Hayward Lakes Sherry
09-22-2009, 10:09 AM
September 21, 2009
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Tuesday September 22 is the first official day of fall, and our north woods weather continues to be outstanding. Though it is somewhat warm for hunters participating in the open seasons, and Northern Zone duck season opens this Saturday September 26, few complaints are heard.
Bear, turkey, and archery deer seasons are in progress. In the past week, local registration stations (Shooting Star Archery, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) recorded nine antlerless deer and four bucks, including one nice eight-point; 34 bear, the three largest from 325-400 pounds, and two turkeys, one with a 12-inch beard.
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt (Park Falls) says sturgeon anglers fishing local rivers open to sturgeon fishing are having mediocre success. Most are fishing cut bait or crawler globs in deep holes or on river bends. The minimum legal length for sturgeon is 60 inches, and only a few are being reported, although anglers are catching quite a few small fish.
Muskies:
Should “seeing” a fish be the prime objective, musky fishing would currently be considered two steps above excellent. The intent is to hook a fish, however, and muskies aren’t cooperating (though the numerous sightings and follows always offer encouragement.) In general, the fish aren’t aggressively hitting baits, but some anglers are in fact catching fish. Work the deeper edges of weed beds, bars, and structure with bucktails and jerk, surface, and soft plastic baits. Some anglers are using suckers, but aside from the difficulty of keeping them alive, there are few reports of success.
Walleye:
Considering the weather, walleye action is actually (and surprisingly) fairly good and getting better, with the after dark bite still offering your best chance for success. Fishing should continue to improve as the water cools – which we all know is going to happen eventually. Anglers are catching fish in water as shallow as six feet and as deep as 45 feet or deeper. Walleyes are widely scattered around structure, gravel bars, weeds, and suspending over deeper water. Leeches and crawlers on jigs, live bait rigs, or plain hooks and split shot rigs are working best, but don’t overlook walleye suckers and fatheads.
Northern:
Northern action is good around nearly any weeds and weed edges regardless of depth, though deeper water will nearly always hold the trophy pike. The standard northern baits continue to work. Spoons, spinners, spinnerbaits, and northern suckers fished under a bobber are all producing catches of pike at this time.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is fair to good, depending on the day, and some days can offer excellent action. The move to deeper water is in progress, though some fish are still shallow. Concentrate on weeds, brush, and structure, working your way out to 12 feet or deeper water. Pay particular attention to the deeper weedlines and other cover. Spinner and crank baits, slowly worked plastics (especially worms and tubes), and crawlers are all taking largemouth, and you can still catch a few fish on surface baits, too.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing also switches from fair to excellent, but is less consistent than largemouth. Fish deeper water cribs, brush, weeds, rocks, and transition areas, particularly around structure and on the edges of drop-offs. It can be a tough bite if there are some hatches occurring during the time you are fishing, but persistence will pay off. Eventually. So they say. Best bait choices include plastics, tubes, crank and spinnerbaits, walleye suckers, leeches, and crawlers.
Crappie:
Crappie action is similar to smallmouth – inconsistent. One day it is a challenge to find them, and the next day they will be nearly everywhere (or so I’ve heard.) But that also means they are scattered and can be nearly anywhere. Fish the deeper cribs, weed edges, bogs, and structure, but make sure to check for fish suspending in deeper water, too. Most productive baits include plastics, tubes, crappie minnows, and waxies, and small spinners can also be effective.
Bluegill:
Bluegill anglers continue to enjoy good success, but they are now fishing somewhat deeper water. Work the deeper (8-15 feet) cribs, weeds, and weed edges with waxies, worms, panfish leeches, plastics and tubes jigs. Bigger fish will be in deeper water and locating them will probably require some searching.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 25-26: Cable Area Fall Festival (800-533-7454.)
Sept. 26: 25th Annual Hayward Fall Festival (715-634-8662.)
Sept. 26: Duck season opens at 9 a.m. in Northern Zone.
Sept: 30: Trout season closes on most inland streams. (See regs for exceptions.)
Oct. 2-4: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. Fall Muskie Tournament (634 2921.)
Oct. 3: Annual Stone Lake Cranberry Fest (715-865-3378.)
Oct. 3-4: Musky Tale Resort Crappie Quest on Chippewa Flowage (715-462-3838.)
Oct. 11-12: Youth deer hunt.
Oct. 13: Black bear season closes.
Oct. 17: Seasons open: Pheasant; Sharp-tailed grouse; Bobwhite quail; Hungarian partridge; Raccoon gun/trapping; Fisher trapping. In northern zone: Muskrat; Mink; Coyote trapping; Red and gray fox hunting/trapping; Bobcat hunting/trapping north of Hwy. 64.
