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| (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The rain also raised water levels some on many rivers, but most rivers continue to run below seasonal spring norms. The North Fork of the Flambeau River was running low for this time of year, while the South Fork was at more normal spring levels. The St. Croix River has moderate to high water levels. The Lower Wisconsin River was running about seasonal norms.
The cool weather slowed fishing pressure in many areas. The prolonged, slow warm-up of northern lakes has extended the walleye spawning season and delayed musky spawning. With the cooler temperatures, crappie and bluegill spawning is likely still couple of weeks off, so it could be occurring during the May 5 game fish season opener. Walleye fishing was good on the Wisconsin Rive near Stevens Point. Walleye fishing has also been good on Lake Winneconne.
Strong east winds in the last week have kept fishing pressure low along Lake Michigan and Green Bay. Some walleye action was reported again this week on both the east and west shores of the Bay. Pier and harbor fishing was slow, but when winds have been light a few brown trout and coho salmon have been caught. A reminder that the catch-and-release early inland trout season closes this Sunday, April 29.
Third period turkey hunters are reporting many hens are sitting on nest and tom turkeys have been difficult to call in, with some better action later in the afternoon. Leaf-out is also progressing rapidly across the state, making it more difficult for hunters to see birds.
In addition to waterfowl and turkeys, many of the early migrant birds are also now on nests, including woodcock, sandhill cranes and trumpeter swans. Wildlife officials are ready to begin aerial surveys of swan nests, hoping to again find a record number of nesting pairs. Last year, 197 nesting pairs were found, about 10 times the original recovery goal of 20 by 2000. Learn more about Wisconsin's successful restoration of trumpeter swans to its landscape and what's next. Eagle eggs have hatched and eagles are providing a great wildlife watching experience. Swallows, rufous-sided towhees, yellow-rumped warblers, and white-crowned sparrows have begun to show up with the increase in insects.
Hepatica, Dutchman's breeches, spring beauty, cut-leaved toothwort are blooming and trilliums began to bloom this week in the south. Marsh marigolds are still in bloom in many areas. June berries, or serviceberries, are flowering. Lupine is showing flower shoots and will be blooming shortly.
This Friday, April 27 is Arbor Day in Wisconsin, and more than 100 fourth and fifth grade students will be joining Smokey Bear and Alice in Dairyland on the Capitol lawn in Madison to watch a sugar maple, the state tree, being planted at a noon Arbor Day ceremony [pdf; 4.5MB] at the corner of East Mifflin and North Pinckney streets.
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