DNR Outdoor Report update, September 11, 2014: Rain has rivers, lakes and marshes at high water; archery deer, fall turkey, squirrel and rabbit season open Sept. 13
Areas of Wisconsin have received from 5 to 7 inches of rain since the beginning of September and water levels are very high on lakes, rivers and streams. In the north, many streams and rivers are at or near flood stage, and lake levels are nearing the top of many people's docks.
All major river systems are running above average. The Bois Brule River was flowing at 413 cubic feet per second, compared to the 69 year average of 153 cfs. The Wisconsin River is at flood stage in Columbia County and almost all sandbars and even some islands on the lower Wisconsin River are under water.
Heavy rainfalls in the past few weeks have made fishing difficult if not impossible in some places. All boaters and fishermen should very cautious, with floating debris and strong currents being the major hazards. The high water made for a slow opener last Saturday for the inland sturgeon season, but there were a couple reports of legal 60-inch fish caught. Last weekend was dry in the north and participation was good in the World Championship Musky Classic in Vilas County with more than 700 anglers participating and catching more than 50 muskies.
Walleye and musky fishing was fair along the west shore of Green Bay, and smallmouth bass fishing continued to be good along the Door Peninsula, where some better perch action was also reported. Salmon action was picking up in the Sturgeon Bay shipping canal.
Pier and shore anglers were out in high numbers last weekend at most Lake Michigan harbors hopes of catching salmon as they swim up rivers to spawn, but the run is still a ways away. Over the weekend the salmon fishing also really picked up for both shore and boat anglers. Lake anglers were having good success and many of the chinook salmon caught were already black with hooked jaws on the males.
Sept. 13 kicks off the archery deer, fall turkey, squirrel and rabbit seasons in Wisconsin. New this year anyone can use a crossbow to hunt deer under a separate crossbow license. Wardens are cautioning hunters that bucks in velvet antlers and spotted coat fawns are still being seen. While they are legal to harvest hunters must contact a local conservation warden to get an extra permit to legally possess either of those deer after tagging and registering it.
A lot of the turkey poults being seen fall are smaller than average, which is likely the result of later re-nesting attempts. Bear hunters are reporting the abundant acorn crop is keeping bears off bait, but that is an indication deer, turkey and squirrel hunters should be scouting oak woods. Hunters should be prepared for a very good mosquito hatch in woods and wetlands as a result of all the recent rain.
Wild rice is at its peak right now; however, high water levels are making harvesting a bit of a challenge. But the large amounts of rainfall have made great conditions for the numerous types of mushrooms.
Flights of southbound raptors should begin soon with sharp-shinned and broad-winged hawks two primary early-season migrants, along with osprey, American kestrel, and a smattering of other species. Large groups of broad-winged hawks, called kettles, will be moving through over the next two weeks.
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Outdoor Report editors:
Paul Holtan, DNR Office of Communications, Madison
608-267-7517 or paul.holtan@wisconsin.gov