justnorth posted on February 20, 2007 07:17 :: 1616 Views
Unseasonably cold weather has continued across Wisconsin, but more moderate temperatures are in for forecast for this weekend and next week. Areas if southern Wisconsin received from a trace to more than 5 inches of new snow in the last week. Snow depth now ranges from a low of 2 to 3 inches in northwestern and west central Wisconsin to more than a foot in parts of north central and southern Wisconsin. The Department of Tourism Snow Conditions Report for snowmobiling varies widely with snow levels, so people should call ahead for current trail conditions. Cross-country ski conditions generally are fair to good across most of the state.
The cold has kept ice fishing pressure at mid-winter lows in the north, but improved ice conditions brought fishing pressure way up on southern lakes in spite of the cold weather.
Most lakes across the Northwoods have 18 to 20 inches of solid ice. Die-hard walleye and panfish anglers have still been out in the past week, but action has been inconsistent. Tip-ups continued to produce a few walleye from deeper lakes in 25 to 35 feet on shiners. Panfish action has been erratic and anglers have been moving around quite a bit.
Fishing pressure picked up on southern lakes just as fish began to move into the midwinter doldrums in many locations. Northern pike have been hitting on some southern lakes, but most fish have been shorter than the 26-inch size limit. Panfish action has been generally reported as poor. Anglers continued to find perch, bluegills and crappies on Dane County lakes.
Success for walleye remained good on the Fox River in Brown County. Anglers were still pursuing yellow perch on Green Bay but few limits were reported. A few anglers have been fishing through the ice on Lake Michigan harbors in Sheboygan, Milwaukee and Kenosha but with only limited success.
The sturgeon spearing season on the Lake Winnebago system has been busy and the closure trigger was reached Wednesday on the upriver lakes, so that season closes at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 15. The Lake Winnebago season will likely remain open through next week. As of Tuesday, 862 sturgeon have been registered, including 561 sturgeon for Lake Winnebago and 301 from the upriver lakes.
The Mississippi River stayed steady all week at about 7 feet at Prairie du Chien. Ice fishing action picked up with backwaters producing some nice bluegills, crappie and perch.
Most black bear cubs have been born by this time. Fox and coyote are beginning their mating season and will be running in pairs soon. Bobcats are also starting their mating season.
Owls are livening up the woods at night with their calls, and great horned owls have begun nesting. This has been an excellent winter for short-eared owls at various refuges and state wildlife areas. Pine grosbeaks are being seen in good numbers in northern Wisconsin. A number of Carolina wrens have also been reported. Male cardinals have been singing in the morning and flocks of robins continue to be reported across the state. And although it is still the middle of winter, bald eagles are beginning their return to the northland so that they can claim territories and begin repair of their nests.
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