Wisconsin Fishing Reports - Outdoor & Hunting

[Rick]

MADISON, WI - The weekly Wisconsin fishing reports & hunting report from 8/15/13 are gathered by local DNR officials, angler creel surveys, county and state parks staff. They are compiled. There are always current Wisconsin Fishing Reports and hunting reports as well as outdoor reports in this

For Current Wisconsin Fishing Reports - Click Here

To visit the Wisconsin Outdoor Fishing-Hunting Community Forum Click Here.

Beautiful yet unseasonable weather has graced the state this week, with comfortable highs in the mid 70s and lows in the 40s and even upper 30s to the far north. With these cool nights have come cooler water temperatures. Most lake temperatures have been holding steady in the low to mid-60s. In the deeper waters of Lake Michigan the water temperatures have been in the mid-40s in some areas such as Sheboygan.

The more stable and moderate weather has made for improved fishing success in the Upper Chippewa Basin waters in Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, Ashland and Iron counties. Anglers are reporting both musky and bass providing some very good action. Musky activity showed a nice little surge and most anglers reported some good action from small and medium-size fish (28- to 40-inch). The fish seemed to be active along the weed edges and deep break lines, with jerks baits and swim baits such as bulldawgs being the most productive.

Action for both largemouth and smallmouth bass has been consistent and some very nice fish have been caught and released in the last week. Largemouth bass have pretty much settled in to their summer pattern and have been relating to the thick cover. Walleye action has also picked up a notch and a few anglers have been reporting some very nice catches. A weekend musky tournament on Butternut Lake, just outside of Park Falls, produced some very good success for the 39 boats that participated. A total of 26 entry fish were tallied during the 2-day tourney, with the largest 45 inches long. Most anglers did report quite a bit of activity, with a lot of follows and short hits. There was a good number of small fish being caught and released as well (Butternut Lake has a 28-inch minimum length limit for musky).

The water levels and weather on the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway have been making for some great paddling and summer camping. Fishing has been good for smallmouth bass, panfish, walleyes, and sauger. White to pearl colored crank baits, and night crawlers have been the most successful baits used. Fishing on Cox Hollow in Governor Dodge State Park has been consistent with many panfish, bass, and a few walleyes being caught, on night crawlers and lures.

Perch anglers in Door County have been returning with some good results in the last week. Perch are being caught with minnows or crawlers in several places around the county. Walleye numbers were low around Door County, with the average size 18 inches in 20 to 30 feet of water.

Perch were also producing for anglers at Bayshore Park in Brown County. Fishing activity was high on Friday and throughout the weekend with the majority of anglers targeting perch and just a few seeking walleye. A good number of perch were caught with about half returning with their limits.

The signs of the fall season are already beginning to show. In Manitowoc some chinook salmon are already turning darker and moving towards shore. Around Manitowoc County there have been some large fish caught including a 30-pound chinook out of Manitowoc and a 15-pound rainbow out of Two Rivers. Signs of fall approaching are also appearing at Willow River State Park, where some of the trees are showing fall color already. Typically it is the ash trees which have a short growing season.

Statewide birding report

With shorter days and some cool northerly winds, southbound bird migration is kicking in statewide. Shorebirds continue to steal headlines as numbers build at mudflats, beaches, and flooded fields around the state. Horicon Marsh, Bong Recreation Area, and Lake Mills’ Zeloski Marsh have been especially active recently, though plenty of sites statewide provide viewing opportunities. Among the dozens of species seen this week were Red-necked Phalaropes, Marbled Godwit, American Avocets, and American Golden-Plovers. Many of these same wetlands are also hosting good numbers of other waterbirds, such as Great Egrets, Black-crowned Night-Herons, Forster’s Terns, and a variety of waterfowl species staging in family groups. New this week was the first obvious evidence of landbird migration as Olive-sided Flycatchers and Tennessee Warblers were found statewide. Several other warbler species were found south of their breeding ranges as well. Feeder watchers are reporting a major surge in hummingbird activity. Many adult males have already departed the state en route to wintering grounds but a wealth of immature birds has brought as many as 60+ birds to some feeders. Now is also a great time to look for (and report sightings of!) the rare Rufous Hummingbird. A striking adult male photographed in Portage County this past week is the season’s only known observation thus far. Also don’t forget that bird baths and related water features can be very active this time of year, as are native fruit trees and shrubs. Finally, one of Wisconsin’s signature bird migration events – the occurrence of migrating jaegers at Superior’s Wisconsin Point – is underway a bit early this year as up to 5 Parasitic Jaegers have already been reported there. The phenomenon will continue at this special concentration point until October. As always, help us track bird populations and their migration patterns by reporting your sightings to www.ebird.org/wi. And enjoy the birds!

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Northern Region

Spooner DNR Service Center area

Interstate Park - Come to Wisconsin Interstate Park on Saturday, August 24, from 10 a.m. to noon for the third Family Play Day event this summer. These events, part of the Get Outdoors! Wisconsin program, are designed to bring families to the park to participate in easy, fun activities that will connect them with nature and encourage them to spend more time outdoors. Family Play Day will be a fun-filled event with a variety of drop-in activities to choose from. The stations may include Nature Building, Animal Tracks and Pelts, an Eco Scavenger Hunt, Digital Photography, Great Snakes! and more.

Don’t miss the final Storytime of the season at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29. Join Naturalists Julie Fox and Barb Walker for a story and activity chosen especially for young children and their parents. Our final Storytime this summer may include a special guest - sure to delight both children and their parents. Check at the park office upon arrival for program location within the park. After a fall break, the popular program will resume again in winter from January through March, 2014. For more information call 715-483-3747, check out Interstate State Park’s website at www.friendsofinterstatepark.org. - Julie Fox, natural resources educator

Park Falls DNR Service Center area

Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - More stable and moderate weather in the last week have made for improved fishing success, with both musky and bass providing some very good action. Musky activity showed a nice little surge and most anglers reported some good action from small and medium-size fish (28 to 40 inch). The fish seemed to be active along the weed edges and deep break lines, with jerks baits and swim baits such as bulldawgs being the most productive. Any time of day has produced action and was mostly dependent on local weather conditions. Action for both largemouth and smallmouth bass has been consistent and some very nice fish have been caught and released in the last week. Largemouth bass have pretty much settled in to their summer pattern and have been relating to the thick cover. Soft plastics and weedless topwater baits have been the most productive and have to be fished in the wood, tight to the bog/marsh edges or in the weed pockets. Smallmouth bass also have been very active with the best success on the local flowages and larger rivers. The smallmouth bass have been a little harder to find on the bigger natural lakes. Small finesse plastics have been the favorite baits and the fish have been relating to wood near deeper water areas. Walleye action also has picked up a notch and a few anglers have been reporting some very nice catches. Leeches and crawlers fished on the mid-lake rock humps and along/in the weeds have produced most of the fish. Panfish action continues to be fair. Larger perch have been a little tough to find but some decent catches of bluegill, crappie and rock bass have been reported. - Skip Sommerfeldt, senior fisheries biologist, Park Falls

Flambeau River State Forest - Paddlers are enjoying some great water conditions, especially on the North Fork of the Flambeau River. Blooming now are goldenrod, coneflower, boneset, jewelweed and black-eyed susan. Berries that are ripe are wild-sarsaparilla, red baneberry, pagoda dogwood and bunchberry. - Judy Freeman, visitor services associate

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Northeast Region

Northern Lake Michigan fisheries team report - Compiled from creel clerks

Marinette County - The mouth of the Peshtigo River has been producing some nice catches of catfish and drum using crawlers fished on bottom. Smallmouth anglers have been successful using tube jigs in and around the mouth of the Peshtigo with some fish in the 5-pound range being caught. Menominee River anglers have been catching pan fish, walleye, sheepshead, and catfish fishing from shore as well as trolling. Live bait and plastic baits are working well. Most of the walleye action is coming during the evening hours. Trout and salmon fishing in the bay remains slow, with fewer and fewer boats targeting these fish.

