Hayward Lakes Sherry
08-03-2010, 09:20 AM
August 2, 2010
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Following a couple weeks of somewhat inconsistent weather patterns, the forecast for this week indicates the days ahead should be relatively warm and clear, about as good as it gets for August.
“August’s arrival often brings things to a seasonal low, especially for muskies,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “but keep fishing! Just fish late evenings into early morning, or wait for cloudy, overcast days.”
At Pastika’s, Tim Duffy says walleye preferences are changing day-to-day and there is no consistent pattern.
“There is a reasonably decent bite on minnows,” Tim says, “if you can keep them alive in the heat.”
Steve Genson, also at Pastika’s, says muskies can be in water depths ranging from three feet to very deep.
“The muskies can be suspending anywhere between, though usually in the top 15 feet of the water column. There are times right now when really burning bucktails can be very effective.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says last week’s rain kept most Upper Chippewa Basin streams, rivers, and flowages at a high level.
“The wet weather also spurred an extra-large hatch of mosquitoes, so bring insect repellent on any trips to the woods or water.”
Hayward Bass Club is holding an open bass tournament on Nelson Lake Sunday Aug. 15, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is a 19-boat limit and the entry fee is $100 per boat. Cash awards go to the top five places, with the top prize $700. For more information, call Hayward Bait (715) 634-2921, Wayne Balsavich (715) 699-1015, or e-mail Haywardbassclub@charter.net.
Fishing Reports
Muskie:
Muskie anglers are boating some nice fish, although action is erratic, and fish are most active from late afternoon through the night into early morning. Though not the best times to fish, those are the “best” times to fish. Muskies are as shallow as three feet and out to more than 20 feet on weeds and weed edges, humps, and bars – or just suspending over deep water. During the day, cast crank and jerk baits, bucktails, and big plastics. In low light, throw bucktails and topwaters. Vary your retrieve. Some days they like it fast, and other times they prefer slow-movers.
Walleye:
Walleyes are widely scattered at various depths and locations and it’s a tough, challenging bite. Tip the odds in your favor by fishing early mornings and evenings into after dark. Fish “could” be found from shallow to deep, on weeds and weed edges, mid-lake bars and humps, cribs, drop-offs, rock, and gravel. Leeches and crawlers, under slip bobbers, on harnesses, or on jigs, are the top baits, but fatheads and walleye suckers are also producing catches. Crank and stick baits trolled along mid-depth weed lines in the evening hours are also effective presentations.
Northern:
Northerns are moving to deeper water weed edges out to about 20 feet, though some are still near food sources in shallow weeds. When pike are active, they are “less than selective” about the baits they will hit. Northern suckers are always a good choice, but give a bath to any seldom-used lures – spinners and spinnerbaits, stickbaits, spoons, bucktails, Rapalas, and crankbaits – cast or trolled – and topwaters.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth fishing is fair to good and improving, but it is below average for this time of year. You will find bass in various covers, including weeds and weed edges, wood, stumps, bogs, logs, lily pads, and slop, from very shallow out to about 10-foot depths and/or the second break. Bait options are numerous (choose according to the cover) and include spinner and stick baits, topwaters, jigs, weedless rubber frogs, crayfish imitations, wacky worms and other soft plastics, leeches, crawlers, and minnows.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth action is fair to good, though inconsistent. The fish are found in depths anywhere from about five feet out to 25 feet, primarily around rock, gravel, and other hard bottom areas, wood, weed lines/edges, and humps. There are also reports of evening surface feeding frenzies. Spinnerbaits, jigs, weedless plastics, stickbaits, topwaters, crankbaits, plastics, wacky worms, and topwaters are all catching smallies, as are leeches, crawlers, fatheads, and walleye suckers.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing continues to be fairly good once you locate the fish, and late evening and after dark are the most productive times. The fish are generally in 5-20 feet of water. Some are suspending in deeper water or a few feet below the surface in mid-depths. Look for weeds, wood, brush, bogs, and cribs. Crappie minnows under slip bobbers is the first bait choice, but waxies, leaf worms, leeches, plastics, Gulp! baits, and small crankbaits are also catching fish.
Bluegill:
Bluegills are active and fishing is good, but anglers looking for a meal will have to do some sorting. Work areas along/near weeds and weed lines, wood, brush, bogs, and cribs in depths varying from very shallow out to about 16 feet. Baits of choice include waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawler pieces, leeches, small minnows, plastics, surface baits/poppers, and small crankbaits.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 19-22: 103rd annual Sawyer County Fair (715-934-2721.)
Aug. 24: Deadline to transfer Class A bear harvest permit to a person under age 18.
Aug. 27-29: Mega Bass Shootout at Musky Tale Resort (715-462-3838.)
