Report for week of 5/12/2013
GENERAL - More spring-like weather in the last week finally melted most of the snow even in the
most northern counties, and ice out is finally progressing on northern lakes. Ice is off most lakes
now though Price County. Seasonal temperatures the remainder of this week, combined with some
rain and a little wind will most likely take out the remaining ice by the weekend, with the exception of
some of the largest deep lakes such as Trout in Vilas County.
Both the North and South Forks of the Flambeau River are high with plenty of whitewater, especially
the South Fork, but a few brave paddlers have been seen on the river. High water is also making
canoeing and kayaking challenging on the Wisconsin River. Wardens continue to caution that water
temperatures remain very low in most areas and hypothermia could set in rapidly should someone
capsize, so only experienced and well equipped and outfitted paddlers should be on the water.
Last weekend’s fishing opener was slow across the north, with a snowstorm dropping up to 16
inches in some areas right before the opener. Some anglers fished through the ice, with limited
success for crappies. Other anglers fished rivers with some reports of walleyes, but also with lots of
reports of sucker runs taking place. Trout anglers were hampered by limited access and high water
flows.
In the south, water levels continue to drop on the Rock River, but are still outside the riverbanks in
many areas and slow-no-wake rules are still in place in Rock County. Some better walleye fishing
was reported as levels dropped. The Wisconsin River is also still running high, but some nice
walleye continue to be caught below the dam at Prairie Du Sac.
Anglers have been hitting crappie on Lake Winnebago and the walleye bite on the east shore of
Winnebago is starting to kick in. Some northern pike were reported on Little Lake Butte des Morts.
The East Twin, West Twin, Branch, Little Manitowoc and Sheboygan rivers were all still hold
steelhead. Storms in the last week had southern Lake Michigan tributaries running high and muddy
in the last week, but levels were dropping. Trollers were beginning to have some luck with brown
trout and coho.
NORTHERN REGION - Ashland County - A blast of warm area caused a rapid melt of winter snow in
the early week. That warm spell created very rapid run off to the rivers causing near flood stage
conditions. However, a late winter storm hit Ashland County at the same time and dumped another
16 inches of snow onto the area. The lower temps with the snow slowed run off and therefore
helped avoid serious flooding. But those same lower temps maintained the area lake’s ice cover.
So, there was little if any open water for lake fishing and stream fishing was difficult at best with the
very high water levels.
Baron County - The opening weekend in the Cumberland was slow due to all the lakes having ice
on them yet. Trout fishermen had mixed success with some anglers catching limits and other
anglers facing high water levels and little success. Ice is expected to go out this week on most lakes.
Dead carp and some dead panfish were observed on Upper Vermillion east of Cumberland.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron
counties) - Ice cover is slowly disappearing on the waters in the area and most lakes in Taylor and
central & southern Price counties are now ice free. Most lakes in Iron, Ashland and Sawyer County
still had significant ice cover as of Wednesday, May 8 - but those lakes should start opening up by
this coming weekend (May 10-12). Anglers that have been getting out on the local rivers and on the
open lakes in the area have been reporting mixed success. The early walleye bite has been a bit
erratic, but some fair catches of fish have been made on jig and minnow combinations. Casting
crank baits has been seeing rather poor results for walleye, but this should change as the water
continues to warm. Fishing on the rivers seems to have been especially slow for walleye, but the
sucker run has been providing some good action, though that run is also coming to an end. - Skip
Sommerfeldt, senior fisheries biologist, Park Falls
Flambeau River State Forest - Both the North and South Forks of the Flambeau River are high with
plenty of white water on the South Fork especially at Little Falls and Slough Gundy. The North Fork
is moving swiftly and is at a spring time high also. We’ve seen a few brave paddlers out. Local lakes
are approximately 40-50 percent ice out.
Upper Wisconsin Basin fisheries report (Oneida, Vilas, Lincoln, Langlade, Forest and Florence
counties) - As of May 8, there was still a lot of lingering ice in Vilas County, and some scattered
lakes with ice in Oneida County. Seasonal temperatures the remainder of this week, some rain, and
a little wind will most likely take out the majority of ice covered lakes by the coming weekend. The
only exceptions being the large deep lakes such as Fence, Trout, and Tomahawk. - Mike
Vogelsang, Jr., fisheries supervisor, Woodruff
NORTHEAST REGION - Marinette County - Anglers at the mouth of the Peshtigo River were keying
on the post spawn walleye using live bait and casting crankbaits and stickbaits with good success.
Fishermen at the Dam in Peshtigo are catching mostly suckers. The Menominee River has been
raging, with 2 to 4 dams open, making fishing difficult. A few walleye and many suckers are being
caught off Stephenson Island using stickbaits and crankbaits. Most Menominee River boaters are
jigging the Turn Basin or the mouth of the Menominee using soft plastics or minnows. - David
Boyarski, fisheries supervisor, Sturgeon Bay
Oconto County - Turkey hunters are reporting better success as turkeys are in more normal
patterns in the area. Fishing on Green Bay is heating up for walleyes with limits reported out of
Oconto County North Bayshore Recreation Area and Pensaukee. Fishermen are reminded yellow
perch is still closed on Green Bay until May 20. Oconto County ATV trails open May 10. - Mike
Stahl, conservation warden, Oconto Falls
Catch rates for walleye and northern pike at the Stiles Dam were low due in part to high water and
the sucker run. Anglers out of Oconto Breakwater and Oconto Park II were mainly fishing for walleye
and trolling was the most effective method using stick baits or crawler/harness in 4 to 8 feet of
water. A few smallmouth bass and northern pike were also reported being caught. Boaters were
reporting a water temperature on the Bay from the upper 30's to the low 40's. Shore fishermen at
Oconto Breakwater are catching a few northern pike using large shiner minnows or dead smelt
fished on bottom. Some walleye are being by shore anglers at the Municipal Landing, casting crank
baits and stick baits. - David Boyarski, fisheries supervisor, Sturgeon Bay
Shawano County - Trout fishing on area streams opening weekend was down due to high water
levels. Walleye fishing on the upper stretch of the Wolf River has been fair. Trees are greening up
quickly this week. - Mark Schraufnagel, conservation warden, Shawano
Green Bay creel report - Fishing pressure is slowly increasing on both the East and West Shores.
Anglers are working hard to catch the few fish they do. Fishing pressure for walleyes has increased
on the east shore this past week. The number of fish being caught has also increased over the last
week, but anglers still have to work to get a few fish. Most anglers that caught fish were trolling the
shore line near Bayshore County Park, however walleyes are also being caught by Potawatomi
State Park. Fish have ranged from 18-30-plus inches with most being 23-26 inches. Saturday
marked the opening of the game fish season in Wisconsin. Little Sturgeon Bay and Potawatomi
State Park saw an increase in fishing pressure as anglers looked to land a few bronzebacks.
