walleyemaxx
06-29-2010, 12:02 PM
Hi everyone,
Here is this weeks HLVCB fishing report. it confirms that Walleye fishing is tough right now.
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Musky Festival weather was acceptable, though rain showers did move
through the area Friday and Sunday. The current forecast (with no
promises!) indicates a week of clear skies and very pleasant
temperature.
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says recent heavy rains have
alleviated low water conditions on most flowages and drainage lakes in
the area, but many seepage lakes still have very low water levels, and
some have difficult access.
"Another interesting observation," adds Sommerfeldt, "is that the
low-water, drought conditions earlier this year had produced some fairly
clear water on many water bodies. The heavy runoff of recent weeks,
however, has resulted in a medium to dark stain returning to many of
these waters, and, some anglers claim, this has contributed to the
disrupted fishing patterns."
In an attempt to educate boaters and anglers about a new invasive
species law, the DNR will have wardens out "in force" during the July
Fourth holiday. Be aware: The new law makes it illegal to leave a boat
launch and drive on public roads with aquatic plants and animals
attached to boats, trailers, or equipment. The first offense will cost
between $232 to $767.50. A second offense within three years could cost
you up to $2,657.
The North and South forks of the Flambeau River are at flood stage, and
the DNR advises paddlers to wait until the water recedes before making a
river trip. Heavy rains are causing flooding and washouts on many
Flambeau River State Forest roads and trails, causing some temporary
closures.
The graveled surface of Tuscobia State Trail is in good condition and
UTVs are now allowed on the trail in Price, Sawyer, and Washburn
counties.
Fishing Reports
Muskies:
Musky fishing is fair to good, with late afternoon offering the best
action. Target weeds, weed lines, and submerged weed beds, and mid-lake
bars in 3-20 feet of water. Anglers are catching muskies on bucktails,
jerk, surface, and glide baits, Bull Dawgs, plastics, spinners and
spinnerbaits, and suckers on quick-strike rigs.
Walleye:
Walleyes are scattered, the bite is inconsistent, and fishing is
challenging. Best action is early morning and late evening into after
dark. Depths vary from 4-30 feet, depending on the time, lake, and
location on the lake. Concentrate on weeds, drop-offs, rocks, and
mid-lake humps. In general, fish shallow on stained water lakes and
during low light hours, and deeper water on clear lakes and during
daytime hours. However ... some anglers are catching walleyes in shallow
weeds during the day. (See first sentence.) Top baits include leeches
and crawlers on jigs, spinner rigs, and under slip bobbers; fatheads and
walleye suckers; trolled crank and stick baits; and cast stickbaits,
crankbaits, Shad Raps, Flat Raps, and Beetle Spins.
Northern:
Northern action is very good in shallow water down to about 12 feet
around panfish and bays, points, and weeds. Fish deeper water weed lines
for larger pike. Bucktails, spoons, spinners and spinnerbaits, buzz,
chatter, surface, and stick baits, and plastics will all catch pike.
Northern suckers on jigs or under a bobber are also very effective for
northern.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth fishing is excellent and most local waters hold good
populations. Look for shallow bays with weed flats, wood, lily pads,
docks, fallen trees, brush, stumps, and slop, but don't neglect deeper
weeds and weedlines down to 12 feet and deeper. Hungry largemouth are
"less than selective" so odds are good what you throw will work.
Suggested artificials include crank, spinner, buzz, and surface baits,
Texas-rigged worms, plastic frogs, wacky rigs, X-Raps, and swim jigs.
For live bait, try leeches, crawlers, or fatheads under bobbers.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth action is good, but fish are somewhat scattered. Look for
rocks, hard bottom/gravel, drop-offs, points, mid-lake humps and bars,
and transition areas in depths ranging from 3-20 feet of water. Tube
jigs, rubber worms, plastics, (it's hard to beat crawdad colors), jerk,
spinner, crank, and topwater baits will all catch smallies. If your
choice is live bait, use northern suckers, fatheads, and leeches on jigs
or under slip bobbers.
Crappie:
Crappie action is fair to very good, depending on the lake, often with
best fishing in the evening hours. Fish are suspending in 3-20 feet of
water around weeds/weedlines, cribs, bogs, wood, stumps, and along
outside weed edges. Try plain and dressed jigs or plain hooks with under
slip bobbers crappie minnows or small fatheads, leeches, waxies,
crawlers, worms, plastics, and Gulp! panfish baits. Small crankbaits,
spinners, and topwaters will also catch crappies.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action is very good on most all area waters. Weeds, cribs,
wood, stumps, brush, downed trees, and other shoreline structure can all
hold bluegills. Depending on the lake, depths can very from very shallow
down to 20 feet, but fish will be in and around cover. Best baits
include waxies, crawler chunks, leaf worms, leeches, minnows, plastics,
and Gulp! panfish baits. Fish them on small jigs, ice jigs, or plain
hooks, with or without bobbers or slip bobbers. Small crankbaits,
poppers, and other small surface baits are both fun and effective.
Upcoming Events
July 16-18: 36th annual Honor the Earth Powwow (715-634-8924.)
July 16-18: Birchwood Bluegill Festival (800-236-2252.)
July 23-25: Lumberjack World Championships (715-634-2484.)
Through July 31: Illegal to run dogs on WPA lands. (See regs.)
Aug. 1: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. Kid's Fishing Day
(715-634-2921.)
Aug. 2: Application Deadline: Fall turkey; Sharp-tailed grouse; Bobcat;
Otter; Fisher; Horicon and Collins goose zones.
Aug. 19-22: 103rd annual Sawyer County Fair (715-934-2721.)
Aug. 27-29: Mega Bass Shootout at Musky Tale Resort (715-462-3838.)
