It appears that winter has finally arrived in Wisconsin, with colder temperatures and snow cover now reported across the entire state. Snow depths range from just an inch or two in the far northwest and in parts of west central Wisconsin, to a foot or more in the far north central part of the state. The southeastern and east central parts of the state have snow depths mostly ranging from 3 to 6 inches. In general there was not enough snow for most southern or central counties to open snowmobile trails. Most open trails are in the north central and northeast part of the state. Check the Department of Tourism Snow Conditions Report for counties with open trails. A few more state parks and forests were able to groom cross-country ski trails. Current conditions range from fair to good for skate skiing. Some parks have enough snow to set tracks for classical skiing, but other did not.
The cold snap helped thicken the ice cover on northern lakes and ice is forming again on southern lakes. The cold weather has finally created some ice on Lake Superior’s Chequamegon Bay. Inland Northwoods lakes have about 11 to 13 inches of ice, but conditions vary from lake to lake. Some vehicles have begun venturing out on a number of lakes but this is still not advised. The weight of a few vehicles in one area can create a dangerous situation. In the south, while ice is again forming on lakes, the recent snowfall is covering the ice and keeping it from forming ice quickly. A few anglers were still getting out by boat before the cold front arrived.
Northern pike and walleye have been providing action in many locations. Panfishing has been fair. The Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Iron County was producing panfish and walleye action. The walleye action has been sporadic with successful anglers finding walleye in 6 to 12 feet of water along deep weed edges, break lines or deeper mud flats.
Along Door County, Sawyer Harbor is icing over, but there is not enough ice yet for local anglers to set out their shanties. Along Lake Michigan, shore anglers have been catching a few brown trout on spawn and spoons. When trollers have been able to get out on the lake, they have been catching good numbers of chinooks and some browns near warm water discharges and in harbors. Ice is forming again on the upstream stretches Lake Michigan tributaries.
Mississippi River water levels dropped this week. The river stage at Prairie du Chien began around the 8 foot mark last week, but dropped all week and was at 6.9 feet Monday. Sauger and walleye anglers reported catching a few small sauger below the power plants and dams. Most of the Mississippi River’s backwater areas are starting to re-freeze, but they are still very dangerous and travel on the ice is not recommended.
Birding in Wisconsin so far this January has been more indicative of November or March with warm temperatures enticing many migrants to linger. Up until the latest cold front there were still tundra swans on the large water bodies statewide along with large numbers of geese and ducks. An annual midwinter waterfowl survey found extensive areas of open water in Barron and Polk counties with more than 9,400 Canada geese and about 200 trumpeter swans still in the area. Good numbers of raptors are being seen include bald eagles, harriers, short-eared owls, rough-legged hawks and American kestrels.
The 20th Bald Eagle Watching Days is at Sauk City and Prairie du Sac will be held this weekend, Jan. 20-21. Open water below the on the Wisconsin River dam is a customary winter gathering place for Bald Eagles, and bird counters sighted nearly 200 eagles roosting along this stretch of river earlier this winter. Events include guided eagle watching tours; a birds of prey show with live raptors, children’s activities; and other displays and events. A complete schedule of activities can be found on the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council Web site a link to which can be found on the DNR Web site
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
Birding in Wisconsin this January has been more indicative of birding in November or March with the warm temperatures and lingering migrants. Up until the latest cold front there were still tundra swans on the large water bodies statewide and large numbers of geese, ducks a great egret in Milwaukee, a black-crowned night heron in Neenah and a ruby-crowned kinglet in Door County. In addition, high numbers of small mammals southern and eastern Wisconsin coupled with a lack of snow has made for good raptor viewing at places like Horicon Marsh, Killsnake Wildlife Area, Goose Pond and other grassland/wetland areas. Raptors seen include harriers, short-eared owls, rough-legged hawks, American kestrels, etc. With the onset of colder weather and snow statewide, there should be an increase in feeder activity and birds using roadside habitats and other areas that make viewing a bit easier. Unusual birds seen during the past two weeks include a gyrfalcon in the Ashland area, continued sightings of a varied thrush in Washburn, snowy owls in Madison, Horicon, Ashland and Milwaukee, and a "new" slaty-backed gull in La Crosse and Pepin counties. For those wishing to see winter finches, it appears that northeastern Wisconsin is having a good year for crossbills with the other winter finches present in moderate numbers. Pine grosbeaks seem to be common across most of northern Wisconsin. As always people can view bird sightings online at
www.ebird.org (exit DNR) as well as report sightings from anywhere in the state.