Unfortunately, cool weather limited the number of fish that anglers were able to catch. The sucker
runs at Red River Park and Sugar Creek have both gone past their peak and are almost done. Still,
if anglers want to get a bucket of suckers it would be possible. There are one or more launching
piers in at Bayshore, Chaudoir’s, Little Sturgeon Bay (Carmody Park), and Potawatomi Park. As of
Saturday the fishing pier at Potawatomi Park had not been put in the water. Along the west shore,
fishing pressure in the Fox River and along the West Shore declined this week due to cooler
temperatures and rain storms. The water temperature was about 48 degrees, down from 54
degrees last week. On the Fox River, boat and shore fishermen were targeting Walleye using crank
baits (variety of colors), jigs, and night crawlers. Walleye numbers were low for both boat and shore
fishermen. Boat fishermen were fishing in about 10-20 feet of water and a few sheepshead were
also caught. Shore fishermen are starting to catch more carp, and more walleye are being
"snagged" than caught. There was a Sturgeon sighting under the new walk bridge at Voyageur Park
in De Pere. Along the lower west shore of the Bay, fishing pressure was very low. At Suamico
Landing, there were a few trailers with boat fishermen targeting walleye. A few were caught
(average size was about 24-25 inches fishermen were reporting) on crank baits (chartreuse in
color) in about 10-12 feet of water. The docks are in at Geano Beach. - Anthony Rieth, fisheries
technician, Green Bay
Brown County - Fishing pressure in the Fox River and along the West Shore declined this week.
Water temperature was about 48 degrees, down from 54 degrees last week. On the Fox River, boat
and shore fishermen were targeting walleye using crank baits, jigs, and night crawlers. Walleye
catches were low for both boat and shore anglers. Boat anglers were fishing in about 10-20 feet of
water. Of interests, there was a sturgeon sighting under the new walk bridge at Voyageur Park in
De Pere. So look for more sturgeon in tributaries over the next couple of weeks. At Suamico
Landing, there were a few anglers targeting and catching walleyes. Average size was about 24-25
inches and anglers reported using on chartreuse crank baits in about 10-12 feet of water. Fishing
pressure and success for walleyes has increased on the East Shore of Green Bay this past week.
Most anglers that caught fish were trolling the shore line near Bayshore County Park. - David
Boyarski, fisheries supervisor, Sturgeon Bay
The fish run in De Pere has slowed down significantly. Water levels are high causing the fishing
opener to be slow for catching fish.
Manitowoc County - The hot weather early in the week raised water temperatures significantly,
especially on the Manitowoc River, which reached the mid 60s but has fallen since. The East Twin,
West Twin, Branch, and Little Manitowoc Rivers all still hold steelhead. Fair amounts of steelhead
are being caught around the dams on the East and West Twin Rivers. The best action has been
early in the morning on clear days and throughout the day during overcast conditions. Fly anglers
are having success with egg or insect imitations in bright colors. Spawn, soft plastics, and bright jigs
are also producing fish when presented under a float or near the bottom. The East and West Twin
Rivers are running fairly low. Trollers are starting to have some luck with brown trout. Fish have
been caught in 10 to 45 feet of water trolling stick-baits, crank-baits, and spoons. Successful areas
ranged from north of Two Rivers near the power plant discharges to south of Manitowoc. Most
boats are catching under a fish per hour and catching large fish with some browns in the 25 inch
range and even a king close to 18 pounds. Very few kings have been reportedly caught thus far.
Water temps range from the upper 40’s to some reports of surface water in the upper 50s. - David
Boyarski, fisheries supervisor, Sturgeon Bay
Door County - Most of Door County came to life this week, with many part-time residents and
business owners returning from their winter hide-a-ways. Many of the piers in the county had a few
anglers fishing for bass with really good success using a variety of lures. Northern Pike action has
been great in the Sturgeon Bay Canal, but the trout bite seems to have slowed quite a bit.
Tributaries are all running low and clear and are seeing very little fishing effort, but there are
definitely trout in the water and, although there are still a ton of them, the number of suckers seems
to be on the decline. The Sturgeon Bay City Dock has been fairly busy, with 20-40 trailers at a time
over the weekend. The Northern Pike bite has been excellent, but the trout anglers have not been
as successful lately. Anglers are finally launching from the Green Bay side, mostly from Stone
Quarry, but Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, Ephraim and Ellison Bay all had at least one trailer spotted
over the weekend. Early reports are that the bites are good, but we have not been able to verify
any real catch data yet, except that the bass fishing has been good off the piers. On the Lake
Michigan side, Rowley’s Bay saw some good action over the weekend. It seemed to be mostly resort
dwellers fishing for bass, and doing really well. Baileys Harbor was not busy at all however, and the
report in town was that everyone was fishing over on Kangaroo Lake for the opener. Inland,
Kangaroo Lake is doing very well for perch fishing. Walleye surveys of Clark Lake have concluded
and the spawn is now over. Some decent walleyes both in numbers and size were surveyed this
spring. - David Boyarski, fisheries supervisor, Sturgeon Bay
Potawatomi State Park - The ice is out and the fishermen are on the water. Two fishing tournaments
over the next two weekends have prompted many anglers to launch in Sawyer Harbor and Sturgeon
Bay.
Rock Island State Park - Reports of northern pike and brown trout have been coming in around the
islands. The bass season doesn’t open until July 1 here but they’ve been fun to look at as they
enter the warmer waters of the harbors.
Kewaunee County - Fishing on the Kewaunee and Ahnapee rivers has really slowed as of late, and
not even Stony Creek has seen much effort in the past week. There have been a few boats
launched at both town ramps, but not what we expected to see for opening weekend. It could be
that many anglers moved to inland waters for the opener. There are still lots of suckers in the
Kewaunee River water, but numbers are on the decline. Bruemmer Park still sees a lot of fishing
effort, and some of the upstream locations, like Clyde Hill, are seeing some effort now that word has
gotten around about the fish that were passed through the hatchery and the stocking that took
place a couple of weeks ago. Anglers that know what holes to work are still able to catch a few fish.
There was even less effort on the Ahnapee River and Silver Creek than the Kewaunee, except that
anglers have started fishing above the dam with some success. The few anglers on the river have
been able to catch and release some trout and are not reporting seeing any suckers. Effort has
dropped significantly at Stony Creek, and the few anglers that have tried have not been catching
anything. Effort has mostly been focused on the Kewaunee Pier but there have been a handful in
Algoma as well. They haven’t been catching much in either location except bottom feeders in
Algoma. Neither of the ramps has been as busy as we expected with the fishing opener, and the
boats we have surveyed have not reported much success. From the sound of it, they are not even
getting many strikes, but there were so few surveyed it’s hard to tell for sure. Inland, anglers have
been fishing and catching bass and panfish on the Forestville Flowage. - David Boyarski, fisheries
supervisor, Sturgeon Bay
Waupaca County - Trout anglers have not been very successful on opening weekend. Anglers did
not offer any reason on why the trout were not biting very well. - Ted Dremel, conservation warden,
Wautoma
No reports of panfish staging in the shallows yet, again water most likely too cold from long winter.