Oconto County - Some pan fish and smallmouth bass are being caught below the dam at Stiles using worms and night crawlers drifted close to the pilings below the dam. Boaters and canoeists are reporting some very nice smallmouth bass being caught below the Highway 141 bridge to the river mouth. Plastics, spinners and surface baits are working well. From the Pensaukee Landing to Oconto Park II the perch fishing has been fair to good. Crappie rigs and slip bobbers fished in 8 to 14 feet of water using minnows has been working well. Trolling crawler/harness around the Oconto shoal has been producing some nice numbers of walleye. At Geano's Beach, fishing activity was very slow during the week with only a few trailers being present. By the weekend, fishing activity was high with anglers targeting walleye and a few for musky. Walleye numbers were low with anglers using night crawlers, and crawler harnesses (pink, purple, gold) for bait in about 12-25 feet of water. Only one musky was caught and released using Rapalas (black/red) in about 6 feet of water. Other anglers were using buck tails in about 4-15 of water with no luck. Sheepshead and catfish were caught while targeting walleye and musky, with numbers staying low and a few yellow perch were also caught with only a few being kept by anglers.

Green Bay DNR Service Center area

Brown County - At the Fox River-Metro Launch, fishing activity was very low during the week and there were a few pleasure boaters. Over the weekend, there was a walleye tournament taking place, so fishing activity increased. At Fox Point, fishing activity continues to be slow. An angler was targeting walleye in 16 feet of water using leeches. Unfortunately, no walleye were caught but a few catfish were caught and released. At Fox River Shore, fishing activity has been moderate, with most anglers looking to catch rough fish mainly using night crawlers and spinners (green). The species caught were white bass, catfish, sheepshead, and smallmouth bass with white bass and sheepshead being the most prevalent. A few other anglers were looking for perch and bluegill using wax worms with having little luck. At Suamico fishing activity at the beginning of the week was slow and increased by the weekend. Anglers were mainly targeting walleye with numbers looking better than past weeks. Anglers used various types of baits: night crawlers, gulps (green and white), crawler harnesses (green, purple, orange, etc), and crank baits (fire tiger, perch, and blue) in an average depth of about 12-27 feet of water. By the weekend, fishing depths seemed to go a little deeper to around 22-30 feet of water. Many anglers reported fishing off Geano's Reef and other shoals in the area, but alternated back and forth from open water to the reefs. Several other species were caught along with targeting walleye; they were yellow perch (low numbers), sheepshead, catfish and a few white bass, white perch and a few gobies. Fishing from the shore in Suamico activity was low, but there were a few anglers looking for perch, bluegill, and rock bass. No bluegill or rock bass were caught, but a few perch were caught using worms and leeches for bait. At Bayshore Park fishing activity was high on Friday and throughout the weekend with the majority of anglers targeting perch and just a few seeking walleye. A good number of perch were caught with about half returning with their limits. Perch were caught in 16-24 feet of water using leeches, night crawlers, and minnows. Low numbers of walleye were caught. They were caught in 12-24 feet of water using crank baits (purple, perch color) night crawlers, and crawler harnesses (red, gold, purple). Other species caught were sheepshead, gobies, white bass, and white perch.

Manitowoc County - Fishing continues to be slower than expected out of Two Rivers and Manitowoc. Most boats are averaging two to three fish per outing of rainbow trout, chinook, lake trout, coho, and a brown trout occasionally caught. Fish seem to be spread out and boats that are trolling 10 miles out are having similar success to boats two miles out. Many anglers are having the most luck using dipsy divers or leadcore with spoons. Many are also using J-Plug style baits in their arsenal. There have been some large fish caught including a 30- pound chinook out of Manitowoc and a 15-pound rainbow out of Two Rivers, though there are a lot of small chinooks still being caught. Surface temperatures have been in the low 60s, with temperatures generally increasing the farther from shore you get. Most anglers are working lures 30 to 50 feet down in the water column in 35 to 90 feet of water. Water fleas are fouling many lines and making superlines difficult to use. Some chinook salmon are already turning darker and moving towards shore. Pier anglers have been catching a few salmon and brown trout in Two Rivers and Manitowoc during low light conditions. A few fish have been taken while fishing the lake bottom with alewives, but most have been caught on casting spoons. Some nice sized northern pike and smallmouth have been caught by those targeting them.

Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area

Door County - At Chaudoir's Dock fishing activity was very high. Anglers were mainly targeting perch with a few looking for walleye, smallmouth bass, and muskies (without success). Perch numbers were good overall with the average sizes 8 to 10 inches. Main baits used were night crawlers and minnows in about 22-27 feet of water. Other species caught were sheepshead, gobies, white perch, and a white sucker. Smallmouth bass were caught on plastics (green pumpkin) in about seven feet of water. A few were caught and all released. The majority of the anglers are heading about 1.5 miles north of the launch to fish for perch. Walleye numbers were low, average size was about 18 inches in about 20-30 feet of water. Some anglers also used crank baits for the Walleye (perch color and others). At Little Sturgeon Bay fishing activity was moderate with many trailers observed in the parking lot, though few interviews were conducted. Anglers targeted perch in 11 feet of water using minnows and night crawlers. High numbers were caught but low numbers were kept due to the small size of perch. A few anglers sought smallmouth bass in 12-20 feet of water. A few shore and pier fisherman were also observed targeting perch and bluegill without success. At Sawyer's Harbor fishing activity was low with just a few trailers in the area. Anglers targeted smallmouth bass in 11 feet of water using night crawlers. A few gobies were also caught.

Wind plays a large factor in where the salmon are biting, and attention should be paid to where the cooler water is in the top layer because that seems to be where the fish are most active. A good west wind, for example, blows the warmer water out this time of year and can bring the fish closer to shore. Fly/dodger combo and spoons are top bait choices in Door County with action coming anywhere from 75 to 400 feet of water, but 100 to 250 feet has been doing the best most of the time. Bass fishing is going good all over the county, with the best bite in 8 to 15 feet of water along the transition areas. Keep your live bait about a foot off the bottom to stop the gobies from taking it, or try casting twister tails or tubes. In a boat, bass can be found from the southern part of the county all the way up to Washington Island. From shore, try Anderson’s Dock in Ephraim, the end of the pier in Egg Harbor, Weborg’s Point in Peninsula State Park, or the pier at Rowley’s Bay on the lakeside. Good places to try for walleyes are the islands and off-shore reefs north of Sister Bay, around Chambers Island or the smaller islands near the Fish Creek/Peninsula State Park area, Hat Island out of Egg Harbor, and many places in the southern part of the county. Some anglers are even launching from George K. Pinney (formerly Stone Quarry) and going across the bay to Oconto. Crawler harnesses or crank baits in purple or blue/silver are very popular choices for bait, and most of the action is coming in 25 to 50 feet of water with bait in the top 20 feet. Perch are being caught with minnows or crawlers in several places around the county. The shipping canal along memorial dive and the old train bridge in Sturgeon Bay, Egg Harbor and Ephraim are some places to try.

Kewaunee County - At the Red River there was a few trailers observed over the weekend and a few interviews were recorded. All were targeting perch and all came back with their limits after a few hours of fishing. Perch were caught in 17 and 25 feet of water using night crawlers and minnows. Gobies were also caught while seeking perch. Flasher flies and spoons were the top baits in Kewaunee County with most fish coming up high in the water column, the top 60 feet or so, but a handful being caught in the cold water just below the thermocline. As has been the case recently, the depth at which they are biting changes throughout the day. Generally they are closer to shore in the early morning, moving out to deeper water as the sun rises. 150 to 250 feet of water has been popular, many charters run out to 500-600 feet with success, and some anglers have found a few as shallow as 60-75 feet of water, so don’t be afraid to move around.

The average for private boats was 1 to 4 fish per trip with nine to 11 top of the mark for the week. The best charter trips were bringing in 12 to 15 fish from what we saw. It has been a mixed bag of king and steelhead salmon in equal proportions with a few coho salmon and lake trout mixed in.

We have seen bass, trout and salmon while walking the piers in Kewaunee County this week. There have been a few reports of brown trout getting caught, usually during the early morning with the cooler water near shore. Look for rain to help bring the fish in then get out there and drop some live bait under a slip bobber for bass or cast a spoon with the wind for a chance at a salmon or trout.

