Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report

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Most of Wisconsin continued to experience some very pleasant late summer weather, with the exception of some severe weather that moved across the west central and north central portions of the state Tuesday evening, resulting in at least one possible tornado in Clark County.

Most of the state received some rainfall in the last week, and some rivers continue to run above seasonal norms, including the Flambeau, Chippewa and St. Croix, while many others are near seasonal norms, and some northeastern rivers are running below seasonal norms. Water levels on the Mississippi have dropped 1 to 2 feet in the last week and the levels are getting closer to normal. Water levels on the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway are near normal, with abundant sandbars available.

In the north most fishing pressure has been for musky and bass, but a fair number of walleye and panfish anglers have also been trying their luck. With cooling water temperatures, musky activity increased and some nicer fish have been showing up along deep weed edges. Action for both largemouth and smallmouth bass has been consistent and some nice catches have been made in the last week. Walleye action has been best in the river sections of the larger flowages.

On Green Bay, some very nice catches of perch were being taken on the west shore about a mile out from the mouth of the Little River and on the east shore off Bayshore Park, Chaudoir’s Dock and Little Sturgeon Bay, with some limits reported.

On Lake Michigan, surface water temperatures outside the Manitowoc pier dropped about five degrees this week and was at 67 degrees Sunday. Chinook salmon numbers have picked up slightly with an occasional 20-plus pound chinook reported. These old chinook have started turning their dark fall colors, with many observed around the pier heads. Trollers out of the southeastern ports report the majority of fish taken have been chinook, with some lake trout, rainbows, and coho also being caught. Near-shore water temperatures were reported as low as 50 degrees and some chinook were being taken off the piers at Sheboygan.

Remaining permits for the 2011 fall turkey season go on sale at noon this Saturday, August 27. All of the leftover permits are for turkey zones 1-5; there were no leftover permits available for zones 6 or 7. Check the turkey leftover permit availability page for more information. Permits can be purchased through the DNR Online Licensing Center, at all authorized license agents, at DNR Service Centers (service centers are not open on Saturdays), or by calling toll-free 1-877-LICENSE (1-877-945-4236). The fall turkey season opens September 17.

Some whitetail bucks have been seen already starting to shed velvet from their antlers. Many of this year’s fawns have lost or are losing their spots. Early season goose hunters are beginning to scout their hunting spots and are beginning to put up blinds for the opener on September 1. Sandhill cranes are starting to stage in preparation for migration, with flocks of 0 to 50 being seen. Flocks of bluebirds and blackbirds are also gathering, and nighthawks have been seen migrating south. Monarch, eastern and tiger swallowtail, viceroy and other butterflies have been abundant the past several weeks. Late season flowers like goldenrods, Joe-Pye weed and asters are coming into bloom. Blackberries are ripe in the north. Prairie grasses are providing color in prairie restorations, with the hues of pinkish blue and some reds. And in the north, wild rice is forming seed heads,