Last weekend’s snowfalls added up to a foot to foot and a half of snow across Wisconsin, greatly improving winter recreation conditions and allowing some areas to open snowmobile trails for the first time this winter. Trails throughout southern Wisconsin were receiving heavy use, which combined with warmer temperatures has already resulted in some trail closures. Cross-country ski trails are generally being reported as good to excellent across Wisconsin, offering Nordic skiers also some of the best conditions of the year. Check the Wisconsin Department of Tourism Snow Conditions Report or call ahead to destinations for current conditions.
Despite the heavy snow, lake access has remained fairly good, although blowing and drifting snow has caused some difficulty in vehicle travel. The variable weather conditions made for another erratic week of fishing in the north. Panfish success continued to be the most consistent, with some very nice crappie and perch caught. Walleye fishing continued to be erratic and northern pike action was only fair. Low oxygen levels are starting to show up on shallow and weedy lakes. In the south, bluegills were biting on jigs and waxies on most lakes in 10 to 15 feet of water. Action for northern pike was very good on many lakes, and some walleyes were biting as well.
Along Green Bay, northern pike were being caught at Sturgeon Bay and catches of 8- to 10-inch yellow perch were reported at Sawyer Harbor and Little Sturgeon Bay, where whitefish were also being caught. People venturing out on Lake Michigan harbor or tributary ice should be very careful as warm weather and some rain in the forecast will cause ice conditions to deteriorate rapidly. In Port Washington, open water shore anglers have been catching fair numbers of brown trout and some browns were also reported by shore anglers fishing the open water in the Menomonee River in Milwaukee. The Mississippi River was on the rise due to snow and rain run-off. As of Feb. 26 the river stage at Prairie du Chien was 7.63 feet and rising. Ice fishing action was slower this week especially at the end of the week when the storm blew in.
The inland game fish season closes March 4 on most waters of Wisconsin. The panfish seasons remain open year-round as does the season for certain game fish on select lakes and river. Waters that remain open all year are listed in the Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations and on the Department of Natural Resources Web site. Ice shanties must be removed by March 5 south of Highway 64 and March 15 north of Highway 64. Portable shanties may continue to be used but must be removed when not occupied.
The inland catch and release trout season opens at 5 a.m. Saturday March 3. Anglers may only use artificial lures and barbless hooks. Check the regulations for open streams that are open. Recent stream surveys found good trout numbers and a large size structure in many streams. With recent snowfall, snowmelt and rainfall may result in murky water, which may make it harder for trout to see the lures, and runoff may carry soil and worms into the stream, making a meal that the trout prefer over artificial lures.
Most bucks have dropped their antlers so shed hunters will be out in force once the snow melts. Robin numbers are starting to build; a turkey vulture was reported in Crawford County; mourning doves are beginning to sing; and Canada geese are pairing up and staking out (frozen) nesting territories.
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.
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Statewide birding report
Heavy snows and winds made birding conditions challenging over the weekend. Despite the snow, multiple observers have reported some evidence of spring migration. Robin numbers are starting to build; a turkey vulture was reported in Crawford County; mourning doves are beginning to sing; and Canada geese are pairing up and staking out (frozen) nesting territories. Gull enthusiasts are able to view four to six species in areas along Lake Michigan and within the Winnebago chain of lakes. The great-tailed grackle persists near Horicon, the slaty-backed gull has re-appeared with other gulls in Menasha, snowy and short-eared owls are being seen in multiple locations in east-central Wisconsin, and the varied thrush is still lingering in Dunbar. As always please report bird sightings on ebird (
www.ebird.org) and take some time to view others' sightings on that site as well.
