Most of Wisconsin, with the exception of the far northwest corner, received additional rainfall this week, which has continued to improve water levels on lakes and rivers and kept fire danger levels at low to moderate statewide. Most rivers are now flowing at or near seasonal norms and paddling conditions are good across much of the state, with the exception of the Bois Brule in Douglas County.
Erratic weather and some windy conditions combined to make for some difficult fishing in the Northwoods. The quick jump in water levels also seems to have changed fish behavior and has made many species difficult to find. Musky fishing has picked up a bit and has produced some the most consistent action. Weed edges and the less-dense weed beds have produced most of the fish, with bucktails and surface baits getting the most action. Bass fishing has been hit or miss. Walleye action was improving with the cooler water temperatures. Slip bobbers and leeches fished at the deep weed line have been working well, particularly early in the morning and just at dark. Sturgeon anglers are beginning to check the Menominee River fishery for the season that opens on Sept. 2. The Wolf River has continued to produce good catches of smallmouth bass and walleye.
Walleye fishing on Lake Winnebago continues to be good with fish being caught during the morning and evening on the reefs. Bluegills are fully suspended on most southern lakes with anglers fishing in 17 to 20 feet of water with waxies or tubes. Smallmouth bass action has been good on the Milwaukee and Sheboygan rivers. Nice catches of bass have been reported on Waukesha County lakes. Anglers were reporting good channel catfishing on the Wisconsin River, with smallmouth bass and walleye also biting. Catfishing has also been good on the Fox River at DePere and the Rock River in Watertown.
Anglers fishing Lake Michigan had another great week, bringing in nice catches of chinook salmon, coho salmon, and some large rainbow trout. Perch fishing on Green Bay has been very good. There has been some reports of slight action for walleyes along the east shore from Bayshore to Point Sable, as well as around Geano Beach.
Water levels on the Mississippi River have started to rise. The river was at 7.4 feet in Prairie du Chien this week, up over a foot from last week’s low. Bluegills were biting throughout the river system. The upper stretches of Pool 9 and bottom end of Pool 10 were providing good walleye action. Largemouth and smallmouth bass action continued to be good throughout the river.
Squirrels and chipmunks have begun harvesting black walnuts, acorns, and hickory nuts already. Acorns are on the small side this year and some are already beginning to fall. They normally start falling in September but with the warm dry weather in some areas, the acorns matured sooner. Whitetail bucks have produced a good portion of their racks by now, and there have been numerous reports of bucks displaying impressive velvet antlers.
Some late flowering plants are visible along wood side trails such as gentians, hawkweed, cardinal flower, sunflowers, vervain, yarrow, Queen Anne’s lace, chicory, black-eyed susan, and coneflowers.
While the fall migration is some time away for most birds, it has already begun for others. The yellow warbler which is a common nesting bird among the shrubs along the edge of the forest and marsh, have already departed for their tropical wintering grounds. Other early migrants include shorebirds like sandpipers and plovers. The peak of the shorebird migration is in August and early September.
More here....
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/news/or/
