Almost all of Wisconsin has had rain in the last few days, which has lead to rapidly deteriorating snow conditions (exit DNR), especially through the southern and central part of the state. As of Thursday most state parks and forests in the southern two-thirds of the state were reporting ski trails were now closed. Ski and snowmobile trails in the north remain open, but much of the north also received some rain, which will likely result in rapidly deteriorating trails. Anyone considering traveling for snow sports this weekend should call ahead to their destination.
In the north, ice conditions were good with depths ranging from 16 to 20 inches. With warmer temperatures, slush could again be a problem on some lakes and conditions could change considerably this week on all lakes. Ice conditions change quickly as spring approaches, check conditions before venturing out and frequently while on the ice. Ice on most southern lakes continues to be very poor and many lakes again have areas of open water.
Ice conditions on Chequamegon Bay improved some this week, with anglers able to fish off Hermit and Basswood islands for lake trout and some perch. Lake Superior game fish is open all year round so opportunity still exists for those who venture out, but ice can change quickly depending on wind conditions so anglers should use extreme caution.
With the close of the inland game fish season March 5, fishing pressure has let up around the state. In the north, a few panfish anglers have been trying their luck but success has been mixed. Bluegill activity was reported as fairly good in some areas, but fish were small. Crappies were beginning to show up in shallower water and some perch action was improving. Anglers had to move around quite a bit to find active fish. Ice shanties must be removed from waters north of Highway 64 after March 15.
In the south, a lot of anglers took advantage of the last weekend of game fish season over the weekend. Action for northern pike was good on some lakes but with mostly smaller fish caught. Anglers reported action on bluegills and crappies was good, with crappies active right under the ice--a sign spring is not that far away. Traditionally, as ice melt-water flows down ice holes, panfish become very active.
Along Green Bay, anglers continued to catch yellow perch near the Oconto breakwater and at Sawyer Harbor. On Lake Michigan, shore anglers were catching brown trout and an occasional steelhead where they found open water. Upper stretches of the Milwaukee River and the Root River are starting to open up, and there have been a few reports of steelhead caught downstream of the dam Oak Creek.
The catch and release trout season opened last Saturday and anglers had some great weather, but clear waters and low flows in Coulee Region streams made fishing challenging. Walleye anglers were also enjoying the beautiful Saturday. Walleye and sauger catches varied.
The Mississippi River really dropped by more than a foot this week to 7.4 feet at Prairie du Chien by midweek. The main channel of the Mississippi River is open again and backwater areas still remain difficult and dangerous to access because of thin ice conditions. There was a lot of open water fishing pressure was reported, but action was spotty with only a few limits of sauger reported.
A reminder that licenses for the 2006-07 season go on sale this Friday at all license outlets, by phone or over the Internet. Current licenses expire at the end of this month. Remaining turkey permits for the spring season will go on sale at noon Saturday, March 25.
There were reports of robins showing up around this weekend all the way from Wyalusing State Park in far southwestern Wisconsin all the way up to the Brule River State Forest in Douglas County. Reports of sandhill cranes sightings have also increased.
Wildlife is beginning to show more activity with the occasional opossum and skunk being observed and turkeys have been gobbling and strutting and rooster pheasants are crowing. And if it hasnt been done already, its time to clean out bluebird boxes as scouts should be returning soon to set up territories.
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/news/or/