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NORTHERN REGION
Superior DNR Service Center area
Brule River State Forest - With the 11 inches of snow received last Sunday and Monday the Afterhours Ski Trails are at very good to excellent condition. The trails were groomed Feb. 27. The trail base is 2-5 inches. Another big weather system is expected with as much or more snow possible. With nature’s stormy help, best-ever conditions are set for Saturday March 3’s twelfth annual River View Loppet Cross-Country Ski Races at the After Hours Ski Trail, Brule. There will be 12-K classic and 12- and 24-K freestyle races in seven divisions for skiers ages 18 and under through 70 and over, as well as a free 4-K race for youngsters 13 and under. All races feature interval starts. Race-day registration is from 7:30 until 9 a.m. at the Brule Town Hall, which is two blocks north of Highway 2 on Maple St. Starts begin promptly at 10 a.m., so skiers need to be at the trailhead and ready to race by 9:40 a.m. The trailhead is on After Hours Road, just west of where Hwy. 2 crosses the Brule River. The fee for entering an adult race is $35. Participants need not purchase trail passes. Awards will be presented at an after-race lunch, which will begin at 1 p.m. at the town hall. The Brule Valley Ski Club, the Brule Lions Club, and the Brule River State Forest (BRSF) organize the races and lunch in order to raise funds for projects that benefit the Brule community and the After Hours Trail, which is part the BRSF.
Pattison State Park - The park received its first big snow of the year. As of Feb. 27, there was 9 inches of snow on the ground. The cross-country ski trail was groomed on Feb. 26 and was in good shape. The campground remains open to camping, with site #34E plowed.
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Substantial snow fell in the area and should finally allow snowmobile enthusiasts the opportunity to ride comfortably on the trails. Skiers should also welcome the improved conditions. Ice fishermen might find travel on the lakes a bit more difficult and with the warmer temperatures some slush will begin to form where heavier snow amounts occur due to drifting. Several fishing contests took place over the past weekend with participants enjoying their time out on area lakes though high winds limited some activity. Success rates varied with overall catch rates fair. Warmer temperatures are forecast but additional snow is also expected before the weekend. Game Fish season closes March 4 so many fishermen will be attempting to catch a few walleyes this weekend before the close. Ice conditions are good and slush is at a minimum however, with the sun’s increasing intensity and additional snowfall, slush will form on the lakes. Owners of ice shanties should begin preparations for removal and not let additional snow and slush form around the base of their shanty. The removal date is March 18 for lakes north of Highway 64. Inland trout catch and release season using artificial lures opens March 3, check the regulations for open streams in the area where you fish.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - The recent snowfalls have added 8 to 10 inches of fresh snow cover to the lakes and access has remained generally good. Blowing and drifting snow has caused some difficulty in vehicle travel, but with 20 to 22 inches of solid ice, 'slush' has still not been reported to be a problem. Anglers are reminded that the game fish harvest season closes at the end of the day on Sunday, March 4. The variable weather conditions made for another erratic week of fishing in the Northwoods. Panfish success has continued to be the most consistent with many anglers reporting slow but steady action. No limits but anglers were getting a meal or two from each trip. Light line and finesse tactics have been the most successful and some very nice crappie and perch have been caught. Walleye fishing continued to be erratic with some days resulting in two or three fish and other days finding bites hard to come by. With the Statewide shortage of sucker minnows, anglers have had to switch to shiners and mud minnows and hasn't seemed to matter on days when the fish are biting. The best success continues to come in the low-light periods and near break lines in 8 to 12 feet of water. Northern pike action could only be termed fair as the recent snow cover seems to have slowed up pike activity. On many pike lakes in the north, anglers have had to move their baits up a couple feet off the bottom. This is to get above the low oxygen levels that are starting to show up on these generally shallow and weedy lakes.
