WJJQ Radio

Story Details

Anglers Prepare for Fishing Opener Published on 04/30/2021 under News

In less than 24 hours, anglers will once again fill Wisconsin's lakes and rivers hoping to land a prize fish.

Saturday marks the start of the inland fishing season for a number of species; most notably walleye, northern pike and large mouth bass. Anglers should note that the northern zone muskie season doesn't open until May 25; while the small-mouth bass harvest begins June 19.

Anglers are reminded to check all regulations when heading out for lake-specific rules and bag limits.

Wisconsin has a tremendous fishing tradition, with an estimated 2 million anglers each year. An estimated 20% of adults fish, twice the national average. Approximately 88 million fish are caught on Wisconsin waters, with two thirds returned as catch-and-release. While walleye is the top target, panfish are the most frequently caught and consumed.

Over the past year, DNR staffers have continued to enhance the state's fishery resources responsibly. Those efforts include enhancing fish habitat, conducting population surveys, adding 120 miles of classified trout waters and stocking more than 5.5 million fish into public waterways.

To help preserve the ecosystem, anglers are also reminded to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Inspect your boat, trailer and equipment to remove any attached aquatic plants and animals. And never move live fish from a water body and dispose of any unused and unwanted bait properly.

Weather shouldn't be an issue, with temperatures forecast in the 70's on Saturday. It was just three years ago, in 2018, when anglers dealt with ice on some area lakes for opening weekend.

Reservoirs:

Checking reservoir levels, the Eau Pleine is at 4 feet below full; the Willow 2 feet down. Nokomis remains about 9 inches below full. The Rainbow is just 4 inches below full, while the Spirit is 3 inches down.

In Other News

Local Postal Workers Preparing for Saturday's Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

Published on 05/08/2026 under News The largest single-day food drive in the country is taking place this weekend, and local postal carriers are looking forward to the extra work that comes with it. It's time once again for Stamp Out Hunger, a collection put on by the Association of Letter Carriers in cooperation with the US Postal Service. The national collection launched back in 1991. We were recently joined by Tomahawk Postmaster Chris Thompson to talk about the effort. Local donations go to restock the Tomahawk and Nokomis Food Pantries, and Thompson says over years the Tomahawk community often out-collects larger cities. Last year, the local carriers collected more than 1,000 pounds of food items, along with some additional cash donations. Thompson says, "Carriers are very familiar with their community, they see it everyday, and we just want to make a difference." Participation is quite simple, place a bag with non-expired and non-perishable food in or on your mailbox in time for your regular Saturday delivery. From there, the carriers will do the rest of the work bringing the food back to the post office where they'll sort through the donations and deliver to the local food pantries.

Published on 05/08/2026 under News The Raise Your Voice Club in the Tomahawk School District hasn't been around for long, but they're already making a difference on campus and in the community. For those unfamiliar, Raise Your Voice is a student organization that focuses on mental health. This past weekend, the Tomahawk chapter teamed up with local partners to host their second annual color run. Dozens of students and community members completed the course set up on the Tomahawk school campus, which included color stations that rained down brightly colored powders on the participants. And while the color run was all about fun, they were also there to promote mental health with information, resources and family-friendly summer activities. Chapters of Raise Your Voice have been springing up at schools around the Northwoods. They often partner with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), local health departments and area health care providers.. In addition to local health departments, the group also works with partners like Aspirus Health and NAMI. May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Published on 05/08/2026 under News A massive meadowlark and a jiggly junco are among feathered friends competing in a statewide contest to celebrate healthy birds and migration. The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin and Save Our Songbirds are bringing back their Fat Bird Week for a third year. The Foundation notes 'a fat bird is a healthy bird' and the contest 'celebrates and spotlights the amazing journey our migratory birds make to get back to Wisconsin.' The group notes that some species of bird will actually double their weight ahead of migration. And for year-round Wisconsin birds, the extra heft can keep them warm in the chilly winter. While many people call birds "fat," they are often referring to is the fluffiness of the feathers. While the contest is all in good fun, it also serves as inspiration to create a more bird-friendly back yard by focusing on native plants to provide nutritious meals for birds. Eight fat bird photos were selected to face off in the bracket style tournament which will be decided by fan vote. The voting will take place over the next week, and we'll include a link in the online version of the story.

Published on 05/08/2026 under News Yesterday we talked about avoiding vehicle deer collisions. Wildlife experts are also encouraging people avoid newborn fawns as well. As part of their ongoing Keep Wildlife Wild campaign, DNR officials are focusing specifically on fawns. If you encounter a fawn while outdoors, the DNR urges you not to touch it or intervene in any way as there's a good chance it's right where it's supposed to be, and its mother isn't far away. Jenna Fastner is a DNR captive wildlife health specialist. She says, "Young fawns are often left alone for most of the day to keep them safe." Fastner says their spotted coats and minimal scent are their best defenses. While fawns can walk from birth, it takes them a few weeks to become fast enough to keep up with their mothers and avoid predators. "By the Fourth of July, most fawns are on the move alongside or near their mothers." If you come across a fawn, it's best to leave it alone. While it may be tempting to bring others to see the fawn, the mother won't return while people are around. Don't feed a wild fawn. If you're truly concerned, contact a wildlife rehabilitiator for guidance.

