University of Wisconsin–Madison

Tag: Wisconsin

Fish Fry Day: Getting “Biggest Bang for Your Buck” in Conservation

by Kelly April Tyrrell A few years ago, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Limnology created the first map of all the road crossings and dams blocking the tributary rivers that feed the five Great Lakes. These tributaries serve as migratory highways, providing fish like walleye and lake sturgeon access to headwater breeding …

Fish Fry Day Video: Ice Fishing in Madison, Wisconsin

Andrew Stevens is a graduate student working on a master’s degree both with Pete McIntyre in Freshwater and Marine Sciences as well as the Water Resources Management Program here at UW-Madison. He’s also an avid ice angler and handy with a camera. We asked for a Fish Fry Day special – and Andy delivered. Enjoy! …

Field Samples: Restoring the Flow for Great Lakes’ Migratory Fishes

Field Samples is a weekly Q&A asking researchers what they’ve been up to and what they’ve learned. Today, post doctoral researcher, Allison Moody, talks dams, road culverts and getting migratory fish moving again. Who are you, where are you from, and how did you get here? My name is Allison Moody and I’m a landscape ecologist who …

Clear-Water Phase: Are We Missing Lake Mendota’s Window?

Over the last two weeks, Lake Monona, Lake Waubesa, and Lake Kegonsa have all entered into their annual rite of spring’s clear-water phase. Lake Mendota, however, remains a murky mystery. Why are the downstream Yahara lakes so clear, when the lake at the top of the chain isn’t? Perhaps more important, are we going to …

Ice is Nice: Three Perks to the Polar Vortex

We get it. It is cold. Face (and mind) numbingly cold. But that’s not an “all bad” thing. There’s a lot to like about a real winter. And it begins with ice. Here are three things to celebrate during the winter that brought “polar vortex” into our vocabulary! 1. Ice Caves For the first time …

Fish Fry Day: Channel Catfish

This week’s Fish Fry Day – our series of posts featuring fish of Wisconsin – is taking a Southern twist! While catfish is a common menu item down south, it’s uncommon to find the tasty cornmeal-battered fillets offered in Wisconsin. In most of the state, fishermen tend to avoid catfish except for along the Mississippi …

Nearshore Construction + Heavy Rain = Sediment Plume in Lake Mendota

We interrupt this “Fish Fry Day” to bring you breaking news. Or, well, not news, but a timely example of the challenges urban water bodies like Madison’s lakes face on a daily basis. On his way in to work this rainy morning, CFL graduate student (and “David Buoy‘s handler”), Luke WInslow, snapped a few pictures …

Fish Fry Day: A Side of Rice

We know, we know, this is the day reserved for a cute little picture and “did you know” factoid about some of our favorite fish. It’s a tradition (since April) to celebrate Wisconsin’s day when fried fish is on the menu and it’s often all-you-can-eat. But, you know what? Sometimes you need to take it easy …

Weekly Science Seminar: Protecting & Promoting Wisconsin Water

Happy World Water Day! While we’ve got it pretty good in this country when it comes to clean and available water, getting to that point took a lot of political action, public pressure and well-crafted laws. In honor of that, we offer the video below on the history (and future) of Wisconsin’s water. UW Law …

Smallmouth Bass: One Hazard of Fieldwork in Wisconsin Lakes

Center for Limnology grad student, Gretchen Hansen, took this video from a past summer’s field season up in Vilas County. While we’ll honor the tradition of fishermen not sharing their favorite spots, it’s safe to say smallmouth bass are doing quite well in this particular lake.  Watch as one bass gets aggressive while Gretchen tries …