Walleyes biting well on Wolf River.- Karl Kramer, wildlife technician, Wautoma
Waushara County - Warm temperatures have brought folks out to area lakes. Opening weekend
fishing started off relatively slow due to some early rains, but folks were able to enjoy time on the
water once the skies cleared up. Overall pressure on the trout streams has been light and with
warmer days the streams should be warming up as well and potentially making some lightly
pressured fish more active.
Outagamie County - The fish are biting everywhere in the Fox Valley Area, especially crappie and
northern pike. Anglers have been hitting the crappie at High Cliff, Appleton, Neenah, and Menasha
as well as picking up some nice northerns on Little Lake Butte des Morts. The walleye bite on the
east shore of Winnebago is starting to kick in, but it may be a few days until it’s really good fishing.
Turkey hunters are finally getting some great turkey hunting weather and a lot of active toms have
been seen throughout the area. Wildflowers are popping up all over in wetland areas and many
trees are leafed out. - Ryan Propson, conservation warden, Appleton
SOUTHEAST REGION - Lakeshore State Park - The marina is still closed for the season, and will
open the middle of May. Reservations for can be made up to 11 months in advance by calling 414-
274-4281. Lake Michigan water levels are still low, although a foot higher than the record low in
January. Fishing has been generally slow in southeast Lake Michigan, although there has been
some success along the river channel and dock walls at the park behind the Marcus Amphitheater.
The grey and red foxes are still regular visitors. The winter ducks have moved back to the north.
The park is now filled with barn swallows, cliff swallows, tree swallows and red-winged blackbirds.
Spring has finally come – the grass is greening and the prairies are starting to grow again. Our
earliest flower - prairie smoke – should start blooming this week. Watch for its curious nodding red
flowers in the demonstration gardens. - Thomas Kroeger, parks and recreation specialist, Milwaukee
Lake Michigan fisheries team report:
Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan fishing activity remains steady on the Sheboygan River. Despite
the increased flow caused by rains last week, the water temperature has remained at 56 degrees
and clarity appears to be affected little. Anglers continue to report good catches of northern pike
and smallmouth bass near the Kohler Dam, as well as downstream from Wildwood Park to the 14th
Street bridge. Fish are being caught on a variety of lures, namely shallow-diving crank baits,
plastics, and spinners. Steelhead were still being caught on flies near the Kohler Dam and in the
Esslingen Park area. Weedens Creek water levels have increased slightly with recent rainfall, but it
appears excess water is receding rapidly. The water clarity is good and temperature has increased
to around 55 degrees. Water levels along the Pigeon River have also increased, by approximately 2
to 4 inches. Despite the increased flow from rains, water clarity remains good and water
temperature has held steady at 49 degrees. A few fishermen have tried their luck, some catching
small steelhead and suckers on flies, while others caught smallmouth bass on spinners. Strong
winds and waves have kept anglers off the Sheboygan piers recently. There have been a few boats
launched from the Deland ramp, with reports of a few brown trout taken nearshore. The fish
cleaning stations at the Deland ramp and the South Pier are now open. The 14th Street ramp,
along the Sheboygan River, is now open. The huge snow pile remains in the parking lot, but
enough snow has been removed to use the ramp. The 8th Street ramp remains closed.
Ozaukee County - In Port Washington fishing pressure has decreased over the past few days,
mostly due to the recent rains and strong winds. Water within the marina is dirty, and due to wave
action, water near shore is also quite murky. Despite the decreased fishing pressure, boaters had
some luck, with one group landing a 15-pound lake trout in about 40 feet of water trolling spoons.
Another group caught a nice steelhead in 15 feet of water; the stomach contents revealed several
alewives. We also heard a secondhand report that a charter landed a 26-pound chinook on
Saturday. Fishing pressure has decreased along the Port Washington lakeshore and near the
power plant, again mostly due to the strong northeast wind. Anglers continue to catch small browns
near the power plant and in the harbor. Smelt netters have been having a bit of luck lately off the
pier and south of the power plant, with some reports of catching around 50 smelt per trip. On Sauk
Creek water levels have increased about 4 inches since last week’s rains; water temperature
increased to about 54 degrees and clarity has decreased. Fishing pressure has decreased over
the past few days as catches of steelhead have dwindled. Suckers can still be seen at access
points, but their numbers have noticeably decreased.
Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee fishing has slowed for boaters trolling or jigging in the harbor for
browns, but trollers working the mudline outside the harbor have taken browns and a few coho.
Fishing has improved for shore anglers working under the Hoan bridge at Summerfest and Jones
Island. Effective presentations have been shiners or spawn sacs fished under a bobber as well as
casting spoons. Fishing effort in Oak Creek has tapered off with the end of the steelhead run. The
Oak Creek power plant has picked up with increased effort resulting in a few browns being caught
on crank baits and soft plastics. Trollers out of Bender Park reported some brown trout and coho
being caught trolling with spoons, though the fish were very spread out over the area. The
Milwaukee River has dropped down to a more normal level, and the water is fairly clear. The water
temperature is now in the upper 40s to 50 degrees. Anglers have been fishing below the North
Avenue dam for walleye, but catch rates have been low. Steelhead action upstream on the
Milwaukee has also been slow. On the Menomonee River steelhead anglers near Miller Park have
reported only a few fish. The Menomonee is approximately 52 degrees, and the water is crystal
clear.
Racine County - In Racine fishing pressure on the Root River was very light this week. The water
level is close to normal for this time of year, and the muddy water is finally beginning to clear up.
There are still a large amount of suckers in the water below the Horlick Dam. Earlier in the week,
anglers at the dam landed a few steelhead from the gravel bar under the bridge. Some carp and a
couple of northern pike were taken on Sunday. The most popular bait at the dam continues to be
red or orange yarn flies. At Quarry Park, a few anglers used nightcrawlers to fish for rock bass. The
majority of the anglers in the park were at Quarry Lake, fishing for stocked trout and largemouth
bass. A few fishermen at Lincoln Park worked the river with dry flies, but only a few suckers were
taken. Washington Park was taken over by golfers this weekend. One of the best producing fishing
spots in the park is now part of the 7th green. The river temperature averaged 54 degrees over the
weekend. Fish were processed at the Root River Steelhead Facility on Monday, April 29, and the
facility is now shut down for the spring season. A total of 301 steelhead were handled at the facility
this spring, and 179 were passed upriver. At the Racine lakefront, fishing pressure increased this
week, but fishing success has been limited. More muddy water flowed into the lake from the Root
River as another round of rain storms moved through the area. The line separating clear and dirty
water along the lakefront is constantly shifting depending on the direction of the wind. Large
numbers of bait fish were reportedly seen around the tip of the North Pier. Anglers tried casting
spoons and crank baits for coho and browns from the North Pier with reports of a few fish taken.
Casting a small spoon produced a nice sized brown trout for one angler on the south breakwater.
Anglers fishing for panfish from the floating pier off Reichert Court caught lots of gobies. The
surface temperature along the lakeshore was 49 degrees on Sunday. A few trollers were working
out of Racine over the weekend. One reported landing three brown trout averaging 7-8 pounds
while trolling stick baits from the Racine water treatment plant to the mouth of the harbor. Another
reported seeing large numbers of bait fish and game fish around the North Pier on his fish finder.
