Outdoors: Wind slams door on trout trollers

Excellent conditions last weekend led to busy boat launches at Algoma and Kewaunee, but the wind has been nasty since.

If the forecast at the time of this midweek writing is accurate, it looks like it may settle down just in time for the first Blue Door Brown Trout Tournament at Kewaunee Saturday.

Early-bird registration ended, but $75 could get you in last-minute at Friday night’s meeting. For details, call Merrick at 920-366-7706.

Meanwhile, the 29th annual Baileys Harbor Brown Trout Tournament — with fishing allowed anywhere off Kewaunee and Door counties — is set for April 20-23.

Hundreds of trout have been hooked off Kewaunee and Algoma in recent weeks, everything from the typical spring “eaters” in the two- to five-pound range on up to the rare 20-pound-class giants.

Most trollers are using stickbaits, crankbaits and spoons in anywhere from about 8 to 28 feet, occasionally even tighter to shore or a bit deeper if it’s calm and clear.

Meanwhile, the tributary stream steelhead and sucker runs continue. Some strains are already spawning but others are waiting for the water to warm a bit.

Spring hearings

Monday night’s annual spring fish and wildlife hearing and Conservation Congress meeting will be held at Kewaunee High School beginning at 7 p.m.

There are 88 questions regarding new hunting season dates for some game species, revised daily bag and length limits for some sportfish and new options for deer herd management. There are also questions related to invasive or exotic species, refuges and more.

The meeting format allows individuals the opportunity to raise new conservation ideas or issues through the citizen resolution process.

Meeting results, along with written comments on the evening's questions and DNR recommendations are used to advise the state Natural Resources Board. Votes are nonbinding and are presented to the Natural Resources Board as advisory.

See this year’s questionnaire, learn how to introduce a resolution or check out other hearing locations at www.dnr.wi.gov/About/WCC/springhearing.html.

Skamanias here

After nearly a decade off due to VHS concerns and the desire to build a biosecure area in hatcheries, Skamania-strain steelhead are again being raised in Wisconsin.

For the next three to five years, the DNR plans to stock about 35,000 Skamanias raised from eggs taken in Indiana in both the Kewaunee and Root rivers, then capture the adults here to continue the process.

Wisconsin has tried a variety of strains through the years, settling on three for the most part. In addition to Skamanias, which were developed at the Skamania hatchery in the state of Washington, Wisconsin uses Chambers Creek (from Washington’s South Tacoma hatchery) and Ganaraskas (naturalized in Lake Ontario).

Deer comments

The online public comment period for spring County Deer Advisory Council recommendations for this fall’s hunts runs through April 13.

CDACs will prepare final antlerless quota, permit level and season structure recommendations during the last round of spring meetings, including April 17 at Sturgeon Bay High School and April 19 at the Muskrat City Sportsman’s Club. Both begin at 7 p.m.

Check out all the CDAC information at dnr.wi.gov/topic/hunt/cdac.html, or check out a huge county-by-county database on deer at dnr.wi.gov/wideermetrics/LaunchPage.aspx.

Short shots

Learn To Hunt wild turkey programs are underway, and next up is the youth turkey hunt April 15-16. The first regular season period runs April 19-25.

Hunters must possess their carcass tags while hunting. Upon killing a turkey, they must immediately validate the carcass tag. All turkeys must be registered online or by phone.

• Saturday’s Bird Celebration in Algoma runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Youth Club.

• Saturday is also the Pig Out fundraiser for Fisheries Forever. Get tickets at Ahnapee Brewery Tap Room, or visit pigoutyear3.eventbrite.com.

Kevin Naze is a freelance outdoors writer. He can be contacted at 920-883-9792 or wildtimes@wizunwired.net.

This article originally appeared on Wisconsin: Outdoors: Wind slams door on trout trollers