The battle between spring and winter continued on in northern Wisconsin this week with people waking up Tuesday on April Fools Day wondering what kind of weather trick had been played on them, with anywhere from 7 to 12 inches of new heavy, wet snow on the ground. Snow depths still range up to 2 feet in the far northern tier of counties, but they drop off rapidly, with only 2 to 3 inches of snow reported on the ground in the central part of the state.

Despite the new snow, snowmobile trails closed throughout the state on March 31, as that marked the end of trail easement for the season with private property owners. While a few snowmobiles were still running on frozen lakes, snowmobile clubs remind riders that using the trails after they are closed could jeopardize trail easements in the future. State parks and forests have also ended grooming of cross-country ski trails for the season, though some good snowshoeing opportunities are still being reported in the north.

Ice conditions remain pretty good on most northern lakes, with ice thickness still in the 24- to 28-inch range. The ice on southern lakes is very poor with open water existing along the shorelines outward for up to 10 feet or more. The Ice Road, running between Bayfield and Madeline Island on Lake Superior was officially closed to traffic March 27, although some people continue to drive on it.

Most anglers on inland lakes have been catching a few perch, bluegill, and in some areas good crappie action. Much of the fishing pressure in the south has been on rivers. Anglers have been catching walleye on the Rock River in Watertown, the Fox River in Green Bay and below the Prairie du Sac dam on the lower Wisconsin River.

Southeast Wisconsin was hit hard by rainfall early this week, and stream flows are high on all Lake Michigan tributaries. Anglers on the Sheboygan and Pigeon rivers have caught a few steelhead when the rivers had fishable flows. In Port Washington, shore anglers fishing near the power plant have been catching browns and steelhead. In Milwaukee, shore anglers have been catching a few brown trout. Boat launches are beginning to open, and when boaters have been able to get out on the big lake, they have been catching good numbers of brown trout.

The Mississippi River remained fairly steady in the 8.5-foot range this week. The backwater sloughs have been opening up and there is only a small amount of ice left in the backwaters. Bluegill, perch and crappie action was spotty this week mainly due to the lack of ice. Fishing below dams for sauger and walleye has been good.

A variety of ducks are returning to the Wisconsin River including: hooded mergansers, common mergansers, and mallards. Sandhill cranes, redwing blackbirds and robins are back in good numbers setting up their territories. Bluebirds are showing up in good numbers and this week's Statewide Birding Report has revised recommendations for people interested in setting out bluebird boxes. Deer have moved out of yarding areas and into the agricultural fields and wood edges. Tom turkeys are beginning to strut and gobble in preparation for spring courting.

Recent cold weather has been slowing the maple syrup process, but warmer days in the past week have begun filling buckets with maple sap.

The rains in southern Wisconsin on Monday, March 31 prompted the first spring salamander migration, including reports of eastern tiger salamanders, blue-spotted salamanders and central newts making their way to spring breeding sites. The migration was not a major one and subsequent rains, especially in the evening or at night should prompt more widespread migrations. As the weather warms and as snow and frost disappears farther north, migration can be expected there over the next week or so.

The early spring breeding frogs have also begun to call with the onset of spring weather. Frogs do not require rains to migrate, although rains will increase the number of migrants moving from upland sites to their breeding ponds. After a long, snowy winter, the sounds of these tiny creatures is sweet music to the ear.

A 3-minute audio version of this report can be heard by calling 608-266 2277.