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.
Here is this weeks HLVCB fishing report. it confirms that Walleye fishing is tough right now.
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Musky Festival weather was acceptable, though rain showers did move
through the area Friday and Sunday. The current forecast (with no
promises!) indicates a week of clear skies and very pleasant
temperature.
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says recent heavy rains have
alleviated low water conditions on most flowages and drainage lakes in
the area, but many seepage lakes still have very low water levels, and
some have difficult access.
"Another interesting observation," adds Sommerfeldt, "is that the
low-water, drought conditions earlier this year had produced some fairly
clear water on many water bodies. The heavy runoff of recent weeks,
however, has resulted in a medium to dark stain returning to many of
these waters, and, some anglers claim, this has contributed to the
disrupted fishing patterns."
In an attempt to educate boaters and anglers about a new invasive
species law, the DNR will have wardens out "in force" during the July
Fourth holiday. Be aware: The new law makes it illegal to leave a boat
launch and drive on public roads with aquatic plants and animals
attached to boats, trailers, or equipment. The first offense will cost
between $232 to $767.50. A second offense within three years could cost
you up to $2,657.
The North and South forks of the Flambeau River are at flood stage, and
the DNR advises paddlers to wait until the water recedes before making a
river trip. Heavy rains are causing flooding and washouts on many
Flambeau River State Forest roads and trails, causing some temporary
closures.
The graveled surface of Tuscobia State Trail is in good condition and
UTVs are now allowed on the trail in Price, Sawyer, and Washburn
counties.
Fishing Reports
Muskies:
Musky fishing is fair to good, with late afternoon offering the best
action. Target weeds, weed lines, and submerged weed beds, and mid-lake
bars in 3-20 feet of water. Anglers are catching muskies on bucktails,
jerk, surface, and glide baits, Bull Dawgs, plastics, spinners and
spinnerbaits, and suckers on quick-strike rigs.
Walleye:
Walleyes are scattered, the bite is inconsistent, and fishing is
challenging. Best action is early morning and late evening into after
dark. Depths vary from 4-30 feet, depending on the time, lake, and
location on the lake. Concentrate on weeds, drop-offs, rocks, and
mid-lake humps. In general, fish shallow on stained water lakes and
during low light hours, and deeper water on clear lakes and during
daytime hours. However ... some anglers are catching walleyes in shallow
weeds during the day. (See first sentence.) Top baits include leeches
and crawlers on jigs, spinner rigs, and under slip bobbers; fatheads and
walleye suckers; trolled crank and stick baits; and cast stickbaits,
crankbaits, Shad Raps, Flat Raps, and Beetle Spins.
Northern:
Northern action is very good in shallow water down to about 12 feet
around panfish and bays, points, and weeds. Fish deeper water weed lines
for larger pike. Bucktails, spoons, spinners and spinnerbaits, buzz,
chatter, surface, and stick baits, and plastics will all catch pike.
Northern suckers on jigs or under a bobber are also very effective for
northern.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth fishing is excellent and most local waters hold good
populations. Look for shallow bays with weed flats, wood, lily pads,
docks, fallen trees, brush, stumps, and slop, but don't neglect deeper
weeds and weedlines down to 12 feet and deeper. Hungry largemouth are
"less than selective" so odds are good what you throw will work.
Suggested artificials include crank, spinner, buzz, and surface baits,
Texas-rigged worms, plastic frogs, wacky rigs, X-Raps, and swim jigs.
For live bait, try leeches, crawlers, or fatheads under bobbers.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth action is good, but fish are somewhat scattered. Look for
rocks, hard bottom/gravel, drop-offs, points, mid-lake humps and bars,
and transition areas in depths ranging from 3-20 feet of water. Tube
jigs, rubber worms, plastics, (it's hard to beat crawdad colors), jerk,
spinner, crank, and topwater baits will all catch smallies. If your
choice is live bait, use northern suckers, fatheads, and leeches on jigs
or under slip bobbers.
Crappie:
Crappie action is fair to very good, depending on the lake, often with
best fishing in the evening hours. Fish are suspending in 3-20 feet of
water around weeds/weedlines, cribs, bogs, wood, stumps, and along
outside weed edges. Try plain and dressed jigs or plain hooks with under
slip bobbers crappie minnows or small fatheads, leeches, waxies,
crawlers, worms, plastics, and Gulp! panfish baits. Small crankbaits,
spinners, and topwaters will also catch crappies.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action is very good on most all area waters. Weeds, cribs,
wood, stumps, brush, downed trees, and other shoreline structure can all
hold bluegills. Depending on the lake, depths can very from very shallow
down to 20 feet, but fish will be in and around cover. Best baits
include waxies, crawler chunks, leaf worms, leeches, minnows, plastics,
and Gulp! panfish baits. Fish them on small jigs, ice jigs, or plain
hooks, with or without bobbers or slip bobbers. Small crankbaits,
poppers, and other small surface baits are both fun and effective.
Upcoming Events
July 16-18: 36th annual Honor the Earth Powwow (715-634-8924.)
July 16-18: Birchwood Bluegill Festival (800-236-2252.)
July 23-25: Lumberjack World Championships (715-634-2484.)
Through July 31: Illegal to run dogs on WPA lands. (See regs.)
Aug. 1: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. Kid's Fishing Day
(715-634-2921.)
Aug. 2: Application Deadline: Fall turkey; Sharp-tailed grouse; Bobcat;
Otter; Fisher; Horicon and Collins goose zones.
Aug. 19-22: 103rd annual Sawyer County Fair (715-934-2721.)
Aug. 27-29: Mega Bass Shootout at Musky Tale Resort (715-462-3838.)
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.