Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report summary for April 18, 2013
Snow remains deep and the ice thick in the Northwoods while rain continues to fall and rivers continue to rise in the south
Complete DNR Outdoor Report (Reports from conservation wardens, wildlife and fisheries staff and property managers from around the state)
Snow remains deep and the ice thick in the Northwoods while rain continues to fall and rivers continue to rise in the south. And most everywhere conditions have been cold and soggy, which has made many anglers and turkey hunters understandably surly.
Turkeys, more often than not, are bunched up and hunters have had limited success. Rain, snow and cold have frustrated turkey hunters from Bayfield to Pepin counties, but there have been some successful hunts in Grant, Lafayette and Sauk counties.
Lake Superior is open along the south shore in Bayfield County, but Chequamegon Bay is still locked in ice.
Anglers are reporting limited success, overall, and miserable weather conditions.
Ice fishing is still an option in many northern regions, including the Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area, where up to 36-inches of ice remains, along with 17-inches of snow on the ground. Anglers there have had some success with panfish.
Elsewhere, including, where rivers are high, anglers are finding steelhead opportunities and success on tributary streams of Lake Michigan and several anglers are doing well fishing just outside the harbors for brown trout on Lake Michigan. Inland lakes still are covered in ice, although they have begun to show signs of melting around the edges. In Racine and surrounding Lake Michigan counties, rivers are discharging large amounts of muddy water into the lake, resulting in a cloudy mess along the lakefront.
The Mississippi River is also on the rise and fishing activity has been heavy, but with limited success. The Wisconsin River is high, fast and boating and fishing is not advised.
Forest migrants arriving back included sapsuckers, winter wren, hermit thrush, kinglets, fox sparrows and yellow-rumped warblers. Birders also reported the first few early warblers of the spring including yellow, palm and pine warblers.
A pair of bald eagles is setting up house in Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area. A pair of ospreys was also confirmed nesting in an old hawk nest on the west side of the Theresa Marsh. Robins are being seen everywhere, including Brule River State Forest.
Chorus frogs were heard this week, but amphibian activity has been low. Some white-tailed bucks have been spotted with new antler growth visible. Coyote pups have been born over the last week. Wildflowers have been slow to bloom, but spring beauties and pasque flowers have been seen emerging, but not blooming yet.
There are more opportunities for people to work and play at state parks this weekend, with Work*Play*Earth Day events scheduled this Saturday, April 20 at Big Foot Beach State Park near Lake Geneva, the Hank Aaron State Trail in Milwaukee, Kohler Andrae State Park near Sheboygan, Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee, the Lapham Peak Unit Kettle Moraine State Forest near Delafield and Newport State Park near Ellison Bay.
The maple syrup season is in full swing in northern Wisconsin with snow covering most of the north making for high quality sap. A very successful season is winding down in central and southern Wisconsin with many producers reporting higher than normal sugar content and excellent sap runs this year. The weather forecast will likely extend the maple syrup season in northern Wisconsin for at least another week.