Family-Outdoors

Fall color reaching near 50 percent in parts of the north; fall color festivals this weekend Fall color is reaching near 50 percent in parts of northern and central Wisconsin on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's  Fall Color Report  (exit DNR). Copper Falls and Governor Thompson state parks both are holding fall color events and a many other properties will hold events over the next several weeks. For a complete list of fall events, search the DNR website for " get outdoors ," and then select " festivals " under event type. Also this weekend, more than a thousand young lake sturgeons will be released into the Milwaukee River at Lakeshore State Park during " Sturgeon Fest ," that highlights a cooperative effort between the DNR and Riveredge Nature Center to restore sturgeon to Lake Michigan. The event features the opportunity for a nominal donation for youth and adults to sponsor and release a young sturgeon. The fish, hatched from eggs coll...

 Southeast Lower Peninsula  Southwest Lower Peninsula  Northeast Lower Peninsula  Northwest Lower Peninsula  Upper Peninsula  Great Lakes Temperature Map The fall trout and salmon runs are off to a slow start.  The fish move in with the rain and cooler temperatures but then some are turning around and heading back out to the big lake when it warms back up.  Lake trout and splake fishing on Lake Huron will close on  September 30 .  Lake trout season in the northern section of Lake Michigan down to Frankfort will also close on  September 30 .  Southeast Lower Peninsula Lake Erie:   Had heavy yellow perch fishing especially out of Brest Bay, off Stony Point, Fermi, and Toledo Beach.  Those that caught fish were using minnows on spreaders while anchored in 20 to 25 feet.  Fish were also caught around the E-Buoy, and the C-Buoy as well as Buoys 1 & 2 at the mouth of the Raisin River.  No ...

Lower Mountain Fork River: The US Army Corps of Engineers will be conducting maintenance to the Penstock from September 28 - October 8. This means that there will be no hydro-power generation during this period. As long as the water temperatures stay cool enough we will maintain the 150 cfs release from the spillway. Last week the ODWC stocked 9-11 inch rainbow trout below the Old State Park Dam and below the Re-regulation Dam. If the temperatures stay favorable in combination with no generation, those areas will be prime fishing as anglers won't have to contend with the hydro-power releases. We will be monitoring the temperatures closely and work with the USACE in the event temperatures dictate a change in release needs. CENTRAL Draper: September 22. Elevation below normal, water 73 and stained. Crappie and white bass slow on minnows and jigs around docks. Report submitted by Chad Strang, game warden stationed in Cleveland County. Hefner: September 22. Elevation normal, wa...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) NORTHWEST Nelson Park Lake Channel Catfish - Fair: Use traditional catfish baits (e.g., dip baits, cut bait, chicken liver). Yellow Smoke Park Lake A hoop netting survey designed to collect catfish was conducted on 7-24-15. Nice sized channel catfish ranging from 9 - 28 inches and 6-9 inch bluegill were collected. Target catfish using leeches, cut bait, or dip baits fished on or near bottom in areas 5-10 feet deep. Fish for bluegills using crawlers, minnows, or leeches in 3-10 feet of water.   Brushy Creek Lake More anglers are making their way out onto Brushy this week and most are having success. The south end is productive, but the north end and its shallower areas have seen an increase in activity this week. Bluegill - Fair: Fish areas 10-20 feet deep with drop-offs and submerged structure. Walleye - Slow: Walleye fishing has been slow lately but several have been picked up in about 25 feet of water. Black Crappie - Good...