Oshkosh DNR Service Center area

Fond du Lac County - Hot summer and cool nights keep the anglers happy in the Kettles. Folks have been seeing good size bass being caught along with good panfish. The turkeys and deer are frequently visiting the lush fields as fall comes around the corner. - Kyle Kosin, Conservation Warden, Campbellsport

Winnebago County -

There have been reports of sporadic perch and walleye fishing along the northwest part of Lake Winnebago. Anglers encountered/checked at Recreation Park (Neenah) report poor to good fishing. Walleye fishermen are using crawlers; perch fishermen are using both night crawlers (and green crawlers) and hellgrammites in deeper water. For those folks without boats, anglers are catching pan fishing (perch, crappie and bluegill) at Island Park (across the street from Theda Clark hospital) in Neenah. - Tom Sturdivant, Conservation Warden Neenah Station

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Southeast Region

Southern Lake Michigan fisheries team report - Compiled from creel clerks by Cheryl Masterson and Jeffrey Zinuticz, fisheries technicians, Milwaukee

Sheboygan County - Many trollers were on the lake off Sheboygan over the weekend due to the Coho Derby. Success varied, with the average catch about four fish per boat. In the past couple days, fish have been caught between 35 and 300 feet of water, but the better catches seem to be around 300 feet. Anglers reported success on a variety of baits, including spoons, flashers and flies, as well as J-Plugs. Strong winds likely changed things, but over the weekend cold water, about 47 degrees, was reported starting at a depth of 25 feet in 60 feet of water. The 8th Street ramp remains closed. Fishing remains relatively slow off the Sheboygan piers and shoreline, however, a few rainbow and brown trout have been taken on spoons fished off the south pier. Schools of alewives could be seen around the south pier, but none were around off the north pier.

Ozaukee County - In Port Washington trollers have been catching mainly a mixed bag of small chinook salmon, rainbow trout, lake trout, and coho. Most fish were caught between 70 and 110 feet of water, but catches were reported anywhere between 45 and 375 feet of water. Many anglers reported missing quite a few fish and continue to mark lots of bait. Flashers and flies continue to produce fish, but quite a few anglers reported success using spoons. Fishing pressure remains low on the pier. Small perch continue to be caught, along with a couple of small browns and chinooks off the end of the pier. Schools of alewives can also be seen near the base of the pier. Water clarity remains good in and around the marina. The path to Fisherman’s Park remains closed.

Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee Chinook fishing for trollers was fairly strong over the weekend. Most were focusing in 35 to 60 feet down in 75 to 105 feet of water. Spoons in blue, green, purple, and glow produced the most, and a few rainbows, browns, and lakers were also caught. The average catch per boat Saturday night was about five fish, with some larger chinooks 20 to 25 pounds. Anglers fishing off of McKinley pier caught a few brown trout on green spoons or white plastics with the best area being on the rocks and the pier on the lakeside. Perch fishing has been slow off of the pier with little to no reports of perch being caught. The best place to target them would be off of the rocks at first light. A few small perch have been caught in the river channel under the Hoan Bridge on minnows. Perch fishing has also picked up around the South Shore pier with keeper perch averaging 10 to 12 inches on minnows off the bottom.

Racine County - Trollers in Racine reported chinooks caught while fishing 45 feet down in 80 to 90 feet of water near the Oak Creek power plant. Glow in the dark spoons have produced well. Fishing was slow for those trolling south of the Racine harbor. Shore fishing in Racine was slow, although a few chinooks were reported caught on alewives fished off of the South Pier in the overnight hours. The rebuilding project on South Pier continues, which has disrupted some angling experiences. Perch fishing remains slow, with 1 or 2 perch caught on a good day. The surface temperature at the lakefront averaged 65-68 degrees during the week.

Kenosha County - Kenosha trollers have been doing well during the early morning or late evening hours but fishing has been slow during the day. The hills have been producing a few mature chinooks, and smaller chinooks have been taken out of 45 feet of water just north of the harbor. Some boaters reported nice catches of perch off the north side of the breakwall on Saturday. Fishing pressure on the Kenosha piers was steady this week, but the catch rate for browns has tapered off. A few fish are still being taken, but not the numbers of them from a couple of weeks ago. A few anglers have been catching some nice size perch on tube jigs while fishing for browns. There were very few perch anglers seen on the Kenosha shoreline this week. The surface temperature at the lakefront averaged 65-69 degrees during the week.

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South Central Region

Dodgeville DNR Service Center area

Iowa County - The water levels and weather on the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway have been making for some great paddling and summer camping. Fishing has been good for smallmouth bass, pan fish, walleyes, and sauger. White to pearl colored crank baits, and night crawlers have been the most successful baits used. Fishing on Cox Hollow in Governor Dodge State Park has been consistence with many panfish, bass, and a few walleyes being caught, on night crawlers and lures. - Lee Posusta, conservation warden recruit, Iowa County

Fitchburg DNR Service Center area

Sauk County - As the cooler nights start, the water temperature on the Wisconsin River has dropped a few degrees and the walleyes and smallmouth have been biting. Lake Wisconsin has been slow for fishing, however the good opportunities will start as the water cools in September. Warden Buss reminds hunters to go visit with landowners and get permission to hunt or renew permission from past years. The hummingbirds are fighting at backyard feeders as these small birds get ready for a long migration across the Gulf of Mexico. The backyard displays as hummingbirds feed has been very enjoyable for backyard feeders. - John Buss, conservation warden, Prairie du Sac

Janesville DNR Service Center area

Willow River State Park - Some of the trees are showing fall color already-typically it is the ash trees which have a short growing season. Weekend use continues to be heavy so plan on some time to walk to Willow Falls. Only 12 vehicles are allowed in the closest parking lot. Weekend programs continue at the Nature Center. A variety of things to do and learn will be ongoing from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Hunting season information is available at the office. It is a two sheet set with information and a map. Various hunting-trapping regulation booklets will be available soon. The least visited trails in the park are the Red in the main park and the Mound trail that connects the Mound lot and the Rattle Bridge lot. There have been a number of goldfinches around the office in recent weeks. They appear any time of day.

Weekend camping tends to be full and we have been running nearly full on electric sites during the week. - Jeffrey L. Bolte, visitor services associate

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West Central Region

La Crosse DNR Service Center area

Black River State Forest - Highs in the upper 70s to low 80s predicted through the weekend with lows in the 50s at night along with minimal chances of rain. Great temperatures and a reduced bug population makes now a great time to camp. Trails are being groomed this week and should be in good condition for the upcoming weekend. Crews are working on the Pray connector to improve three key wetland crossings. This work helps maintain the longterm sustainability of the trail system. Late this fall we will be adding electricity to eight sites at Castle Mound bringing our total to 14 electric sites. This is to meet an increased demand for this amenity by our campers. Starting next year the park plans on having the electric sites on the reservation system from May 1 through the first weekend on October. - Peter Bakken, superintendent

Eau Claire DNR Service Center area

Eau Claire County -Fishing has been pretty slow in Eau Claire County as water temperatures have dropped with the cool nights. Water

[Rick]

MADISON, WI - The weekly Wisconsin fishing reports & hunting report from 8/22/13 are gathered by local DNR officials, angler creel surveys, county and state parks staff. They are compiled. There are always current Wisconsin Fishing Reports and hunting reports as well as outdoor reports in this

For Current Wisconsin Fishing Reports - Click Here

To visit the Wisconsin Outdoor Fishing-Hunting Community Forum Click Here.

Fall and winter are closer than we want to admit but there is still a lot of time to get out and enjoy the wonders in our backyards. Take the family camping, canoeing or to the lake for a picnic. Or just take the family fishing or on a bike ride. Get those last summer memories with the kids before they are back in school.

Fishing success has been pretty good in the Northwoods in the past week with the weather and the fish cooperating. Sunny skies and warm temperatures made for some pleasant angling conditions, with musky and bass especially active. Musky success continued to be good and most anglers reported some good action from small and medium-size fish (32 to 42 inches). Walleye action did pick up a notch and a few anglers have been reporting some decent catches. Leeches and crawlers fished along the weed edges and in weed pockets have produced most of the fish, though some also have been found on the deeper gravel and rock bars. Panfish action continues to be fair. Larger bluegill have been a little tough to find but some decent catches of crappie and rock bass have been reported.

Anglers fishing Lake Michigan waters out of Manitowoc County are reporting that good fishing for chinook and steelhead can be found in deeper water. Best catches have come from 120 to 350 feet of water and generally east of the commercial fishing nets.

In Door County, the 9th Annual Sturgeon Bay Offshore Challenge was a success. Winners of the ladies and kids division on Friday had a 5-fish bag weighing just over 68 pounds. Last week’s Shanty Days tournament in Algoma saw 10 kings over 20 pounds, with a 25.68 pound chinook taking the top prize. Top steelhead was around 12.5 pounds and the largest lake trout around 10 pounds.

Check the Lake Michigan fishing hotlines for more information: 920-746-2873 for northern Lake Michigan and Green Bay and 414-382-7920 for southern Lake Michigan.

On Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area in southeastern Wisconsin, staff has begun slowly reflooding the areas and will continue to do so over the next few weeks. Waterfowl hunters can expect water levels to be low during the early goose and youth duck hunts, but should be back to normal fall levels for the Sept 28 duck season opener.