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Snow has fallen in the area in recent days putting the snowmobile and cross-country ski trails in the very good to excellent categories. Unfortunately we continue to experience numerous snowmobile accidents in the area. The two most common factors in snowmobile accidents are speed and alcohol; they simply don’t mix. If you choose to drink while on your trip, save it for after the ride. Walleye action is improving with most fish relating to shallow water weed edges. Perch continue to provide good action in the shallow water weeds. Crappie and bluegill reports are not real positive at this time. The game-fish season is winding down with the closure March 4, 2007. Anglers are reminded that ice shanties must be removed by March 15th north of 64. Portable shanties may continue to be used but must be removed when not occupied. Please remember to exercise caution if you are planning on driving out onto the lakes with any type of vehicle. As we have mentioned before, ice conditions are not always consistent on individual lakes, as well as in areas on the lakes. Lakes should be assessed for safety before driving out. Parents: Although summer is down the road a bit, it is not too early to start thinking about boater safety classes for your kids. Boater safety certification is required for children ages 12-15 that have permission from their parents to operate a boat by themselves. Children ages 12-15 also need this certification in order to operate a personal watercraft (PWC) such as a Jet Ski or wave runner. Any person, adult and children alike, who is interested in brushing up on the “rules of the road” on water or who wishes to improve their safety knowledge is encouraged to take the course. Did you also know that some insurance companies might provide discounts for graduates of these safety courses? Check with your local agent. If you are interested in finding out when the next available course will be held in your area, you can access this information on the Internet by going to the following site:
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/es/enforcement/safety/boated.htm. Boat registration renewal notices are being mailed out now from Madison so be on the lookout and make renewals now so that you don’t have to deal with registration right before you want to use your boat. A further reminder with reference to hunting and fishing licenses: Current licenses expire on March 3. 2007 with new licenses going on sale beginning March 10. Conservation Patrons will not receive reminder notices to renew their licenses.
Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest – There was about a foot of snow on the ground as of Feb. 28. All forest cross-country ski trails have been groomed. The McNaughton trail skaters loop was leveled and rolled. All other loops leveled and tracked and are in very good condition. All Madeline trail loops were leveled and tracked and were in very good condition. On the Raven trail, the red and yellow loops were packed and all other loops leveled and tracked and are in good to very good condition. All Escanaba trail loops were packed and tracked and were in good condition.
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NORTHEAST REGION
Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
Marinette County - With more snow on the way, snowmobilers are renewing sled registrations in a flurry. Deep snow will keep the turkey flocks in confined areas until snowmelt. Inland lakes are snow covered with fishermen waiting for roads to get plowed on the lakes while snowmobiles will have great access. Ice shanty removal is drawing near and fishermen should start planning how they will move them. Caution should be used when traveling on any frozen waters especially with snow cover.
Oconto County - Fishing on the inland lakes had started to pick up prior to the snow storm but travel on the lakes is now becoming a little difficult unless you are on a beaten path. Reports of bluegills and crappies being the most active with northerns still hitting medium to large shiners on tip-ups. Because of the ‘Gator Fest’ more effort was placed on catching northern pike along the west shore of Green Bay from Little River to Oconto. However, success was slow with only a few 30 inch fish being caught.Most snowmobile trails in the county are now open and being groomed. They should be in excellent condition by the weekend. For more information on trail openings and closures go to the Oconto County Snowmobile Trails Web site at:
http://www.snowtracks.com/wisconsin/oconto.htm . The south of Hwy 64 deadline for ice shanties to come off the ice is on March 4 - North of Hwy 64 is on March 18. People should try to get a head start removing them because of snow conditions-- many will need a plow just to get to their shacks right now, more snow is on the way.
Shawano County - All trout streams that would be open for the early catch-and -release season are iced over and unfishable. A slight warm spell would open some of the rivers down in Waupaca County but Shawano County is definitely a ways off. Walleye action has been good on Shawano but this will be closing down in the next couple days. Snowmobile trails are in excellent condition.
Green Bay DNR Service Center area
Manitowoc County
Point Beach State Forest - As of Feb. 28, cross-country ski trails were groomed. The skate and traditional skiing lanes on the WEST side of Hwy. O were in good condition. The traditional trails on the EAST side of Hwy. O were only in fair condition due to having to clear a great deal of broken limbs and other debris off of the trails after Sunday's snow storm. Please call the forest headquarters at (920) 794-7480 for an update of the weekend conditions since another storm is predicted for Thursday.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Door County - Rumors of successful catches of northern pike in Sturgeon Bay increased the fishing pressure for this fish, but the success later decreased. Few more catches of 8-10 inches yellow perch were taken near the opening of Sawyer Harbor and also near Squaw Island in Little Sturgeon Bay. But still many smaller sizes were caught and released. Whitefish were being caught near the opening of Little Sturgeon Bay. At the Stone Quarry, one fisherman caught 280 smelt.
