DNR OUTDOOR REPORT FOR JUNE 27, 2018

June 28, 2018

After last week’s rain and high water, things are settling down and getting back to normal just in time for the Fourth of July Holiday. There are still some closures on properties in northwestern Wisconsin, but many properties and facilities remain open.
Some roads and trails at Amnicon Falls and Pattison state parks remain closed but campgrounds are open. Day use areas at Pattison remain closed as is the beach because of the water drawdown to repair the dam and Highway 35 crossing. The horse trail at Governor Knowles State Forest, one campground at Merrick State Park and trails and picnic areas at Interstate Park along the river are still underwater. Canoe landings at the Brule River are no longer under water and are useable once again.

"Balancing Act" This 18-foot aspen log was found balanced perfectly on an aspen stump on the Beaver Trail at Pattison State Park during a trail damage assessment hike by park staff. Photo credit: DNR

Canoe and kayak traffic on the river has been busy on many rivers. Paddlers should not that the Lower Wisconsin River is running very high for this time of year and virtually no sandbars are available for camping.
Central Wisconsin trout streams are at normal to slightly elevated levels - perfect for fishing. The Hex hatch is starting to wind down but the fish have started to hit spinners again.
Walleye fishing on Lake Winnebago has been pretty good with many anglers reporting catching limits. As the calendar turns from June to July many anglers start focusing on yellow perch. The fishing has been superb on Lake Winnebago, but anglers should be aware that there is a considerable blue-green algae bloom occurring throughout Lake Winnebago. The fish disease VHS has been confirmed as the cause of a large fish kill of mostly sheepshead in Lake Winnebago in April.
The Peshtigo and Oconto rivers rose by more than 2 feet over the last week, but are now back to more normal water levels. Anglers were catching some suckers and smallmouth bass this week. Fishing pressure has remained good at the Oconto Park II area, with anglers reporting success catching some perch, smallmouth bass, and walleye. The walleye catch has been consistent on lower Green Bay but not many fish are ending up in the boat due to their size. Anglers continued to catch many freshwater drum and a few catfish.
Shore-anglers were out this week in Sturgeon Bay catching yellow perch and rock bass. The smallmouth spawn in Door County is starting to slow down with less fish on beds than last week. Fishing remained good. Bass were being caught from beds and cruising around deeper water near bedding areas. Boats were coming back with an average of 8-10 smallmouth bass. Trollers reported king salmon and rainbow catches.
On Lake Michigan, the Kewaunee ramp was busy this last weekend due to a salmon derby. Large chinook were coming in along with rainbows and a scatter of lake trout. Fishing was slow to start the week out at Manitowoc, but as the week progressed the amount of fish being caught increased, with rainbows dominating the catch Fishing success out of Sheboygan, Port Washington and Milwaukee has been irregular throughout the week with some anglers limiting out and others catching nothing. Those were successful reported decent numbers of rainbows, coho and chinook salmon, some of which were in the 25-plus-pound range.
A reminder to park and forest visitors that fireworks are prohibited on all state lands. Shakespeare in the park returns this weekend with performances of an abbreviated “Twelfth Night,” by the Summit Players at Lapham Peak Friday, Devil’s Lake Saturday and Blue Mound on Sunday. For all events search the DNR website for “Get Outdoors.”
Fawns are traveling with mom all the time now. The first turkey broods are being seen some with a half dozen poults.
Columbine, Orange hawkweed, oxeye daisy’s, buttercups, bird foot trefoil, butterfly milkweed, are providing a palette of colors.