More than 20 wildfires burned across the state this week. The largest fire of the week burned 13 acres of swamp and forest land in Sawyer County. If you are considering outdoor burning, please put it off until enough rain has occurred to lower the fire danger.

Bird migration is now in full swing, most notably including large numbers of land birds this week. Warblers such as blackpoll, Wilson’s, Cape May, Tennessee and others have begun their push into the northern part of the state from breeding areas in the boreal forests of Canada. Southern Wisconsin also saw its first wave of warbler migrants, including chestnut-sided, Tennessee, black-and-white, and N. water thrush. Expect warbler numbers and diversity to build with each passing cold front over the next few weeks. Birders should focus in woodlots along lakeshores, stream corridors, city parks, and other local hotspots. Many flycatchers are on the move now as well, including the highly sought olive-sided and yellow-bellied, while large numbers of cedar waxwings also have been reported. Common nighthawk migration is underway as hundreds are being seen almost daily as far south as Sheboygan. Keep an eye to the sky in evenings for flocks of these unique birds winging their way to South America.

Blackberries are starting to ripen in the Waupaca area. Pickers are reported finding ripe berries in sunny areas. Along the Mississippi River, the Prairie Garden near the Wyalusing State Park Office is in full bloom and very beautiful. Flowers in bloom in the Prairie Garden include: royal catch fly, pale purple coneflower, butterfly milkweed, joe pyeweed, culver’s root, thimbleweed, prairie onion and grey-headed coneflowers. Black-eyed susans, grey-headed coneflowers and purple Coneflowers can be found in the fields near the office.

This week marks the retirement of Jeffrey Bolte, a visitor services associate at Willow River State Park. Jeffrey has been contributing to the Outdoor Report for 15 years. Jeffrey has supplied the Outdoor Report writers with very up-to-date and helpful information, and we want to thank him for helping people enjoy the great outdoors. Have a wonderful retirement Jeffrey, best wishes from the Outdoor Report staff and thank you for your service to DNR and the citizens and natural resources of Wisconsin!

Wildfire Report

Spotty rain and high heat? The dog days of summer may be upon us. This drying trend is accompanied by elevated fire danger across the state and we are seeing wildfire activity increasing. More than 20 wildfires burned across the state this week. The largest fire of the week burned 13 acres of swamp and forest land in Sawyer County. Five fire departments assisted DNR in putting out the fire. Wildfires are started by a variety of sources this time of year: equipment, people burning brush or trash, railroads, power lines, etc. People are urged to be extra cautious this time of year when working or playing outdoors. If you are considering outdoor burning, please put it off until enough rain has occurred to lower the fire danger. In many areas, DNR burning permits have been suspended until conditions moderate. You can always refer to the DNR web site for more information. Go to dnr.wi.gov and enter the keywords “fire danger.” Or call 1-888-WIS-BURN (947-2876) after 11 a.m.

Statewide Birding Report

Bird migration is now in full swing, most notably including large numbers of land birds this week. Warblers such as blackpoll, Wilson’s, Cape May, Tennessee and others have begun their push into the northern part of the state from breeding areas in the boreal forests of Canada. Southern Wisconsin also saw its first wave of warbler migrants, including chestnut-sided, Tennessee, black-and-white, and N. water thrush. Expect warbler numbers and diversity to build with each passing cold front over the next few weeks. Birders should focus in woodlots along lakeshores, stream corridors, city parks, and other local hotspots. Many flycatchers are on the move now as well, including the highly sought olive-sided and yellow-bellied, while large numbers of cedar waxwings also have been reported. Common nighthawk migration is underway as hundreds are being seen almost daily as far south as Sheboygan. Keep an eye to the sky in evenings for flocks of these unique birds winging their way to South America. Another evening ritual to enjoy this time of year is the communal roosting behavior of chimney swifts at select chimneys in our urban areas. Swallows have largely vacated the north but are congregating at wetlands in the south. These wetlands are also hosting concentrations of duck broods, rails, egrets, herons, and other water birds. Shorebird abundance and diversity is outstanding right now at suitable habitats and viewing locations [hyperlink "viewing locations" to https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=210938529045015584872.0004e18e3115850023110&msa=0], including rarities such as American avocet, buff-breasted sandpiper, and ruddy turnstone. Closer to home, backyard birders are reporting high numbers of baltimore orioles and ruby-throated Hummingbirds at their feeders this past week although adult males of both species have mostly vacated the state now. Another adult male Rufous hummingbird was found in Wood County. As always, help us track bird populations and their migration patterns by reporting your sightings to www.ebird.org/wi. - Ryan Brady, Bureau of Wildlife Management research scientist, Ashland

[Rick]

MADISON, WI - The weekly Wisconsin fishing reports & hunting report from 8/29/13 are gathered by local DNR officials, angler creel surveys, county and state parks staff. They are compiled. There are always current Wisconsin Fishing Reports and hunting reports as well as outdoor reports in this

For Current Wisconsin Fishing Reports - Click Here

To visit the Wisconsin Outdoor Fishing-Hunting Community Forum Click Here.

With the exception of some strong storms that moved through northern Wisconsin this week, the rest of the state has been experiencing a dry spell. Current fire danger is high in west central Wisconsin but low to moderate in most of the state.

The rainfall in the north is keeping river systems flowing and paddling conditions remain good on the Flambeau and Chippewa rivers. But dry conditions in the south have the lower Wisconsin River flowing at very low levels. While that means there will be abundant sandbars for the upcoming holiday weekend, navigation may be difficult.

With warm weather continuing in the forecast for the holiday weekend, conservation wardens are expecting boating traffic to be very high. Boaters will need to use caution in high traffic areas and are encouraged to keep a lookout at all times. Be safe and courteous to other people on the lake so everyone is able to enjoy their time on the water.

Despite the warm temperatures, fishing activity remained pretty hot across the Northwoods this week, with both largemouth and smallmouth bass again the highlight. Smallmouth were found being near structure along hard bottom areas that were also close to deeper water, while largemouth bass have been favoring woody cover, deep weed lines, and bog edges. Musky activity also continued to be good, but no especially large musky have been reported. Walleye fishing continues to be sporadic and panfish action has been fair.

Along Lake Michigan, winds and high waves limited trolling activity at times in the last week, while shore and pier fishing activity picked up. Boats out of Racine and Kenosha were trolling in 20-30 feet of water this week as the king salmon have started moving closer to shore. Farther north, some fish were seen jumping in the Ahnapee River, heading upstream, so there is a good chance that the first few fish are preparing to make their fall runs up the river. Fish will often make a few ‘false starts’ before moving in for good.

The first of the fall hunting seasons open this coming week, with the opening of the early Canada goose and dove seasons on Sept. 1. The early goose season targets locally breeding giant Canada geese, which have begun to flock up and congregate on area lakes and wetlands. Doves have been showing up in good numbers over the past week and hunters should look at the morning dove hunting section of the DNR website for locations of planted sunflower fields.

Hunters who forgot to apply for a fall turkey permit can purchase leftover permits in zones 1, 3 or 4 at any DNR license agent. Check the DNR website for leftover fall turkey permit availability.

Whitetail bucks are still in velvet but should begin shedding soon. Young foxes and coyotes are being seen. Young of the year often wander during the day and are more visible less wary than adults. The high cottontail rabbit population will likely result in more young foxes and coyotes this year.

Flocks of bluebirds and blackbirds are gathering. Bluebird concentrations tend to number about 10-20 birds, but blackbird flocks reach several hundred to more than one thousand birds. And birders and non-birders alike went crazy over common nighthawks this week, as these aerial insectivores conspicuously winged their way across Wisconsin’s evening skies en route for wintering grounds in South America. Though breeding populations of this species are on the decline, late August and very early September bring peak numbers of Canadian migrants to the state.

Statewide Birding Report

Birders and non-birders alike went crazy over common nighthawks this week, as these aerial insectivores conspicuously winged their way across Wisconsin’s evening skies en route for wintering grounds in South America. Though breeding populations of this species are on the decline, late August and very early September bring peak numbers of Canadian migrants to the state. Despite hot and humid conditions, landbird migration continued strong this week, yielding greater numbers of warblers, flycatchers, grosbeaks, and waxwings – a trend that should continue in the weeks ahead. The Labor Day forecast looks very promising for ushering in a flood of migrants on cooler northwest winds. Hummingbird and oriole numbers are likely at peak and are expected to decline in the weeks ahead, but birders can attract other feathered friends to their backyards with bird baths, fountains, ponds, and other water features. Shorebird migration is still strong at various sites (exit DNR) including up to 2000 birds recently reported at Buffalo Lake in Marquette County. Raptor migration is just getting underway as the first American kestrels, broad-winged hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, and ospreys head south. This week’s rarest finds were western kingbirds in both Kewaunee and Dodge counties and a long-tailed Jaeger at Lake Superior in Douglas County. As always, help us track bird populations and their migration patterns by reporting your sightings to www.ebird.org/wi (exit DNR).

