NRA youth wildlife art contest The National Rifle Association is now accepting entries for the 2010 George Montgomery/NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest. NRA membership is not required. The entry deadline is November 1. Submissions may portray any North American game bird or animal that can be legally hunted or trapped. The wildlife art contest is open to students in grades 1-12, including home-schooled children. Entries are placed in one of four categories based on school grade. Category I includes grades 1-3; Category II grades 4-6; Category III grades 7-9; Category IV grades 10-12. Winners of each category receive $750. Second-place finishers receive $500, and third-place receives $250. This year, the contest will award a $1,000 prize to an overall winner across all categories. Contestants are limited to one entry each in a medium of the artist’s choice (oil, watercolor, pastels, pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, etc.) Composition must be original. Photographs may be used for reference, but artwork determined to have been traced or copied from an existing photograph or work of art will be disqualified. For more information, visit www.nrahq.org/youth/wildlife.asp, or call (703) 267-1588. Wisconsin receives RMEF grants The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is providing grants totaling $48,620 for wildlife conservation and public education projects in 17 Wisconsin counties, including Ashland, Bayfield, Price, Sawyer, and Washburn. “These grants are possible because of the successful banquets and fundraisers staged over the past year by our Wisconsin volunteers-most of whom are elk hunters as well as devoted conservationists,” says RMEF president and CEO David Allen. “Since 1984, our annual grants have helped complete 176 different projects in Wisconsin with a combined value of more than $5.6 million.” RMEF grants will help fund the following local projects: • Highway warning systems, including a warning light triggered by elk radio collars, to reduce Clam Lake area vehicle-elk collisions. • Maintain elk forage openings by mowing 55 acres, removing woody vegetation on 30 acres, and prescribe burn five acres in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. • Sponsor: Hayward High School David Brinkman 2010 Memorial Scholarship; Hayward 2010 Outdoor Youth Day, Outdoor Adventures camp, and Phillips Area 2010 Youth Field Day to introduce young people to conservation and outdoor recreation. • Research genetic variability and health of the Clam Lake elk herd. • Provide radio telemetry equipment for Glidden High School students to research Clam Lake area elk habitat use and movement patterns. • Renovate/maintain Clam Lake’s “Elk Capital of Wisconsin” sign. For more information on the RMEF, visit www.rmef.org or call 1-800-call elk. FROM THE DNR Fish kills expected Biologists say conditions are ripe for outbreaks of fish disease (the bacteria columnaris) on northwest Wisconsin lakes during the next few weeks. Columnaris known to infect only fish species and is not a human health risk. “The bacteria is most prevalent in our lakes after water temperatures reach 65-70 degrees from late May to late June,” says DNR fisheries biologist Larry Damman. Bluegill, crappies, yellow perch, and bullheads, already stressed from seasonal spawning activities, are most affected by the disease. Cold or fluctuating water temperatures during spawning can compound spawning stress and weaken the immune system. The bacteria then erode the fishes’ skin, causing leakage of bodily fluids and a fairly rapid death. Although columnaris can appear to produce large-scale fish losses in a matter of several days, biologists say it usually does not have a catastrophic impact on overall fish populations. Anglers or landowners who have additional questions or see large numbers of other dead fish such as carp, largemouth bass, muskie, and walleye, should contact their local DNR fisheries biologist. Outdoor Report Black bears are in their breeding season, and females are pushing away yearling cubs to be on their own. Many will look for easy meals of birdseed or food scraps from garbage cans. You can discourage these bears by taking down bird feeders for a few weeks and keeping garbage in a secure location. If these tactics don’t work, call USDA-Wildlife Services (1-800-228-1368.) There are numerous reports of whitetail fawns. Does leave fawns unattended for long periods to hide them from predators. If you see a fawn, leave it alone and move away. The mother is nearby and will tend to it. Some Canada geese are flying in “V” formations normally associated with spring and fall migrations. These non-breeding sub-adults or unsuccessful breeding geese are on a “mini molt migration” to open water where they can safely molt their flight feathers. A large number of the geese are heading to Lake Superior. Painted and snapping turtles are digging nests and laying eggs. Dragonflies and damselflies are out in great numbers. Mosquitoes, ticks, and deer flies are also out in force – keep insect repellant or protective clothing handy. Ducks are hatching, and the first bluebird clutches will fledge anytime now. New birds observed returning from their wintering ranges include indigo bunting, veery, redstarts, and golden-winged warbler. FISHING REPORTS Pastika’s (Al/Mike/Steve Genson): Musky action is sporadic, with some fish shallow and others deep. Use twitch, glide, and topwaters on shallow to deep weed beds, and some open water. Walleye fishing is good on the deep clear lakes with leeches, walleye suckers, and fatheads around deep weeds. Cast crankbaits over weed tops in the evening and after dark. Northern action is good around weeds at varying depths with northern suckers, spinnerbaits, spoons, and twitch baits. Fish largemouth in shallow bays, weeds, and lily pads with twitch, crank, buzz, and spinner baits. Fish smallmouth with X-Raps, plastics, and leeches around weeds and hard bottom areas. Crappies