Price County Trail & Recreation Report 6/8/18
Price County Tourism Department – Reports – Trail & Recreation – http://www.pricecountywi.net/843/Reports---Trail-and-Recreation
Updates are posted to the Reports page on an ongoing basis; check the page periodically for the most up-to-date information.
Paddling/Flambeau River - 6/7/18
Area rivers are at normal levels for this time of year and conditions are good for a paddling trip on the North Fork & South Fork of the Flambeau River. The river is reported to be at a good flow below the Turtle Dam on the North Fork of the Flambeau River.
River anglers have reported success fishing for smallmouth bass.
The North Fork of the Flambeau River is controlled by dams and it generally remains near the ordinary high water mark throughout the summer. The South Fork of the Flambeau and other rivers in the area can become quite low at times during the summer months without consistent rain. Whenever planning a paddling trip, always check with an area rental/shuttle/guide service for the most current conditions and to select a suitable stretch of river based on your experience.
ATV, UTV & Off-Road Motorcycle Trail Report - 6/7/18
Price County Highway ATV / UTV routes are open May 15 through October 15. Due to the bridge construction taking place on County Highway H, the designated detour route is County Highway F to Flemings Rapids Road to County Highway W (Map PDF). Detour signs will be posted, and the speed limit will be 25 mph on Town of Elk roads. The use of Flemings Rapids Road as a route is on a temporary basis for this detour only. Please do not abuse the privilege of using this road.
Municipalities - open and close dates for road routes vary by city, town and village. Please contact the municipality where you are interested in riding to verify dates.
- · Flambeau Trail System (70 miles) ~ OPEN May 1 through March 15 - Trail users are reporting that the trail is in great condition. The recent rains have helped cut down on the dust and the day time temperatures are about as good as you can get. Lots of wildflowers have been blooming along the trails as well. Logging is taking place on trail 118A-111 by Hwy 182, so please use caution as logging equipment may be crossing the trail. Contract brushing is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, June 5, on trail 118C-101. The brusher will be moving around on the trail system, so please be aware that heavy equipment may be on the trail. Please report any issues, especially water over the trail, to Brady Howe at bjhowe@fs.fed.us or 715-762-5104 and leave a detailed message on where the issue is. Maps of the trail system are available for free for smartphones via the Avenza PDF Maps app, which is free - https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/cnnf/maps-pubs/?cid=fseprd530550.
- · Solberg Trail (9.5 miles) ~ OPEN May 1 through March 14 - There is a detour in place on the Solberg Trail from the parking lot across from the boat landing to FR 508 due to unsafe bridge conditions starting 5/24/18. There is a sign posted noting the reroute which uses a town road. The section of the trail north of the bridge remains open from FR 508 going north.
- · Georgetown Trail (15.8 miles) ~ OPEN May 1 through March 14 - The Georgetown Trail is in good shape for ATV, UTV and Off-road Motorcycle riding. A logging operation has started just west of where the trail crosses Skinner Creek Road. Logging ahead signs are up on each end of the logging job.
- · Tuscobia State Trail (64 miles) ~ OPEN April 16 through November 15 - There is a small washout about a mile east of Draper by Hathaway Road at the culvert; it is passable and has green markers on it. Beginning June 18, there will be a detour for a trail repair east of Winter near Sundling Road in Sawyer County through July 25, 2018. There will be signs posted for the reroute. For questions regarding the detour, contact Sawyer County Forestry at 715-634-4846.
- · Flambeau River State Forest Trail (38 miles) ~ OPEN May 15 through November 15 - The trail is in very good condition. Please be aware there is a stretch of trail on Hines Grade Road that is in need of some repair work; half of the road bed has washed away. It is clearly marked and still passable.
- · Pine Line / Price-Taylor Rail Trail/Prentice Area ~ CLOSED through November 30 - The Price County section of the trail allows ATV and UTV use December through March 31 when snowmobile trails are officially open. Click here to find Taylor County contact information for inquiries regarding their open and close dates or call 715-748-1486.