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Northern Region

Ashland DNR Service Center area

Bayfield County – The northern part of the county finally received anywhere from 2-4 inches of rain over the last week. The fire danger had been high, but should be coming back down. Quite a few ferns and other smaller trees had started to turn colors and dry up already from the lack of rain. It has been hot in the north so things are still in summer mode for animals. The blackberry crop is starting to come in and with the needed rain it should be good pickings for humans, bears, and other critters. The bear dog hound training season runs through Saturday, August 31 which is Labor Day weekend so people should be aware of them this weekend while they are out and about. The bear dog hunters will start their hunting season starting Wednesday, Sept. 4. - Amie Egstad, conservation warden, Bayfield

Hayward DNR Service Center area

Sawyer County - Individuals baiting for bear have noticed that the bear activity has slowed slightly with the warm weather and the abundance of berries, acorns and other natural foods in the woods. When the natural food starts ripening bear will typically turn their attention to that over the sugary bait being used. Individuals baiting bear should keep in mind that if they check their bait and it is not all consumed, they should not replenish with all the new bait brought in as the 10 gallon limit still applies. Whatever is left counts as the 10 gallons for that day if re-baiting. River fishing on the Chippewa and North and South Forks of the Flambeau rivers is spotty. Individuals were doing well on smallmouth with spinner baits and surface lures. Walleye were a little more tight lipped and require a slow presentation in the early morning or late evening due to low, warm water. Live bait seems to be doing the trick better than artificial for the walleye. - Thomas Heisler Jr., conservation warden, Winter

Spooner DNR Service Center area

Interstate Park - This is it! Labor Day weekend marks the end of the full summer schedule of naturalist programs at Wisconsin Interstate Park. With the start of school, the fall season, cooler weather and colored leaves, the summer naturalist programs will wind to a close along with the summer season. So if you always meant to come to one of the scheduled hikes, activities or evening programs, now is your opportunity to do it. Please check the program schedule on the park website for more information. Remember, there’s a lot to do at Interstate Park year round. Special activities may be scheduled to take advantage of this area’s beautiful fall colors. The fall season is the perfect time to explore and enjoy Interstate Park. Visit Interstate’s website at www.friendsofinterstatepark.org (exit DNR) and “Like” them on Facebook for more information and upcoming events. - Julie Fox, natural resources educator

Park Falls DNR Service Center area

Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - With the hot and humid weather of the past week, fishing activity was also considered pretty hot across the Northwoods. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass were the highlight of the week, with most area bass waters providing some great action. For the smallmouth, quite a few fish were found near structure along hard bottom areas that were also close to deeper water. Most of the action was from 12 to 15 inch fish, but some nicer fish in the 17 to 19 inch size have also been caught and released. Deep-running crank baits and small finesse plastics were the most successful baits. The largemouth bass have been favoring the woody cover, the deep weed lines, and bog edges, with soft plastics and jig/craw combinations providing most of the success. Top-water action has been rather slow. Musky activity also continued to be good. Fish have been very active the last few weeks and most anglers have reported plenty of action. Buck tails, glide baits and top-water baits continue to be the lures of choice and most of the fish have been found along the weed edges and in the less-dense weed beds. No especially large musky have been reported, and most of the fish have been in the 28 to 38-inch size. Walleye fishing continues to be sporadic, with some fair reports of success. The catches that have been reported have come from deep-water structure such as cribs and gravel humps, with leaches and crawlers being the favored baits. Panfish action has been fair, with some nice bluegill and crappie being found suspended near mid-depth structure. Rock bass however, continue to be especially active and have provided many anglers with at least some sort of action. - Skip Sommerfeldt, senior fisheries biologist, Park Falls

Flambeau River State Forest - The river is still at a great level on the north fork for paddlers. Berries that are ripe are smooth honeysuckles and blackberries. Blooming are common St. John’s-wort and large-leaved aster. Mushrooms out are king bolete or “steinpilz” and destroying angel Amanita. Some maples are starting to turn to a brilliant red or orange. Due to the drought conditions some trees are dropping leaves green and dry. Bucks are still in velvet. The Connors Lake Campground will close Tuesday, Sept. 3 and will reopen Thursday before Memorial Day. Lake of the Pines Campground will remain open till December 15, 2013. - Judy Freeman, visitor services associate

Antigo DNR Service Center area

Langlade County - The blackberry crop is very good to excellent in the Antigo area. Large sized berries and good quantities. Giant Canada geese have begun to congregate on area lakes and wetlands. They are also starting to show up in agricultural fields particularly fields where oats and wheat have been harvested. - Eric J. Borchert, wildlife technician, Antigo

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Northeast Region

Northern Lake Michigan fisheries team report - Compiled by David Boyarski, fisheries supervisor, Sturgeon Bay

Marinette County - Boats fishing out of the Peshtigo Harbor were mainly fishing for bass, with a few fish being caught in and around the mouth of the river using plastics or live bait. Fishing at the dam in Peshtigo was also slow for the pan fish angler. Boaters out of Little River are catching perch adjacent to weed beds early in the morning using minnows. Some panfish, bass, sheepshead, and walleye are being caught on the Menominee River by shore anglers and boaters alike. Rapapla's and plastics being trolled or live bait fished dead stick are the methods being employed. Staff observed many berry-pickers this week in northern Marinette County.

Oconto County - At Geano Beach fishing activity was slow during the week and seemed to pick up a little by the weekend. Anglers were looking for walleye, having little luck. They used crawler harnesses (various colors) in about 15-20 feet of water and released them. A few sheepshead and a catfish were also caught in the targeting of walleye.

Brown County - At Fox River Metro fishing activity was slow during the week and picked up some by the end of the weekend. Anglers were mainly targeting musky with a few looking for walleye. Walleye numbers were low overall with only a few catching their limits. Anglers used crank baits (blue/silver, black/silver) and crawler harnesses (purple/gold) in about 12 feet of water. The average sizes of the walleye were about 18 to 19 inches. No musky were caught with fisherman mainly using bucktails (orange/black), cranks and stick baits (chartreuse) in a range of about 10-20 feet of water and as shallow as 3 feet of water. Other species of fish that were caught while targeting walleye and musky were a few sheepshead, all released. Shore anglers were very spread out throughout the Fox River, with handful of anglers at various parks. Fishing activity was slow during the week and was busier by the weekend. Anglers were mainly targeting rough fish (catfish, sheepshead, white bass, etc). The most heavily used baits were night crawlers and leeches with a few using minnows. Numbers of rough fish caught was low during the week and picked up a little bit more by the weekend. At Duck Creek there were a few anglers shore fishing looking for perch and largemouth bass. Baits used for perch were night crawlers and a flicker/shad (black/yellow) for the largemouth bass. Perch numbers were doing well, but mostly all of them were released due to them being very small. Other species caught while looking for perch were bluegill, pumpkinseed, rock bass, gobies, and a few log perch. At the Suamico River fishing activity was slow during the week with only a handful or trailers being observed and picked up by the end of the weekend. Anglers were looking for musky using bucktails in about 10 to 12 feet of water. A musky was caught; the fishermen reported it to be 48 inches and released. At the Suamico River a few shore anglers were looking for perch and bluegill. Only handfuls were caught and all were released due to them being very small. At Bayshore Park fishing activity was high with anglers targeting perch and walleye. Perch numbers at the beginning of the week were low with only a few boats having their limits. A lot of perch were released due to them being very small in size. By the weekend, both perch and walleye numbers were good with some anglers reaching their bag limit. Perch were caught in 15-25 feet of water using leeches, night crawlers, worms, and minnows. Walleye numbers were good with most anglers coming in with their bag limit. Walleye were caught in 15-22 feet of water using minnows, crank baits (perch color, firetiger), flicker shads (gold, black, yellow) night crawlers, and crawler harnesses (red, gold, purple). Some other species caught while targeting walleye and perch were sheepshead, gobies, catfish, white bass, white perch, and an alewife.

