DNR Outdoor Report update, September 4, 2014 - Stormy week leads to wet start to the early goose, dove, teal and bear seasons
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report summary for September 4, 2014
Complete DNR Outdoor Report (Reports from conservation wardens, wildlife and fisheries staff and property managers from around the state)
Stormy week leads to wet start to the early goose, dove, teal and bear seasons
Wisconsin has had some stormy weather in the last week with rain, sometimes heavy, falling almost every day in one part of the state or another. But that didn't stop folks from participating in opening day of the early goose, dove, bear and first ever early teal seasons. And with all the rain, river levels have remained high across the state, with the Chippewa rising over a foot at Eau Claire, which was appreciated by people kayaking and canoeing over the holiday weekend. Both the North and South forks of the Flambeau are running high, which is unusual for later summer. The Lower Wisconsin River has also risen above normal levels and there are fewer sandbars for camping. Even the "Now and Then Falls" at Amnicon Falls State Park in Douglas County was running this week.
With the ever-changing weather, fishing success was hit or miss in the Northwoods. Musky continue to be the main species of interest in the area and action was only fair. Action for both largemouth and smallmouth bass was sporadic, with smallmouth being most active on the local flowages and larger rivers. Northern pike action has been good but walleye and panfish action was only fair. Water temperatures have been hovering in the low 70s on most waters. The hook and line sturgeon season opens Saturday on inland rivers.opens Saturday on inland rivers.
Smallmouth bass fishing remained good along the Door peninsula and walleye anglers had moderate success on the bay and lower Fox River. Salmon anglers had good success out of Sturgeon Bay and Bailey's Harbor. High winds and tall waves on some days limited trolling activity on Lake Michigan, but those getting out were fishing closer to shore as fish are moving in as they begin to stage for fall spawning runs. Fish were surfacing outside the Kewaunee and Ahnapee rivers, at the Manitowoc harbor and at the mouth of the harbor in Two Rivers, and there was a report of chinook already moving up the Manitowoc. Many of the chinook caught, especially the males, have begun darkening in color.
Early goose hunters were finding fair success but most hunters reported teal numbers looked low early in the season but new flights arrived in the last days to provide some activity. Dove hunters were doing well in harvested winter wheat fields but reported many sunflower fields aren't quite ready due to late planting from the cold spring.
Some bear hunters in the northwest where populations are high were recording numerous hits on bait sites, in some cases up to a dozen. In other areas hunters are reporting fewer visits to bait as acorns have begun to drop. Whitetail bucks have begun shedding their velvet on young saplings and fawns are starting to loose their spots.
Night hawks are nearing the peak of their annual migration south. Large numbers of night hawks have been seen in the late afternoon and early evening feeding on insects over farm fields.
Blackberries are still ripening in the north and thimbleberries, which are the bright red berries that look like raspberries, have started to ripen in Door County.Wild rice is ripening and lakes are beginning to open for harvest. The crop is looking very good in some areas. A few branches of sugar and red maples have begun to change colors and staghorn sumac has begun to turn in some areas. The Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Fall Color Report (exit DNR) went active on their website this week.
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Outdoor Report editors:
Paul Holtan, DNR Office of Communications, Madison
608-267-7517 or paul.holtan@wisconsin.gov