DNR Outdoor Report For 8-9-2018

August 9, 2018

A storm blew through northern Wisconsin late this week bringing much-needed rain, and most of the rest of the state has received rainfall within the last week. The coming week looks hot and sunny, so it sounds like it’s going to be great weather for water sports and swimming.

Pin cherries are ripening in the Brule River State ForestPhoto credit: DNR

Flambeau River water levels are normal for this time of year, though perfect for paddling. The lower Wisconsin River flow is about normal for this time of year. Lots of sandbars are available for sandbar camping.

High numbers of anglers were out on both the east and west shores of Green Bay looking for walleye. Anglers were reporting success for some really nice fish, with a few fish measured from 16-23 inches. Yellow perch anglers continue to struggle to find decent numbers of fish.

Along Door County anglers were consistently coming back to the Sturgeon Bay ramp with large numbers of walleye and large yellow perch. Bass fishing is picking up across Door County with a weekend bass tournament seeing smallmouth coming in ample numbers with some catching over 20 bass per trip. Smaller bass were the majority of the catch but some nice smallmouth over 4 pounds were caught.

Fishing pressure on Lake Michigan out of Kewaunee and Manitowoc decreased some from previous weeks with low catch numbers on chinook salmon and steelhead trout. The weekend storm did not help as 3- to 4-foot waves picked up and made it difficult for smaller watercraft. For those that did venture out most of the catch were chinook followed by rainbows. Anglers fishing in the Manitowoc harbor were catching small northern pike daily. Most of the pike range from 16 to 22 inches.

Trollers out of Milwaukee were catching larger numbers of chinook salmon and lake trout while those fishing out of Racine and Kenosha saw mostly lake trout with the occasional rainbow but no kings or coho.

Fawns are out and about in abundance. Turkeys seem to still be sticking to the sides if the roads and there must have been some late broods as some poults are smaller than ruffed grouse–very small for this late in the season. Ducks and geese are starting to fly and starting to stage. Night hawks beginning their fall migration–earlier than in other years.

Although there are plenty of ripe cherries on the trees, black bears are still competing over the berries, so get them before they do. Chanterelles and lobster mushrooms are abundant in north central Wisconsin. Wild rice is in its ripening stage. Ricers should get out and begin scouting. Occasionally there is a tree in the Northwoods canopy that’s changing in color and indication that fall is coming.

This weekend is the peak of the Perseid meteor shower and it is also a new moon, so night skies will be at their darkest. Nearly a dozen state properties have astronomy programs scheduled this weekend. The meteors are made up of space debris from the Swift-Tuttle comet. At its peak, one can see 60 to 100 meteors per hour.

This is also the last weekend to catch workshops and performances of Shakespeare in the Park at Havenwoods Friday, Kohler-Andrae Saturday and Pike Lake on Sunday. There will be Concert in the Clouds at Rib Mountain, Concert in the Park at Merrick, Music in the Park at Mirror Lake and Dance to Big Band at Devil’s Lake all Saturday evening. For all events search the DNR website for “Get Outdoors.”