Door County - At Chaudoir's Dock fishing activity was moderate during the week due to high winds making the water rough for fishing. By the weekend, fishing activity was very busy with anglers mainly targeting perch with a few looking for walleye. Perch numbers were very low during the week, but picked up over the weekend. The main baits used were night crawlers and minnows in about 15-25 feet of water. Other species caught while targeting perch were sheepshead, gobies, white perch, white bass, a couple whitefish, a smallmouth, and a white sucker. At Sawyer Harbor fishing activity was slow during the week with only a few anglers looking for perch and smallmouth bass. Anglers used night crawlers and minnows for bait in about 8 to 14 feet of water. Numbers were low for both species of fish and all were released due to them being small in size. A few rough fish were also caught while targeting perch and smallmouth bass; a bullhead and a sheepshead (all released). At Little Sturgeon Bay fishing activity was slow throughout the whole week. Anglers were targeting perch in about 15-20 feet of water using night crawlers for bait. One fisherman reported high numbers but none were kept due to the small size of perch and the other anglers had no luck and caught only gobies. At the bank reef out of Sturgeon Bay, trolling in 100 to 150 feet of water, remained productive, while anglers venturing out to 250 to 300 feet of water were returning with some nice catches too. Fly and dodger combos and spoons are the most popular baits. Baileys Harbor had some good action this week especially in the mornings, anywhere from 90 to 300 of water, while Gills Rock and Washington Island are taking a few. Bass fishing is still going good all over the county in anywhere from 8 to 20 feet of water. Crawlers, tubes, grubs, twister tails and spinner baits are good baits, and Pinney Park (formerly Stone Quarry), Rowley’s Bay, Ephraim and Bay View Park in Sturgeon Bay are good places. Walleye fishing is probably still best in the southern part of the county, but Chambers Island out of Fish Creek and the Sister Islands out of Sister Bay have had some nice catches coming in 15 to 30 feet of water. Limits of perch were being caught in the southern part of the county and around Sturgeon Bay. Crawlers and minnows are both great for bait along newly formed weed beds in 12 to 18 feet of water in the shipping canal, along memorial dive among the moored boats, or the outer bay along the Potawatomi State Park shoreline.

Kewaunee County - Fishing off the piers in Algoma and Kewaunee has been good especially during the first light of the day, but fish have been caught in the evening as well, mostly on spoons. With the full moon and clear skies last week, a lot of boats fished overnight and did well. Flasher flies and spoons were the top baits, and a good mix of fish are being found all over the place. Early morning trolling in the shallows is popular and productive, in 90 to 150 feet of water, especially after the recent rain. During the hotter part of the day, many boats head out to 300 feet of water or deeper and troll back towards shore. Some fish were seen jumping in the Ahnapee River, heading upstream, so there is a good chance that the first few fish are preparing to make their fall runs up the river. Fish will often make a few ‘false starts’ before moving in for good so now might be a good time to watch the fishing access points near the river mouths for some early run salmon. Crank baits, spoons and stick baits are fine, but the best bait for these spawning minded fish are the eggs themselves, wrapped around a hook to make a spawn sack. There are so many eggs floating around the river during spawning time, they make a great snack for fish on the move.

Manitowoc County - At Manitowoc, harbor fishing activity was low throughout the week and weekend. A couple anglers targeted smallmouth bass, electing to keep a few and releasing the rest. One angler reported catching a rainbow trout while targeting smallmouth bass, which he kept. One angler targeted yellow perch without success but reported catching a few white perch and one smallmouth bass, all released. At the Manitowoc piers fishing activity varied throughout the week, due to wind and rain. Majority of activity took place during the early morning hours of 4 a.m.-7 a.m. Anglers targeted salmon and trout with the best rate of success at the very beginning and very end of the week. Anglers reported catching a couple brown trout, a couple rainbow trout and a half dozen chinook salmon. At the Manitowoc ramp fishing activity was low though out the week, possibly due to varied weather conditions of wind and rain. A few anglers reported catching some rainbow trout in various depths from 150-350 feet, a couple coho salmon, and a good number of chinook salmon in 100-150 feet of water. At the Two River pier fishing activity was moderate throughout the week and weekend with anglers targeting different species of trout and salmon. Anglers had the greatest success at the start of the week when six chinook were caught. A couple chinook were also caught over the weekend. Other species caught were some alewives and a common carp. At the Two Rivers ramp fishing activity was low though a good number of fish were reportedly caught. Anglers targeted various species of trout and salmon.

Peshtigo DNR Service Center area

Shawano County - Even though it has been very hot you can start to see a few leaves starting to change color. Fall is just around the corner. Hunting season begins in a few days for doves and geese. Plenty of deer and turkeys can be seen in the fields around the area. This should be a great year of hunting. Fishing is still going on with the die-hards looking for panfish. Smallmouth bass action has been very good. Fishing should only get better and odds are you will have the lakes and rivers to yourself pretty soon. - Jim Horne, conservation warden, Shawano

Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area

Kewaunee County - With the return of the hot weather, the fishing has slowed on inland fishing spots. The musky fishing has been very good all summer on East Alaska Lake, with several fish over 40 inches being caught. Krohns Lake provided some good trout action during the month of August, with the best fishing being first and last light as well as after dark. Fishermen were catching the trout on a mix of live baits. The water level on Shea Lake has dropped considerably over the summer, but has provided decent crappie fishing. West Alaska Lake and Krohns Lake continue to be popular swimming spots on hot days. Swimmers are reminded to please be courteous of boaters attempting to use the boat launches and allow them plenty of room to enter and exit the water. - Kyle Lynch, conservation warden, Kewaunee County

Wautoma DNR Service Center area

Waupaca County -Water levels have dropped on area lakes within the last month. Kayakers and canoeists have had some difficulty navigating on several area rivers. Blackberries are still ripe but are close to being finished for the season. If you have any interest in picking, now is the time. Anglers have reported some success on panfish at the southern end of the Wolf Rive near Lake Poygon. Other than that, fishing has been slow. Nighthawks were recently seen in the Waupaca area, hinting that it is the start of their migration. - Ted Dremel, conservation warden, Wautoma

Better get out and pick blackberries now, they are just past peak and falling fast with the hot weather. Turkey broods are out and about in the morning hours, the brood size seems to average five to six poults. Geese have been very actively feeding in small grain stubble fields right. Trout streams are very low and could use some rain. Trout are biting mostly late in the evening or early in the morning and the deer have been very active early and late in the day. Bucks should be losing their velvet any day now. - Karl Kramer, wildlife technician, Wautoma

Oshkosh DNR Service Center area

Fond du Lac County - Conditions are very dry and water levels are low on area lakes and streams. Ducks are starting to fly out of the Horicon Marsh as wheat and sweet corn harvests continue. Fishing has been slow at best with the best action below the dam in Beaver Dam. There, the catfish have been biting quite well but they tend to be very small and skinny, not really keepers to most people. - Ben Nadolski, conservation warden, Waupun

Outagamie County - Over the past week, mourning doves have been showing up in good numbers. The fish bite on Lake Winnebago continues to be slow except for a few pockets where the perch have been biting. Hopefully we will get a cool down soon and continue getting rain and wind to break up the blue green algae. Smallmouth bass and catfish have been biting well all over on the Fox River. Opening weekend for goose season could be a challenge in the area as nearly all crop fields have standing crops and the geese have not been using open fields on a regular basis. - Ryan Propson, conservation warden, Appleton

Winnebago County - It is almost Labor Day and that usually means that waterfowl hunters are thinking about getting the boat on the water for the last time and the opening of the early September goose season. The early goose season opens on Sept. 1 and is open for 15 days. If goose hunters haven’t already found birds and fields they should start thinking about it. Asking for permission earlier rather than later is a better way of meeting landowners, allows for you to help them out if needed, and it beats the rush of other hunters getting the permission before you. Hunters are required to follow all waterfowl hunting laws and in addition to the required waterfowl license and stamps must purchase an early season goose permit. This permit must be carried and once a goose is shot the hunter must validate the goose permit for the appropriate date. Hunters must then report the geese harvested within 48 hours by calling 1-800-99-GOOSE. - Jason Higgins, conservation warden, Oshkosh

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Southeast Region

Milwaukee DNR Service Center area

Lakeshore State Park - Fishing has been generally slow from shore in southeast Lake Michigan, although there has been some success along the river channel and dock walls at the park behind the Marcus Amphitheater. The demonstration prairies are entering the fall blooming peak. The goldenrods are starting this week, and the asters will follow soon. Fall is coming - most of the swallows have already left the park. Cormorants and ruddy ducks are again present in the park’s lagoons. This year’s red fox kits are now hunting on their own, often near visitors. - Thomas Kroeger, parks and recreation specialist, Milwaukee

