MADISON - Pick up the April issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine to net tips for hot fishing, hints on finding your way when in the outdoors, and links to great field trips from spring through fall.
The April issue includes Wisconsin’s annual Fishing Forecast. Readers will have a full 16 pages of Department of Natural Resources fisheries crews’ best bets to cast a line for walleye, bass, muskies, trout and panfish. Read about good places to try your luck around the state where stream projects, habitat rehab, anglers and partners are improving fishing prospects.
The feature story “Getting From Lost to Found” describes what to pack and what to do to help yourself if you get lost outdoors. A little preparation and a few supplies go a long way to keep you safe and help others find you.
The April issues also includes links to the annual listing of weekend field trips offered from spring through fall through the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin at [http://www.wisconservation.org/] (exit DNR). The list includes great paddling trips, field days to see swans, eagles and raptors, and to catch prairies at peak bloom. Outdoor tours are led by expert naturalists with a passion for Wisconsin’s special places.
Another article explores how updates in protecting shorelands aim to keep Wisconsin shorelines pleasing for homeowner, boaters and other lakeside users. And check out the list of plants and animals we hope to contain through partnerships to curb invasive species.
Those features and more await readers of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine.
Subscribe now. Let us deliver six colorful issues to your door all year for less than $1.50 a copy. All year long we share the hot spots at the hot times to enjoy the Wisconsin outdoors for only $8.97. Subscribe toll-free at 1-800-678-9472, online at [http://www.wnrmag.com/] or by mail. Subscription blanks and single issues are also available from our circulation office at P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Proposed phosphorous standards aimed at reducing algae growth in surface waters
Public hearings to be held around state in April
MADISON – Public hearings start statewide in mid-April for proposed rules aimed at reducing levels of phosphorus, a key nutrient fueling excessive algae growth on many Wisconsin lakes and other water quality problems on rivers statewide.
The proposed rules would affect industry and municipal wastewater treatment plants that release phosphorus in their discharges to Wisconsin water bodies. The proposed rules complement changes now being finalized to rules aimed at reducing phosphorus in water runoff from farms and urban areas, as well as other measures targeting phosphorus. These include the April 1 start of a statewide ban – with a few exceptions -- on selling, displaying and using phosphorus-based fertilizer for grass.
“We recognize we have phosphorus-related water quality problems across the state – it’s evident in nuisance algae blooms on lakes, cladophora] along Lake Michigan beaches, and low levels of dissolved oxygen in streams that endanger the survival of fish and other aquatic life,” says Jim Baumann, the Department of Natural Resources water quality official who led development of the proposed rules.
“There are many ways that phosphorus reaches our waters. We’re working on the biggest sources first, through these proposals that address wastewater discharges and our parallel proposals to revise runoff rules for ag and urban sources of phosphorus.”
The proposed rules would set the highest levels of phosphorus that could be expected in lakes, rivers and the Great Lakes and still support the fish and other aquatic life they were capable of supporting. Different numerical levels would be set for five categories of lakes and reservoirs, for rivers and streams, and for the Great Lakes, Baumann says.
Wisconsin’s proposed rules would also establish the procedures for setting limits on the amount of phosphorus permitted facilities could discharge.
All states are required to establish such water quality criteria, or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can set it for them. A national state-EPA task force has concluded that the amounts of phosphorus and another key nutrient, nitrogen, entering U.S. waters over the past 50 years has dramatically escalated. “Nutrients now pose significant water quality and public health concerns across the U.S…” concluded the report, “An Urgent Call to Action (exit DNR; pdf).”
Phosphorus is an essential nutrient that controls the growth of plants and animals, but too much phosphorus entering lakes, rivers and other waters can spur excessive aquatic plant and algae growth. The sources of phosphorus pollution to a water body depend on the prevailing land use activities that discharge water to a particular water body.
Public hearings on the proposed rules will all begin at 1 p.m. and are set for the following dates and locations:
Written comments on the proposed rules may be submitted via U. S. mail to Jim Baumann, DNR-WT/3, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921 or by e-mail to james.baumann@wisconsin.gov. Comments may be submitted until April 30, 2010. Written comments whether submitted electronically or by U. S. mail will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearings. A copy of the proposed rules and supporting documents, including the fiscal estimate may also be obtained from Jim Baumann, DNR-WT/3, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921, or by calling (608) 266-9277.