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NORTHERN REGION
Superior DNR Service Center area
Brule River State Forest - Trail conditions remain poor at the Brule Afterhours Ski Trail. There is about an inch of snow on the ground as of Jan. 18. Some skiers are taking rock skis out on the trails. Some other skiers are going out to the lakes to ski since the conditions are a little smoother. Updated ski conditions can be found at [www.skinnyski.com]. Snow is expected Thursday, possibly 3 to 5 inches, and slight chances of snow is forecast though the weekend. The extended forecast calls for high temperatures in the mid teens to mid 20s. About 90 percent of Douglas County Snowmobile/Winter ATV trails are open now. Douglas County is waiting to open the rest of the trails when the stretches of trail with areas that are still wet or have springs finally freeze. The trails through the Brule River State Forest are open as well. With the mild temperatures and lack of snow the deer are doing very well. Normally deer would be browsing for food, but with the lack of snow they are still able to eat ground vegetation. If the weather remains mild there should be an excellent winter survival rate and an exceptional fawn crop in the spring. Because of the lack of snow, open land birds such as rough-legged hawks and red-tailed hawks are sticking around longer than normal. Usually this time of the year rodents are able to burrow under the snow forcing hawks to go to less snow cover for food. Not too many northern hawks and owls have not been sighted in the Brule area, as conditions such as snow cover and rodent populations have been ideal for them up in their normal northern areas.
Ashland DNR Service Center area
The cold weather has finally created some ice on Chequamegon Bay. The Ashland shoreline and areas off Second Landing have good ice as long as one does not venture out to far. The snowfall that was supposed to hit the Ashland area did not materialize so the ice conditions on the Big Lake are slick. If the cold weather holds as predicted, vehicles will once again be seen out on the ice. But use caution no matter how thick the ice may be. Anglers off Second Landing have been catching some perch and a walleye here and there. Prior to the cold weather anglers were open water fishing from shore off the Sioux River on Lake Superior and doing well on browns and coho. If the ice gets thicker south of Bayfield that action should continue for hard water anglers. Inland lakes have good ice in most locations. Panfishing has been fair, with northern pike bringing most of the action. The Eau Claire lakes area in Bayfield County has been producing some good walleye action. These lakes have special regulations so be sure to read the information posted at the landings. The Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Iron County was producing panfish and walleye action. Anglers should remember there is a combined bag limit of 10 fish in total for bluegill, crappie, yellow perch and pumpkinseed. Crappies also have a minimum length limit of 10 inches. Snowmobile conditions remain poor in most of the areas around Ashland. The recent snowfall was hit and miss in the Lake Superior areas. Superior, Brule, Iron River, and Ashland saw very little snowfall with only and inch or two on the ground. Hurley and a line down through Mellen received up to a foot or more of snow, which should improve snowmobile conditions. The snow was light and fluffy but was the first significant snowfall of the winter season. The lack of snow in most areas has allowed deer to move freely and there are still a good number of deer being struck by vehicles. Many of these are in areas that have deer feeders by a residence.
Copper Falls State Park - The park received 10 inches of snow on Monday. Cross-country ski trails are open and in good condition. Ice fishing has been good.
Cumberland DNR Service Center area
The annual midwinter waterfowl survey conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found extensive areas of open water due to the mild winter and large numbers of waterfowl using them. Results from an aerial survey found 3,785 Canada geese in Barron County and 5,690 geese in Polk County. Geese were concentrated on the major river systems, which are the Red Cedar and Chetek rivers in Barron County and the Apple and St. Croix rivers in Polk County. Large numbers of mallards were observed in Barron County and more than 200 trumpeter swans were seen in Polk County. Other wildlife are taking advantage of the mild winter as well. The winter severity index for deer has registered only 4 points so far, which is in the very mild range. Deer are moving freely and are able to feed in picked and unpicked cornfields. Unfortunately, these extensive deer movements are resulting in a large number of car kills on the major highways. Late season small game hunters have plenty of squirrels and rabbits to pursue. Squirrels are less active but still can generally be found in the morning and early afternoon. Some good cottontail rabbit hunting can be found in brushy woodlots, hedgerows, brush piles, and lowland swamps. With the high rabbit population, there are plenty of foxes, both red and gray. They are becoming increasingly active as breeding season approaches and can be hunted in some of the same areas you would hunt rabbits. Trapping pressure is high due to good fur prices and beaver in particular seem to be a favored species, as are muskrats. Low water levels have concentrated some of the aquatic furbearers and made them more vulnerable to trapping but because of their prolific nature, populations can easily bounce back.