are near deeper weeds, cribs, and bogs. Use crappie minnows, plastics, and waxies. Bluegills are finishing spawn. Use waxies, small worms, leeches, and plastics around weedy areas; deeper weeds for bigger fish. Hayward Bait (Bob/Tom/Adam/Annie/Nelson): Musky: Chippewa Flowage, Spider, Moose, Namakagon. Bucktails, crankbaits, surface, suckers. Weeds, rocks; to 8 feet. Walleye: Round, Flowage, Grindstone, Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO), Lost Land/Teal. Leech/slip bobber. Weeds; 14-18 feet. Northern: Nelson, Smith, Spring, Flowage, LCO, Lost Land/Teal, Namakagon. Spinner, crank, surface baits, spoons, northern suckers. Shallow weeds. Largemouth: Nelson, Smith, Spring, Flowage, Callahan, LCO, Lost Land/Teal. Plastics, crankbaits. Shallow wood, weeds. Smallmouth: Round, LCO, Sissabagama, Lost Land/Teal, Owen. Tubes, plastics, crankbaits. Shallow, rock. Panfish: Nelson, Smith, Spring, Hayward, Round, Flowage, Lost Land/Teal. Crappie: Crappie minnows, plastics; 8-14 feet. Bluegill: Waxies, worms, plastics, surface. Shallow weeds, lily pads. Happy Hooker (Pat): Quiet Lakes. On warm days with cloud cover, muskies are often active all day. Try medium to large crankbaits, soft plastics, and topwaters. If you find a lake with bluegills still in the shallows, fish near them with big lures. Walleyes moved deeper and will stay there until fall. On many lakes, they are now feeding heavily on emerging mayflies. Still, pursue them with minnows on jigs or under slip bobbers, and we are close to a transition to leeches. The flavored artificial leeches are also effective. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing (still catch-and-release) is hot. Lily pads are well developed for this early in the season and provide good cover. Fish the edges with crankbaits and weedless frogs. Panfish are moving deeper – try 8-12 feet for crappies and a little shallower for bluegills. Jenk’s (Randy): Chippewa Flowage. Muskies are moving around on surface baits and bucktails on the edges of the weed bars, but they’re doing more looking than hitting. Walleye are not in any particular pattern. Some are taken deep on minnows and leeches, while others are caught on crawlers in the weeds. Crappie are moving to deeper weeds and (soon) to the cribs for summer. Minnows and tube skirts work best. Bluegill fishing is good in the shallows on waxies, worms, and Gulp! baits. Minnow Jim’s (Cathy/Jim): Nelson Lake. The walleyes bite is steady on crawlers and minnows on Lindy Rigs and jigs, leeches under slip bobbers, and Beetle Spins. Northern action slowed on live bait – throw a buzz, spinner, or surface bait. Bass action is still good for catch and release fishing. With the mayfly hatch, crappies are feeding on the surface. Fish close to the surface with worms, minnows, micro nymphs, small Gulp minnows, and Thumper jigs. Bluegills are nearing the end of the spawn. Use waxies, worms, crawler chunks on small dressed jigs, leech/bobber, and floating spiders. Outdoor Creations (Brian): Walleye action is picking up, with good reports on the deep clear lakes. Most action is early in the morning and in the last hour before dark into night. Leeches, Rapalas, and walleye suckers are the most productive baits. Flowage bluegills are hitting waxies and small worms on plain hooks and small jigs. Bass are on the beds. Spinnerbaits will work – present your bait with a slow retrieve. Stone Lake Bait (John): Muskies are hitting big swim baits and large suckers. Walleyes, small but plentiful, are hitting big leeches on floating Lindy rigs fished at various depths. Bass are hitting jigs in 5-10 feet of water. The panfish bite is on everywhere, with crappie minnows, small leeches, leaf worms, and waxies the best baits in the shallows to 10 feet. Anglers All (Roger/Carolyn): Lake Superior/Chequamegon Bay. Smallmouth moved to deeper water but will be shallow at certain times of the day. Slowly fish plastics or live bait. Walleye action is good off the Hot Pond, Brush Point, and Bad River mouth. Crawler harnesses and leeches are good producers. Northerns are along the shoreline and weed beds. Many little fish, but you never know when that big one will show. Trout and salmon moved deeper. Fish the first drop early in the morning, and then switch to spoons, spoon plugs, Spin ‘n Glos, bait flies, and squids on downriggers. Fish the mud lines as well. The Chequamegon Bay Tagged Fishing Contest ($5 pin) runs through October 31. Two tagged fish from six species are worth money, including a $1,000 smallmouth bass. The Sommerfeldt Report (Skip Sommerfeldt, DNR Senior Fisheries Biologist, Park Falls): Musky action is mediocre, with many sightings and follows, but low numbers of hook-ups. Jerk baits and medium bucktails are most productive. Fish walleye around structure in 8-12 feet of water with leeches or crawlers on slip bobbers, small jigs, or bare hook/split shot rigs, and cast Rapalas in the shallows in the hour before dark. Most smallmouth moved to deeper water and will soon start be near shallow and mid-depth structure. Largemouth are cruising shallow and mid-depth weed beds, and lily pads are producing good action on topwater and soft plastics. Crappie fishing is tough – the quick warm-up after spawning put a lot of stress on them. Bluegills are providing most of the panfish success on bobbers and crawler pieces. OUTDOORS CALENDAR June 19 – Northern Zone bass season changes from catch-and-release to daily bag limits. (See regs.) June 24-27 – 61st annual Musky Festival (715-634-8662.) June 25-27 – Hayward Lions “Dr. John Ryan” Musky Fest fishing contest. July 16-18 – Birchwood Bluegill Festival (800-236-2252.) Through July 31 – Illegal to run dogs on WPA lands. (See regs.) Aug. 1 – Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. Kid’s Fishing Day (634-2921.) Aug. 2 – Application Deadlines: Fall turkey; Sharp-tailed grouse; Bobcat; Otter; Fisher; Horicon and Collins goose zones. For comments and suggestions, e-mail ssuman@sawyercountyrecord.net.