MADISON – Public hearings start statewide in mid-April for proposed rules aimed at reducing levels of phosphorus, a key nutrient fueling excessive algae growth on many Wisconsin lakes and other water quality problems on rivers statewide.
The proposed rules would affect industry and municipal wastewater treatment plants that release phosphorus in their discharges to Wisconsin water bodies. The proposed rules complement changes now being finalized to rules aimed at reducing phosphorus in water runoff from farms and urban areas, as well as other measures targeting phosphorus. These include the April 1 start of a statewide ban – with a few exceptions -- on selling, displaying and using phosphorus-based fertilizer for grass.
“We recognize we have phosphorus-related water quality problems across the state – it’s evident in nuisance algae blooms on lakes, cladophora] along Lake Michigan beaches, and low levels of dissolved oxygen in streams that endanger the survival of fish and other aquatic life,” says Jim Baumann, the Department of Natural Resources water quality official who led development of the proposed rules.
“There are many ways that phosphorus reaches our waters. We’re working on the biggest sources first, through these proposals that address wastewater discharges and our parallel proposals to revise runoff rules for ag and urban sources of phosphorus.”
The proposed rules would set the highest levels of phosphorus that could be expected in lakes, rivers and the Great Lakes and still support the fish and other aquatic life they were capable of supporting. Different numerical levels would be set for five categories of lakes and reservoirs, for rivers and streams, and for the Great Lakes, Baumann says.
Wisconsin’s proposed rules would also establish the procedures for setting limits on the amount of phosphorus permitted facilities could discharge.
All states are required to establish such water quality criteria, or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can set it for them. A national state-EPA task force has concluded that the amounts of phosphorus and another key nutrient, nitrogen, entering U.S. waters over the past 50 years has dramatically escalated. “Nutrients now pose significant water quality and public health concerns across the U.S…” concluded the report, “An Urgent Call to Action (exit DNR; pdf).”
Phosphorus is an essential nutrient that controls the growth of plants and animals, but too much phosphorus entering lakes, rivers and other waters can spur excessive aquatic plant and algae growth. The sources of phosphorus pollution to a water body depend on the prevailing land use activities that discharge water to a particular water body.
Public hearings on the proposed rules will all begin at 1 p.m. and are set for the following dates and locations:
- April 15, Rhinelander, Quality Inn, 668 W. Kemp St.
- April 20, Green Bay, Green Bay City Hall, Green Bay City Hall, Council Chambers, Room 203, 100 N. Jefferson, St.
- April 21, Oconomowoc, Olympia Resort and Conference Center, Crown Room, 1350 Royale Mile Road.
- April 27, Eau Claire, Ramada Inn, 205 S. Barstow St.
Written comments on the proposed rules may be submitted via U. S. mail to Jim Baumann, DNR-WT/3, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921 or by e-mail to james.baumann@wisconsin.gov. Comments may be submitted until April 30, 2010. Written comments whether submitted electronically or by U. S. mail will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearings. A copy of the proposed rules and supporting documents, including the fiscal estimate may also be obtained from Jim Baumann, DNR-WT/3, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921, or by calling (608) 266-9277.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
2010 Wisconsin Fishing Report offers latest fishing forecasts, tips for success
Report available online now and in print
MADISON – Time to start planning that first fishing trip for the coming inland fishing season. Read the 2010 Wisconsin Fishing Report online or get a printed copy to learn where the hottest fishing action will be this year.
The 2010 Wisconsin Fishing Report is now available online and is loaded with fishing forecasts from waters across the state, helping anglers find the kind of fishing experience they most enjoy.
The report is available at Department of Natural Resources service centers and regional offices, and will be inserted in the April edition of the Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine, which may be purchased online.
The regular inland season opens May 1; fishing licenses for the 2010-2011 season are now available online, from license sales agents, and from DNR service centers and regional offices.
“It’s time to get back out on the water,” says DNR Secretary Matt Frank. “We hope our annual Fishing Report can help lure even more people out to enjoy what’s a great Wisconsin tradition and a great activity to do with family and friends.”
