The cool spring means water temperatures across most of the state will be colder than usual for the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Water levels on streams and rivers are beginning to recede, but they remain high on many river systems. The Mississippi is beginning to drop in the lower pools, but is still rising on some of the northern pools. The Flambeau River is running
Widespread rain has alleviated fire danger and helped “green up” vegetation around the state, but 30 wildfires still burned 32 acres in DNR Protection Areas the past week.
Many state parks and forests report that most reservable campsites are booked for the weekend, but there are still some open sites. People can also now check the DNR website for availability of non-reservable sites for camping in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, which has nearly 900 campsites.
Next weekend, June 1-2 is Free Fun Weekend in Wisconsin with free fishing, free DNR trails and free ATV/UTV riding June 1 and 2 and free entry to state parks and forests Sunday, June 2 only.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: a video invitation for free fun weekend from DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp and Wisconsin Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch is available in the online DNR Outdoor Report.]
Most northern lakes and flowages currently have high water levels from recent heavy rains. The erratic weather of the past week made for some variable water temperatures ranging from the upper 40s on the large and deep lakes to the mid to upper 60s on some smaller lakes.
The variable weather also made for constantly changing fishing success, though walleye anglers have been experiencing steadily improving action and success over the past week. Daily walleye bag limits will increase May 25 on more than 440 lakes in northern Wisconsin in time for the long Memorial Day weekend as spring spearing winds down by the Wisconsin bands of Chippewa Indians. Only seven of the preliminary 197 lakes that were set at a one fish bag limit will have that limit. All others will move to a two, three four or five fish limit. Check the DNR website for the revised ceded territory bag limits [PDF].
Northern pike success has been fair and panfish activity has picked up with the warm-up in water temperatures. Bass activity has also been increasing, but the erratic weather has kept fish in deeper water. The first largemouth bass spawning activity has been observed in some lakes. Crappies and white bass were biting below the Wisconsin Dells dam on the Wisconsin River.
Bass are just beginning to move onto their beds on Green Bay and there has been some excellent bass fishing all around Door County. On Lake Michigan, salmon fishing has really begun to pick up with the arrival of coho in southern waters, especially at Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha, with some trollers have reported catching limits.
The spring turkey season ended with hunters having better success at the end of the season with the warmer temperatures. Hen turkeys have established nests and will be sitting on eggs for the next few weeks.
Bucks are growing their antlers and does are beginning to give birth to fawns. Again, does will leave their young for long periods of time. These fawns are not abandoned…leave them where they and their mothers will return to care for them.
Butterfly species are slowly emerging including: Karner blue butterflies, spring azures, pine, horary and brown elfins, and mourning cloaks. Spring ephemerals are peaking with trout lilies, trilliums, wild geranium, bellwort, bloodroot, anemones, marsh marigold and violets blooming. And more morels are popping up with some mushroom hunters reporting finding several pounds of these spring delicacies.
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