Peninsula State Park – Snow cover was approximately 14 inches as of Feb. 28. Cross-country ski trails are groomed and tracked and in very good condition. The sledding hill is open. Snowmobile trails are open and groomed. The main road through the park is open and plowed. Other roads are left unplowed and used as snowmobile trails. Water levels in Green Bay are still very low. The Bay is now frozen, but conditions can be very unpredictable. Use extreme caution if you decide to venture onto the ice.
Potawatomi State Park - The park received about 20 inches of wet, heavy snow earlier this week. That means the park's snowmobile trails are open for the first time this season! The volunteer ski trail groomers worked during and after the storm, so skate and stride skiers are enjoying the most snow we've seen in a long time. The snow covered evergreen trees are spectacular. Watch for changing conditions because more wet snow with a chance of freezing rain is predicted over the next few days.
Whitefish Dunes State Park – The park received a 20-inch snowfall last weekend. By Monday afternoon roads and parking lots were plowed and by Tuesday afternoon ski trails were packed and tracked. All ski trails were in excellent condition and the black trail and beach ares ready for snowshoers and hikers to enjoy. Turkeys and deer have been seen using the ski trails to move about. The ice bluffs have decreased in size due to the warmer weather but are still present.
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SOUTHEAST REGION
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Be very careful when venturing out on harbor or tributary ice. With warm weather and some rain in the forecast for this week, ice conditions will deteriorate rapidly.
Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan, anglers fishing through the ice in the Sheboygan harbor have been having only limited success.
Ozaukee County - In Port Washington, open water shore anglers have been catching fair numbers of browns in the harbor. Spoons and spawn sacs have been effective.
Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee, some browns have been reported by shore anglers fishing the open water in the Menomonee River near the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District offices. There is also open water under the Hoan bridge. Anglers have been fishing through the ice in McKinley and South Shore Marinas, but fishing has been slow.
Racine County - On the Root River in Racine, there is fishable open water below the Horlick dam and into Quarry Park, as well as some other fast moving stretches further downstream.
Kenosha County - In Kenosha ice anglers have been working the Small Boat Harbor as well as Southport Marina, but only a few browns have been caught on occasion.
Inland fisheries team report
Recent snowfalls have made travel more difficult on area lakes. Anglers have been experiencing some success. Sunday, March 4 is the last day of the game fish season.
Walworth and inland Racine and Kenosha counties - Bluegills are biting on jigs and waxies on most area lakes. Best fishing in is 10 to 15 feet of water. Lakes Geneva and Elizabeth are producing bluegills between 8 and 9 inches. Crappie fishing has picked up, especially on lake Geneva and Silver Lake (Kenosha County). Small shiners are working best. Fast action for northern pike can be found on Browns, Paddock, and Silver (Kenosha County) Lakes. Lake Geneva is also producing northern pike. Larger shiners in 10 to 15 feet of water work well. Walleyes are biting on Silver Lake in Kenosha County.
Washington, eastern Fond du Lac, and inland Sheboygan counties - The heavy snow falls this past weekend pretty much stopped people from fishing area lakes. Travel on lakes will be difficult at best as thawing snow creates a layer of slush underneath the snow. Fishing conditions should improve as spring approaches so, don't give up on the action that is coming over the next few weeks. Thawing conditions should help open some of the trout streams for the early season. The Onion River south of Plymouth is the best bet for early season action in this area.
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SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Horicon DNR Service Center area
Dodge County - All Dodge County snowmobile trails, except connector trail segment corridor 13/36 running from Hubbleton in Jefferson County to Marshall in Dane County closed at noon Feb. 27. Although a few sections still have good trail conditions, the warmer temperatures and heavy trail use has created bare and muddy areas in several sections of the county requiring shut down. The 13/36 corridor is in good condition and will remain open for access to Jefferson and Dane county trails as long as those trails remain open or until trail conditions on the section deteriorate. Predicted warmer temperatures with forecasted rain will further worsen trail conditions over the next day or two. The ATV Trail on the Wild Goose Trail also closed noon Tuesday.
