroglyph viewing platform at the base of the mound is still open and several miles of hiking trails are available. This Saturday, July 17th is the "Learn to Geocache" program at 2pm. Meet at the kiosk shelter.
Last Revised: Thursday July 15 2010
