FINALY, THE HOT SUMMER IS OVER. Consider this a fall outdoors teaser report !!.......... 
NORTHERN REGION
Superior DNR Service Center area
Brule River State Forest - The Bois Brule River is flowing at 103 cubic feet per second (cfs). The 61 year average is 141 cfs. Brule precipitation for August was 0.63 inches. The monthly average is 3.97. Precipitation for the year to date is 15.31 inches. The extended forecast calls for a cool down. High temperatures are expected to be in the 60s and low temperatures in the 40s. Chances of thunderstorms are forecasted through Friday night. Mostly cloudy skies are expected on Saturday turning to partly cloudy skies though next week. A Lake Nebagamon resident reported an interesting bird sighting on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Mixed in with some robins in his yard was a white robin with a pale orange chest. On August 24, the Brule hatchery gave a tour to the student delegation from Ami, Japan, the sister city to Superior. We had 12 Japanese students as well as eight Superior students and four Japanese chaperones and three other Superior delegates. From here the tour went to Amnicon Falls State park for some swimming and lunch. A good time was had by all. The Brule Archery Club will be hosting an open house and fun shoot on Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be a novelty shoot with prizes and free food. The open house will be located at the Afterhours Trail which is off of the Afterhours Road. For more information contact Cathy Khalar at (715) 372-5678.
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Warm dry conditions prevailed this week in the Park Falls area, though a cool down is forecast for the weekend. Water levels continue to drop on area rivers and lakes as much of the rain falling over the middle part of the state missed the north. Water temperatures are cooling and fishing is improving. Several musky in the 40-inch range have been reported and numerous fish below 40 inches also have been caught. Sturgeon season is open and anglers were catching sturgeon with a few legal fish being caught. Many smaller fish are being caught and released. Bear hunting season began Sept. 6 with the aid of bait and other methods not utilizing dogs. Early goose season opened Sept. 1 and runs to Sept. 15 and many hunters have been taking advantage of the early season. Mushrooms and puff balls are visible on the forest floor with a variety of species emerging. Thistle and burdock are beginning to dry and become a nuisance for pets and people who come in contact with them. Ducks and geese are visiting the wild rice beds. Blackberries can be found along forest trails. . Colors are changing in the hardwood forest and other vegetation is declining due to the dry conditions and the approaching fall.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - The seasonal late-summer weather of the past week has provided for some pleasant fishing conditions and pretty good success rates. Sturgeon season began this past Saturday and opening weekend pressure was considered moderate. Quite a few anglers reported catching some smaller fish and most anglers were just content to be out angling for a chance at this prehistoric fish. A few lucky anglers did connect on legal-size fish, with the most productive spots being the deeper holes on the North Fork of the Flambeau River. Bass anglers continue to enjoy the late summer surge in action, with both largemouth and smallmouth providing some good success. The largemouth have been associated with the thicker weeds, woody cover and docks, with top-water baits and soft plastics being the most productive. Smallmouth have been active in the rivers and channel areas of the larger flowages, and also associating with woody cover. Small finesse plastics have been the baits of choice. Walleye activity continues to slowly improve and, with the cooler water temperatures, more fish are beginning to move toward shallower water. Quite a few walleye were still being caught on leaches and crawlers around and in the weeds, but some are starting to feed more on minnows. Musky action has been fairly consistent, with a few larger fish showing up on the deep weed edges. Bucktails and top-water baits have been the lures of choice, and with the cooler water, a few sucker anglers have also been out. Panfish angling has been fair, with some decent catches of perch, crappie and rock bass being reported.
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
For the most part blackberries have dried up due to the drought conditions in the area although some of they shaded areas still have berries to pick. The acorns have begun to drop and fall colors are already showing up throughout the area. It is believed that the dry conditions have triggered the early change in leaf conditions. Some fishing activity has improved on walleyes particularly on river systems with low water. Flowages are several feet below normal and most lakes are experiencing between 1-3 foot drops in their levels. Musky reports indicate that the fish are beginning to move into their fall feeding patterns. The bear dog training season concluded on the 31st of August with the opening of the bait only season beginning on the 6th of September. Dog hunters can begin on September 14. There was limited early goose season success with a few ducks now starting to show up. Wild rice season is in full swing with a moderate crop reported. You can check with your local service center on which lakes are open and which are closed.