Southern Lake Michigan fisheries team report - - Compiled from creel clerks by Cheryl Masterson and Jeffrey Zinuticz, fisheries technicians, Milwaukee

Sheboygan County - Fishing pressure has fluctuated on the ramps, increased on the piers and has remained low on shore. One group caught a 7-pound rainbow and a 17-pound chinook in about 100 feet of water using spoons. Wave action near shore has been constant but light, and algae is still abundant around the launch and water clarity is poor near shore. Fishing pressure and catch rates improved over the weekend with most boats coming back with four to five fish and several groups limiting out with mixed bags of large rainbows, coho, and chinook; most groups caught fish in 250 to 300 feet of water, but several groups had luck in 90 to 130 feet, and most fish continue to be caught on spoons. A strong Southwest wind on Sunday made the lake choppy in open water and drove water temperature down near shore; fishing groups stayed closer to shore success dropped. Fishing pressure on the piers experienced and overall increase in the past few days but catch rates remained low. Water temperature was in the mid-40s on Wednesday, rising to around 60 degrees Saturday, and dropping suddenly back to the mid-40s on Sunday with a strong Southwest wind. Catches have mainly been small brown trout, but several chinook over 20 pounds have been landed; a 29.5-pound. chinook was caught off the end of South Pier on Saturday morning on an alewife. Fishing pressure has remained low on shore.

Ozaukee County - Fishing pressure has fluctuated on the ramp, remained low on the piers and increased slightly on shore. There has been constant light wave action near shore, generated by a predominantly light Southerly wind; wave action increased on Sunday due to a strong Southwest wind. Despite wave action, water clarity near shore is good. Trollers had success between 180 and 220 feet of water, landing a mixed bag of coho, chinook, and rainbow trout on predominantly flies. More than 90 boats launched on Saturday morning. Fishing pressure has increased on north Port Washington pier, but catch rates have remained low. A couple coho were caught during the week, along with several small perch. A few large chinook and coho were landed on Saturday, including two exceeding 20 pounds. Water temperature has fluctuated from the mid-40s during the week to near 60 on Saturday, and, due to a strong Southwest wind, plummeting back down to the mid-40s on Sunday. Water clarity is low near the base of North Pier, but it improves markedly away from shore; clarity in the marina remains good. Fishing pressure has increased on shore, mainly along the newly opened park next to the power plant with some success for brown trout, chinook and small rainbows.

Milwaukee County - Fishing especially for chinook remained steady over the weekend. Most Anglers were focusing in 70-150 feet of water with 35 to 60 feet below the surface producing the most fish. A few rainbow lake trout were also caught. Fishermen off of McKinley pier produced brown trout and a few chinook on green spoons or white plastics with the best area being on the rocks and the pier on the lakeside. Perch fishing was slow off of the pier with little to no reports of perch being caught. The best place to target them would be off of the rocks at first light. A few small perch were caught in the river channel under the Hoan Bridge on minnows. Fisherman on the Oak Creek power plant fishing pier had reports of a few small brown trout being caught; however, any chinook or lake trout seen swimming in the area were not actively feeding. Perch fishing picked up around the south shore pier and the pier off of the coast guard station with keeper perch averaging 10 to 12 inches on minnows off the bottom.

Racine County - Boating activity was low during the week but picked up on the weekend. Southeast and southwest winds at 10-15 mph created 3-5 foot waves, making the water too rough for some boats to fish earlier in the week. A couple of boaters returned to shore in less than half an hour. The catch rate continues to be low with many anglers coming in with only two to three fish per trip. One boat landed a 27 pound king and a 12 pound rainbow on Saturday while trolling in 80 feet of water near the last two hills. A steady line of boats were seen trolling in 20-30 feet of water this week as the kings have started moving closer to shore. A couple of anglers caught their limit of jumbo perch (12-13 inches in length) earlier in the week while fishing at the Oak Creek water treatment plant with minnows on the bottom. The perch were hitting for a few days and then they were gone. According to one of the anglers, boat traffic at the bubbler was very light during the week.: Fishing pressure on South Pier was light over the past few days. Most of the South Pier anglers have been showing up to fish for kings. A 5-pound king was landed on South Pier early Tuesday morning by a local angler casting a cleo. Perch fishing on both piers has been very spotty. Fishing pressure along the shoreline has been increasing. Anglers on the fishing pier under the Main Street Bridge were landing nice catches of crappies for almost a week. Perch anglers have been fishing the mouth of the Pershing park boat harbor over the past week with varied success

Kenosha County - Boat traffic at the ramp was light during the week but picked up on the weekend. There was a 50/50 mix of fishing boats and pleasure boats at the ramp this week (not to mention a fair amount of jet skis). Earlier in the week, strong winds and rough water limited the areas of the lake where anglers could fish. Anglers were catching their limit of perch (around 8-10 inches in length) from the bubbler near the Kenosha water treatment plant. One boat came in Sunday morning with seven kings in the cooler after trolling outside the “hill” with flashers and flies. Quite a few boats were trolling in 20-30 feet of water as the kings have recently moved closer to shore. The catch rate has dropped recently with some boats coming in with only 1-2 fish or no fish at all. Fishing pressure on the piers remained steady this week with 20-25 anglers showing up for the early morning and late evening bite. The catch rate for brown trout dropped off over the past few weeks but seemed to pick up a little this weekend. One angler landed two, 8- to 9-pound brown trout before sunrise while fishing with white tube jigs from North Pier. According to The Kenosha News, an angler landed a 22-pound king Friday morning. Fishing pressure on the shoreline increased over the past week, with 15-20 anglers lined up along the shoreline near the Pike River early Sunday morning. Anglers were landing kings near the mouth of the river. Some nice size bluegills and green sunfish were caught near the first bridge on the Pike River on night crawlers. Anglers are beginning to land a few more fish in the harbor as well. A few large perch have been caught by accident recently by anglers fishing for brown trout. The surface temperature at the lakefront ranged between 63-70 degrees during the week.

Plymouth DNR Service Center area

Washington County - Fishing activity continues to be steady. Fishing success has reduced some; however, anglers were still catching decent numbers of panfish and bass and walleye are still being caught on a few lakes. Early goose and dove season opens on Sunday Sept. 1. Good numbers of geese have been seen on smaller ponds and lakes and have been feeding on recently harvested wheat fields around Washington County. Dove hunters can also expect good numbers of birds in and around harvested wheat fields in addition to sunflower fields planted on DNR lands. - Sean Neverman, conservation warden, Plymouth

Theresa Marsh State Wildlife Area - Two areas of the Jackson Marsh Wildlife Area are expected to be temporarily closed to public use, including hunting, during most of September and October to allow completion of repairs of the West Shore gas pipeline running between State Highway 60 and County Highway PV. The two closed areas are located west of County Highway G in the middle of the wildlife area. The north closed area, about 150 acres in size, is expected to be closed Sept. 7 through Oct. 12. The south closed area, about 350 acres in size, is expected to be closed Sept. 2 -14 and Oct. 5 - 26. Both areas will be open to hunting and other public use on Sundays when no construction work is being done. Construction work is ongoing from dusk to dawn, Monday through Saturday. Questions about the closed areas are directed to the DNR Wildlife Biologist at the Pike Lake Unit office in Hartford (262-670-3409). Hunters are reminded that motor boats are prohibited on Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area during open waterfowl seasons. Large numbers of sandhill cranes and lesser numbers of geese and ducks have been seen on the marsh. Dove hunters should look at the morning dove section of the DNR website for locations of planted sunflower fields. This year, one 5-acre sunflower field was planted on Theresa Marsh for dove hunting this year. Local Canada geese are continuing to flock up and are starting to establish feeding patterns in the marshes and croplands. Goose hunters need to figure out where geese are resting during mid-day (on marshes, ponds, parks, golf courses, etc.), follow them to see where they are flying out to feed in morning or evening, and seek permission to set up decoys in the feeding areas. A few locally nesting geese are present on Theresa, Allenton and Jackson Wildlife Areas. - Tom Isaac, wildlife biologist, Hartford

