Hayward Lakes Sherry
08-10-2009, 11:09 AM
August 10, 2009
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Significant weather changes (HOT!) forecast for this week could have a significant effect on fishing action. Should the forecasts hold true, our water temperatures may well reach the warmest point so far this summer. Much will depend on the amount of sunshine and nighttime lows. Regardless, it’s advisable to check with your bait shop contacts for their recommendations on the day you fish.
While summer is winding down, it’s time to gear-up and prepare for fall activities. A number of fun fishing contests will be held in the next month or two, and some hunting seasons will open in about three weeks! Check the calendar below for a rundown of events.
Muskies:
Musky fishing came on strong last week and some nice fish are being caught. Overcast days and evenings are best, but anglers are catching fish during the daytime, too. Look for fish around weeds and weed edges, from very shallow to deep water. Be it topwaters, big bucktails/spinner baits, jerk and glide baits, Bull Dawgs, or whatever, most types of musky baits are catching fish at this time. As are some “non-traditional” musky baits. They’re fish – who knows what they are thinking and why they hit certain baits? Whatever it is, they can’t hit it if you aren’t out there throwing it.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing appears to be improving. Fish are scattered but active, though not in all areas. Evenings still provide the best opportunity for success. Weeds are key, but you can find fish on cribs, points, bars, flats, channels, rock, and brush. Or suspending in open water. They can be quite shallow or very deep. The leech and crawler bite is still good, but with the cooler water minnows are again getting some attention. If you fish in the evening, try casting Beetle Spins, stick and crank baits along weed lines and shallower shorelines.
Northern:
Northern pike action is fairly steady around shallow weeds and structure. With the cooler water temps (up to this time) bigger pike are staying in shallower water, but if the water warms you will have to fish deeper for big pike. Spoons, spinners, spinner, jerk, and buzz baits, small bucktails, jigs/minnows, and northern suckers can all produce hits. If it moves and/or makes noise, a pike will take interest.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action is very good to excellent on most waters, and as consistent as any species. You will find them in shallows, mid-depths, and deeper water. Smaller fish in shallow weeds and slop can offer fast action on topwaters such as plastic frogs and other weedless baits. Be sure to work wood, bogs, and other cover. For bigger bass, fish deeper weeds, weedlines and structure. Spinner, stick, and crank baits, plastics, jigs, crawlers, leeches, and minnows will all catch bass.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is fair to good, depending on the lake, weather, and ... the angler. Fish are found at varied depths, shallow to deep, and most will be near some type of structure, including rocks, wood, weeds, cribs, and humps. For live bait it’s hard to beat sucker minnows, leeches, and crawlers. Artificials include jigs, plastics, topwaters, spinners, spinner and crank baits, and tubes. Start with crayfish colors and then try others – if necessary.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good to very good, depending on the day and time. Crappie minnows, waxies, leeches, leaf worms, and plastics, on jigs or plain hooks and with or without a bobber, are all producing catches. Fish cribs, cabbage, weed lines, stumps and other structure during the day, and hit the bogs and bog edges in the evening. For larger crappies, fish deeper weeds. You might have slower action, but the fish you catch should be of nicer size.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action is also good, with waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawlers, leeches, poppers, and plastics. Tip small jigs or plain hooks with live bait or plastics, with or without a bobber. Fish around weeds, cribs, bogs, wood/brush, and stumps in 6-15 feet of water. For bigger bluegills, use minnows and fish along deeper weed bed edges.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 20-23: Sawyer County Fair (934-2721.)
Aug. 22-24: Bonus antlerless deer tags for regular DMUs go on sale.
Aug. 28-30: Mega Bass Shootout at Musky Tale Resort (462-3838.)
Aug. 29: Remaining fall turkey permits go on sale.
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear allowed. (See regs.)
Sept. 1: Mourning dove season opens.
Sept. 1: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting. Dick-Sy Roadhouse. 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 5-6: Exeland Trout Festival.
Sept. 6: Cable Rod & Gun Club annual Pig Roast & Turkey Shoot (715-798-4459.)
Sept. 9: Bear season opens.
Sept. 9-12: Chippewa Flowage Musky Hunt (715-462-3276.)
Sept. 12: Hunting seasons open: Ruffed grouse; Turkey; Crow; Archery deer; Cottontail rabbit; Squirrel.
Sept. 13: Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame Kids Fish O’Rama (715-634-4440.)
Sept. 19: Woodcock season opens.
Sept. 25-26: Cable Area Fall Festival (800-533-7454.)
Sept. 26: 25th Annual Hayward Fall Festival (715-634-8662.)
For more information on area events and activities, see the Calendar of Events, visit Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau, or call 1-800-724-2992.
