July 18, 2019
Photo Credits: Wisconsin DNR
Hot summer weather this week has many people looking for ways to cool down. Some rivers busy with people tubing, kayaking, and canoeing and others are heading out in search of beaches.
River levels continue to be high in northeast Wisconsin. In the last week, southern Oconto and Marinette counties received up to 5 inches of rain, which pushed flows in the Oconto, Peshtigo and Menominee rivers to much higher than normal levels. Because of the high water, many small lakes in Central Wisconsin have slow no wake restrictions in place. Driven by a growing number of calls and complaints about excessive wakes, both Wisconsin and Minnesota have launched an educational effort urging people to “Own Your Wake – for everyone’s sake,” to spread the word about minimizing wakes that might pose a nuisance or hazard to others.
The beach on Interfalls Lake at Pattison State Park has reopened.Photo credit: DNR
More than a year after the Father’s Day flood event took out a dam and drained Interfalls Lake at Pattison State Park, the lake has refilled and the beach has reopened to the delight of visitors looking cool down with a swim. The Woods Lake beach at Governor Thompson State park with its 150-foot sand beach has been attracting swimmers. Due to high Lake Michigan water levels the beaches at Whitefish Dunes State Park have shrunken some but access is still open at two beaches. To find more locations and the latest beach condition reports search the DNR website for “beaches.” A reminder most beaches do not allow dogs. To find pet swim areas at state properties search the DNR website for “pets.” 
Woods Lake at Governor Thompson State Park has a 150-foot sand beach.Photo credit: DNR
Channel catfish are being caught on the Wolf River. Anglers targeting yellow perch on Lake Winnebago have been having success, with some anglers even catching limits. Walleyes are also still being caught throughout the Winnebago system.
There was good fishing for perch and walleye this week along both the east and west shores of Green Bay. Finally the news anglers fishing northern Door County wanted to hear: chinook salmon have started to show up, with boats catching upwards of five fish. Smallmouth bass fishing in and around the Mink River was still producing fish, with even a few 5-pound fish being caught yet. On the bayside, smallmouth bass fishing remained steady throughout the week with boats catching roughly 20 fish per boat.
The beaches at Whitefish Dunes State Park have shrunk due to high Lake Michigan water levels but two are still accessible.Photo credit: DNR
Fishing activity on southern Lake Michigan picked up quite a bit this week out of Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha with onset of a Salmon-A-Rama tournament. The most targeted fish were kings and coho; however, most of the fish reported were lake trout and steelhead with some salmon also caught.
Turkey broods are being seen and the young seem to have more than doubled in size over a weeks’ time. Reports of fawns are still coming in strong with one report this week of a doe with triplets. Loons are serenating into the night on Northwoods lakes.
Bergamot, purple coneflower, blazing star, butterfly weed and black-eyed Susan are adding pops of color on the landscape. Strawberries, blueberries and Juneberries are ripening.
Anyone looking to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing this Saturday, July 20, can attend one several astronomy programs that will be held this weekend at state properties.
