Much needed rain falls across state; signs of fall migration seen with migrating teal and shorebirds
Almost all of Wisconsin received some much needed rain this week, with some areas reporting 2 inches or more, while other areas received lesser amounts. Prior to the rain, river systems had been running low, but they are expected to rise. The north and south forks of the Flambeau River, the Bois Brule River, and the wild Pine and Popple rivers are all expected to be in good late summer paddling conditions this weekend.
The Lower Wisconsin River has been very low with many exposed sandbars early in the week, but as flows from the north move south, levels may rise, so paddlers should monitor conditions if they are heading out this weekend.
With last weekend's hot and humid weather being followed by rain and a cold front, fishing success was only fair in the Northwoods. Most of the fishing pressure has been for musky and bass, with musky success really tailing off with the hot and humid conditions. Action for both largemouth and smallmouth bass has been erratic, though a few very nice fish have been caught and released in the last week. Walleye action has been especially erratic and only a few anglers have been reporting any consistent success. Panfish action continues to be fair.
On Green Bay, walleye anglers began to see an increase in catch rates in the lower bay through the beginning of the week; however, the rains brought a slow start to the weekend. Along the Door Peninsula, anglers fishing for walleye found the best success in the waters surrounding the off shore islands between Egg Harbor and Ephraim, especially around Chambers Island, off Little Sturgeon Bay at Henderson Point and Larsons Reef and in the Chaudoir's Dock area. Anglers focusing on chinook found success in the waters off of both Ellison Bay and Gills Rock. Perch anglers were having the best success at Sawyer Harbor and along the canal at Sturgeon Bay.
Angler pressure was lighter on the Lake Michigan side of the peninsula this week with anglers primarily focusing on chinook salmon and steelhead trout, with Baileys Harbor area providing the best bite. Trollers out of southeaster Lake Michigan harbors continued to report a mix of chinooks, coho, rainbows, and lake trout.
A fawn was seen without spots this week at the Brule River State Forest. Wild turkeys are now half grown, with lots of broods being seen all around the state. Nighthawks are beginning to stage for their fall migration. Geese are feeding heavily in wheat stubble fields. The early season starts September 1, along with the dove and early teal seasons.
The very first hints of fall migration are being seen, as larger numbers of blue-winged teal and shorebirds, some of our earliest fall migrants, have been seen in greater numbers in southern Wisconsin. Some fall warblers have also started to move through the state.
Late prairie flowers are in full bloom including prairie blazing star, stiff goldenrod, rattlesnake master, prairie dock, compass-plant, black-eyed and brown-eyed Susans and more.
This Saturday, Aug. 22 is the grand opening of the Explorium at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor center. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area off of Highway 28 between Horicon and Mayville. The day will feature tours of the new Explorium, opportunities for hands-on science in the center's learning lab, guided hikes with wildlife biologists and more. Visitors to the center will find a charging woolly mammoth, walk-through glacier, an airboat simulator ride and a giant great blue heron replica.
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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