It's shaping up to be another great fishing season, judging by this bass captured by DNR crews on Cherokee Lake in March 2010 during annual surveys. Find more fishing forecasts in the 2010 Wisconsin Fishing Report, out now.
The report features 10 pages of forecasts submitted by local fish biologists and technicians, most of whom report the results of recent fish population surveys, habitat improvement projects, and what both will mean for fishing prospects in the coming season.
The report also contains a variety of tips to help anglers improve their success fishing, including articles that will help anglers conquer the Mighty Mississippi, which offers the greatest variety of sport fishes anywhere in Wisconsin and features year-round open season for most of them.
New this year: a “flip book” format that makes the publication easier to read online, and archived versions of the report dating back to 2006.
“Our 2010 report contains more of the information anglers ask us for: Where the big fish are, where the best action is, and what they can expect from their favorite fishing hole,” says Karl Scheidegger, a Department of Natural Resources fish biologist who leads DNR’s fisheries’ outreach efforts and was the report’s primary editor and graphic designer.
Scheidegger hopes that after reading the report, anglers will take a few minutes to answer a short online survey. “We're always looking for ways to improve the report,” he says. “Let us know what you think and how we can make it even better.”
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Lake Michigan Outdoor Fishing Report
Southern Lake Michigan Fishing Report: March 22, 2010
Kenosha Co.
In Kenosha flows on the Pike River are good, but steelhead fishing has been rather slow. In the harbor anglers are catching a few steelhead and browns on white tube jigs or spawn sacs.
Racine Co.
In Racine water levels and clarity on the Root River are good. Fair numbers of steelhead and browns have been found throughout the river, and most have been taken on spawn sacs or small tube jigs. Fly anglers have had the most success with woolley buggers and egg imitations. The Root River Steelhead Facility is running, and the first fish processing day will most likely be on Thursday, March 25. Fishing in the Racine harbor has been slow.
Milwaukee Co.
In Milwaukee anglers fishing the Milwaukee River along the wall under the Hoan bridge have been catching a few browns and rainbows. Spawn and small shiners have produced the most fish. Flows are good on the Menomonee River and Oak Creek, and some steelhead have been taken from both. In the Milwaukee River anglers have been catching fair numbers of steelhead on yarn flies at Kletzsch Park. Boaters jigging the gaps in Milwaukee continue to catch lake trout.
Ozaukee Co.
In Port Washington anglers have been catching a few rainbows and browns on spawn both in the north slip and near the power plant discharge. A few steelhead have been taken in upstream stretches of Sauk Creek on yarn flies and spawn sacs.
Sheboygan Co.
In Sheboygan, the water levels on the Sheboygan and Pigeon Rivers are somewhat high but dropping. Anglers on the Sheboygan River have been catching steelhead on spawn sacs at the Kohler dam. A few rainbows and browns have also been caught off the south pier on both spawn sacs and crank baits.
The Southern Lake Michigan Fishing Report is updated twice per week from March 1 to December 1 each year. This report is a copy of the fishing report we post on our fishing hotline at (414) 382-7920.
Green Bay Fishing Report: March 23, 2010
Brown Co.
Boats dominate the waterscape at Voyageur Park. Shore fishermen are casting for walleye with twister tails and Rapalas. Boaters are vertical jigging with lead staying within a foot of the bottom; hooks are tipped with gulp or minnows.
Marinette Co.
The Menominee River from Stephenson Island to the Hattie Street Dam is seeing moderate to heavy pressure. Early mornings and evenings are seeing some walleye being caught using twister tails and Raps. Brown trout are being caught in significant numbers close to the dam casting spoons. Silver/green, silver/orange, and silver/blue in 3/4 oz is working well. The occasional rainbow has also been showing up. All these fish are being being caught in open water.
The Green Bay Fishing Report is updated once a week until October 31, and then again during the ice fishing season.
Kenosha Co.
In Kenosha flows on the Pike River are good, but steelhead fishing has been rather slow. In the harbor anglers are catching a few steelhead and browns on white tube jigs or spawn sacs.
Racine Co.
In Racine water levels and clarity on the Root River are good. Fair numbers of steelhead and browns have been found throughout the river, and most have been taken on spawn sacs or small tube jigs. Fly anglers have had the most success with woolley buggers and egg imitations. The Root River Steelhead Facility is running, and the first fish processing day will most likely be on Thursday, March 25. Fishing in the Racine harbor has been slow.
