justnorth posted on May 23, 2007 07:09 :: 1481 Views
Varying weather patterns brought some rainfall and cooler than normal temperatures to areas of the state this week. This helped lower wildfire conditions to low to moderate in most areas, but they remain high in the northwestern part of the state. Emergency fire restrictions are scheduled to be lifted in Sawyer, Ashland, Iron, and Bayfield counties as of Friday, May 18, but they remain in place in Burnett, Douglas, and Washburn counties. Check the current fire danger page of the DNR Web site for conditions. Wisconsin fire control personnel are now assisting with suppression of the Ham Lake Fire that has burned more than 75,000 acres in Minnesota and Canada.
The unstable weather has fishing activity also somewhat unstable and has kept anglers watching the skies for incoming storms. There has been some very good walleye action reported on inland Northwoods lakes and was reported as excellent this week on the Menominee River in Marinette, with many boat catching bag limits and one 30-inch walleye reported. Northern pike action has also been fair on Northwoods lakes. There have been the first observations of largemouth starting to make their nests in shallow water. Increasing numbers of crappie and bluegill have been moving up into shallow water on warmer days in northern lakes, and bluegills and crappies are near spawning in southern waters, where crappies have been hitting fairly well.
The Manitowoc and West Twin rivers were busy this past week with an increase of fishing pressure for smallmouth bass. Green Bay has provided some good smallmouth action. Brown trout anglers had another good week fishing Lake Michigan out of Manitowoc and Two Rivers when the weather allowed anglers to get on the water. Trollers out of Sheboygan, Port Washington and Milwaukee were catching a few brown trout and, trollers working out of the Racine and Kenosha harbors have been catching good numbers of coho.
The Mississippi River was at the 8.3 foot early this week. The Wisconsin and Kickapoo rivers were also starting to settle to normal levels. Fishing action was pretty good, with bluegill action starting to pick up in the backwaters and walleye fishing getting better with anglers trolling sloughs and targeting wing dams with moderate success.
The first fawns of the year have been reported. Remember does will leave fawns unattended for extended periods of time as a way of protecting them. If you see a fawn in the wild, leave it alone. Its mother is nearby and will tend to it. Also, a lot of yearling deer have been pushed away from their mothers in preparation of giving birth. Many of these deer are now crossing roads, so be extra caution when driving. There have been many reports of bear sightings this week, including three bears wandering into municipalities. Take down bird feeders and remove any other food sources that might attract bears. The last of the spring turkeys hunting periods opened this week and goes through Sunday. Hunters report that activity is slowing but that some gobblers remain active and receptive to calling.
Blossoms are present on dogwood, service berry, thorn apple, and wild plum apple. Spring wildflowers are nearing their peak with a wide variety blooming including trailing arbutus, marsh marigold, wood violet, hepatica, wood anemone, and trilliums. In Door County the dwarf lake iris and yellow lady slippers are starting to blossom.
The warbler migration is also near its peak, with sightings of birds continuing at a frantic pace. About three dozen species of warblers either reside in or migrate through Wisconsin. Sandhill cranes are actively nesting, and the first broods of Canada geese and mallard ducks are showing up.
American toads, leopard frogs, and gray tree frogs are calling. Morel mushroom hunters are reporting that the dry conditions have this year’s crop not as good as last year, but that recent rain helped more mushrooms pop out.
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