From the Wisconsin Department of Tourism:
The pattern of heavy snowfall continued over much of the state this week, with some areas of northern and central Wisconsin receiving repeated snowfalls off up to a foot. The south hasn’t fared as well, with most of the precipitation that fell last weekend in the form of rain. That was followed by freezing temperatures that left of thick crust of ice on top of what snow remains. A mid-week ice storm also coated central Wisconsin with a thick layer of ice.
The rain closed most snowmobile trails in the southern most tier of counties but trails through central and northern Wisconsin remain open and in good to excellent condition, with some reporting best conditions of the winter so far on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR). Cross country ski trail conditions are also good to excellent through much of central and northern Wisconsin, including the best conditions of the year at the five Door County state parks.
Cross-country ski trails are in good to excellent condition in Door County’s five state parks, including these at Potawatomi.Photo credit: DNR
With the recent heavy snow and high winds fishing pressure has varied from heavy to non-existent. Truck and ATV travel on the ice has been difficult away from the plowed roads on the ice with lots of stuck vehicles being reported. Lots of anglers spent last week trying to get their permanent shacks off the ice if possible. Anglers are reminded that permanent ice shacks must be off the ice by March 3 south of Highway 64 and March 17 north of 64.
Fishing on the Wolf River has been a popular activity and folks are having luck catching smaller northern pike and few walleyes. Fox River anglers fishing out of Fox Point boat landing report catching walleyes and whitefish. Heavy fishing pressure was observed along the west shore of Green Bay over the weekend with anglers reporting catching a few bigger perch and the stray whitefish and walleye.
The 2019 Winnebago System sturgeon spearing season is now in the books. The season ran the entire 16 days, as the harvest cap went unmet for the fourth straight year. Spearers registered at total of 786 fish on Lake Winnebago and the Upriver Lakes of Butte des Morts, Winneconne and Poygan combined. The largest fish harvested on the season’s final day was 111.7 pounds, 74-inches.
Snowshoes are a must for trekking out into the woods. Some otter and beaver trappers are still active and have reported the deep soft snow keeps seems to not allow otters to travel “over land” as much and the otters spend more time in the streams and rivers.
There have been regular sightings of numerous turkeys and deer out on roadways throughout the day exploring and taking a break from the deep snow in the woods. Coyotes and bobcat are on the move. Signs of spring will continue to give us hope even when winter may still have some March snow up its sleeve. Snowshoe hare coats have begun to turn brown and river otters are giving birth. There have been reports of taps being placed on in the sugarbush in anticipated of the spring sap run.
Northern shrikes and sharp shinned hawks are predating on the concentrations of birds at area feeders after this last blizzard. Flocks of redpolls and evening grosbeaks are treating area folks who are feeding the birds at this time of the year. And the first sandhill cranes have returned to the southeast part of the state.
