DNR Outdoor Report update, May 21, 2015 - Prospects look excellent for northern zone musky season opener
Complete DNR Outdoor Report (Reports from conservation wardens, wildlife and fisheries staff and property managers from around the state)
After chilly week, with return of warm weather prospects look excellent for northern zone musky season opener
After a chilly week with frost warnings and even the return of dusting of snow to the far north, a nice warmup is in the forecast for the upcoming holiday weekend. Most state park properties are reporting that reservable campsites are pretty full for the weekend. A limited number of non-reservable sites are available, but they also usually fill quickly. People looking for last minute campsites can check campsite availability for non-reservable sites in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest. All campers heading out this weekend are reminded to buy firewood where they burn it and do not bring wood from farther than 10 miles from your destination to avoid spreading emerald ash borer and other pests.
Rain in the last week has raised water levels on some rivers, especially in the northwestern part of the state, where the falls at Amnicon and Pattison state parks are currently very impressive, but many rivers continue to be low for early spring, including the Flambeau and lower Wisconsin rivers.
Green up of vegetation and regular rains have kept fire danger low, likely bringing an end to the spring wildfire season, with 679 wildfires burning 2,200 acres and destroying 33 structures this spring.
The cold spell led to a drop in water temperatures back down into the 50s on many lakes in the Northwoods, resulting in rather inconsistent fishing success and a slowdown in spawning activity. Walleye anglers did report some fair catches of 14 to 18-inch fish, with the best action occurring near dark as the wind would subside a bit. Panfish provided the most consistent fishing and some nice catches of crappie, bluegill and perch have been made. Northern pike success continued to be good, with most fish being found in and around the newly forming weed beds.
This musky season opens in the Northern zone and Green Bay this weekend and fishing prospects look excellent. Most musky have completed their spring spawning ritual and should be active with the warming temperatures. Small bucktails and jerk baits should provide some good action and look for the fish to be holding on the deep edges of newly forming weed beds.
Green Bay was very active last weekend with the Sturgeon Bay Open Bass Tournament. The water temperature average 53 degrees, the smallmouth bass action was good Little Sturgeon Bay, with several boats reported catching 20-plusfish, but action was slower in other areas.
Fog enshrouded the Two Rivers, Manitowoc and Sheboygan shores last weekend dampening fishing. Both Kewaunee and Algoma also saw light angler pressure with only slight success reported for brown trout. Trollers out of Port Washington working the nearshore waters around the harbor reported good numbers of browns and a few rainbows, chinooks, and lake trout. Milwaukee anglers on McKinley Pier reported nice size brown trout and a few browns have also been caught along the shoreline behind the Summerfest grounds. Trollers off Milwaukee have begun targeting coho, and trollers out of Racine and Kenosha continue to report success with coho.
Fifth period turkey hunter success was mixed, with some reporting toms were largely unresponsive to calling and other reporting with hens nesting, toms were still actively displaying in fields and responding to calls.
Many more fawns are being reported this week. Does leave newborn fawns to lie motionless in vegetation to conceal them from predators. The mother will return to feed it. So if you see a fawn this holiday weekend, it is not abandoned. Leave it where it is and stay away from the area.
Common butterflies being seen on warm days are white sulfurs, satyrs and a few spring azures. The endangered Karner blue butterfly is expected to emerge with the next warm spell.
Sandhill crane young, called colts, are now being seen, along with more loon chicks. Participants in this week's Great Wisconsin Birdathon at Crex Meadows State Wildlife Area identified 119 bird species including 15 warbler species, Harris and white-crowned sparrows, merlin and peregrine falcons, wood thrushes, ruddy turnstone and semipalmated plovers. Yellow-headed, least bittern and red-necked grebes were found nesting.
In the south early woodland flowers are now done and have been replaced by shooting stars, wild geranium, jack in the pulpit, rue anemone, and false solomon's-seal among others. Dry prairies are in bloom now with wood betony, cream gentians, prairie smoke, golden Alexander and others.
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Outdoor Report editor:
Paul Holtan, DNR Office of Communications, Madison
608-267-7517 or paul.holtan@wisconsin.gov