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Colder temperatures are forecast for the Park Falls area with some moderation by the weekend. The cold nighttime temperatures have increased the thickness of the ice but conditions may vary from lake to lake so check conditions before you travel. Vehicles can be seen on a number of area lakes but be advised that the best ice is still just over 1 foot thick. The weight of a few vehicles in one area can create a dangerous situation. The fresh snow should allow access on area snowmobile trails and ski trails should be accessible as well. Fishing activity has increased as ice conditions improve. Success has slowed but some fish were being caught. Catches of northern pike, panfish and walleye have been reported. Fishing in the middle of the day has been productive during the cold conditions. Late afternoon toward evening has been more productive for walleye. Take advantage of the fresh snowfall to view animal tracks in and around your favorite outdoor area. Try to identify the animals from their tracks and determine the purpose of their travel.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - The recent cold snap helped thicken the ice cover and most lakes in the area now have about 11 to 13 inches of ice. The recent snowfall added 3 to 4 inches of powdery snow but that hasn't hindered travel at all. The thicker ice seemed to prod many people to begin driving their vehicles out onto many lakes but caution is still urged as there are still reports of small open-water areas around inlets, points and narrows. The walleye action has been sporadic with the change to colder weather but some anglers were still making good catches of fish. The successful anglers were finding walleye in 6 to 12 feet of water and along deep weed edges, break lines or deeper mud flats. The fish seemed to prefer sucker minnows and bit best in the hour before dark. With the cold and recent snow cover, northern pike activity seems to have subsided and few reports of success have come in. Panfish anglers have also been taking a break in the past week, with just a few reports of some fair perch action coming in. Trout success on Patterson, Twin and Spruces lakes continues to be good. This is typically the coldest week of the year and average daily temperatures should start rising from here on out through the rest of the winter.
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Trail conditions for both skiing and snowmobiling have improved a bit with the recent snowfall. However the snow that did arrive was minimal and very light in moisture content. Although the forecast is for minimal snow this week, any will help improve the current status. Snowmobile trails close to heavy use areas around towns are showing signs of wear. Ski trails are fairing better but are icy in the corners. Area anglers are reporting improved action on walleye in and around weed beds. Lake ice conditions vary greatly so continue to pay attention and exercise caution before venturing out onto area lakes. The recent cold temperatures have aided greatly in ice development.
Northern Highland American Legion State Forest – The forest receive about 3 inches of fluffy dry snow Monday that fell on top of a thin icy base. Crews tried to track some trails after the snowfall, but conditions were only marginal. There are ice patches under the snow, which make the trail very slippery. There were a few icy places where the snowmobile could not get enough traction to pull the groomer.
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NORTHEAST REGION
Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
Marinette County - Ice is forming on area waters adding to the pleasure of ice anglers. Nice panfish catches were reported from lakes in the Twin Bridge area. A snowmobile recently went through the ice on the Peshtigo Flowage above the first dam. Extreme caution should be taken when traveling on any ice especially river ice and lakes with springs, outlets and inlets. The Peshtigo River State Park will be holding its annual Candlelight Ski & Hike on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Spring Rapids Trailhead. The trail is located 5 miles west of Crivitz off CTH W onto Kirby Lake Lane. There will be two miles of groomed ski trail and one mile candlelit for hikers. A warming fire will be provided and hot chocolate for refreshment.
Oconto County - Some southern birds are still in the area such as kestrel and red-tailed hawks. With the bay finally freezing up the swans have moved on. The usual November migration of southern species was delayed due to the mild weather. Waterfowl are still present where there are open waterways. Deer also are not confined due to the limited snowfall and past mild weather and are observed in the same habitats that would be expected for fall. Turkeys also have had an easy time of it so far being able to feed off agricultural fields up until the snow cover.