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NORTHEAST REGION
Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
Marinette County - Fishing over the holiday weekend was good for the many anglers enjoying the nice weather despite some rough conditions out on the Bay. Trout and salmon were hitting spoons and fly/dodger combos from Green Island north to Chambers Island in varying water depths of 35 to 100 feet with most fish hitting 25 to 50 feet down. Some small to medium brown trout were also mixed in with the salmon as well. A few chinook salmon have been spotted up near the dam on the Menominee River, but anglers were not having much success in getting them to bite. Walleye have been biting in the evening and at night off of the Hattie Street bridge and up near the dam on the jigs tipped with leeches or with lighted slip bobbers set 2 to 4 feet down with leeches and crawlers. Most fish were smaller: 15 to 18 inches in length. Anglers also reported having luck trolling crawler harnesses and deeper diving crank baits from the mouth upstream to Marinette Marine after dark. A few muskies were also reportedly caught by anglers casting bucktails and large deep diving cranks near the turn basin and the two piers. Most fish averaged 42 to 48 inches. The salmon bite on Little River started to pick up with more fish coming into the river. Anglers reported having the best luck from sundown to sunrise on spawn sacs fished on the bottom. Increased pressure made fishing a little difficult due to the crowds. Fishing pressure on the Peshtigo River started to drop heavily with few anglers out over the weekend.
Oconto County - The perch bite on the Bay was excellent over the weekend with Labor Day being exceptional. Anglers were reporting limits of nice 8- to 12-inch perch from Oconto County Park II south to the Pensaukee River. Most fish were hitting in deeper water near the Sucker Hole and out from the Pensaukee River 1.5 to 3 miles in 22 to 32 feet of water. Minnows fished on plain hooks with heavy split shot produced the best with night crawlers catching only a small portion. Drifting or trolling slowly with an electric trolling motor also worked well for some anglers due to the lack of wind during the early part of Monday. Smallmouth bass were also hitting out on some of the offshore, rocky reefs on tube jigs and Rapala shad raps in crawfish and fire tiger patterns. Fishing was slow near the Stiles dam but some anglers were enjoying a mixed bag of bluegills, crappies, and assorted rough fish. Most fish were caught on all varieties of live baits fished below bobbers anywhere from 2 to 6 feet down. A few walleye were reportedly being caught off of the Breakwater pier on the Oconto River in the evening and during the night on stick baits in natural baitfish patterns.
Green Bay DNR Service Center area
Manitowoc County - In Manitowoc, pier anglers had a good week catching chinook salmon. Most anglers were using green or yellow Cleo's. Anglers trolling Lake Michigan for chinook salmon had a great week of fishing, while anglers after rainbow trout had a slow week. Successful anglers fished water depths from 50 to 140 feet. Fishing inside the harbor produced some catches of bass this past week. In Two Rivers, salmon anglers fishing from both piers had a great week landing many large chinook salmon and a few rainbow trout. Anglers trolling Lake Michigan had a busy week with many large catches of chinook salmon reported. Additionally, anglers were catching a few brown trout. Most success was in 100 feet of water with lines set to 60 feet or deeper. Spoons were the most popular choice of lures.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Door County – It was a wonderful week weather wise, with seasonably warm temperatures and sunny skies. Northerns pike action remained good throughout most of the county, with Sturgeon Bay, Little Sturgeon and the area around Horseshoe Island producing lots of fish. Although warm water has sent the fish out to deeper water, nice catches of chinook salmon and rainbow trout continued to be taken all over Door County. Sturgeon Bay, Baileys Harbor, Ellison Bay, Rowley’s Bay and Washington Island were all good areas. Most of the successful anglers were fishing deep in 150 to 300 feet of water and 100 to 200 feet down. Aqua or green flies with glow dodgers, as well as various spoons and J-Plugs remain the baits of choice. Walleye fishing remained good throughout the county. Anglers trolling night crawler harnesses and crank baits in 20 to 35 feet of water, near reefs, points and shoal areas are producing fish. Sturgeon Bay, Little Sturgeon and the area in between, along with Horseshoe Island and the Strawberry Channel all continue to be produce nice catches of walleye. Bass fishing was good throughout the county. Egg Harbor, Rowley’s Bay and the Stone Quarry County Park were all producing bass from shore; however, the larger fish continued to be in the deeper waters. Tube jigs, crank baits, spinner baits, night crawlers, leeches and minnows are all producing smallmouth bass. Perch action continued to be good all over the county. Sister Bay, Egg Harbor and Fish Creek, along with the southern Door bays, were all producing perch, with the bigger perch being taken from 15 to 30 feet of water. Henderson Point and the areas around Snake Island and Chaudoir’s dock were all producing some good size perch. Night crawlers and minnows continue as the baits of choice for perch.
