Outdoor Report summary for January 9, 2014
Complete DNR Outdoor Report (Reports from conservation wardens, wildlife and fisheries staff and property managers from around the state)
Cold weather puts freeze on outdoor activities across the state, but warm up in forecast for weekend
A prolonged period of frigid temperatures dropping down into the double-digit subzero range at night and just above zero during the day have put the freeze on many activities across Wisconsin in the last week. That is expected to change with temperatures forecast to rise into the 30s by this weekend.
Very little new snow has fallen in the last week, with only the far north receiving 2 to 3 inches last weekend. Snow depths now range from 4 to 6 inches in the south to 2 to 3 feet in the far north. Snowmobile trails are open in most northern counties and range from good to excellent condition, according to the Department snow conditions report. Snowmobile trails are open in some central and southern counties, with conditions ranging from fair to poor.
Cross-country ski trails are also in good to excellent condition in the north, but many trails in the south are also in need of new snow, with a lot of debris being reported on trails.
The brutally cold weather put a damper on both angling pressure and fish activity. In the north, some brown and lake trout, salmon, whitefish, walleyes and splake - a hybrid between a lake and brook trout - we're being caught on Lake Superior off Bayfield County.
Action was pretty slow on most other Northwoods lakes that now have about 14 inches of ice with 4 to 8 inches of snow on top. One good thing about the severe cold temperatures is that very little slush is reported on lakes, but that could change with the warm-up in the forecast.
Green Bay has fairly good ice cover with reports of some shanties now as far as a half a mile to a mile off shore. Anglers were using minnows and are hoping to catch whitefish, perch, northern pike, and walleye, but with limited success. The Winnebago system has pretty good ice but with high winds the ice can shift and cracks open and close. Anglers on Lake Winnebago can experience crossing a frozen crack in the morning only to find it is open 4-feet wide when leaving. There has been some success for crappies, perch, bluegill and whitefish.
Ice fishing for panfish on the Mississippi River has been sporadic. Ice conditions have improved with many areas having close to 20 inches of ice, but ice anglers must still be cautious with varying ice conditions on the river.
The cold spell concentrated wild turkeys into large winter flocks. These flocks tend to roam over several square miles of habitat in search of food. The cold is also making for excellent bald eagle watching as eagles are congregated around what open water they can find below dams. Very few ducks and geese remain but some mergansers, goldeneyes and scaup are being seen along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Most ducks are in bright breeding plumage and now is a good time to watch them do their annual courtship rituals.
A new Public Access Lands Atlas is available online and in a printable format. The atlas highlights the significant increase in public access to Wisconsin lands made possible through the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, as well as other lands open to the public for recreation. For information, search the DNR website for keyword "atlas." You can order the atlas or download and print the maps from your home computer.