Opening day for Wisconsin fishing is traditionally the first Saturday in May, May 7th during 2011. Hook and line fishing for many species of fish on many Wisconsin waters begins the first Saturday in May. However, to better manage Wisconsin fisheries, season dates are often specific to the species of fish as well as the water body.

Here’s the link to the Wisconsin DNR 2011 Fishing Season Web Pages. Have a fun and safe time on enjoying Wisconsin’s beautiful lakes and rivers.

Sunfish & Fishing Rod on Dock

Inland Property Owners Propose Common Dock to Resolve Lake Access Dispute

View of Lake Charlevoix

Residents of Michigan and Wisconsin need to keep a close eye on how the laws of their state, and the courts that rule on those laws, are changing and affecting their rights to access our lakes.

Here’s the original article: PetoskyNews.Com

“Immortalized by Longfellow, the Midwest’s preferred vacation spot offers unspoiled forests, waterfalls and coastal villages”

Smithsonian.com has discovered the UP.

Upper Peninsuala of Michigan: Cliff jumping into clear blue lake.

Here’s the complete article: Smithsonian Travel UP MI Story

Here is a slideshow of UP MI photos that accompanies the story: Smithsonian Travel UP MI Slideshow

From the National Association of Realtors “Speaking of Real Estate Blog”

Vacation-Home Sales Surprisingly Strong

“In today’s market, you might think the vacation-home market would be really soft. But as it turns out, sales actually grew at a faster rate than those of primary residences between 2008 and 2009 (7.9 percent to 7.1 percent, respectively). That’s according to NAR’s Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey, released at the end of April. It shows that the typical vacation-home buyer is making a lifestyle choice, with nine out of 10 saying they intend to use the property for vacations or as a family retreat.”

Posted April 23 by Brian Summerfield, online editor

Here’s the original comment on Realtor Mag at www.realtor.org.

Crivitz, Wisconsin

Crivitz, Wisconsin, before the streets were paved, before the traffic light, before McDonald’s. I bet real estate in Crivitz was cheap back then.

A nicely framed copy would look good over the fireplace in your vacation home or hunting cabin. You can support a great organization and order a print from the Wisconsin Historical Society.

UPDATE May 5, 2011: Here’s the same view as found on Google Maps Street View:

View Larger Map

“The strength of second-home sales paints a stark contrast to the overall housing market, which is expected to worsen in 2011.”

“According to the National Association of Realtors, one in 10 real-estate transactions in 2009 was for the purchase of a vacation home.”

From U.S. News on The Wall Street Journal Online, including specific comment on regional Wisconsin vacation home market.  Read full articles here:  WSJ – Market for Vacation Homes Is on the Rise

You can’t always jump in the car and head up north at the drop of a hat.  For those times when you need a little break from work, and to remind yourself what it’s all about here are a couple of websites with their web cams on two Wisconsin lakes.

Trump Lake, near Wabeno in Forest County, Wisconsin

Big Stone Lake, near Three Lakes in Oneida County, Wisconsin

Please forward the links for any Wisconsin and Michigan webcams you find for inclusion in future blog updates.  Thanks, and Happy New Year 2011.

Every year there’s a spectacular migration along the highways and byways of Wisconsin . . . it’s the annual migration of hunters heading north for Wisconsin’s nine day White-tail deer gun season.  Here’s a photo of what it looks like from the Loon Lake Realty office on the Friday evening before opening day.

Heading North for Hunting Season

It wasn’t too long ago that, outside of Door County, northeastern Wisconsin didn’t have any large state parks;  large in the sense of major acreage.  Now Marinette County will be home to another new state park.  First, Marinette County became the land of Governor Thompson State Park along the shores of the Peshtigo River (Reference), and with the addition of The Menominee River State Park and Recreation Area the state of Wisconsin will nearly triple its investment in protected river lands in northeast Wisconsin.

Please see WI DNR News Release for a brief write up.

Menominee River Park Property Map

Northeast Wisconsin’s Menominee River is home to a diverse and robust fishery, including Walleye, Northern Pike and Sturgeon,  but when you’re fishing with Mike Mladenik the big attraction is Smallmouth Bass.  Here’s a recent article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Outdoors section on jsonline.com:  Menominee River Smallmouth

Menominee River Fishing