Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report Update
Archived under: Previous Outdoor Reports
While northern Wisconsin continued to receive some rain in the last week, the southern half of the state remains extremely dry. As of Friday, July 13, emergency burning restrictions will be expanded to all or parts of eight additional Wisconsin counties, in addition to the 11 counties where the restrictions are already in place. The restrictions prohibit the burning of any combustible material outdoors and smoking outdoors. Additionally, all open campfires will also be banned within the Southern and Lapham Peak units of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, Richard Bong State Recreation Area, Big Foot Beach State Park, and while backpack camping in the Black River State Forest until further notice. Search the DNR website for “fire” for maps and more details.
The hot weather and resulting warm water temperatures have also been hard on fish, particularly northern pike, which does not tolerate extreme water temperatures. Fish kills were reported in several places across the state, including Lake Poygan, Wolf River, the Rock River and pools 8 and 9 of the Mississippi River. There have been some fish kills of suckers, drum, and crappie also reported, and a large carp kill on Lake Winnebago. To report a potential fish kill, or if you see a significant number of dead fish, please call the DNR Tip Line at 1-800-TIP-WDNR (1-800-847-9367).
With the continued drought conditions in the south, many rivers are running very low. The Lower Wisconsin River is at near record lows, at less than half of its normal flow for July. The Mississippi and St. Croix rivers have now dropped to normal levels and are continuing to drop. The Chippewa River is also low, but the Flambeau River continues to run at near seasonal norms.
Water clarity on Lake Superior’s Chequamegon Bay has finally cleared from the runoff from the deluge the area received in late June; Anglers were having success with lake trout. Warm surface water temperatures on Lake Michigan have driven trout and salmon into deeper water, but trollers who are fishing in deeper water continue to report success, catching decent numbers of chinook and coho, along with a few lake and rainbow trout.
With water temperatures in the 80s and even low 90s on some inland lakes, fishing has slowed in many areas. In the north there continue to be reports of good musky fishing, with some 40-inchers reported this week. Walleye action has been fair, but panfishing slowed with the warm water temperatures. While it’s only July, bass have moved into late summer patterns.
Waterfowl molting in beginning to finish with some adult regaining their flight feathers and some young of the year ducks and geese are now flying. Cedar waxwings, pewees, nighthawks, whip-poor-wills, and assorted flycatchers have been very active lately, feeding heavily on flying insects. Mid July marks the onset of shorebird migration from their arctic/boreal breeding grounds and good numbers are returning at Horicon Marsh and other large state wildlife areas.
Many mid-summer prairie flowers are in bloom including coneflower, bergamot, butterfly weed, milkweed, jewelweed, common mullein, blue vervain, and Joe-pye weed. Gooseberries, red raspberries and blackberries are ready for harvest in some areas, though they are being reported as smaller due to the lack of rain. Blueberries have been seen in the past few weeks, but the heat has taken its toll on some of the plants.
DNR Outdoor Report in Portable Document Format (Requires Adobe® Acrobat® Reader®)
DNR Outdoor Report in Rich Text Format
Upcoming Events at DNR Parks, Forests and Trails
Paul Holtan
paul.holtan@wisconsin.gov
Office of Communications
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 7921
Madison WI 53707
(608) 267-7517