Published on 05/07/2026 under Sports It was a bittersweet final Great Northern Conference home game for the Hatchet Seniors at Hatchet Field Thursday afternoon as they would fall to the Lakeland T-Birds, 3-2. Tomahawk jumped out to a 1-0 lead on an RBI single by Aubrey Seubert in the first inning. The Hatchets held the lead until the top of the fourth inning when Lakeland's Addison Trapp hit a single, then had two runners score on an error by Averi Petta. The Hatchets would tie it in the bottom of the fourth on a run-scoring base hit from Autumn Merrigan. However, Tomahawk would surrender the lead in the top of the sixth when Britta Kemnitz singled in the go-ahead run. Lakeland pitchers would retire the final 11 batters of the game to seal the win. The Hatchets would muster just two runs on three hits, while committing four errors. Tomahawk drops to 8-9 on the season and 5-7 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets are back on the diamond Saturday when they travel to Gilman for an invite. Tomahawk's first game will be against Marathon at 10:00 AM. Game Two will be against Mondovi at 2:00 PM.

Published on 05/07/2026 under News With new fawns and extended daylight, deer activity is picking up. That means drivers need to be on the lookout. While vehicle/deer crashes are typically highest in fall, those numbers also spike in the months of May and June. According to the Department of Transportation, drivers reported nearly 18,000 collisions with deer last year. That resulted in more than 700 injuries and 6 deaths. Recent averages in both Lincoln and Oneida County show more than 200 vehicle/deer collisions annually. Numbers are even higher in Southern Wisconsin; Waukesha County topped the state with more than 1,000 vehicle/deer collisions. Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan says, "Motorists should be alert and prepared to respond at all times." He notes, "Deer are unpredictable, often changing directions and freezing as they cross the road." The DoT provided a few additional reminders. • Deer are most active at dawn and dusk. • If you see one crossing, anticipate more may follow. • If the collision is unavoidable, brake firmly and stay in your lane. Avoid swerving, which can lead to a more serious crash. • If you strike a deer, pull over to the side of the road and call law enforcement. • And as always, slowdown, eliminate distractions and wear your seatbelt.

Published on 05/07/2026 under News As Northwoods residents head outside for spring cleanup and garden preparations, health experts are reminding people to take steps to avoid common neck and back injuries. According to Aspirus Health, tasks like lifting branches, digging, and repetitive bending can put extra strain on the spine, especially after a less active winter season. Preparation and proper technique can help avoid a trip to the hospital. Dr. Sean MacKenzie says light stretching and simple posture adjustments can make a big difference. Keeping the spine aligned, lifting with the legs, and working from a seated or kneeling position when tasks require bending forward all help. It's also a good idea to listen to your body. MacKenzie notes that many injuries occur when people push through discomfort or rush through tasks. He emphasizes that pain during activity is a signal to pause, rest, or adjust technique. And long-term, Mackenzie says building core strength through simple exercises like planks and leg lifts can help reduce the risk of injury.

Published on 05/07/2026 under News While it was a bit chilly, it was at least sunny, allowing area students to show off their renewable energy skills. Wisconsin Public Service held their 30th annual Solar Olympics on the UW-Oshkosh campus. Nearly 150 students participated from thirteen high schools within the WPS footprint. Northern Wisconsin was represented by Three Lakes, Elcho, Marathon, and Wausau West High Schools. WPS created the Solar Olympics in 1997 for districts participating in the Solarwise for Schools program, which provides renewable energy lesson plans, projects, and teacher training. The friendly competition, hosted each spring, allows these students to showcase their knowledge of solar energy through team and individual competitions. This year's Solar Olympics had 13 events like solar water heater; solar art; and solar jeopardy. According to WPS, Valders High School won this year's competition, claiming gold for a second consecutive year.-Photos provided by Wisconsin Public Service

Published on 05/07/2026 under News Warmer weather will soon draw more people to the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, visitors may notice survey crews stationed throughout the forest this spring and summer. The U.S. Forest Service says public surveys are now underway as part of the National Visitor Use Monitoring program. The surveys, conducted every five years, are designed to measure how many people use national forests, what activities they take part in, and how satisfied they are with their visits. Some visitors may also be asked questions about travel spending to help measure the economic impact forest recreation has on local communities. Surveyors, from the University of New Hampshire, will be wearing bright orange vests near signs reading "Traffic Survey Ahead." They'll be stationed at recreation sites and Forest Service roads. Officials say the surveys are voluntary, confidential, and typically take about 10 minutes to complete. They will continue through Sept. 30.

Published on 05/07/2026 under News Today is the National Day of Prayer and several Northwoods groups are among those hosting events today. The formal observance of a National Day of Prayer came from President Harry Truman in 1952. It's now held annually on the first Thursday in May. The goal is to allow participants, regardless of faith or denomination to bring unity to their community and share a common focus while praying for all. National organizers estimate some 30,000 observances around the country will be held. That includes right here in Tomahawk, where the Associated Clergy of Tomahawk will once again team up to hold a ceremony in Veteran's Memorial Park. It's scheduled to begin at 10:30am; attendees are encouraged to bring along a chair. Rhinelander is holding a similar event outside the Oneida County Courthouse getting underway at noon.

+ Read More