Peninsula State Park - After a perfect Labor Day weekend, crowds have abated. Many campsites await campers during the week. There are few electrical campsites available without reservations. All hiking and biking trails are in great shape. A section of the Eagle Trail is being renovated, and should be ready to go within days. Water levels in Green Bay are still very low, but have come up in recent weeks. Peninsula State Park golf course is open though October, and tee times are readily available. American Folklore Theatre summer programming has come to an end.
Kewaunee County - It has been another slow week for anglers trolling Lake Michigan for both salmon and trout. Surface water temperatures were 67 to 69 degrees Fahrenheit. Trollers have been fishing a variety of depths; however, the best action was reported in 150 to 190 feet of water fishing 55 to 75 feet down. Shore fishing action has been excellent all week in both Kewaunee and Algoma. Staging chinook salmon, have been hitting green, blue, and silver spoons in the early morning and late evening. A few brown and rainbow trout have also been caught on spoons. In the early morning and late evening try glow spoons, it seems to make quiet a difference. A small number of chinook salmon have made it into Kewaunee County tributaries; however, it is still a bit too early to actively fish. Anglers would have better success concentrating in the harbors and piers.
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SOUTHEAST REGION
Cooling surface waters are activating northerns and muskies and improving angler success for those species. Largemouth bass fishing remained good. Angling is expected to pick up as recreational use of our lakes declines after the Labor Day weekend. Remember, early fall is an excellent time for fishing, especially for game fish. Some of the largest muskies and northern pike caught all year are usually taken in fall.
Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan, fishing off the piers has picked up with good numbers of chinooks and a few browns being caught on gold spoons. Sheboygan trollers have been catching decent numbers of chinooks, with a few rainbows and browns mixed in. Some boats have been reporting near limit catches of fish taken 35 to 70 feet down in 120 to 140 feet of water.
Ozaukee County - In Port Washington, good numbers of chinooks have moved into the harbor and the area near the power plant. Shore anglers have been catching them on spoons and spawn sacs. Trollers out of Port Washington have been catching good numbers of chinooks, along with a few rainbows and coho. Most fish have been caught 45 to 70 feet down in 90 to 120 feet of water. Dodgers and white, green, or black flies have taken the majority of fish.
Milwaukee County - Chinooks have moved near shore in Milwaukee. Shore anglers fishing off McKinley pier have been catching decent numbers of chinooks before sunrise on glow-in-the-dark spoons. Milwaukee trollers have been catching chinooks around the gaps and inside the harbor, as well as out in 150 to 200 feet of water.