Milwaukee Co.
In Milwaukee anglers fishing the Milwaukee River along the wall under the Hoan bridge have been catching a few browns and rainbows. Spawn and small shiners have produced the most fish. Flows are good on the Menomonee River and Oak Creek, and some steelhead have been taken from both. In the Milwaukee River anglers have been catching fair numbers of steelhead on yarn flies at Kletzsch Park. Boaters jigging the gaps in Milwaukee continue to catch lake trout.
Ozaukee Co.
In Port Washington anglers have been catching a few rainbows and browns on spawn both in the north slip and near the power plant discharge. A few steelhead have been taken in upstream stretches of Sauk Creek on yarn flies and spawn sacs.
Sheboygan Co.
In Sheboygan, the water levels on the Sheboygan and Pigeon Rivers are somewhat high but dropping. Anglers on the Sheboygan River have been catching steelhead on spawn sacs at the Kohler dam. A few rainbows and browns have also been caught off the south pier on both spawn sacs and crank baits.
The Southern Lake Michigan Fishing Report is updated twice per week from March 1 to December 1 each year. This report is a copy of the fishing report we post on our fishing hotline at (414) 382-7920.
Green Bay Fishing Report: March 23, 2010
Brown Co.
Boats dominate the waterscape at Voyageur Park. Shore fishermen are casting for walleye with twister tails and Rapalas. Boaters are vertical jigging with lead staying within a foot of the bottom; hooks are tipped with gulp or minnows.
Marinette Co.
The Menominee River from Stephenson Island to the Hattie Street Dam is seeing moderate to heavy pressure. Early mornings and evenings are seeing some walleye being caught using twister tails and Raps. Brown trout are being caught in significant numbers close to the dam casting spoons. Silver/green, silver/orange, and silver/blue in 3/4 oz is working well. The occasional rainbow has also been showing up. All these fish are being being caught in open water.
The Green Bay Fishing Report is updated once a week until October 31, and then again during the ice fishing season.
DNR will have booths at the Northwest Sportshow in Minneapolis
Outdoor enthusiasts can learn about aquatic plants, fishing, hunting, hiking trails, water safety and much more by visiting the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) booths at the 78th Annual Northwest Sportshow, March 24-28, at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
DNR specialists will be available to answer questions at the main DNR booth located in Lobby D. The DNR License Center will be selling state parks stickers, and fishing and hunting licenses.
The DNR Enforcement Division will offer an interactive LaserShot shooting range for youth and adults. The family favorite gives participants a chance to test their skills at one of four shooting simulation stations.
Attendees can also visit the DNR’s invasive species information booth in Lobby C to pick up educational materials and talk with invasive species staff.
Daily admission is $10 for adults 16 and older, and $5 for youth 13-15 years old. Children 12 and younger are admitted for free.
DNR specialists will be available to answer questions at the main DNR booth located in Lobby D. The DNR License Center will be selling state parks stickers, and fishing and hunting licenses.
The DNR Enforcement Division will offer an interactive LaserShot shooting range for youth and adults. The family favorite gives participants a chance to test their skills at one of four shooting simulation stations.
Attendees can also visit the DNR’s invasive species information booth in Lobby C to pick up educational materials and talk with invasive species staff.
Daily admission is $10 for adults 16 and older, and $5 for youth 13-15 years old. Children 12 and younger are admitted for free.
Experimental sunfish regulations extended on portion of Mississippi River
(Minnesota DNR) An experimental regulation limiting anglers to 10 sunfish taken from the Mississippi River adjacent to Houston, Winona and Wabasha Counties will be extended another five years, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced.
Continuing the special regulation, which has been in effect since 2001, was supported by 65 percent of anglers participating in a 2009 public input process. The regulation is aimed at maintaining and increasing the number of sunfish longer than seven inches in Pools 5, 5A and 8 of the Mississippi. It will remain in effect until April 1, 2015.
Impacts of the regulation have been difficult to measure due to a threefold increase in sunfish populations during the post-regulation period, and variable climatic conditions that affect angler effort, said Lake City DNR fisheries Manager Kevin Stauffer.
