DNR Outdoor Report For Oct. 25, 2018

View current conditions for Wisconsin State Parks, Trails and Forests
Check out the Wisconsin Department of Tourism (exit DNR).

For current statewide information on statewide fall color, log onto the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Fall Color Report (exit DNR).

Fall color is now peak in counties across most of southern and southeastern Wisconsin, with still some good color through central Wisconsin on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Fall Color Report (exit DNR). Most of the north is past peak and leaves are down or dropping in many areas. Some golden oak leaves are still in the tree canopy. Tamarack are glistening gold right now in the swamps.

Fall colors are still at or just past peak in southern and central Wisconsin.Photo credit: DNR

A snowstorm concentrated in a very small area of northern Wisconsin last weekend dropped 3 to 4 inches of snow, which was melted within a day or two. Water levels remain high on river systems. Fishing and boating docks are being removed from state properties in the north for the winter season.

Fox River angling numbers increased over the past week due to more walleyes being present in the river, but success has been inconsistent. Anglers on Duck Creek reported catching limits or near limits of yellow perch though with many small ones tossed back. Rain and wind has made it tough for anglers to get out bass fishing on Green Bay. A few kings are still hanging out in Door County marinas and creeks but the spawn is past its peak.

The Lake Michigan tributary salmon run is slowing down. The chinooks catch is starting to decrease. Steelhead are starting to be caught and coho have started to move up though not in high numbers. Fishing pressure remained high on the Kewaunee River and anglers report that the chinook were in still in good edible condition. West Twin River Fishing pressure is continuing to decrease as well as the number of fish being caught. East Twin River anglers were still catching chinook by the dam. The Pigeon River saw more action this week and a few anglers fishing Sauk Creek were reaching bag limits on kings. Estabrook and Kletzsch parks on the Milwaukee River were still seeing fishing pressure with anglers finding success. Oak Creek had continued high fishing pressure near the falls, with tight fishing quarters.

Fish enthusiasts can visit the Wild Rose Fish Hatchery on Saturday, Oct. 27 for an open house. Visitors can enjoy exhibits, join in fish printing, fly tying and casting and other activities, then stroll the historic hatchery grounds and see big brown trout up close in the show pond and raceways, and then stay for the final presentation in a series on lake sturgeon.

Grouse, fall turkey and archery hunters are out in force. Grouse numbers are fair in the Park Falls Area. Grouse and turkeys are hanging around the road sides eating insects, leaves, and seeds. Waterfowl hunters have been doing OK with some of these cold nights pushing more birds south. The elk rut is winding down and the deer are in the chase stage of their rut with some scrapes and rubs in the woods and some bucks seen fighting.

A water-bird watch at Harrington Beach State Park reported 3,300-plus red-breasted mergansers, 700-plus double-crested cormorants and 240 common loons. Numbers of tundra swans are slowly increasing, as are snow buntings, northern shrikes, rough-legged hawks, and golden eagles.

There’s still time to celebrate Halloween with a spooky Night in the Museum at Kettle Moraine South and a Creepy Crawly Critter Campfire at Devil’s Lake Friday and the annual Willow River Halloween Bash and a Monster Survival Hike at Kettle Moraine South on Saturday. There are also to opportunities to help out this weekend with fall cleanups at Newport and Pike Lake on Saturday. For all events search the DNR website for “Get Outdoors.”