Racine County - In Racine, chinooks have been caught by shore anglers fishing off the piers and in the harbor just before sunrise. Trollers out of Racine have been finding good numbers of chinooks right outside the harbor or out in the 130 to 160 foot range. Glow-in-the-dark spoons and J-plugs have been producing. Fish were processed at the Root River Steelhead Facility on Thursday, August 31. Throughout the summer crews have been able to capture 236 steelhead, of which 220 are being held at the Kettle Moraine Springs Hatchery for later spawning. So far this season 138 chinooks, 16 steelhead, and 4 browns have passed upstream. Crews will process fish again most likely on Thursday, Sept. 7. Water levels are rising a bit after some rain this morning, but the river temperature is still very warm. When the river temperatures are this warm, steelhead that are caught and released do not recover well. Anglers should wait until the river cools off more to target steelhead for catch and release.
Kenosha County - Shore anglers in Kenosha have been catching fair numbers of chinooks near the mouth of the Pike River and in the harbor off the piers. Action has been best late at night or early in the morning. Trollers out of Kenosha have been catching good numbers of chinooks on green or glow spoons in 70 to 150 feet of water.
Walworth and inland Racine and Kenosha counties - Northern pike fishing has picked up. Spinner baits fished along weed lines and in weed beds were producing. Largemouth bass have been active and were found shallow during low light periods in clear water lakes, or in 8 to 18 feet of water in other lakes. Smallmouth bass have been biting on leeches and night crawlers in 14 to 24 feet of water. Panfish were hitting leaf worms or grubs near the bottom in 13 to 26 feet of water.
Washington, eastern Fond du Lac, and inland Sheboygan counties - Largemouth bass fishing has still been very good on most area lakes. Most of the dedicated bass anglers are practicing catch and release to ensure that the populations remain strong. Plastics seem to be the ticket to success. Musky action has been good on Elkhart Lake and will likely get even better as the water cools some more. Anglers who have been row trolling with suckers on quick strike rigs were picking up fish. Remember to bring the fish to the boat as quickly as reasonably possible so as not to exhaust the fish. Practice good release techniques. There has not been much word on panfish action lately. A few anglers were picking up fish but, others are being quiet about their catches.
Waukesha County - Fishing was hit or miss this last week. One bright spot has been excellent catches of big bluegills still being caught on area lakes such as Pewaukee, Nagawicka and Lac Labelle. Best bites coming suspended over deep water on small jigs and waxies. Bass fishing has been slow, but anglers were still catching nice creels on Okauchee, North and Beaver lakes fishing after dark with surface baits and large spinner baits.
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SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
No reports.
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WEST CENTRAL REGION
Baldwin DNR Service Center area
St. Croix County
Willow River State Park - Hikers may see various people about cutting buckthorn along parts of the trail system. These environmental artists are gathering material for a coming art exhibit at the park in partnership with the Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson. A related exhibit will be in the galleries at the Phipps Center. Into/Out of Nature opens at both venues Friday, Sept. 15. A special event with tours of both venues is scheduled for Oct. 15. Weeknight camping availability has been good. Weekends will be full so reservations are needed. Campground water will be turned off the week of Oct. 2. Flush toilets and showers will be closed. Campers may dump but not rinse at the dump station. The Walk-Run Along the Willow is scheduled for this Saturday, Sept. 9 from 9 a.m. to noon. There will be 5K and 10K run events with prizes, a 1-mile walk on the Trout Brook Trail, children’s’ games and train rides. (715) 386-5931. Also on Saturday, Sept. 9 there will be a Full Moon Hike at the Nature Center. Ed Colosky from the Wild Birds Unlimited store will have a lecture about barred owls and blue jays, then there will be a walk. Meet at the Nature Center at 8 p.m. Call Wild Birds Unlimited at (715) 386-3131 for details.
