DNR Outdoor Report, Oct. 27, 2016 - Whitetail buck deer rutting activity picking up; fall salmon runs winding down on Lake Michigan tributaries
Complete DNR Outdoor Report (Reports from conservation wardens, wildlife and fisheries staff and property managers from around the state)
Whitetail buck deer rutting activity picking up; fall salmon runs winding down on Lake Michigan tributaries
Fall colors are now past peak over most of northern and central Wisconsin, with the exception of Door and a few other central counties that are still reporting peak color, along with much of the southeastern part of the state, according to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Fall Color Report (exit DNR). Even in the southeast, though, heavy rain earlier this week was reported to have brought down many leaves.
The change to wet and cooler weather resulted in some challenging fishing conditions on Northwoods lakes. Water temperatures have dropped into the low 50s on most lakes. Musky have still been the main species of interest and they have been providing some fairly consistent action, with most anglers dragging suckers around. Most of the musky landed have been in the 34- to 42-inch size, but a few up to 47 inches have also been reported. There has been just a light amount of pressure for walleye and panfish, with walleye success continuing to be quite erratic.
Fishing pressure was very low again in Door County with most anglers fishing on the Green Bay side of the peninsula. The few anglers fishing out on Lake Michigan were doing very well trolling for both chinook and rainbow trout. Yellow perch fishing continues to be very popular in the Sturgeon Bay Area and smallmouth bass fishing was excellent this week with many anglers reporting catching a lot of bass that were all fairly large.
Mature chinook salmon are on their last leg and are nearing the end of their life cycle, but there are still plenty of reports of fish in many rivers. Anglers have reported better luck catching coho salmon rather than chinook, but both species have been caught throughout the week. There were still good numbers of fish in the Ahnapee, Kewaunee, East Twin, Manitowoc, Branch, Milwaukee and Root rivers as well as in Door County streams.
The Wild Rose State Fish Hatchery will host a Fall Migration Mystery Open House on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to celebrate the last weekend of the season open to visitors. Activities including: salmon migration maze; fish anatomy; view new sturgeon touchscreen; learn fly tying and fly casting; kids backyard bass casting; Gyotaku fish printing.
Water levels on the Lower Wisconsin River remain high and have made access difficult to some popular hunting spots in the the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway. Diving duck numbers are increasing in larger southern bodies of water, but waterfowl hunters continue to report some difficulty finding ducks due to all the high water conditions.
Leaf drop is progressing rapidly across the state and forest floors are thick with downed leaves. This should be a big advantage for bird and deer hunters. Woodcock are still thick in central Wisconsin and activity has increased at southern Wisconsin wildlife areas with the opener of pheasant season and continued weekly pheasant stocking.
There are indications that deer are in rut, with bucks with swollen necks observed traveling during the day and buck rubs and scrapes becoming more common. This is good for hunters but not so good for motorists, with an uptick in vehicle deer collisions being reported.
This weekend there are eight state properties holding Halloween or autumn events, including a "Creatures of the Night" event at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitors Center, a haunted tower hike at the Pike Lake Unit of the Kettle Moraine and a Halloween Bash at Willow River State Park. For a complete list of events, search the DNR website for "Get Outdoors."
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Outdoor Report editors:
Paul Holtan, DNR Office of Communications, Madison, 608-267-7517
Charlie Nettesheim, DNR Office of Communications, Madison, 608-267-0541