Wisconsin Fishing Reports & Outdoor Report for May 12, 2016

[Rick]

A wet start to the week, after a warm and dry weekend, saw large regions of the state experience sporadic and, in some cases, heavy rain for the past several days. While this weekend is predicted to be slightly cooler, this moisture has driven down wildfire danger across much of the state that had reached very high last weekend. Most of the state is currently at "low" fire danger, but areas in the northeast and northwest remain at moderate levels. Inland game fish anglers were greeted with unseasonably warm temperatures accompanied by strong winds on opening day. Angling pressure was generally moderate in the Northwoods, with a strong northwest wind creating some tough conditions for anglers on the larger lakes and flowages. Winds moderated on Sunday, but that meant anglers were greeted by healthy swarms of black flies that hatched during the warm spell. Walleye was the primary target for most anglers and success was generally fair to mediocre. Crappie and bluegill have really started to concentrate in the shallows, and anglers that were trying to escape the wind seemed to find them tucked along shore in the warmer bays. Trout angling was also real popular on the opening weekend and the managed trout lakes saw some moderate to heavy pressure and anglers out in full force on the Bois Brule River. On Green Bay, anglers continued to report decent catch rates for walleye off Oconto. Anglers fishing off Door County reported catching smallmouth bass and an occasional northern pike. Anglers fishing along the Sturgeon Bay canal, Bayview Park, and Stone Harbor have been catching walleyes. Walleye continue to be caught in the Fox River although in smaller numbers than some weeks ago, but freshwater drum catches have been very high. On Lake Michigan, boats fishing out of Kewaunee and Algoma have been catching brown trout and a few chinook salmon.

.