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The mild conditions have also allowed Wisconsin State Park officials to make needed flood damage repairs to a number of properties and reopen both Devil's Lake State Park in Baraboo and the Elroy-Sparta State Trail. Wildcat Mountain State Park is scheduled to reopen July 3.
While the park and campgrounds at Devil's Lake are open to visitors, a number of trails and facilities will remain closed due to flooding and storm damage, including both the North and South Shore boat landings; most hiking trails; portions of picnic areas; and the South Shore bathrooms. Portable toilets will be available for visitors using the South Shore picnic area.
The park's beach is under water, but visitors will be allowed to swim. Beach water samples all came back safe. The West and East Bluff Trails are open, but nearby Parfrey's Glen State Natural Area is closed because its hiking trail is washed out.
The 400 State Trail and portions of the Military Ridge State Trail remain closed. Military Ridge is closed in two locations because of standing water under the second box culvert approximately 2 miles west of Verona and approximately one-half mile east of Klevenville on a section of blacktopped trail.
Check the State Parks current conditions page of the DNR Web site for more information.
The Lower Wisconsin River has dropped considerably in the past week and is approaching near normal seasonal flows. Some sandbars are returning but people considering any paddling this weekend need to be aware there is much more debris and more contaminants in the river than normal due to the flooding. The Kickapoo River has also dropped considerably, but is still well above seasonal normal flows.
While flooding has caused some difficult conditions downstate, rain amounts in the north have finally filled many lakes for the first time in a number of years, although some lakes are still considerably below normal water levels. Northern river systems like the Flambeau and Chippewa are currently at good seasonal levels for paddling.
The Mississippi River crested last week just over flood stage at around 16.3 feet at Prairie du Chien. The river dropped to about 13.5 feet this week and is forecast to steadily decline to around 12 feet by this upcoming weekend.
Muskie anglers have been out in pretty good numbers in the north and most have reported catching a few fish. The mayfly hatch continues on many northern lakes and this has upset the walleye bite on most of these waters.
Panfish action has been very good, with bluegill and crappie providing some excellent action. Bluegill spawning should start petering out in the next week. Northern pike action continues to be good, with fish still being found in shallow water around and over any new weed beds. Most largemouth and smallmouth bass have completed their spawning period, though some nesting can still be found on many waters.
Although some communities are starting to lift slow-no-wake regulations on some lakes in southern Wisconsin, but many -- including the Madison area chain of lakes -- still have restrictions in place, greatly reducing fishing activity. Where anglers have been getting out, northern pike action has been good and largemouth bass fishing has been fair.
Panfish are still hitting on the Madison chain. Dane County trout streams are fishable. Most went up and down pretty quickly, considering the conditions. Small streams recovered especially quickly.
Though the Wisconsin River has dropped back down to a normal flow level, Lower Wisconsin and Wisconsin River users are staying away due to DNR warnings of contaminated water. All of the streams in Southwestern Wisconsin have been affected by the flooding, causing wide and braided channels.
The floods have scoured silt-laden places and deposited sediment and rock in other. Streams that have been constricted by bridges and culverts have completely blown out or have created large pools downstream. Larger fish are anticipated to have survived, but the number of smaller fish (young-of-year and yearlings) has likely reduced. Shore anglers should be aware that in many areas banks have eroded and may give way underfoot. Strong currents in rivers and streams pose an additional threat.
Fishing has all but ended for now on the Rock River and Lake Koshkonong in Jefferson County. The water is currently about 9 feet above its normal summer level. Most public access sites are closed. Entry is by going through County Sherriff or National Guard checkpoints, and only those with businesses or homes are being allowed to pass. Just the same, anglers are fishing in road ditches, miles from the lake and river. Some folks are enjoying the novelty of catching a fish in the middle of a road. Carp anglers and spearers are wading through fields to attack spawning populations of the rough fish.
The yellow perch bite has increased significantly in the last week on Green Bay and many anglers were catching numbers close to their daily limit. Lake Michigan trollers reported a mixed week, but some good action was reported for chinook salmon and some coho and rainbow trout out of Manitowoc, Kewaunee, Algoma, and Two Rivers but action slower out of the more southern ports. Shore anglers in Milwaukee have been catching fair numbers of perch.
Fishing on the Mississippi River has been getting better as the water recedes, with channel catfish moving to find nests and being very catchable. Fishing for sauger and walleye also picked up a little late in the week.
Novice hunters age 10 and up have until June 30, to submit applications for a learn to hunt bear program this fall. A random drawing will be held from a pool of all applicants to determine who will be provided one of the limited opportunities to be matched with mentors who will teach the habits of bear, how to read bear sign, and other techniques for safely hunting bear. Applications are available at DNR service centers or on the Learn to Bear Hunt page of the DNR Web site at http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/bear/lth.htm.
--Spring wildflowers have faded and summer flowers are appearing, including Solomon's seal, harebell, spiderwort, butterfly weed, hawkweed and ox-eye daisy. And while rains have diminished and floodwaters are receding, along with the damage they've left in their aftermath, mosquitoes are out in hoards, so don't forget the bug repellant when venturing out this week.
A 3-minute audio version of this report can be heard by calling (608) 266 2277.
To see more of The Wisconsin State Journal, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.wisconsinstatejournal.com. Copyright (c) 2008, The Wisconsin State Journal Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
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