Wisconsin Fishing Reports & Outdoor Report for February 23, 2017

[Rick]

Weather around the state has and will continue its fickle behavior as we close out an exceptionally warm week and move toward a significantly cooler weekend. Rain and snow are predicted across the state, with temperatures expected to fall rapidly Friday into Saturday, leading many to wonder if any of this precipitation will stick around long enough to revitalize the snowmobile and ski trails. Currently snowmobile trails remain open in a few northern counties, but conditions are very poor with bear spots and some standing water according to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR). Ski trails have similar conditions where they remain open.Eagles are congregating along the Mississippi River just in time for Bald Eagle Appreciation Days at Prairie du Chien this weekend.Photo Credit: Donna HigginsThe warm front has also strongly effected ice-cover on state water bodies and anglers are also eagerly waiting to see what the weekend's cold front will provide. The ice on southern lakes is deteriorating fast and is unsafe to fish. Even in the Northwoods some waters are breaking up and where the ice is still thick there is plenty of water on it, and areas of open water have started to show up along shorelines and in marshes and especially around beaver lodges. As a result, many anglers have taken advantage of warm temperatures for open water fishing. This past weekend 100 plus boats were fishing the Fox River from the 172 Bridge to the dam at Voyageur Park. Anglers in boats have been having mixed results catching coho salmon and brown and rainbow trout in the Milwaukee Harbor and in Oak Creek. Anglers were open water fishing the Rock River for walleye and sauger, where the bite was on at the Indianford Dam. Sauger and walleye were biting on Lake Wisconsin. Warm temperatures and rain will have the Wisconsin River back above flood stage this weekend.

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