The boater trolled the area but could not produce a strike. On Sunday, one troller caught and
released a couple of two pound coho while working the mud line along the lakefront. There is a sign
covering the launch fee meter at the Pershing Park boat ramp which reads as follows: “Piers need
to be repaired due to record low water levels. Until then, passes are not needed & you will not be
ticketed. *Be advised* If you choose to launch your boat without the piers, you are doing so at your
own risk. For more information, please call the PRCS Department at 262-636-9131”.
Kenosha County - Fishing effort has increased along the Kenosha shoreline, especially on the
North and South Piers, but it’s been a slow week as far as the number of fish landed. Anglers fishing
off the North Pier reported a few browns taken this week. Anglers tried bottom fishing with alewives
along the South Pier but had only a few strikes. Another angler fishing with crappie minnows caught
and released several small brown trout from the South Pier. Many of the anglers are looking south
as they wait for the coho salmon to move up from Illinois. The average surface temperature along
the lakefront was 50F on Sunday. Kenosha trollers have had limited success so far this season.
One boater going out for the first time this year trolled the breakwater outside the harbor with little
success. On Sunday, another boater trolling the harbor with stick baits landed a couple of small
brown trout near the base of the South Pier. Very little fishing pressure was seen on the Pike River
again this week. A couple of anglers from Minnesota spent the entire day working the river at
different points along Hwy A but reported landing only suckers. The water level and flow on the river
are near normal for this time of year, and the water is fairly clear. Once again, no anglers were seen
in Petrifying Springs Park. A couple of anglers were casting crank baits near the mouth of the Pike
with no reports of fish taken. Temperature on the Pike River was 53F on Sunday.
Plymouth DNR Service Center area - Washington County - Opening fishing weekend in southeast
Wisconsin was successful. We had no ice. The weather finally cooperated and nice catches of
crappie, bass and walleye were seen. The good news is that with the late spring, the fishing can
only get better. - Robert Lee, conservation warden, Hartford
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION - Lower Wisconsin State Riverway - The Wisconsin River is still running
high and is making canoeing and kayaking difficult. The fishing reports have indicated some nice
walleye being caught below the dam at Prairie Du Sac. Bluegill anglers have also reported success
on several sloughs throughout the Riverway.
Grant County - This past weekend in Grant County the fishing was fantastic. The weather was
nearly perfect. The rain earlier in the week kept several anglers from trying their luck on Grant
County’s streams, so there was a reduction in fishing pressure as years past. Even after the all-day
rain on Friday, most streams cleared by Saturday morning. Most trout fishermen checked reported
good success. - Martin R. Stone, conservation warden, Fennimore
Green County - In Green County, reports that the opening of fishing season has started out with
numerous anglers but few fish being caught. Warden Caputo has seen people catching fish on the
Sugar River. A few trout were caught on opening weekend and anglers report the water is fairly
clear even with the recent rains.
Iowa County - Brown trout have been biting on love & trout creek on worms and spinners. Walleyes
have been biting at peck’s landing with anglers using minnows suspended just off the bottom. Bass
have still been biting at Bakken’s Pond on purple rubber worms. Crappies have been biting at Birch
Lake on minnows.
Jefferson County - Boat launches on the Rock River in Jefferson and Fort Atkinson have been
reopened. Boaters are asked to be sure and check the launches for any wake restrictions that may
still be in place. The walleyes have been biting on the Rock and Crawfish rivers. - Ryan Ellifson,
conservation warden, Jefferson County
Sauk County - With the warmer weather the lakes are warming up but they are still behind from
where they were last year at this time. Crappies are biting on Lake Redstone. The fish are
suspended off the breaks and brush piles near the surface. Fisherman having luck have been
using plastics and minnows with a slow sink down from the surface. Musky fishing reports from this
past weekend were slow with the cooler water temperatures.
Devil's Lake State Park - Fish are starting to spawn in the lake as well. The northern pike and yellow
perch have come up to lay eggs in the shallows. Once the water temperatures warm up, the pan
fish will start moving into the shallows too.
Rock County - Fishing activity is picking up around Rock County. Kiwanis Pond has been producing
decent bluegills along with a few crappies on wax worms. One fisherman was observed catching a
largemouth bass that was just under 23 inches long. Trout are also biting on this pond as well as
Lions Beach Pond. Richter reminds anglers to purchase an inland trout stamp along with their
fishing license if they intend to fish for or keep trout. Water levels continue to drop on the Rock
River, but are still outside the riverbanks in many areas. Slow-no-wake boat operation is still
required until lifted by the Rock County Sheriff’s Department. Look for signs posted at boat landings
or check the Sheriff’s Department website for information on the slow-no-wake ordinance.
WEST CENTRAL REGION - Willow River State Park - The Willow River is running high and cloudy.
The dam is spilling extra water through the big gate. The trend is a falling level but the river is still
running over twice the normal flow.
Chippewa County - Angling pressure was light on most of the lakes and rivers on opening weekend.
Fishing success was marginal; however, some stretches of the Chippewa River produced frequent
walleye catches. Many of the walleye caught were between 15-17 inches. Remember that there is a
slot limit along the Chippewa River where fish between 14-18 inches must be released. Check your
fishing regulations and find your county and be sure before you keep fish. Anglers with the most
success were using pink jig heads tipped with minnows and allowing the bait to bounce the bottom.
Most of the walleye caught below the dam in Chippewa Falls were found in the flooded trees and in
calmer water away from strong currents. Marshmiller Lake, Tilden Mill Pond, Cornell Lake, Bob Lake
and Popple Lake saw low numbers of anglers as well and the panfish did not seem to bite. The
water temperature is approaching the mid-40s on most of the smaller lakes, so the panfish spawn is
yet to come. Town Line Lake, Bass Lakes and the smaller impoundments on the County Forest saw
very little pressure, with some northern pike reported caught on spoons. Remaining ice prohibited
normal boat traffic on Long Lake; however, Lake Wissota is almost completely ice-free. Walleyes
can be found along the gravel and sand shoals at the mouth of the Yellow River, try using crank
baits at dusk. Trolling is also permitted and can be an effective technique while walleyes make there
way down from Jim Falls back into Lake Wissota. Smallmouth bass are not reportedly active yet on
the river.
Dunn County - In northern Dunn County, Lake Tainter is free from ice, although the area received
14 inches of snow on the Thursday before the fishing opener. Therefore lake fishing pressure was
low on the Saturday opener, but fishing pressure increased starting on Sunday. The crappie bite
has been good as weather conditions improved. Trout fishing has been poor as the water is too
high and swift. River fishing has also been poor, also due to the high water.
Buckhorn State Park - The fishing pier and boat boarding piers are in!
A three-minute audio version of this report can be heard by calling (608) 266 2277.