La Crosse DNR Service Center area
The early goose hunt and the mourning dove hunt seem to be off to a little slower start than last year around La Crosse, although some hunters found quite a few. Blue-winged teal numbers are increasing. Prospects look good for the youth waterfowl hunt on Sept. 16 and 17. Some widgeon and wood ducks have migrated in also. Have you ever removed the bark from a dead branch or trunk of a dead tree and examined the inner layer or sapwood? You may notice it is ornamented with a network of smoothly cut burrows. The burrows are the work of small to medium-sized beetles, usually brown and sometimes black, with a blunt body. These beetles are known as engraver or bark beetles. Each species has its own distinctive burrow pattern. The initial burrow excavated by these beetles is known as an egg burrow. Most species make niches in the sides of the burrow that, since eggs are deposited in them, are called egg niches. When the larvae emerge, they feed on the bark, sapwood, or both, and fashion lateral tunnels, which often extend parallel in a more or less regular pattern. Shrews and many birds including woodpeckers, chickadees, and nuthatches eat bark beetles.
Crawford County - Normal temperatures and some rain entered the picture this week. The Mississippi River held steady and was holding around 6.5 feet. Boat operators must continue to use caution when traveling outside the Main Channel. Sand bars on the Wisconsin River and Mississippi River are in pretty good shape. The Kickapoo River is still pretty low and hard to navigate due to numerous trees and deadheads. All of the trout streams in the area are in pretty good shape considering the time of year. Recreational boating activity was very high last Saturday but the rest of the Labor Day Holiday weekend was slow due to poor weather conditions. Anglers should start to see recreational boat traffic diminish now that summer is winding down. Bluegill action was good again, with the best action on the Main Channel near wing dams or along steep shorelines in about 8 to 12 feet of water. Many “gill” anglers were targeting the Iowa shoreline along the steep drop off. Bluegill action picked up again this week at Cold Spring. Some very nice catches were taken. Anglers fishing at Cold Spring are reminded that these waters are considered inland Wisconsin waters, NOT boundary waters. Crappie fishing has been spotty but some have been found along weed beds and in the downed tree tops. Perch have been biting however you have to search them out. Some of the best perch action has been in the Lansing area. Walleye fishing has been generally slow. In Prairie du Chien area (Pool 10) some walleyes were being taken at the bottom end of the Roseau Slough and on some of the wing dams. The walleye and sauger action on the East Channel outside of Prairie du Chien was slow. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass action continued to be very good, with anglers finding active fish all over the Prairie du Chien area in Pool 10. In Pool 9 bass have been taken from Lynxville to Lansing. Most anglers are using plastics, crank baits, or spinner baits. Catfish, both Channel and Flathead were also biting on the river. Sheepshead were very active and are readily caught on a piece of night crawlers. Catfish were being caught on a variety of baits including cut bait, night crawlers and stink baits. Trout fishing appears to be pretty good yet; however, few anglers have been out due to the hot weather, vegetation growth and insects. Early signs of fall are starting to show up. Red-winged black birds are starting to flock up and a few raptors are being sighted soaring over head. Many late summer grasses and flowers are starting to show up. A few tree species are starting to “yellow up” a little bit. Cardinal flowers are in full bloom in the river bottoms. The early goose season opened on Sept. 1. Local hunters found some very good action in the fields along the Mississippi, Wisconsin, and Kickapoo Rivers. Some goose hunters set up on the river and were successful that way also. Mourning dove season also opened on Sept. 1, but participation appeared low. Those who hunted during the weekend found some great action around crop fields that have been harvested. The mourning dove population in the county is very strong.
Eau Claire DNR Service Center area
Brunet Island State Park - Fishing on the Cornell Flowage has been productive with walleye biting below the Holcombe dam, and northern pike and panfish also being taken. Catfish were being taken with leeches in both river channels. Canada geese and pileated woodpeckers have been heard or spotted recently. Hikers have many great opportunities within the park. Whether it’s using the island’s trail system, exploring the wilder areas of the park, or a brisk walk on the park road, you’re sure to enjoy these beautiful woodlands.
Wausau DNR Service Center area
Rib Mountain State Park - Fall is coming; the leaves are just in the beginning stages of change. Trails are in excellent condition. Trail surface can be rough at times due to rock. The campground is open to first come / first serve campers until the end of October. Plenty of deer can be seen while in the woods. Woodchucks and squirrels are also prevalent.
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/news/or/