Shawano County - Bluegills and crappies have been biting on some of the area lakes. Shawano Lake action is starting to pick up with some reports of average bluegill catch. Anglers should still use caution on ice at all times. Several hunter education classes will be offered in February. A Bowhunter and a Basic Hunter Education course will be offered at the Shawano Community Middle School beginning on Feb. 6 through March 22. The classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. and pre-registration is required by calling the instructor at (715) 526-6447. Bonduel Community School will also host a Hunter Education Course with a start date of Feb. 6 ending on April 7, with classes on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. Pre-register by calling the instructor at (715) 758-2354.
Green Bay DNR Service Center area
Manitowoc County
Point Beach State Forest – The forest received 8 inches of snow on Jan. 15. Cross-country ski trails are groomed and in good condition. Point Beach State Forest offers 11 miles of classical and 3.5 miles of groomed skate skiing. The Ridges Trail is groomed for classical skiing and traverses through a heavily forested stand of pine and hemlock. The Red Pine Trail is groomed for both classical and skate skiing and runs through pine plantations and hardwood forest. Expect conditions for the Jan. 20 weekend to remain good.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Peninsula State Park - As of Jan. 16, snow cover was about 4 inches. Crews were rolling/packing ski trails, but an additional 4 inches of snow will be needed to make conditions adequate for skiing. Ski trails are not groomed to normal standards, though some skiers are using the trails anyway. A trail pass is required for skiing on Peninsula's trails, when conditions are "good" or better. The sledding hill remains closed until additional snow falls.
Potawatomi State Park - About 5 inches of snow fell on Jan. 15, but the wind distributed it unevenly. Volunteer ski trail groomers rolled the trails. Conditions are fair for skate skiing. Not enough snow fell to set tracks for traditional skiers. Sawyer Harbor is icing over, but there is not enough ice yet for local anglers to set out their shanties.
Whitefish Dunes State Park - It actually looks like winter! The park received 5 inches of snow Sunday night and through the day Monday. All the ski trails in the park have been rolled with the exception of the Green segment. Conditions are skiable, but barely. Don't bring out your new skis - they might suffer. There is a bit of snow in the forecast for later in the week, and with temps on the cool side, things should stay white for awhile. The Black Trail and the beach are open for hiking and snowshoeing. A candlelight event will be 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27. The park will need at least 6 more inches of snow for it to be a ski -- lacking enough snow cover it will be a hike. Whether ski or hike, the cookies and cocoa in the shelter always hit the spot after being out.
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SOUTHEAST REGION
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan, there is some ice again on the upstream stretches of the Sheboygan River. When Sheboygan trollers have been able to get out on the lake, they have been catching good numbers of chinooks south of the harbor in 30 to 40 feet of water. Browns have also been caught near the power plant.
Ozaukee County - In Port Washington shore anglers have been catching a few browns on spawn and spoons.
Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee, shore fishing at the lakefront has been spotty for browns and steelhead both by the Summerfest grounds and at Jones Island. Boaters out of Milwaukee have been finding good numbers of browns in the harbor.
Racine County - In Racine, flows on the Root River are relatively low, but browns and steelhead remain in the upper end of Colonial Park as well as Quarry Park. Bright egg pattern flies or black wooley buggers and egg sucking leeches have proven effective for the browns. Spawn sacs have worked well for catching steelhead.
Kenosha County - In Kenosha, most action has been in the small boat harbor, where browns and a few steelhead have been taken on spoons and spawn.
Area anglers are anxiously awaiting the beginning of the ice fishing season.
Inland fisheries team report
Walworth and inland Racine and Kenosha counties - The few anglers getting out by boat were catching some walleyes and northern pike on Delavan Lake. Some water that was ice-free last week should have ice later on this week, giving eager anglers a chance to get out.
Washington, eastern Fond du Lac, and inland Sheboygan counties - Ice is again forming on area lakes. However, the recent snowfall is covering the ice and keeping it from forming ice quickly. The more shallow lakes are likely to freeze well first, followed by the deeper lakes. Be especially careful of areas being kept open by geese. Also, take every precaution possible before venturing out on the ice. Ice picks, life preservers, ropes and other equipment are recommended.