However, information collected during the pre- and post-regulation periods suggests that when sunfish populations are relatively low, angler harvest can significantly reduce numbers of larger sunfish, and that restrictive regulations like this one can protect those populations from excessively high rates of exploitation.
Continuing the special regulation, which has been in effect since 2001, was supported by 65 percent of anglers participating in a 2009 public input process. The regulation is aimed at maintaining and increasing the number of sunfish longer than seven inches in Pools 5, 5A and 8 of the Mississippi. It will remain in effect until April 1, 2015.
Impacts of the regulation have been difficult to measure due to a threefold increase in sunfish populations during the post-regulation period, and variable climatic conditions that affect angler effort, said Lake City DNR fisheries Manager Kevin Stauffer.
However, information collected during the pre- and post-regulation periods suggests that when sunfish populations are relatively low, angler harvest can significantly reduce numbers of larger sunfish, and that restrictive regulations like this one can protect those populations from excessively high rates of exploitation.
Workshops help adults pass on fishing to a new generation
April 6 session in Milwaukee, others upon request
MILWAUKEE – Adults who love to fish or care about Wisconsin lakes and streams can help pass on a favorite Wisconsin tradition to a new generation by attending a workshop April 6 in Milwaukee or by requesting that a workshop be held in their area.
“Anglers and others can invest in the future of fishing by attending an angler education workshop,” says Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank. “They’ll get the teaching tools and materials they need to help start a fishing club or bring aquatic education into their classroom.”
Teachers and volunteers use the Department of Natural Resources Angler Education Program to introduce children to basic fishing skills and connect them to Wisconsin's lakes and streams. Adults who attend the workshop receive free materials that they can use to teach their own angler education courses and help guide adventures in local water resource investigations. Fishing equipment and other materials are available for loan to instructors for their programs.
Youth leaders, classroom teachers, fishing club members and civic leaders are encouraged to attend as a team or to form one at the workshop. Demand is increasing for after-school fishing clubs, so this would be a good opportunity for community partners to join forces in helping to provide youth with a healthy pastime, according to Theresa Stabo, DNR aquatic resources educator..
Classroom teachers use activities correlated to Wisconsin's academic standards for science, history, language arts, physical education and other disciplines, Stabo says.
More details about April 6 workshop and how to request one for your area
The Milwaukee workshop runs from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Havenwoods State Forest, 6141 N. Hopkins St., Milwaukee. Adults interested in attending the workshop can download a registration form (pdf) from the DNR Web site and mail it in to Stabo (mailing information on form).
People who are interested in receiving the training to help start their own youth fishing clubs can check the DNR Web site to see if angler education workshops are being planned in their area.
MILWAUKEE – Adults who love to fish or care about Wisconsin lakes and streams can help pass on a favorite Wisconsin tradition to a new generation by attending a workshop April 6 in Milwaukee or by requesting that a workshop be held in their area.
“Anglers and others can invest in the future of fishing by attending an angler education workshop,” says Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank. “They’ll get the teaching tools and materials they need to help start a fishing club or bring aquatic education into their classroom.”
Teachers and volunteers use the Department of Natural Resources Angler Education Program to introduce children to basic fishing skills and connect them to Wisconsin's lakes and streams. Adults who attend the workshop receive free materials that they can use to teach their own angler education courses and help guide adventures in local water resource investigations. Fishing equipment and other materials are available for loan to instructors for their programs.
Youth leaders, classroom teachers, fishing club members and civic leaders are encouraged to attend as a team or to form one at the workshop. Demand is increasing for after-school fishing clubs, so this would be a good opportunity for community partners to join forces in helping to provide youth with a healthy pastime, according to Theresa Stabo, DNR aquatic resources educator..
Classroom teachers use activities correlated to Wisconsin's academic standards for science, history, language arts, physical education and other disciplines, Stabo says.
More details about April 6 workshop and how to request one for your area
The Milwaukee workshop runs from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Havenwoods State Forest, 6141 N. Hopkins St., Milwaukee. Adults interested in attending the workshop can download a registration form (pdf) from the DNR Web site and mail it in to Stabo (mailing information on form).
People who are interested in receiving the training to help start their own youth fishing clubs can check the DNR Web site to see if angler education workshops are being planned in their area.
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