justnorth posted on September 18, 2007 14:42 :: 1470 Views
A sure sign of autumn’s approach is the opening of several major hunting seasons this weekend, including fall turkey, the early archery deer season, ruffed grouse, cottontail rabbit and squirrel. There is a special two-day youth duck hunt this weekend that is open to youths 12 to 15 years of age who are hunter safety certified and accompanied by an adult. New this year for the fall turkey season, effective Oct. 1, hunters in Crawford, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Sauk, Vernon, and Wood counties will be allowed to hunt turkey using dogs. This rule change was the result of this year's spring Fish and Wildlife Rules Hearings, and is not included in the current fall turkey regulations brochure.
Fall colors are also starting to come on stronger, with the Rhinelander area reporting fall colors at 25 to 50 percent, and many other areas of the north reporting fall colors in the zero to 25 percent range, according to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Fall Color Report. The report is updated regularly on the travelwisconsin.com Web site. (Click on the fall color report button at the top left.)
With the start of school and hunting seasons, fishing pressure has gone down. Water levels on many lakes across the Northwoods continue to be very low and many boat landings have been difficult to use with the shallow conditions. Musky continue to be the primary species of interest and action has been fairly consistent. With cooling water temperatures, more fish have been showing up along the weed edges and in shallower water. Walleye anglers have reported some fair action along weed beds.
In the south, smallmouth bass fishing has improved greatly on rivers with the moderating stream flows and cooler water conditions. Panfishing has been consistent on Lake Winnebago, with perch and bluegill biting best, and some walleye reports coming from the Lake Winnebago reefs. Fishing for catfish has been good on the Fox River. Bluegills are moving into their fall patterns on southeastern Wisconsin lakes, with catches of larger fish in 15 to 18 feet of water.
Fishing on Green Bay was slower this past week. Poor weather made fishing very difficult over the weekend. Water temperatures continue to drop and many anglers report great luck one day and then none the next. Pro walleye anglers fished throughout the week in preparation for Sunday’s tournament. On Lake Michigan, shore anglers were out in high numbers this past week in anticipation of the fall salmon run. With the water cooling down considerably, fish are starting to move in close. Fishing from the piers was good for salmon anglers early in the week but as the week progressed, fishing success declined. Anglers trolling out on Lake Michigan had success throughout the week landing large catches of chinook salmon and a few brown trout and coho salmon.
Mississippi River bass, bluegill and catfish fishing has been fair since the flooding has receded. Crappie fishing is improving. Some nice bluegill have been hanging in submerged dead trees along sloughs near. Mississippi River water temperatures have been about 75 degrees but temperatures will drop with the cooler days. Backwater boaters will find a number of changes due to the flooding, with some new sand bars where rivers and streams deposited silt loads.
Cooler temperatures and northwesterly winds have accelerated bird migrations across the state. The warbler migration is at peak statewide with birders reporting as many as 20 species in a single outing. Water levels at Horicon Marsh are at full pool due to the recent rains. A great variety of ducks are beginning to show up on Horicon Marsh. The first migrant Canada geese commonly return to Horicon around the Sept. 15, with peak numbers building up by late October.
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