DNR Outdoor Report Update, September 25, 2014
Fall colors at or near peak in northern Wisconsin
Fall colors are at or near peak this week in far northern Wisconsin and many areas are reporting some spectacular colors this year, as state forestry officials had predicted, because of excellent leaf growth from a wet spring and summer. The weather has cooperated this week with bright sunny days and cool nights, which is the formula for the brightest colors. Colors are at 30 to 50 percent in central Wisconsin and expected to peak in one to two weeks. Some areas of the south are also reporting 30 to 40 percent colors while others are reporting very little color yet. Check current information on statewide fall color on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Fall Color Report (exit DNR).
The nice weather and great colors caused fishing pressure to spike up on many Northwoods lakes. Most have been angling for musky, with fairly consistent action reported at nearly all times of the day. The most successful baits continue to be artificial baits but some anglers have been able to find large suckers, and they have also provided some good success. Most fish have been in the 34 to 40-inch size but there have been rumors of fish up to 46 inches landed in the last week. Water levels have dropped some on rivers and sturgeon anglers had fair success with most fish in the 40 to 54-inch size, but a couple legal 60 inch reported.
The Lake Michigan tributary fall trout and salmon runs are beginning with some fish moving up northern Door County streams as well some fish moving up the Kewaunee, East Twin, Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Root rivers and Sauk Creek. The Root River Steelhead facility began operations this week processing 105 fish Wednesday with a mixed bag of chinook and coho salmon and brown and rainbow trout.
The inland trout bite has also picked up, with brook trout biting on central Wisconsin stream, where water levels have been excellent. This is the last weekend for the general inland season, which closes September 30.
The cooler mornings have started to get some white-tailed buck deer very active, despite very warm weather. Archers have registered some nice bucks in the last week and hunters in Dane County even reported already finding some scrapes. Hunting conditions might be tougher this weekend with highs near 80 predicted and a fresh bumper crop of mosquitos to pester hunters in the woods. Bull elk are bugling in the Clam Lake area, and are guarding their harems from other bulls.
Bear hunters are starting to get the baits hit more regularly again and several hunters had good success this week, including one bear shot near Ogdensburg weighing in at 780 pounds.
With the mild weather, Canada goose numbers are generally still low with most migrant geese from Canada yet to arrive.
But the Badger state did see two major migration events this week on the nights of the October 20 and 21. These brought very large numbers of yellow-rumped warblers to the northern half of the state and more modest numbers to the south, both serving as indications that warbler migration is reaching its end. Raptor flights were also good this week with near-peak diversity of birds on the move, ranging from the small American kestrel and sharp-shinned hawks to the mid-sized broad-winged hawks and larger osprey, vultures, and some eagles.
And for mushroom aficionados, shaggy manes have been emerging in abundance as well as puff balls.
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Outdoor Report editors:
Paul Holtan, DNR Office of Communications, Madison
608-267-7517 or paul.holtan@wisconsin.gov