Copyright© 2006 BobberStop.com
GENERAL - More spring-like weather in the last week finally melted most of the snow even in the
most northern counties, and ice out is finally progressing on northern lakes. Ice is off most lakes
now though Price County. Seasonal temperatures the remainder of this week, combined with some
rain and a little wind will most likely take out the remaining ice by the weekend, with the exception of
some of the largest deep lakes such as Trout in Vilas County.
Both the North and South Forks of the Flambeau River are high with plenty of whitewater, especially
the South Fork, but a few brave paddlers have been seen on the river. High water is also making
canoeing and kayaking challenging on the Wisconsin River. Wardens continue to caution that water
temperatures remain very low in most areas and hypothermia could set in rapidly should someone
capsize, so only experienced and well equipped and outfitted paddlers should be on the water.
Last weekend’s fishing opener was slow across the north, with a snowstorm dropping up to 16
inches in some areas right before the opener. Some anglers fished through the ice, with limited
success for crappies. Other anglers fished rivers with some reports of walleyes, but also with lots of
reports of sucker runs taking place. Trout anglers were hampered by limited access and high water
flows.
In the south, water levels continue to drop on the Rock River, but are still outside the riverbanks in
many areas and slow-no-wake rules are still in place in Rock County. Some better walleye fishing
was reported as levels dropped. The Wisconsin River is also still running high, but some nice
walleye continue to be caught below the dam at Prairie Du Sac.
Anglers have been hitting crappie on Lake Winnebago and the walleye bite on the east shore of
Winnebago is starting to kick in. Some northern pike were reported on Little Lake Butte des Morts.
The East Twin, West Twin, Branch, Little Manitowoc and Sheboygan rivers were all still hold
steelhead. Storms in the last week had southern Lake Michigan tributaries running high and muddy
in the last week, but levels were dropping. Trollers were beginning to have some luck with brown
trout and coho.
NORTHERN REGION - Ashland County - A blast of warm area caused a rapid melt of winter snow in
the early week. That warm spell created very rapid run off to the rivers causing near flood stage
conditions. However, a late winter storm hit Ashland County at the same time and dumped another
16 inches of snow onto the area. The lower temps with the snow slowed run off and therefore
helped avoid serious flooding. But those same lower temps maintained the area lake’s ice cover.
So, there was little if any open water for lake fishing and stream fishing was difficult at best with the
very high water levels.
Baron County - The opening weekend in the Cumberland was slow due to all the lakes having ice
on them yet. Trout fishermen had mixed success with some anglers catching limits and other
anglers facing high water levels and little success. Ice is expected to go out this week on most lakes.
Dead carp and some dead panfish were observed on Upper Vermillion east of Cumberland.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron
counties) - Ice cover is slowly disappearing on the waters in the area and most lakes in Taylor and
central & southern Price counties are now ice free. Most lakes in Iron, Ashland and Sawyer County
still had significant ice cover as of Wednesday, May 8 - but those lakes should start opening up by
this coming weekend (May 10-12). Anglers that have been getting out on the local rivers and on the
open lakes in the area have been reporting mixed success. The early walleye bite has been a bit
erratic, but some fair catches of fish have been made on jig and minnow combinations. Casting
crank baits has been seeing rather poor results for walleye, but this should change as the water
continues to warm. Fishing on the rivers seems to have been especially slow for walleye, but the
sucker run has been providing some good action, though that run is also coming to an end. - Skip
Sommerfeldt, senior fisheries biologist, Park Falls
Flambeau River State Forest - Both the North and South Forks of the Flambeau River are high with
plenty of white water on the South Fork especially at Little Falls and Slough Gundy. The North Fork
is moving swiftly and is at a spring time high also. We’ve seen a few brave paddlers out. Local lakes
are approximately 40-50 percent ice out.
Upper Wisconsin Basin fisheries report (Oneida, Vilas, Lincoln, Langlade, Forest and Florence
counties) - As of May 8, there was still a lot of lingering ice in Vilas County, and some scattered
lakes with ice in Oneida County. Seasonal temperatures the remainder of this week, some rain, and
a little wind will most likely take out the majority of ice covered lakes by the coming weekend. The
only exceptions being the large deep lakes such as Fence, Trout, and Tomahawk. - Mike
Vogelsang, Jr., fisheries supervisor, Woodruff
NORTHEAST REGION - Marinette County - Anglers at the mouth of the Peshtigo River were keying
on the post spawn walleye using live bait and casting crankbaits and stickbaits with good success.
Fishermen at the Dam in Peshtigo are catching mostly suckers. The Menominee River has been
raging, with 2 to 4 dams open, making fishing difficult. A few walleye and many suckers are being
caught off Stephenson Island using stickbaits and crankbaits. Most Menominee River boaters are
jigging the Turn Basin or the mouth of the Menominee using soft plastics or minnows. - David
Boyarski, fisheries supervisor, Sturgeon Bay
Oconto County - Turkey hunters are reporting better success as turkeys are in more normal
patterns in the area. Fishing on Green Bay is heating up for walleyes with limits reported out of
Oconto County North Bayshore Recreation Area and Pensaukee. Fishermen are reminded yellow
perch is still closed on Green Bay until May 20. Oconto County ATV trails open May 10. - Mike
Stahl, conservation warden, Oconto Falls
Catch rates for walleye and northern pike at the Stiles Dam were low due in part to high water and
the sucker run. Anglers out of Oconto Breakwater and Oconto Park II were mainly fishing for walleye
and trolling was the most effective method using stick baits or crawler/harness in 4 to 8 feet of
water. A few smallmouth bass and northern pike were also reported being caught. Boaters were
reporting a water temperature on the Bay from the upper 30's to the low 40's. Shore fishermen at
Oconto Breakwater are catching a few northern pike using large shiner minnows or dead smelt
fished on bottom. Some walleye are being by shore anglers at the Municipal Landing, casting crank
baits and stick baits. - David Boyarski, fisheries supervisor, Sturgeon Bay
Shawano County - Trout fishing on area streams opening weekend was down due to high water
levels. Walleye fishing on the upper stretch of the Wolf River has been fair. Trees are greening up
quickly this week. - Mark Schraufnagel, conservation warden, Shawano
Green Bay creel report - Fishing pressure is slowly increasing on both the East and West Shores.
Anglers are working hard to catch the few fish they do. Fishing pressure for walleyes has increased
on the east shore this past week. The number of fish being caught has also increased over the last
week, but anglers still have to work to get a few fish. Most anglers that caught fish were trolling the
shore line near Bayshore County Park, however walleyes are also being caught by Potawatomi
State Park. Fish have ranged from 18-30-plus inches with most being 23-26 inches. Saturday
marked the opening of the game fish season in Wisconsin. Little Sturgeon Bay and Potawatomi
State Park saw an increase in fishing pressure as anglers looked to land a few bronzebacks.