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Significant weather changes (HOT!) forecast for this week could have a significant effect on fishing action. Should the forecasts hold true, our water temperatures may well reach the warmest point so far this summer. Much will depend on the amount of sunshine and nighttime lows. Regardless, it’s advisable to check with your bait shop contacts for their recommendations on the day you fish.
While summer is winding down, it’s time to gear-up and prepare for fall activities. A number of fun fishing contests will be held in the next month or two, and some hunting seasons will open in about three weeks! Check the calendar below for a rundown of events.
Muskies:
Musky fishing came on strong last week and some nice fish are being caught. Overcast days and evenings are best, but anglers are catching fish during the daytime, too. Look for fish around weeds and weed edges, from very shallow to deep water. Be it topwaters, big bucktails/spinner baits, jerk and glide baits, Bull Dawgs, or whatever, most types of musky baits are catching fish at this time. As are some “non-traditional” musky baits. They’re fish – who knows what they are thinking and why they hit certain baits? Whatever it is, they can’t hit it if you aren’t out there throwing it.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing appears to be improving. Fish are scattered but active, though not in all areas. Evenings still provide the best opportunity for success. Weeds are key, but you can find fish on cribs, points, bars, flats, channels, rock, and brush. Or suspending in open water. They can be quite shallow or very deep. The leech and crawler bite is still good, but with the cooler water minnows are again getting some attention. If you fish in the evening, try casting Beetle Spins, stick and crank baits along weed lines and shallower shorelines.
Northern:
Northern pike action is fairly steady around shallow weeds and structure. With the cooler water temps (up to this time) bigger pike are staying in shallower water, but if the water warms you will have to fish deeper for big pike. Spoons, spinners, spinner, jerk, and buzz baits, small bucktails, jigs/minnows, and northern suckers can all produce hits. If it moves and/or makes noise, a pike will take interest.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action is very good to excellent on most waters, and as consistent as any species. You will find them in shallows, mid-depths, and deeper water. Smaller fish in shallow weeds and slop can offer fast action on topwaters such as plastic frogs and other weedless baits. Be sure to work wood, bogs, and other cover. For bigger bass, fish deeper weeds, weedlines and structure. Spinner, stick, and crank baits, plastics, jigs, crawlers, leeches, and minnows will all catch bass.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is fair to good, depending on the lake, weather, and ... the angler. Fish are found at varied depths, shallow to deep, and most will be near some type of structure, including rocks, wood, weeds, cribs, and humps. For live bait it’s hard to beat sucker minnows, leeches, and crawlers. Artificials include jigs, plastics, topwaters, spinners, spinner and crank baits, and tubes. Start with crayfish colors and then try others – if necessary.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good to very good, depending on the day and time. Crappie minnows, waxies, leeches, leaf worms, and plastics, on jigs or plain hooks and with or without a bobber, are all producing catches. Fish cribs, cabbage, weed lines, stumps and other structure during the day, and hit the bogs and bog edges in the evening. For larger crappies, fish deeper weeds. You might have slower action, but the fish you catch should be of nicer size.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action is also good, with waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawlers, leeches, poppers, and plastics. Tip small jigs or plain hooks with live bait or plastics, with or without a bobber. Fish around weeds, cribs, bogs, wood/brush, and stumps in 6-15 feet of water. For bigger bluegills, use minnows and fish along deeper weed bed edges.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 20-23: Sawyer County Fair (934-2721.)
Aug. 22-24: Bonus antlerless deer tags for regular DMUs go on sale.
Aug. 28-30: Mega Bass Shootout at Musky Tale Resort (462-3838.)
Aug. 29: Remaining fall turkey permits go on sale.
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear allowed. (See regs.)
Sept. 1: Mourning dove season opens.
Sept. 1: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting. Dick-Sy Roadhouse. 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 5-6: Exeland Trout Festival.
Sept. 6: Cable Rod & Gun Club annual Pig Roast & Turkey Shoot (715-798-4459.)
Sept. 9: Bear season opens.
Sept. 9-12: Chippewa Flowage Musky Hunt (715-462-3276.)
Sept. 12: Hunting seasons open: Ruffed grouse; Turkey; Crow; Archery deer; Cottontail rabbit; Squirrel.
Sept. 13: Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame Kids Fish O’Rama (715-634-4440.)
Sept. 19: Woodcock season opens.
Sept. 25-26: Cable Area Fall Festival (800-533-7454.)
Sept. 26: 25th Annual Hayward Fall Festival (715-634-8662.)
For more information on area events and activities, see the Calendar of Events, visit Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau, or call 1-800-724-2992.