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,

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report Update

Some very warm humid weather last weekend was followed by some much dryer and cooler weather mid week, has made for generally good to excellent conditions for outdoor recreation, but very warm temperatures are again in the forecast for the upcoming weekend. Most of the state was relatively dry over the past week, with the exception of some heavy rains accompanied by strong winds in the central part of the state early this week.

With the warm weather recreational boating activity continues to increase. Most rivers are running at or slightly above seasonal norms, with rivers in the central and northeast running a bit higher. The Wisconsin River is running about average for mid summer, and plenty of sandbars continue to be available on the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway.

The Mississippi River is also returning to normal levels and anglers reported walleyes biting. Last week’s very warm temperatures sent some shallower lake water temperatures up into the low 80s for the first time this summer. The quick rise spurred on bass activity in lakes but moved northern pike out into deeper cooler water. Largemouth have become less related to weeds and lily pads, with many moving to more firm overhead cover such as wood, brush piles and bog edges. Smallmouth are also becoming more wood oriented. Walleye success has been sporadic, but musky action improved with musky moving out of shallow weed edges and now suspending off break lines in 8 to 14 feet of water. Swim baits and large crank baits are showing increased success.

On Green Bay, there were reports of good numbers of walleye being caught in 8 to 14 feet of water from Pensaukee to Oconto and off Suamico on the west shore, while action along the east shore slowed. Along Door County, perch fishing has slowed with anglers stating to catch more gobies and rock bass. Smallmouth action was also a bit slower, with most action coming in shallow water around weed beds.

On Lake Michigan, warm water temperatures early in the week ranged from 61 to 63 degrees offshore, but by Sunday dropped anywhere from 56 to 59 degrees. Success out off Manitowoc and Two Rivers was hit-and-miss this week, with fish scattered and anglers trying their luck in various depths. The bag was mostly chinook in the 13 to 20 pound range. The Two Rivers Kiwanis Fish Derby will be held this weekend. In the southeast, trollers out of Sheboygan and Port Washington report the surface bite slowed, and more fish were caught 40 to 50 feet down, with coho and chinook making up the majority of the catch. Fishing off Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha remains good, with coho still active, but also scattered and found in a variety of depths from 50 feet out to 180 feet of water.

Cedar waxwings, pewees, flycatchers, nighthawks, bats, and whip-poor-wills have been very active lately, feeding heavily on flying insects. Common loons had poor nesting success early due to black flies but re-nest attempts are now hatching with a number of broods being reported this week. Over the next week many species of birds will get harder to see as they molt in preparation for migration, and bird feeders will be less active as there are now lots of natural food sources.

Milkweed is blooming and monarch butterflies are finally laying eggs. Other butterflies, many dragonflies and fireflies have also been out in large numbers, but they have unfortunately been joined by large numbers of horse and deer flies.