Local Fishing & Hunting Guide Reports
6/5/18 - Anglers across our area are experiencing some good fishing for a variety of species. Walleye action has been steady at dusk. Jig and minnow combinations are working but leeches are also making up some nice catches. We are seeing mayflies on the water so the walleye bite might slow a bit but fish will still be catchable. Walleyes are found on weed edges and sunken islands in 6 to 15 feet of water. Some nice perch are also present with these walleyes. Muskies are moving on bucktails and jerk baits. Fish have been relatively shallow around weeds and wood. These muskies will soon be in the summer patterns as water temps rise so anglers should explore points, shallow weeds, sunken islands and fish relating on the first break. Crappies are moving out of spawning areas and are beginning to suspend. Northern action has been steady all spring. We are finding them on shallow weed flats on larger spinner baits and stick baits. Good Luck Fishing, Joe Brezinski, Northland Guide Service
Lake-Link Price County Lakes Fishing Reports
DNR Outdoor Report - 6/6/18
Multiple goose broods and ducklings are being seen and a sandhill crane colt was reported last week. Grouse broods should have started hatching this past week. Bird migration is slowing down. Sightings of deer fawns are being reported. If you see a fawn alone, please leave it where it is as the survival strategy for deer is to leave the nearly scent free fawns “hidden” while the doe feeds somewhere nearby but the mother will return to retrieve the fawn after feeding. In the forest wetlands, the spring peepers have quieted down somewhat, but now the toads, tree frogs, green frogs and bullfrogs contribute to the nighttime symphony. Turtles nesting season is in full swing. If you see a turtle trying to cross a road, please try to avoid it or stop and assist it across, if you can do so safely. Some spring woodland flowers are in bloom. Raspberries and blackberries will be blooming soon. Poison ivy is out, so try to avoid it. Ticks and mosquitoes are quite numerous.
Flambeau River State Forest Outdoor Report - 6/6/18 - It’s June, so get ready to pick some strawberries! Gardens are nearly all planted. Loon chicks hatch, turtles lay eggs, songbirds nest, fireflies come out and strawberries ripen. Blooming plants are everywhere. The forest floor is bursting with newness. Geese and ducks are nesting and groups of goslings are being seen. Song birds are defending their territories where the females are sitting on the nests and youngsters are appearing. Robins, mourning doves, yellow finches, phoebes, tree swallows, house wrens, owls, wood cock, sandhill cranes, swans, red breasted grosbeaks, orioles and Myrtle’s warblers, all being seen and enjoyed. The deer and elk have been birthing this years’ young. The elk cows have been making calf scouting moves, looking for a safe and quiet area to have their calves. Many have calved already. Be sure to drive safely as the roads are full of elk calves, deer fawns, bear and cubs, birds, and turtles. Take time and quietly go out and see the splendor that nature offers.
Safe Boating Week: Life Jackets - Worth Your Life Every Week
Just in time for the Memorial Day Weekend, National Safe Boating Week is May 19-25 and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources joins boating safety advocates who have teamed up to promote safe and responsible boating, including voluntary, consistent life jacket wear each time boaters are on the water.
Veteran fish biologist and musky whisperer shares his musky fishing tips
Jordan Weeks has been fishing muskellunge in Wisconsin for a quarter-century and working in fisheries management for the state since 1999. Based in La Crosse, he shares his secrets to success in landing the state's official fish as anglers ready for the Saturday, May 26, opening of the northern musky zone.
Drain and clean in between to stop invasive species and protect Wisconsin's waters
Draining live wells, bait buckets and bilges before leaving a boat launch or fishing access to move on to another one is the message to anglers for the statewide Drain Campaign on June 1-3, 2018. Water left behind can transport fish diseases and aquatic invasive species between lakes, rivers and streams.