Waukesha County - Cold weather this week will probably make ice on some smaller lakes and protected bays of some larger lakes. Caution is stressed, however, since this early ice may not be safe. A few anglers have been out in boats fishing, with mixed results. Most are anxious to get out with tip-ups and jig poles.
Kettle Moraine State Forest, Southern Unit - As of Jan. 17, with colder temperatures and a little snow the ski trails are open. The forest received about 3 to 5 inches of snow on Sunday to Monday. All three trail systems have been groomed. Scuppernong Trail has been tracked with a shallow track, but is in fair to good condition with some bare spots. The McMiller trail has been groomed for skating, but there was not enough snow to set track. The Nordic Trail is groomed for skate and classic skiing. Skating lanes are in good to very good condition. Classic tracks have been set and range from poor to god condition. With the colder temperatures the bike trails are also opened. For the current conditions please call the hotline number at (262) 594-6202.
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SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Dodgeville DNR Service Center area
Grant County - Warm weather has continued to delay ice fishing conditions. Several sauger and walleye anglers had reported catching a few small sauger below the upper power plant in Cassville near the main channel. For eagle watchers, many eagles have been fishing below the Dubuque lock and Dam #11 and have provided excellent viewing opportunities from O'Leary Lake Park off of Eagle Point Road on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River.
Horicon DNR Service Center area
Dodge County - The Dodge County ATV Trail on the Wild Goose State Trail from Hwy. 60 to Hwy. 49 in Dodge County was open as of Jan. 15. Temperatures were forecast to remain below freezing for several days and the trail will remain open as long as the trail surface remains frozen and not subject to damage from riding. Despite the recent snowfall, the Dodge County snowmobile trails remain closed. Snow cover on the trails remains insufficient due to the low snowfall totals combined with blowing and drifting conditions. Updates to the Trail Status can be heard on the trail status line at (920) 386-3705 (24 hours/day). The trail status line should be checked prior to riding the trail. Also the Dodge County Trails website [www.dodgeparks.com] will carry updated trail conditions during the week.
Fitchburg DNR Service Center area
Jefferson County - Approximately 4 inches of fresh snow fell recently but not enough to open the snowmobile trails in Jefferson County due to unfrozen ground and inconsistent snow depths because of drifting. The Wild Goose trail in Dodge County is open to ATV travel but not snowmobiles due to the lack of snow. A few walleye were still being caught on the Rock River in Hustisford; however, most were under the legal size limit. Jigs with a minnow and twistertails were the preferred bait. Rabbit, fox and coyote hunters have been having good success with some snow and are out in force due to the lack of ice for ice fishing.
Dane County
Lake Kegonsa State Park - All ski trails are open to skiing and closed to pets and hikers. The park received about 4 to 4.5 inches of snow on Tuesday. Ski trails were groomed Wednesda, but due to the small amount of snow they may be patchy in some areas.
Sauk County
Devil’s Lake State Park - The park received 4 inches of snow on Jan. 15, so ski trails are finally open, though not groomed or tracked. Up until now, hikers have been enjoying unusual late season walks due to the lack of snow. The lake is still not completely frozen over. The existing ice has formed only recently, so extreme caution must be used if you even consider venturing on the lake’s ice surface. The park does not monitor the thickness or vouch for the safety of the lake ice. It can vary from day to day and from place to place. A lone swan has been lingering into January down by the south shore boat landing. For a several days in December, it had an odd paddling companion – a large white domestic goose!
Mirror Lake State Park – The park received approximately 3.5 inches of snow on Jan. 15 for skiing, not enough to groom. There is snow in the forecast for this week and early next week. The bike trails are closed until May 1, 2007. The Mirror Lake Fisharee will be held Sunday, Jan. 21, sponsored by the Delton Sportsman Club.
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WEST CENTRAL REGION
La Crosse DNR Service Center area
Mid-January generally announces the onset of coyote and red fox breeding cycles. These two members of the dog family have one annual estrus cycle and breed between January and March. Cold, crisp winter nights afford opportunities to listen for the raspy barks of red fox or the high pitched yipping of coyotes. Red foxes generally avoid raising pups in areas where coyotes have established territories.