Fitchburg DNR Service Center area
Dane County – Ice anglers continued to find perch and bluegills on Lake Waubesa off of Lake Farm Park. Lake Mendota anglers were finding a few bluegills at University Bay and off of the lakeshore dorms. Trout fishers venturing out for the March 3 early catch and release trout season may find some difficult fishing conditions with deep snow drifts in areas and quite a bit of run off anticipated, depending on amount of rainfall received. Dane County snowmobile trails remain open and are in good condition. A fresh snowfall of about 15 inches was received last weekend and more is expected this week, with some rain mixed in. Despite all of the snow, songbirds have been actively singing in the morning, especially cardinals. Flocks of robins have been observed. Turkeys, deer, and geese are staying pretty close to picked corn and soybean fields and are able to find food there. Most bucks have dropped their antlers so shed hunters will be out in force once the snow melts.
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WEST CENTRAL REGION
Baldwin DNR Service Center area
Willow River State Park - As of Feb. 27, cross-country ski trails were open for skiing and closed to hiking and pets. Hikers may use the park road and the Multiple use trails listed on the Winter Trails map available at the park office. Hikers and pets may go to Willow Falls from the parking lots on Highway A and the one on River Road. Ski trails were groomed and mostly tracked early this week. Overall conditions were excellent as of Tuesday. The prairie area trails did not hold much snow. Good skis may be used on the Green, Brown, Red, and Blue trails. The Yellow and Orange are thin and there is not much classic track on those. The Orange won’t take much sun to burn off on the prairie. The Purple has some thin areas also. Rock skis or the “B” pair would be the choice on the Orange, Purple, and Yellow. The classic track was good early but slowing down as the temperature came up. This is the best February-early March skiing conditions the park has seen in some years, with the promise of more snow. On Saturday, March 3 there will be a Full Moon Hike and bird lecture at the Nature Center beginning at 7 p.m. The event is free but a park sticker is required on your vehicle. The hike will probably be on the Hidden Ponds trail right behind the Nature Center. The Willow River looks good for the catch and release trout season. It was running at normal flow and clarity today.
La Crosse DNR Service Center area
Heavy snowfalls this past weekend will hinder the movements and feeding patterns of many animals. It is difficult for animals such as raccoons, skunks, deer, fox, rabbits, and wild turkeys to move through deep snow or to find their food sources that are now buried under immense blankets of snow. Expect these types of animals to travel along established pathways, such as roads where snow accumulations are less, leeward areas, and windswept ridge tops, and to limit their travel until conditions improve. Fortunately, most animals still have enough body fat reserves to survive the temporary deep snow conditions. Motorist should remain alert for animals that may be utilizing roadways as travel corridors. People who have been feeding birds should be especially diligent in keeping food present now, since birds may have become dependent on provided meals. People should also watch carefully for the start of disease outbreaks, particularly salmonella, at bird feeders.
