Hayward Lakes Sherry
07-12-2010, 11:31 AM
July 12, 2010
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Fishing Reports
Muskies:
Musky fishing is reasonably good and getting better. Fish for them on weeds and weed beds, points, breaks, mid-lake bars, drop-offs, and other structure in 4-18 feet of water. Baits of choice at this time include bucktails, spinner, crank, swim, and jerk baits, topwaters, and live suckers on quick-strike rigs.
Walleye:
Walleyes remain scattered, action is somewhat slow and challenging (though improving), and anglers fishing at night and in early morning hours continue to have the best success. Target weeds and weed edges, cribs, rocks, brush, bars, and mid-lake humps. Depths range from 6-30 feet or deeper, and vary from lake to lake. On flowages, concentrate on channel areas. Leeches on slip bobbers and crawlers on harnesses are the top producers. Fatheads on jigs, walleyes suckers on bottom bouncers, and trolled stick, crank, and minnow baits are all catching fish, too.
Northern:
Northern action is excellent on bucktails, spoons, spinners and spinnerbaits, buzz, chatter, and crank baits, and of course with northern suckers fished under bobbers or on Lindy Rigs. Look for them in/on weeds and weed edges, bay openings, and any areas you find panfish, in shallow water to as deep as 20 feet or more for trophy pike. And at the risk of being repetitious (have I said that before?) northerns are great on the table.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action is slower than normal at this time of year, fishing early and late should increase your chances for success. Fish in/on/around weeds (both deep and along the shoreline), wood, brush, lily pads, slop, docks, and bog edges. Depths vary from very shallow to 20 feet. The most productive baits are crank, buzz, topwater, and spinner baits, spinners, tubes, artificial worms, plastics, and live bait offerings of crawlers, suckers, and leeches.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth action ranges from sub-fair to good. You might find smallies on hard-bottoms, rocks/rock bars, mid-lake humps, points, wood, weeds, and transition areas in 8-25 feet of water. That’s the first challenge. Next is selecting the particular bait they want on that particular day. Tubes and plastics, spinners and spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and topwaters can all be productive. For live bait, try leeches, suckers, or crawlers under slip bobbers or on drop-shot rigs.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good, though success is better in the early morning and late evening/after dark. It’s difficult to beat crappie minnows or plastics, but crappies are also taking fatheads, waxies, worms, crawlers, and spinners. Fish the live bait on plain/dressed jigs or plain hooks, and/or under a slip bobber. Once you find the correct depth, a slip bobber will allow you to bounce the bait on the crappie’s noses – and the correct depth could be somewhere between 3-25 feet. Look for weeds, cribs, bogs, brush, or stumps, and some fish are suspending over deeper water and near mid-depth cover.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is very good, though bigger fish will require bigger effort. Look for weeds, brush, cribs and stumps at various depths, from 3-20 feet. Some fish, those larger ones, are suspending over deeper water and along deep cover and weed beds. Top baits are the usual bluegill fare of waxies, worms, red worms, crawlers/chunks, panfish leeches, and plastics. (Those big ‘gills will readily take minnows, too.) Fish them on small dressed or plain jigs, plain hooks, with or without a bobber. Whether you vertical jig, drift fish, or cast to the cover, you should experience excellent action.
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.
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Fishing Reports
Muskies:
Musky fishing is reasonably good and getting better. Fish for them on weeds and weed beds, points, breaks, mid-lake bars, drop-offs, and other structure in 4-18 feet of water. Baits of choice at this time include bucktails, spinner, crank, swim, and jerk baits, topwaters, and live suckers on quick-strike rigs.
Walleye:
Walleyes remain scattered, action is somewhat slow and challenging (though improving), and anglers fishing at night and in early morning hours continue to have the best success. Target weeds and weed edges, cribs, rocks, brush, bars, and mid-lake humps. Depths range from 6-30 feet or deeper, and vary from lake to lake. On flowages, concentrate on channel areas. Leeches on slip bobbers and crawlers on harnesses are the top producers. Fatheads on jigs, walleyes suckers on bottom bouncers, and trolled stick, crank, and minnow baits are all catching fish, too.
Northern:
Northern action is excellent on bucktails, spoons, spinners and spinnerbaits, buzz, chatter, and crank baits, and of course with northern suckers fished under bobbers or on Lindy Rigs. Look for them in/on weeds and weed edges, bay openings, and any areas you find panfish, in shallow water to as deep as 20 feet or more for trophy pike. And at the risk of being repetitious (have I said that before?) northerns are great on the table.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action is slower than normal at this time of year, fishing early and late should increase your chances for success. Fish in/on/around weeds (both deep and along the shoreline), wood, brush, lily pads, slop, docks, and bog edges. Depths vary from very shallow to 20 feet. The most productive baits are crank, buzz, topwater, and spinner baits, spinners, tubes, artificial worms, plastics, and live bait offerings of crawlers, suckers, and leeches.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth action ranges from sub-fair to good. You might find smallies on hard-bottoms, rocks/rock bars, mid-lake humps, points, wood, weeds, and transition areas in 8-25 feet of water. That’s the first challenge. Next is selecting the particular bait they want on that particular day. Tubes and plastics, spinners and spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and topwaters can all be productive. For live bait, try leeches, suckers, or crawlers under slip bobbers or on drop-shot rigs.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good, though success is better in the early morning and late evening/after dark. It’s difficult to beat crappie minnows or plastics, but crappies are also taking fatheads, waxies, worms, crawlers, and spinners. Fish the live bait on plain/dressed jigs or plain hooks, and/or under a slip bobber. Once you find the correct depth, a slip bobber will allow you to bounce the bait on the crappie’s noses – and the correct depth could be somewhere between 3-25 feet. Look for weeds, cribs, bogs, brush, or stumps, and some fish are suspending over deeper water and near mid-depth cover.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is very good, though bigger fish will require bigger effort. Look for weeds, brush, cribs and stumps at various depths, from 3-20 feet. Some fish, those larger ones, are suspending over deeper water and along deep cover and weed beds. Top baits are the usual bluegill fare of waxies, worms, red worms, crawlers/chunks, panfish leeches, and plastics. (Those big ‘gills will readily take minnows, too.) Fish them on small dressed or plain jigs, plain hooks, with or without a bobber. Whether you vertical jig, drift fish, or cast to the cover, you should experience excellent action.
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.