Mississippi River - Look for bald eagles wherever there are patches of open water along the Mississippi. Eagles will be waiting for dead and dying gizzard shad to show up. Now that the area has snow, it is a good time to look for signs of wildlife, such as wing prints in the snow indicating where an owl has swooped down to grab a rabbit, mouse or other critter.
Crawford County - Snow fell at the end of the week. Around 4 inches fell. Snowmobile trails remain closed. The Mississippi River water level dropped this week. The river stage began around the 8 foot mark last week steadily dropped all week. The Mississippi River stage was at 6.9 feet Monday. Most of the Mississippi River’s backwater areas are starting to re-freeze. Most areas are very dangerous and travel on the ice is not recommended. Areas like Cold Spring, Spring Lake and the Ambro Slough Complex all have ice, but are dangerous right now. Sturgeon Slough near Prairie du Chien still has some ice. The Main Channel and East Channel are started to freeze up this week also. Most of the backwater areas along the Wisconsin River are starting to form ice, but again conditions are dangerous. What little ice there is should be considered extremely dangerous. Even though colder night time temperatures are starting to show up, it will take some long periods of cold weather to make safe ice conditions. There has been very little ice fishing action in the area due to poor ice. Some limited ice fishing is happening on Sturgeon Slough. Action there slowed a lot. Bluegill action at Cold Spring was slow. Some have ventured out onto the ice on the south end of the south pond. Bluegill action in the Ferryville/Lansing area was slow due to the ice conditions. There have been a few bluegill anglers that utilized air boats or hover craft to access some back water areas. Those anglers have had fair success. Walleye and sauger fishing wasn’t bad this week but the colder weather hampered fishing outings. Fishing below the dam at Lynxville produced a few walleyes and sauger this week. The boat ramp at Gordon’s Bay was open late in the week but might start icing up if the temperatures continue to hold under the freezing mark. Anglers were finding some active fish below the dam at near/in McDonald’s slough early in the week. The deep hole outside of Prairie du Chien in the East Channel had been very good but now ice is causing problems in that area. Bald Eagles can bee seen throughout the county. They are venturing further inland. Eagles can be seen throughout the county along stream beds and along open fields. The snowfall should provide ideal rabbit and coyote hunting in the area. Rabbit hunters report fair to good numbers of rabbits in the area. Coyote numbers are strong.
Buffalo River State Trail - Some snow fell Sunday night but not enough to groom. The trail is open to ATVs all year.
Great River State Trail - Some snow fell Sunday night but not enough to groom the trail.
Merrick State Park - Fishing has been very slow. The campground is closed for the season.
Perrot State Park - Some snow fell Sunday night but not enough to groom trails. Fishing has been slow.
Wildcat Mountain State Park – The park received about 4 to 5 inches of dry snow. Ski trails have been packed but track has not been set due to thin cover. The family campground is open year round but the shower building in the family camp is closed. The Horse camp and Group camp are closed. The camping is on a first-come, first-served basis through April.
Eau Claire DNR Service Center area
Brunet Island State Park – As of Jan. 14, Brunet Island State Park had yet to receive any skiable snow this season. 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. Ice fishing on the Brunet Island State Park north campground lagoons is in full swing with panfish and a few northern being taken. Perch Lake on Hwy. CC has been showing good panfish action. Please remember that the park staff does not monitor ice conditions. The Brunet Island State Park south campground is open year round with electric sites, hand water pump, and pit toilets available.
Wausau DNR Service Center area
Rib Mountain State Park - Trails are in good condition for snowshoeing. The campground is closed for the winter. Plenty of deer can be seen while in the woods along with other winter wildlife. Recent snow has made for beautiful view while on the trails. Granite Peak Ski Area is open for downhill skiing, please call Granite Peak at 715-845-2846 for details. There will be candlelight snowshoe hikes on Jan. 20 and Feb 10 from 6 to 8 p.m., sponsored by the Friends of Rib Mountain State Park. Bonfire, cider and goodies will be available. Cross-country skiing is not allowed on the trails at Rib Mountain, but cross-country trails are available at the near by 9-mile County Recreation Area.
Last Revised: Thursday January 18 2007
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