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Snow was falling across Wisconsin Thursday, after most DNR offices and staff submitted reports this week. DNR properties and county snowmobile coordinators and snowmobile clubs will evaluate conditions after the snow falls and determine if and when trails will be groomed and opened. Check the Department of Tourism’s Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR) and state parks current conditions pages for updates.
If enough snow arrives, it will be timely for the four candlelight skis scheduled for this weekend. People interested in attending should contact the parks directly to confirm if the events will be held and if there is enough snow for skiing.
Prior to the snow and cooler temperatures that arrived Wednesday, Wisconsin had continued to experience very unseasonably warm weather, with temperatures in the low 50s even triggering reports of insects out in some locations. The warm temperatures continued to create hazardous conditions on southern Wisconsin lakes. There were three fatalities over a three day period in the last week from people falling through thin ice. Ice anglers reported that lakes that had 4 to 6 inches of ice a week ago had thinned to 2 to 4 inches this week. Recreational safety specialists are cautioning that this week’s snow may create even more hazardous conditions. The new snow will insulate lakes from colder temperatures, slowing ice formation, and will make it more difficult to see thin areas. While many northern lakes now have a foot or more of ice, there are still lakes in southern Wisconsin with open water.
The nice weather of the last week brought out good numbers of ice anglers where there is good ice and even increasing number of anglers open water fishing from boats or shore. In the north, anglers were reporting action for walleye and northern pike was picking up with some nice sized fish being caught on tip-ups, but action slowing some for panfish.
Along Lake Michigan anglers have been fishing from boats for the trout that would usually be caught through the ice this time of year. Browns and steelhead were being caught all up and down the Milwaukee county coast line. One day this week there were as many as 40 boats out on the water enjoying the weather and the fishing. Open water boat anglers have been also been fishing the Mississippi River below lock and Dam 11, catching sauger on the Iowa side near the locks.
A mid-winter waterfowl survey along the Fox River in the Fox Cities found a mixed bag of waterfowl, including more than 1,500 mallards, 8,000 Canada geese, 1,900 goldeneyes and 800 mergansers, along with several hundred bald eagles. An annual mid-winter eagle survey the first week of January recorded 186 bald eagles along the Wisconsin River from Petenwell to the Mississippi River, which is close to the 20-year average for the survey. That’s good news for this weekend’s 25th anniversary of the Eagle Watching Days at Sauk City and Prairie du Sac. The event includes a live birds of prey show featuring hawks, eagles, owls and falcons, the release of a rehabilitated eagle, children’s events, and tours to observe eagles throughout the day Saturday and Sunday. A complete schedule of activities is available on the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council website www.ferrybluffeaglecouncil.
More information on bald eagles, additional eagle watching events and places to view eagles. is available on a new feature page on the DNR website celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Wisconsin Endangered Species Act.
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