High water levels on the Wolf River remain too dangerous for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to monitor the lake sturgeon spawn at sites across the Winnebago System.
The flooding is also spilling beyond the riverbanks, letting some sturgeon use routes that are usually closed off.
The Winnebago Sturgeon Team has received reports of sturgeon in new locations along the Wolf River and elsewhere in the drainage.
With evacuation orders in place at press time in Shiocton and New London, the DNR said it would assess conditions as soon as it was safe to do so.
For now, sturgeon have plenty of water and will likely return to the Wolf River on their own, the DNR said. If the DNR moved sturgeon now, there is a strong chance they would swim back to the same areas while high water persists.
For the latest information, watch for Wisconsin DNR updates on sturgeon spawning conditions.
Wolf River sturgeon sightings: Flooding spurs reports near Shiocton and New London
I spoke with a friend who visited the Shiocton and New London areas to check on the sturgeon. He said it’s hard to see much because flooding keeps people from getting close to the Wolf River.
He did report seeing a few sturgeon swimming through a parking lot. He also saw others out in flooded fields.
In an update, the DNR noted that eggs laid in flooded fields can be lost when water levels drop. The agency said that happens every year in marshes as water retreats, and it does not expect those losses to affect the overall sturgeon population.
The DNR also said sturgeon typically move out of fields and marshes as water levels fall, reducing the chance they will be stranded.
Spring is a unique time of year, and it always gives us something to watch. Check the DNR’s sturgeon spawning page for safety updates before heading out, since conditions can change quickly.
Of course, by the time you read this, conditions may have shifted again. The sturgeon may even be finished spawning.
Wisconsin spring turkey season: Early success for hunters
Wisconsin’s spring turkey season is underway, and early reports of success have been strong.
The spring season is split into six seven-day periods to spread out hunting pressure.
Some hunter safety instructors in Maribel tagged birds in the first day or two. Others took longer, but the overall success rate appears high.
Once the DNR releases harvest totals, I’ll share those numbers in a future column.
Lake Michigan fishing report: Chinook (king) salmon catches pick up
Lake Michigan has been rough on many days, but anglers who found a weather window still saw action.
I’ve heard about several nice Chinook (king) salmon brought to the net. Photos shared online show more being caught up and down the Lake Michigan shoreline.
We haven’t tried our luck yet. Once turkey season wraps up, I’m sure we’ll be back on the big lake.
As the water warms and salmon move north, more anglers will be out. Fishing should improve as the season progresses.
Wisconsin spring weather: Cold mornings linger as gardens wake up
As I write this column April 19, I’m still waiting for a true warmup.
I just came in from the garage, and the thermometer read 37 degrees.
Rhubarb is starting to push through the soil. By the time you read this, asparagus may be popping up, too.
Mary mentioned dandelions starting under the clothes-dryer vent, where the ground is warmer. Forecasts call for higher temperatures this week, so those yellow flowers will soon be everywhere.
We know warm weather is on the way. It just always seems to take its time.
That’s it for this week, so have fun in the great outdoors.
Outdoors columnist Bob Schuh’s “Scoping the Great Outdoors” column appears each Sunday in the Herald Times Reporter. Reach him at 920-682-3106 or bobschuh@lsol.net.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Wolf River sturgeon spotted near Shiocton and New London amid flooding
Reporting by Bob Schuh, Special to Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
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