WI.Report summary fur Feb 16

[Lee Borgersen]

 
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report summary for February 16, 2017

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


Warm weather returns putting winter back on its heals; ice anglers urged to remove shacks from lakes.

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Warm weather has swung back around, putting winter back on its heels and bringing changes to the outdoors. Snowmobile trails now only remain open in about a dozen of the most northern counties, but are still being reported as fair to good on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR). Cross-country ski trails in northern parks and forests were also in good condition this week but are now closed on many central and southern properties. With much warmer weather and some rain in the forecast this weekend and early next week conditions could deteriorate rapidly.

Open water fishermen were seen this week on the Menominee River below the Hattie Street Dam trying for walleye and whitefish. A few open water anglers were casting spoons on the Fox River at Voyageur Park but success has been slow.

On Green Bay, perch and whitefish were being caught in good numbers at Long Tail and Little Tail points, where a few walleye were also being caught. Along Door County, anglers were out in droves again this weekend around the Little Sturgeon and Sherwood areas, with most reporting a good bite for whitefish. Those fishing for perch had decent action in Sawyer Harbor. The shipping channel remains open from the bay shipyard to the lake.

Ice conditions continue to deteriorate on the Lake Winnebago system. Spearers and anglers are encouraged to check daily on ice conditions. Many ice roads have already been closed due to significant deterioration of the landings. With temperatures forecast in the 50s for the weekend conditions will only get worse. Predictions are still for a full run of the sturgeon spearing season, with the season coming to a close on Feb. 26. The largest sturgeon registered so far was a female weighing in at 154.9 pounds and measuring 83.4 inches long.

Inland lakes are still producing some panfish, but ice anglers may want to start thinking about getting there shacks off the ice soon with the real warm temperatures coming this weekend and into next week. Central Wisconsin trout streams are wide open but high and murky making for tough catch and release fishing conditions.

Some crop fields are opening up and deer have been out in full force so be cautious driving at dawn and dusk when movement is at its peak. Some bucks are still holding their antlers. Turkey flocks are beginning to break up and begin their spring territory battles and mating rituals. Raccoons have been very active recently.

Lots of waterfowl were migrating across southern Wisconsin this week. Geese are moving through en masse with multiple observers reporting the first large pushes of Canada and white-fronted geese. Also the first pushes of sandhill cranes have moved into the area. There has been lots of territorial song activity from resident birds in the morning including titmice, chickadees, nuthatches, cardinals and house finches. A great blue heron was seen flying overhead in Waupaca County, a very early return for this species.

Red-tailed hawks are scoping out nesting locations, bald eagles are laying and great-horned owls are already incubating their eggs in the lower half of the state.

Candlelight events are winding down with just two hikes scheduled this Saturday at Rib Mountain and Governor Thompson state parks. More than 200 people attended an event at the Brule River and 1,300 people at showed up at the Pike Lake unit of the Kettle Morain state forests last weekend.

The big news in the north is that it is already time to start maple syruping with sap already running in the sugar bush and many people have already started tapping.