MONROE - For people waiting to fish in Beckman Lake, Steve Johnston of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has some good news: Cast away.
Already, Johnston said, anglers have already caught some "pretty good-sized fish."
Last fall the DNR put more than 100 northern pikes into the lake. Johnston said people have reported catching bluegill and crappies. He was a little surprised to learn those fish have been caught in the lake. There could be a good reason why, he added.
"Some of the fish could have gone into the lake from Zander Lake because of flooding," Johnston said. Zander Lake remained open throughout the lake restoration project.
A concern from people who have been at the lake is the abundance of weeds growing in the water.
Johnston said the weeds are actually woody vegetation which will eventually die due to not being able to survive under water. While the vegetation is there, however, it will provide cover for some fish, which will help increase the fish population.
Other weeds that look more like a seaweed will be cut back eventually, Johnston said.
Johnston said the lake is still a "work in progress." There are a few projects he and the Friends of Cadiz Springs Park hope to accomplish this year.
He wants to create a parking area and two short fishing platforms for people who are physically challenged. Johnston said the new platforms would go well with the new boat landing built on the lake.
Johnston also wants to make improvements to the beach. Several truckloads of sand have been ordered. He expects the beach to be completely redone by the end of September.
Johnston said the lake's water level is at the level it was before the 69-acre man-made lake was drained in 2004.
The Browntown-Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area contains 644 acres of recreational land, which includes prairie lands, wetlands and forest. Activities in the summer include hiking and picnicking, as well as nature walks. Winter activities include skating, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and hiking.
The park includes self-guided nature trails and areas to hunt both small game and deer.
The Browntown-Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area is located seven miles west of Monroe off Wisconsin 11.
The project at Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area near Browntown started in 2004 with a draw down of the lake to allow for the replacement of the control structure that keeps lake water at prescribed levels.
Already, Johnston said, anglers have already caught some "pretty good-sized fish."
Last fall the DNR put more than 100 northern pikes into the lake. Johnston said people have reported catching bluegill and crappies. He was a little surprised to learn those fish have been caught in the lake. There could be a good reason why, he added.
"Some of the fish could have gone into the lake from Zander Lake because of flooding," Johnston said. Zander Lake remained open throughout the lake restoration project.
A concern from people who have been at the lake is the abundance of weeds growing in the water.
Johnston said the weeds are actually woody vegetation which will eventually die due to not being able to survive under water. While the vegetation is there, however, it will provide cover for some fish, which will help increase the fish population.
Other weeds that look more like a seaweed will be cut back eventually, Johnston said.
Johnston said the lake is still a "work in progress." There are a few projects he and the Friends of Cadiz Springs Park hope to accomplish this year.
He wants to create a parking area and two short fishing platforms for people who are physically challenged. Johnston said the new platforms would go well with the new boat landing built on the lake.
Johnston also wants to make improvements to the beach. Several truckloads of sand have been ordered. He expects the beach to be completely redone by the end of September.
Johnston said the lake's water level is at the level it was before the 69-acre man-made lake was drained in 2004.
The Browntown-Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area contains 644 acres of recreational land, which includes prairie lands, wetlands and forest. Activities in the summer include hiking and picnicking, as well as nature walks. Winter activities include skating, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and hiking.
The park includes self-guided nature trails and areas to hunt both small game and deer.
The Browntown-Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area is located seven miles west of Monroe off Wisconsin 11.
The project at Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area near Browntown started in 2004 with a draw down of the lake to allow for the replacement of the control structure that keeps lake water at prescribed levels.