Unfortunately, cool weather limited the number of fish that anglers were able to catch. The sucker
runs at Red River Park and Sugar Creek have both gone past their peak and are almost done. Still,
if anglers want to get a bucket of suckers it would be possible. There are one or more launching
piers in at Bayshore, Chaudoir’s, Little Sturgeon Bay (Carmody Park), and Potawatomi Park. As of
Saturday the fishing pier at Potawatomi Park had not been put in the water. Along the west shore,
fishing pressure in the Fox River and along the West Shore declined this week due to cooler
temperatures and rain storms. The water temperature was about 48 degrees, down from 54
degrees last week. On the Fox River, boat and shore fishermen were targeting Walleye using crank
baits (variety of colors), jigs, and night crawlers. Walleye numbers were low for both boat and shore
fishermen. Boat fishermen were fishing in about 10-20 feet of water and a few sheepshead were
also caught. Shore fishermen are starting to catch more carp, and more walleye are being
"snagged" than caught. There was a Sturgeon sighting under the new walk bridge at Voyageur Park
in De Pere. Along the lower west shore of the Bay, fishing pressure was very low. At Suamico
Landing, there were a few trailers with boat fishermen targeting walleye. A few were caught
(average size was about 24-25 inches fishermen were reporting) on crank baits (chartreuse in
color) in about 10-12 feet of water. The docks are in at Geano Beach. - Anthony Rieth, fisheries
technician, Green Bay
Brown County - Fishing pressure in the Fox River and along the West Shore declined this week.
Water temperature was about 48 degrees, down from 54 degrees last week. On the Fox River, boat
and shore fishermen were targeting walleye using crank baits, jigs, and night crawlers. Walleye
catches were low for both boat and shore anglers. Boat anglers were fishing in about 10-20 feet of
water. Of interests, there was a sturgeon sighting under the new walk bridge at Voyageur Park in
De Pere. So look for more sturgeon in tributaries over the next couple of weeks. At Suamico
Landing, there were a few anglers targeting and catching walleyes. Average size was about 24-25
inches and anglers reported using on chartreuse crank baits in about 10-12 feet of water. Fishing
pressure and success for walleyes has increased on the East Shore of Green Bay this past week.
Most anglers that caught fish were trolling the shore line near Bayshore County Park. - David
Boyarski, fisheries supervisor, Sturgeon Bay
The fish run in De Pere has slowed down significantly. Water levels are high causing the fishing
opener to be slow for catching fish.
Manitowoc County - The hot weather early in the week raised water temperatures significantly,
especially on the Manitowoc River, which reached the mid 60s but has fallen since. The East Twin,
West Twin, Branch, and Little Manitowoc Rivers all still hold steelhead. Fair amounts of steelhead
are being caught around the dams on the East and West Twin Rivers. The best action has been
early in the morning on clear days and throughout the day during overcast conditions. Fly anglers
are having success with egg or insect imitations in bright colors. Spawn, soft plastics, and bright jigs
are also producing fish when presented under a float or near the bottom. The East and West Twin
Rivers are running fairly low. Trollers are starting to have some luck with brown trout. Fish have
been caught in 10 to 45 feet of water trolling stick-baits, crank-baits, and spoons. Successful areas
ranged from north of Two Rivers near the power plant discharges to south of Manitowoc. Most
boats are catching under a fish per hour and catching large fish with some browns in the 25 inch
range and even a king close to 18 pounds. Very few kings have been reportedly caught thus far.
Water temps range from the upper 40’s to some reports of surface water in the upper 50s. - David
Boyarski, fisheries supervisor, Sturgeon Bay
Door County - Most of Door County came to life this week, with many part-time residents and
business owners returning from their winter hide-a-ways. Many of the piers in the county had a few
anglers fishing for bass with really good success using a variety of lures. Northern Pike action has
been great in the Sturgeon Bay Canal, but the trout bite seems to have slowed quite a bit.
Tributaries are all running low and clear and are seeing very little fishing effort, but there are
definitely trout in the water and, although there are still a ton of them, the number of suckers seems
to be on the decline. The Sturgeon Bay City Dock has been fairly busy, with 20-40 trailers at a time
over the weekend. The Northern Pike bite has been excellent, but the trout anglers have not been
as successful lately. Anglers are finally launching from the Green Bay side, mostly from Stone
Quarry, but Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, Ephraim and Ellison Bay all had at least one trailer spotted
over the weekend. Early reports are that the bites are good, but we have not been able to verify
any real catch data yet, except that the bass fishing has been good off the piers. On the Lake
Michigan side, Rowley’s Bay saw some good action over the weekend. It seemed to be mostly resort
dwellers fishing for bass, and doing really well. Baileys Harbor was not busy at all however, and the
report in town was that everyone was fishing over on Kangaroo Lake for the opener. Inland,
Kangaroo Lake is doing very well for perch fishing. Walleye surveys of Clark Lake have concluded
and the spawn is now over. Some decent walleyes both in numbers and size were surveyed this
spring. - David Boyarski, fisheries supervisor, Sturgeon Bay
Potawatomi State Park - The ice is out and the fishermen are on the water. Two fishing tournaments
over the next two weekends have prompted many anglers to launch in Sawyer Harbor and Sturgeon
Bay.
Rock Island State Park - Reports of northern pike and brown trout have been coming in around the
islands. The bass season doesn’t open until July 1 here but they’ve been fun to look at as they
enter the warmer waters of the harbors.
Kewaunee County - Fishing on the Kewaunee and Ahnapee rivers has really slowed as of late, and
not even Stony Creek has seen much effort in the past week. There have been a few boats
launched at both town ramps, but not what we expected to see for opening weekend. It could be
that many anglers moved to inland waters for the opener. There are still lots of suckers in the
Kewaunee River water, but numbers are on the decline. Bruemmer Park still sees a lot of fishing
effort, and some of the upstream locations, like Clyde Hill, are seeing some effort now that word has
gotten around about the fish that were passed through the hatchery and the stocking that took
place a couple of weeks ago. Anglers that know what holes to work are still able to catch a few fish.
There was even less effort on the Ahnapee River and Silver Creek than the Kewaunee, except that
anglers have started fishing above the dam with some success. The few anglers on the river have
been able to catch and release some trout and are not reporting seeing any suckers. Effort has
dropped significantly at Stony Creek, and the few anglers that have tried have not been catching
anything. Effort has mostly been focused on the Kewaunee Pier but there have been a handful in
Algoma as well. They haven’t been catching much in either location except bottom feeders in
Algoma. Neither of the ramps has been as busy as we expected with the fishing opener, and the
boats we have surveyed have not reported much success. From the sound of it, they are not even
getting many strikes, but there were so few surveyed it’s hard to tell for sure. Inland, anglers have
been fishing and catching bass and panfish on the Forestville Flowage. - David Boyarski, fisheries
supervisor, Sturgeon Bay
Waupaca County - Trout anglers have not been very successful on opening weekend. Anglers did
not offer any reason on why the trout were not biting very well. - Ted Dremel, conservation warden,
Wautoma
No reports of panfish staging in the shallows yet, again water most likely too cold from long winter.
Walleyes biting well on Wolf River.- Karl Kramer, wildlife technician, Wautoma
Waushara County - Warm temperatures have brought folks out to area lakes. Opening weekend
fishing started off relatively slow due to some early rains, but folks were able to enjoy time on the
water once the skies cleared up. Overall pressure on the trout streams has been light and with
warmer days the streams should be warming up as well and potentially making some lightly
pressured fish more active.
