Wisconsin DNR Outdoor Report

[Lee Borgersen]

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report summary

 June 17, 2017

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Complete DNR Outdoor Report (Reports from conservation wardens, wildlife and fisheries staff and property managers from around the state)

Rain once again raises water levels across state; smallmouth bass fishing in full swing off Door County

Rain and strong winds lashed across much of the state at the end of last weekend. The wind in particular had caused some trees down and trail blockages and the rain has lifted water levels yet again. The Lower Wisconsin River is once again running very high, nearly twice its flow for this time of year, and no sandbars are available for camping.

This is still prime time for wildlife, both young and adult, to be moving and shaking. Reports of goslings, pheasant broods, loon chicks, trumpeter swan cygnets, as well as the first wobbly elk calves are coming in. Young bald eagles are being seen on the edge of nests, and it won't be too long before they make their first fledging attempts. Turtles are also still crossing roads looking for areas to lay eggs, and the public is reporting an abundance of cotton-tailed rabbits this spring. If you see a young wild animal you think is injured or orphaned while outdoors, search the DNR webpage for keywords "Keep Wildlife Wild" to find out what to do.

Coyote activity has picked up in the past weeks. Bears are entering mating season. Don't be surprised if you see bears more frequently and out during the middle of the day.

There are reports from anglers across the state of a solid bluegill bite. Those in boats need to be aware of floating debris on the lakes from high water. There were also reports of more consistent trout success, but rains have thrown this into contention. Reports from the Wolf River mention solid catches of large and smallmouth bass.

In Green Bay, anglers reported landing walleye, freshwater drum, a variety of bass, northern pike and yellow perch. Bass fishing in Door County is in full swing. With the warm weather, smallmouth bass at Sturgeon Bay, Little Sturgeon Bay and Sawyer Harbor have nearly completed spawning with most females heading back to deeper water to recover and feed. Male smallmouth can be found protecting beds in the shallows and anglers have been targeting them with various baits.

A few perch have been caught in some of the harbors but action has been inconsistent. Musky anglers found mixed success but are reporting muskies still cruising the shallows looking for easy meals.

Along Lake Michigan, salmon fishing out of Kewaunee, Ozaukee and Manitowoc was mixed. The size of some rainbows coming in was impressive, with fish over 10 pounds. Anglers were starting to find kings more consistently fishing downriggers. Out of Sheboygan there were reports of solid catches of coho, chinook, rainbows and lakers.

Common milkweed will soon be flowering and attracting monarchs, dog violet, orange hawkweed, bellworts, marsh marigolds, columbines, are all in bloom, while blackberry, raspberry and bunchberries, as well as wood strawberries are blooming and will soon be fruiting. Wild blue lupine seems to be doing exceptionally well this year, which is great news for the Karner blue butterfly populations.

A myriad of birds continue to be seen, including: rose-breasted grosbeaks, scarlet tanagers, a variety of wrens, red polls, bluebirds, golden finches, phoebes, nuthatches and woodpeckers to name just a few.