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South Central Region

Lower Wisconsin State Riverway - The water levels on August 28, at the Prairie du Sac dam was 2,942 CFS. Please call 1-800-242-1077 for current river flow at the Prairie Du Sac dam. There are a lot of sand bars exposed providing ample places to camp. With the water levels so low, navigating the river in a motorboat may be difficult in locations. Mourning dove and goose hunting will be opening in the area on Sept. 1 and there may be hunters in the Riverway. Hikers are encouraged to wear bright colored clothing. - Matt Seguin, property manager

Dodgeville DNR Service Center area

Grant County - The Lower Wisconsin River has been running below normal for the past several weeks, at 3,000 – 4,000 CFS. The exposed sand bars and hot sunny days have been enjoyed by canoeists and campers. Fishing has been good for smallmouth bass especially below drop offs. The marshes have remained full of water, compared to last year’s drought. Cattails have returned as dense stands in many of the marshes, and wild rice is again plentiful, but seems less abundant than in the past several years. Pairs of trumpeter swans are still hanging out in the Riverway, along with numerous eagles and their young from this year. We are currently clearing fallen trees and mowing interior access roads at Millville and will be working up river in the coming weeks. Enjoy the cooler weather on tap. - Daniel Goltz, wildlife biologist, Boscobel

Lafayette County - Many of the area waterways are sitting lower than normal. There seems to be a decent amount of wood ducks in the area along with a good supply of doves for the opener on Sept. 1. - Nick Webster, conservation warden, Darlington

Richland County - Small flocks of geese can be located around small farm ponds and on the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway. Dove are frequenting wheat, rye and oat fields that were picked earlier in the year. The Wisconsin River remains extremely low with many sandbars exposed. - Michael Nice, conservation warden, Richland Center

Horicon DNR Service Center area

Dodge County - With the warm and dry conditions over the past several weeks, water levels in the Horicon Marsh have dropped. Some of the shallow water areas are now mud flats. Shorebirds and waders have been taking advantage of the conditions. Hummingbirds have started migration with more being noted along trails and dikes. The large amount of flowering wild cucumber seems to be a good nectar source. Geese and cranes are making more consistent flights in and out of the marsh. We are past the peak of summer wildflower blooms and are transitioning to some of the prairie grasses turning purple and copper. Wood ducks, blue and green winged teal, and mallards are moving about the marsh in good numbers. A few buck rubs have been seen now that antler growth is at or near completion. - Paul Samerdyke, wildlife biologist, Horicon

Fitchburg DNR Service Center area

Columbia County - Fall is just around the corner! The signs are everywhere - great egrets are being seen in good numbers in area marshes. Area sunflower seeds are looking good (Pine Island will not be 'ready' for the opener, please plan accordingly). Burr oak acorns and apples are starting to fall in earnest. The tall yellow prairie flowers (cup plant, prairie dock, compass plant, rosinweed) are heavy with seed and soon the goldfinches will be flocking in to pry the seeds from the heads. The short and mid yellows of stiff and showy goldenrod are coming on, along with the purple buttons of rough blazing star. Big bluestem (turkey foot), Indian grass, switch grass, fuzzy caterpillar-like seed heads of Canada wild rye, and side oats grama are all heading out. It's a great time of year for a stroll in the prairie! - Sara Kehrli, wildlife biologist, Poynette

With the holiday weekend approaching, boating traffic on Lake Wisconsin and the Wisconsin River in Columbia County is expected to be very high. Boaters are urged to use caution in high traffic areas and are encouraged to keep a lookout at all times. The hook-and-line sturgeon fishing season opens on Saturday, Sept. 7 and runs through Sept. 30. Anglers are reminded that to harvest a sturgeon, an inland sturgeon hook and line harvest tag is required. - Ryan Volenberg, conservation warden, Poynette

The Wisconsin River water levels are very low and makes it hard to navigate by boat. However, smallmouth bass are very active in deeper holes. Hot temperatures have brought out heavy recreational boat traffic as well on Lake Wisconsin. Several larger flocks of young turkey poults have been observed in roadside ditches. - Paul Nadolski, conservation warden, Portage

Dane County - Staff is receiving a lot of fox and coyote reports from the public in the area this year. The public should be aware that young foxes/coyotes can often wander during the day and are more visible/less wary than adults. The high cottontail rabbit population will likely result in more young foxes/coyotes this year. Shorebird migration continues this week in Dane County. There are a few good spots in the area for viewing shorebirds either on flooded farm fields, drying pond edges or managed impoundments. The common species include least and semipalmated sandpipers, lesser yellowlegs, pectoral sandpipers, killdeer and solitary sandpipers. Check the DNR shorebird maps for the latest sightings. Bats appear to be on the move with many sighted in the evenings this past week. Common nighthawks are just beginning to push through Dane County. Look for them starting at about 7:30 p.m. on calmer evenings. Warbler migration has started to pick up and should really kick into gear on Labor Day with the next big cold front. The wet spring has resulted in a very good berry crop which should make for good stopover habitat for migratory birds and good food resources for small mammals. Birders may want to focus their bird watching efforts on forest edges with wild grape and dogwood berries over the next two weeks as many thrushes, warblers and vireos switch to fruit during Fall migration. - Andy Paulios, wildlife biologist

Sauk County - In prairies, grasses are flowering along with blazing stars and goldenrods. Watch the skies, wetlands, and fields as birds start migrations. At dusk if you are lucky you will see nighthawks and harvested wheat fields are a great place to watch cranes and geese right now. - Nancy Frost, Sauk County wildlife biologist

Devil's Lake State Park - Electrical upgrades have been made to many campsites in Quartzite and Northern Lights campgrounds. To better serve park visitors, new lift stations for water and sewage have been installed and are now in operation. See the DNR Events Calendar for a list of events at Devil's Lake and other state parks. - Richard Hesed, visitor services associate

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West Central Region

La Crosse DNR Service Center area

Vernon County - Flocks of bluebirds and blackbirds are gathering. Bluebird concentrations tend to number about 10-20 birds, but blackbird flocks reach several hundred to more than one thousand birds. Roosting flocks of blackbirds, comprised of red-winged blackbirds, grackles, and starlings, can cause local nuisance problems with their noise, droppings, odors, and depredation on crops. Fortunately these types of problems are temporary, as most blackbirds migrate south for the winter. Late summer and early fall are good times to do some bird watching. Oftentimes fall migrants do not move through an area as rapidly as they do during the spring migration. Therefore, birdwatchers may have a little more time to actually "watch" the birds. Fall warblers can challenge even the most observant birdwatcher, making for difficult but rewarding identification lessons. Remember that most birds do not sing in the fall to the extent that they do in the spring. That means birdwatchers need to rely more on keen eyesight and less on their hearing to locate and identify birds. - Dave Matheys, wildlife biologist, Viroqua

Black River Falls DNR Service Center area

Black River State Forest - We are experiencing what is probably the last hot blast of the summer. Highs in the lower to mid-90s are expected mid-week with temperatures in the upper 80s to 90 predicted for Labor Day weekend. After a very wet May and June we are now in a drought in the Black River area. Trails were fully groomed over the past two weeks with some touch-up grooming occurring this week. Conditions should be good by dry for the Labor Day weekend. - Peter Bakken, superintendent

Eau Claire DNR Service Center area

Lake Wissota State Park - The Friends of Lake Wissota State Park is now selling firewood at the park office. Species of birds we have been seeing or hearing include: scarlet tanagers, indigo buntings, towhees, ravens, rose-breasted grosbeaks, loons, robins, red polls, a variety of wrens, phoebes, turkey vultures, northern juncos, pileated woodpeckers, great blue herons, barred owls, osprey, bald eagles and belted kingfishers. Harebell, wild bergamot, common milkweed, water smartweed, rabbits foot clover, marsh hedge nettle, the water lilies, some of the aster varieties, orange hawkweed, wooly yarrow are flowering. The blackberry season is coming to an early end with the dry weather conditions. This year’s raccoon young are out for adventure! Campers are advised to store all food in their vehicles at night and when they are away from their campsites. - Dave Hladilek, park manager

Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center area

Buckhorn State Park - Visitors over the weekend were swimming, hiking, geocaching, fishing, canoeing and kayaking. There is some green algae, floating around the lake and at times it is near our shores. This past week the lake was great for canoeing/kayaking/boating and swimming! Beat the heat and check out a beach and enjoy the water. Meet the Ranger at the amphitheater and find out what it’s like to work at the park and ask questions on Saturday, August 31 at 7:30 p.m.- Heather Wolf, park manager

Roche-A-Cri State Park - Stay cool and head to a swimming beach that is located at Friendship Lake, 1 mile south of the park entrance on Highway 13 (towards Friendship). - Heather Wolf, park manager