Pleasant late-summer weather has provided for good recreational conditions in the last week. With the exception of a light rainfall across most of the state earlier this week, most of the state enjoyed dry, sunny weather, which is forecast to continue through the Labor Day weekend, with the possibility of some showers late this week.
Water levels on most rivers and streams are near normal across most of the state, although after nearly two weeks with minimal rainfall, some trout streams are now running low. Northern flowages are at their normal summer levels. The Mississippi has returned to normal summer levels, and the lower Wisconsin River is slightly low, with abundant sandbars available for the holiday weekend.
Fishing activity has been good in the north, with bass and musky the highlight. Nearly all musky anglers are reporting sightings, follows and strikes. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass have also provided good action, and success on largemouth has been especially good. Walleye success has remained fair and panfish activity has been sporadic. Fishing on many southern lakes has been slow due to the recent warm weather, but should improve as water temperatures begin to drop.
On Green Bay, some very good perch fishing continues to be reported on both the west and east shores, though many of the perch have been on the small size. Some good walleye action was reported of Oconto this week, but walleye fishing was generally slower along Door County. Anglers have begun fishing the lower Fox River for musky with some success.
Lake Michigan trollers have begun working areas closer to harbors in search of older chinook salmon that are beginning to stage for fall runs, but many also continued to have success out in deeper water, with mixed bags of mostly chinook and coho salmon, along with some rainbow and lake trout reported. Pier fishing had picked up at Manitowoc and Two Rivers late last week, but slowed with a west wind bringing in cooler water over the weekend. Shore fishing at most southeastern ports has been slow.
September 1 marks the opening of the first fall hunting seasons with early Canada goose and morning dove seasons opening. The early goose season targets locally breeding giant Canada goose populations, whose population state wildlife officials say was up 12 percent this spring with more than 176,000 geese counted during spring waterfowl surveys. The early season now accounts for one-third of the total annual goose harvest in Wisconsin. Hunters scouting for the dove season reported dove numbers were also good.
Bucks are now losing velvet; a buck with polished antlers was seen this week. Nighthawks have been seen migrating in evenings across much of the state. Larger groups of monarchs are being seen along with freshly emerged black swallowtail butterflies and late season dragonflies including the common green darner. Some maples and sumacs have begun changing color.
Wild rice is beginning to ripen on many northern waters, but is a week or so behind average due to the cool weather back in late spring. Aerial surveys conducted by the DNR and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission found wild rice beds to be only fair to poor in many locations, and officials have already closed some regulated wild rice lakes to ricing this season. Wild rice gatherers should check the wild rice page of DNR website for the latest updates.
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