Crawford County - Snowmobile trail conditions have yet to be reported. For current information contact the local warden for updates. The Mississippi River stayed fairly steady for most of the week, but by Sunday it was on the rise. As of Monday the river stage was at 7.63 feet and rising. Heavy snow, some rain and run-off are causing the rise. After receiving around 12 inches of wet snow, more snow is expected this week. Ice conditions in the Prairie du Chien area and throughout the county continue to be good however heavy snow and wind is causing problems. Generally ice thickness ranges from about 5 inches to around 14 inches. Caution is advised due to deep snow, increased current, rising water, and warmer temperatures. Most areas are starting to see water along the shorelines making access tricky. The Ambro Slough is frozen and anglers are crossing over it to Mud Slough from the DNR boat landing. Some have gone further and crossed the Black Slough to get to Tilmont Lake. Some anglers are working their way up the Ambro from the USFWS landing to Fish Lake, the Upper and Lower Doubles and Big and Little Missouri. Ice conditions in this area are generally good, but there is current running through the Ambro and Black Sloughs so caution is urged. Also, just above the USFWS landing a small creek enters the Ambro Slough so be careful there. Ice is covering Gremore Lake and anglers are accessing it from the DNR boat landing off the Ambro and off CTH K. Sturgeon Slough has good ice and anglers are getting to it from the parking area off STH 18. Anglers are also walking to Sturgeon (McGregor/Horseshoe) Lake. Spring Lake is being accessed off STH 35. The Main Channel and East Channels on the Mississippi River are frozen over. Cold Spring north of Lynxville still has some open water near the boat landing, however a lot of anglers were fishing through the ice on the south pond at Cold Spring. Access has mainly been via the parking area off STH 35. Stay away from the boat landing and channel as you will find open water or very poor ice conditions. Most of the backwater areas along the Wisconsin River have ice but increasing water levels are causing some problems. Ice fishing action was slower this week especially at the end of the week when the storm blew in. Sturgeon Slough continues to be very slow. A few anglers have ventured into McGregor Lake (also known as Horseshoe or Sturgeon Lake) but didn’t do very well. Garnet Lake was slow and access there is tricky. Mud Slough was slow as was Tilmont Lake. Gremore Lake continues to be slow. Anglers venturing up to Big and Little Missouri and the “Doubles” were doing fair on decent bluegills and crappie. Bluegill action at Cold Spring was real spotty, but some decent catches were being taken from shore (open water fishing) and through the ice. DNR fisheries biologists noticed very low oxygen levels on the north pond and in the southern tip of the south pond. Anglers probably shouldn’t fish there as because there won’t be any (fish). Bluegill action on the backwaters of the Wisconsin was pretty good during the week. Anglers have been venturing out on the ice below dam at Lynxville, however that pretty much ended with the snow. Only hovercrafts were venturing out late in the week. Ice conditions out there are poor with only a few inches of ice close to the dam. Walleye and sauger action there has been fair. The boat landing at Gordon’s Bay is frozen it tight. Bald Eagles can bee seen throughout the county; however they seem to have scattered out. They are venturing further inland now that area waters are freezing up. Eagles can be seen throughout the county along stream beds and along open fields. A fair amount of eagles can be seen near the Lynxville Dam. Turkeys are starting to flock up in larger numbers now that the snow is on ground. Large flocks of turkeys can be seen scratching through freshly spread manure. A variety of song birds are visiting bird feeders. Deer are starting to search for food near houses and farms. Standing crops are being targeted by deer, turkey, squirrel and rabbit. The remaining snow is providing excellent conditions for rabbit and coyote hunting in the area. Rabbit hunters report fair to good numbers of rabbits in the area. Coyote numbers are strong. Rabbit hunting will close at the end of the month.
Eau Claire DNR Service Center area
Brunet Island State Park - The park received about 11 inches of fresh snow over the weekend. Cross-country ski trails have been groomed and tracked. The trail system was in very good condition as of Feb. 26 with a 5-inch base in most areas. Snowshoers and hikers also 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. Although fishing pressure has been light recently, ice fishing on the north campground lagoons has remained productive with panfish and northern pike being taken. Perch Lake on Hwy. CC has been providing 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.
Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center area
Buckhorn State Park - Crappie fishing has been slowing down on the Castle Rock Flowage. The warm weather followed by heavy snow has made very treacherous ice conditions. Cross-country ski trails have been groomed, and are in excellent condition. Campsites 8, 9, and 16 are open for camping and are non-reservable. All other campsites are closed. Water is available at the park office. The 2007 photo contest has started - remember your camera to take winter pictures for the contest.
Roche-A-Cri State Park - Cross-country ski trails have been groomed, and are in excellent condition. Campsites and facilities are closed for the season, but the park remains open for day use. Parking is available at the winter parking lot on Czech Avenue. The stairway to the top of the Roche-A-Cri Mound is not maintained for winter use. The 2007 photo contest has started - remember your camera to take winter pictures for the contest.
Last Revised: Thursday March 01 2007
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