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
Tuesday September 22 is the first official day of fall, and our north woods weather continues to be outstanding. Though it is somewhat warm for hunters participating in the open seasons, and Northern Zone duck season opens this Saturday September 26, few complaints are heard.
Bear, turkey, and archery deer seasons are in progress. In the past week, local registration stations (Shooting Star Archery, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) recorded nine antlerless deer and four bucks, including one nice eight-point; 34 bear, the three largest from 325-400 pounds, and two turkeys, one with a 12-inch beard.
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt (Park Falls) says sturgeon anglers fishing local rivers open to sturgeon fishing are having mediocre success. Most are fishing cut bait or crawler globs in deep holes or on river bends. The minimum legal length for sturgeon is 60 inches, and only a few are being reported, although anglers are catching quite a few small fish.
Muskies:
Should “seeing” a fish be the prime objective, musky fishing would currently be considered two steps above excellent. The intent is to hook a fish, however, and muskies aren’t cooperating (though the numerous sightings and follows always offer encouragement.) In general, the fish aren’t aggressively hitting baits, but some anglers are in fact catching fish. Work the deeper edges of weed beds, bars, and structure with bucktails and jerk, surface, and soft plastic baits. Some anglers are using suckers, but aside from the difficulty of keeping them alive, there are few reports of success.
Walleye:
Considering the weather, walleye action is actually (and surprisingly) fairly good and getting better, with the after dark bite still offering your best chance for success. Fishing should continue to improve as the water cools – which we all know is going to happen eventually. Anglers are catching fish in water as shallow as six feet and as deep as 45 feet or deeper. Walleyes are widely scattered around structure, gravel bars, weeds, and suspending over deeper water. Leeches and crawlers on jigs, live bait rigs, or plain hooks and split shot rigs are working best, but don’t overlook walleye suckers and fatheads.
Northern:
Northern action is good around nearly any weeds and weed edges regardless of depth, though deeper water will nearly always hold the trophy pike. The standard northern baits continue to work. Spoons, spinners, spinnerbaits, and northern suckers fished under a bobber are all producing catches of pike at this time.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is fair to good, depending on the day, and some days can offer excellent action. The move to deeper water is in progress, though some fish are still shallow. Concentrate on weeds, brush, and structure, working your way out to 12 feet or deeper water. Pay particular attention to the deeper weedlines and other cover. Spinner and crank baits, slowly worked plastics (especially worms and tubes), and crawlers are all taking largemouth, and you can still catch a few fish on surface baits, too.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing also switches from fair to excellent, but is less consistent than largemouth. Fish deeper water cribs, brush, weeds, rocks, and transition areas, particularly around structure and on the edges of drop-offs. It can be a tough bite if there are some hatches occurring during the time you are fishing, but persistence will pay off. Eventually. So they say. Best bait choices include plastics, tubes, crank and spinnerbaits, walleye suckers, leeches, and crawlers.
Crappie:
Crappie action is similar to smallmouth – inconsistent. One day it is a challenge to find them, and the next day they will be nearly everywhere (or so I’ve heard.) But that also means they are scattered and can be nearly anywhere. Fish the deeper cribs, weed edges, bogs, and structure, but make sure to check for fish suspending in deeper water, too. Most productive baits include plastics, tubes, crappie minnows, and waxies, and small spinners can also be effective.
Bluegill:
Bluegill anglers continue to enjoy good success, but they are now fishing somewhat deeper water. Work the deeper (8-15 feet) cribs, weeds, and weed edges with waxies, worms, panfish leeches, plastics and tubes jigs. Bigger fish will be in deeper water and locating them will probably require some searching.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 25-26: Cable Area Fall Festival (800-533-7454.)
Sept. 26: 25th Annual Hayward Fall Festival (715-634-8662.)
Sept. 26: Duck season opens at 9 a.m. in Northern Zone.
Sept: 30: Trout season closes on most inland streams. (See regs for exceptions.)
Oct. 2-4: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. Fall Muskie Tournament (634 2921.)
Oct. 3: Annual Stone Lake Cranberry Fest (715-865-3378.)
Oct. 3-4: Musky Tale Resort Crappie Quest on Chippewa Flowage (715-462-3838.)
Oct. 11-12: Youth deer hunt.
Oct. 13: Black bear season closes.
Oct. 17: Seasons open: Pheasant; Sharp-tailed grouse; Bobwhite quail; Hungarian partridge; Raccoon gun/trapping; Fisher trapping. In northern zone: Muskrat; Mink; Coyote trapping; Red and gray fox hunting/trapping; Bobcat hunting/trapping north of Hwy. 64.
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.