Outagamie County - The fish are biting everywhere in the Fox Valley Area, especially crappie and
northern pike. Anglers have been hitting the crappie at High Cliff, Appleton, Neenah, and Menasha
as well as picking up some nice northerns on Little Lake Butte des Morts. The walleye bite on the
east shore of Winnebago is starting to kick in, but it may be a few days until it’s really good fishing.
Turkey hunters are finally getting some great turkey hunting weather and a lot of active toms have
been seen throughout the area. Wildflowers are popping up all over in wetland areas and many
trees are leafed out. - Ryan Propson, conservation warden, Appleton
SOUTHEAST REGION - Lakeshore State Park - The marina is still closed for the season, and will
open the middle of May. Reservations for can be made up to 11 months in advance by calling 414-
274-4281. Lake Michigan water levels are still low, although a foot higher than the record low in
January. Fishing has been generally slow in southeast Lake Michigan, although there has been
some success along the river channel and dock walls at the park behind the Marcus Amphitheater.
The grey and red foxes are still regular visitors. The winter ducks have moved back to the north.
The park is now filled with barn swallows, cliff swallows, tree swallows and red-winged blackbirds.
Spring has finally come – the grass is greening and the prairies are starting to grow again. Our
earliest flower - prairie smoke – should start blooming this week. Watch for its curious nodding red
flowers in the demonstration gardens. - Thomas Kroeger, parks and recreation specialist, Milwaukee
Lake Michigan fisheries team report:
Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan fishing activity remains steady on the Sheboygan River. Despite
the increased flow caused by rains last week, the water temperature has remained at 56 degrees
and clarity appears to be affected little. Anglers continue to report good catches of northern pike
and smallmouth bass near the Kohler Dam, as well as downstream from Wildwood Park to the 14th
Street bridge. Fish are being caught on a variety of lures, namely shallow-diving crank baits,
plastics, and spinners. Steelhead were still being caught on flies near the Kohler Dam and in the
Esslingen Park area. Weedens Creek water levels have increased slightly with recent rainfall, but it
appears excess water is receding rapidly. The water clarity is good and temperature has increased
to around 55 degrees. Water levels along the Pigeon River have also increased, by approximately 2
to 4 inches. Despite the increased flow from rains, water clarity remains good and water
temperature has held steady at 49 degrees. A few fishermen have tried their luck, some catching
small steelhead and suckers on flies, while others caught smallmouth bass on spinners. Strong
winds and waves have kept anglers off the Sheboygan piers recently. There have been a few boats
launched from the Deland ramp, with reports of a few brown trout taken nearshore. The fish
cleaning stations at the Deland ramp and the South Pier are now open. The 14th Street ramp,
along the Sheboygan River, is now open. The huge snow pile remains in the parking lot, but
enough snow has been removed to use the ramp. The 8th Street ramp remains closed.
Ozaukee County - In Port Washington fishing pressure has decreased over the past few days,
mostly due to the recent rains and strong winds. Water within the marina is dirty, and due to wave
action, water near shore is also quite murky. Despite the decreased fishing pressure, boaters had
some luck, with one group landing a 15-pound lake trout in about 40 feet of water trolling spoons.
Another group caught a nice steelhead in 15 feet of water; the stomach contents revealed several
alewives. We also heard a secondhand report that a charter landed a 26-pound chinook on
Saturday. Fishing pressure has decreased along the Port Washington lakeshore and near the
power plant, again mostly due to the strong northeast wind. Anglers continue to catch small browns
near the power plant and in the harbor. Smelt netters have been having a bit of luck lately off the
pier and south of the power plant, with some reports of catching around 50 smelt per trip. On Sauk
Creek water levels have increased about 4 inches since last week’s rains; water temperature
increased to about 54 degrees and clarity has decreased. Fishing pressure has decreased over
the past few days as catches of steelhead have dwindled. Suckers can still be seen at access
points, but their numbers have noticeably decreased.
Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee fishing has slowed for boaters trolling or jigging in the harbor for
browns, but trollers working the mudline outside the harbor have taken browns and a few coho.
Fishing has improved for shore anglers working under the Hoan bridge at Summerfest and Jones
Island. Effective presentations have been shiners or spawn sacs fished under a bobber as well as
casting spoons. Fishing effort in Oak Creek has tapered off with the end of the steelhead run. The
Oak Creek power plant has picked up with increased effort resulting in a few browns being caught
on crank baits and soft plastics. Trollers out of Bender Park reported some brown trout and coho
being caught trolling with spoons, though the fish were very spread out over the area. The
Milwaukee River has dropped down to a more normal level, and the water is fairly clear. The water
temperature is now in the upper 40s to 50 degrees. Anglers have been fishing below the North
Avenue dam for walleye, but catch rates have been low. Steelhead action upstream on the
Milwaukee has also been slow. On the Menomonee River steelhead anglers near Miller Park have
reported only a few fish. The Menomonee is approximately 52 degrees, and the water is crystal
clear.
Racine County - In Racine fishing pressure on the Root River was very light this week. The water
level is close to normal for this time of year, and the muddy water is finally beginning to clear up.
There are still a large amount of suckers in the water below the Horlick Dam. Earlier in the week,
anglers at the dam landed a few steelhead from the gravel bar under the bridge. Some carp and a
couple of northern pike were taken on Sunday. The most popular bait at the dam continues to be
red or orange yarn flies. At Quarry Park, a few anglers used nightcrawlers to fish for rock bass. The
majority of the anglers in the park were at Quarry Lake, fishing for stocked trout and largemouth
bass. A few fishermen at Lincoln Park worked the river with dry flies, but only a few suckers were
taken. Washington Park was taken over by golfers this weekend. One of the best producing fishing
spots in the park is now part of the 7th green. The river temperature averaged 54 degrees over the
weekend. Fish were processed at the Root River Steelhead Facility on Monday, April 29, and the
facility is now shut down for the spring season. A total of 301 steelhead were handled at the facility
this spring, and 179 were passed upriver. At the Racine lakefront, fishing pressure increased this
week, but fishing success has been limited. More muddy water flowed into the lake from the Root
River as another round of rain storms moved through the area. The line separating clear and dirty
water along the lakefront is constantly shifting depending on the direction of the wind. Large
numbers of bait fish were reportedly seen around the tip of the North Pier. Anglers tried casting
spoons and crank baits for coho and browns from the North Pier with reports of a few fish taken.
Casting a small spoon produced a nice sized brown trout for one angler on the south breakwater.
Anglers fishing for panfish from the floating pier off Reichert Court caught lots of gobies. The
surface temperature along the lakeshore was 49 degrees on Sunday. A few trollers were working
out of Racine over the weekend. One reported landing three brown trout averaging 7-8 pounds
while trolling stick baits from the Racine water treatment plant to the mouth of the harbor. Another
reported seeing large numbers of bait fish and game fish around the North Pier on his fish finder.
The boater trolled the area but could not produce a strike. On Sunday, one troller caught and
released a couple of two pound coho while working the mud line along the lakefront. There is a sign
covering the launch fee meter at the Pershing Park boat ramp which reads as follows: “Piers need
to be repaired due to record low water levels. Until then, passes are not needed & you will not be
ticketed. *Be advised* If you choose to launch your boat without the piers, you are doing so at your
own risk. For more information, please call the PRCS Department at 262-636-9131”.
Kenosha County - Fishing effort has increased along the Kenosha shoreline, especially on the
North and South Piers, but it’s been a slow week as far as the number of fish landed. Anglers fishing
off the North Pier reported a few browns taken this week. Anglers tried bottom fishing with alewives
along the South Pier but had only a few strikes. Another angler fishing with crappie minnows caught
and released several small brown trout from the South Pier. Many of the anglers are looking south
as they wait for the coho salmon to move up from Illinois. The average surface temperature along
the lakefront was 50F on Sunday. Kenosha trollers have had limited success so far this season.
One boater going out for the first time this year trolled the breakwater outside the harbor with little
success. On Sunday, another boater trolling the harbor with stick baits landed a couple of small
brown trout near the base of the South Pier. Very little fishing pressure was seen on the Pike River
again this week. A couple of anglers from Minnesota spent the entire day working the river at
different points along Hwy A but reported landing only suckers. The water level and flow on the river
are near normal for this time of year, and the water is fairly clear. Once again, no anglers were seen
in Petrifying Springs Park. A couple of anglers were casting crank baits near the mouth of the Pike
with no reports of fish taken. Temperature on the Pike River was 53F on Sunday.
Plymouth DNR Service Center area - Washington County - Opening fishing weekend in southeast
Wisconsin was successful. We had no ice. The weather finally cooperated and nice catches of
crappie, bass and walleye were seen. The good news is that with the late spring, the fishing can
only get better. - Robert Lee, conservation warden, Hartford
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION - Lower Wisconsin State Riverway - The Wisconsin River is still running
high and is making canoeing and kayaking difficult. The fishing reports have indicated some nice
walleye being caught below the dam at Prairie Du Sac. Bluegill anglers have also reported success
on several sloughs throughout the Riverway.
Grant County - This past weekend in Grant County the fishing was fantastic. The weather was
nearly perfect. The rain earlier in the week kept several anglers from trying their luck on Grant
County’s streams, so there was a reduction in fishing pressure as years past. Even after the all-day
rain on Friday, most streams cleared by Saturday morning. Most trout fishermen checked reported
good success. - Martin R. Stone, conservation warden, Fennimore
Green County - In Green County, reports that the opening of fishing season has started out with
numerous anglers but few fish being caught. Warden Caputo has seen people catching fish on the
Sugar River. A few trout were caught on opening weekend and anglers report the water is fairly
clear even with the recent rains.
Iowa County - Brown trout have been biting on love & trout creek on worms and spinners. Walleyes
have been biting at peck’s landing with anglers using minnows suspended just off the bottom. Bass
have still been biting at Bakken’s Pond on purple rubber worms. Crappies have been biting at Birch
Lake on minnows.
Jefferson County - Boat launches on the Rock River in Jefferson and Fort Atkinson have been
reopened. Boaters are asked to be sure and check the launches for any wake restrictions that may
still be in place. The walleyes have been biting on the Rock and Crawfish rivers. - Ryan Ellifson,
conservation warden, Jefferson County
Sauk County - With the warmer weather the lakes are warming up but they are still behind from
where they were last year at this time. Crappies are biting on Lake Redstone. The fish are
suspended off the breaks and brush piles near the surface. Fisherman having luck have been
using plastics and minnows with a slow sink down from the surface. Musky fishing reports from this
past weekend were slow with the cooler water temperatures.
Devil's Lake State Park - Fish are starting to spawn in the lake as well. The northern pike and yellow
perch have come up to lay eggs in the shallows. Once the water temperatures warm up, the pan
fish will start moving into the shallows too.
Rock County - Fishing activity is picking up around Rock County. Kiwanis Pond has been producing
decent bluegills along with a few crappies on wax worms. One fisherman was observed catching a
largemouth bass that was just under 23 inches long. Trout are also biting on this pond as well as
Lions Beach Pond. Richter reminds anglers to purchase an inland trout stamp along with their
fishing license if they intend to fish for or keep trout. Water levels continue to drop on the Rock
River, but are still outside the riverbanks in many areas. Slow-no-wake boat operation is still
required until lifted by the Rock County Sheriff’s Department. Look for signs posted at boat landings
or check the Sheriff’s Department website for information on the slow-no-wake ordinance.
WEST CENTRAL REGION - Willow River State Park - The Willow River is running high and cloudy.
The dam is spilling extra water through the big gate. The trend is a falling level but the river is still
running over twice the normal flow.
Chippewa County - Angling pressure was light on most of the lakes and rivers on opening weekend.
Fishing success was marginal; however, some stretches of the Chippewa River produced frequent
walleye catches. Many of the walleye caught were between 15-17 inches. Remember that there is a
slot limit along the Chippewa River where fish between 14-18 inches must be released. Check your
fishing regulations and find your county and be sure before you keep fish. Anglers with the most
success were using pink jig heads tipped with minnows and allowing the bait to bounce the bottom.
Most of the walleye caught below the dam in Chippewa Falls were found in the flooded trees and in
calmer water away from strong currents. Marshmiller Lake, Tilden Mill Pond, Cornell Lake, Bob Lake
and Popple Lake saw low numbers of anglers as well and the panfish did not seem to bite. The
water temperature is approaching the mid-40s on most of the smaller lakes, so the panfish spawn is
yet to come. Town Line Lake, Bass Lakes and the smaller impoundments on the County Forest saw
very little pressure, with some northern pike reported caught on spoons. Remaining ice prohibited
normal boat traffic on Long Lake; however, Lake Wissota is almost completely ice-free. Walleyes
can be found along the gravel and sand shoals at the mouth of the Yellow River, try using crank
baits at dusk. Trolling is also permitted and can be an effective technique while walleyes make there
way down from Jim Falls back into Lake Wissota. Smallmouth bass are not reportedly active yet on
the river.
Dunn County - In northern Dunn County, Lake Tainter is free from ice, although the area received
14 inches of snow on the Thursday before the fishing opener. Therefore lake fishing pressure was
low on the Saturday opener, but fishing pressure increased starting on Sunday. The crappie bite
has been good as weather conditions improved. Trout fishing has been poor as the water is too
high and swift. River fishing has also been poor, also due to the high water.
Buckhorn State Park - The fishing pier and boat boarding piers are in!
A three-minute audio version of this report can be heard by calling (608) 266 2277.
Copyright© 2006 BobberStop.com
| WDNR Weekly Fishing Report |
| "All the romance of trout fishing exists in the mind of the angler and is in no way shared by the fish." Harold F. Blaisdell |
| "There is certainly something in angling that tends to produce a serenity of the mind." Washington Irving |
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