Aug. 28: Remaining fall turkey permits go on sale at noon.
Aug. 31: Bear dog training by pursuing bear closes. (See regs.)
Sept. 1: Mourning dove season opens.
Sept. 8: Bear season opens. (See regs.)
Sept. 18: Seasons Open: Archery deer; Turkey; Cottontail rabbit (northern zone); Gray and fox squirrel; Ruffed grouse (Zone A); Crow.
Sept. 25: Woodcock season opens.
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
Following a couple weeks of somewhat inconsistent weather patterns, the forecast for this week indicates the days ahead should be relatively warm and clear, about as good as it gets for August.
“August’s arrival often brings things to a seasonal low, especially for muskies,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “but keep fishing! Just fish late evenings into early morning, or wait for cloudy, overcast days.”
At Pastika’s, Tim Duffy says walleye preferences are changing day-to-day and there is no consistent pattern.
“There is a reasonably decent bite on minnows,” Tim says, “if you can keep them alive in the heat.”
Steve Genson, also at Pastika’s, says muskies can be in water depths ranging from three feet to very deep.
“The muskies can be suspending anywhere between, though usually in the top 15 feet of the water column. There are times right now when really burning bucktails can be very effective.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says last week’s rain kept most Upper Chippewa Basin streams, rivers, and flowages at a high level.
“The wet weather also spurred an extra-large hatch of mosquitoes, so bring insect repellent on any trips to the woods or water.”
Hayward Bass Club is holding an open bass tournament on Nelson Lake Sunday Aug. 15, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is a 19-boat limit and the entry fee is $100 per boat. Cash awards go to the top five places, with the top prize $700. For more information, call Hayward Bait (715) 634-2921, Wayne Balsavich (715) 699-1015, or e-mail Haywardbassclub@charter.net.
Fishing Reports
Muskie:
Muskie anglers are boating some nice fish, although action is erratic, and fish are most active from late afternoon through the night into early morning. Though not the best times to fish, those are the “best” times to fish. Muskies are as shallow as three feet and out to more than 20 feet on weeds and weed edges, humps, and bars – or just suspending over deep water. During the day, cast crank and jerk baits, bucktails, and big plastics. In low light, throw bucktails and topwaters. Vary your retrieve. Some days they like it fast, and other times they prefer slow-movers.
Walleye:
Walleyes are widely scattered at various depths and locations and it’s a tough, challenging bite. Tip the odds in your favor by fishing early mornings and evenings into after dark. Fish “could” be found from shallow to deep, on weeds and weed edges, mid-lake bars and humps, cribs, drop-offs, rock, and gravel. Leeches and crawlers, under slip bobbers, on harnesses, or on jigs, are the top baits, but fatheads and walleye suckers are also producing catches. Crank and stick baits trolled along mid-depth weed lines in the evening hours are also effective presentations.
Northern:
Northerns are moving to deeper water weed edges out to about 20 feet, though some are still near food sources in shallow weeds. When pike are active, they are “less than selective” about the baits they will hit. Northern suckers are always a good choice, but give a bath to any seldom-used lures – spinners and spinnerbaits, stickbaits, spoons, bucktails, Rapalas, and crankbaits – cast or trolled – and topwaters.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth fishing is fair to good and improving, but it is below average for this time of year. You will find bass in various covers, including weeds and weed edges, wood, stumps, bogs, logs, lily pads, and slop, from very shallow out to about 10-foot depths and/or the second break. Bait options are numerous (choose according to the cover) and include spinner and stick baits, topwaters, jigs, weedless rubber frogs, crayfish imitations, wacky worms and other soft plastics, leeches, crawlers, and minnows.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth action is fair to good, though inconsistent. The fish are found in depths anywhere from about five feet out to 25 feet, primarily around rock, gravel, and other hard bottom areas, wood, weed lines/edges, and humps. There are also reports of evening surface feeding frenzies. Spinnerbaits, jigs, weedless plastics, stickbaits, topwaters, crankbaits, plastics, wacky worms, and topwaters are all catching smallies, as are leeches, crawlers, fatheads, and walleye suckers.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing continues to be fairly good once you locate the fish, and late evening and after dark are the most productive times. The fish are generally in 5-20 feet of water. Some are suspending in deeper water or a few feet below the surface in mid-depths. Look for weeds, wood, brush, bogs, and cribs. Crappie minnows under slip bobbers is the first bait choice, but waxies, leaf worms, leeches, plastics, Gulp! baits, and small crankbaits are also catching fish.
Bluegill:
Bluegills are active and fishing is good, but anglers looking for a meal will have to do some sorting. Work areas along/near weeds and weed lines, wood, brush, bogs, and cribs in depths varying from very shallow out to about 16 feet. Baits of choice include waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawler pieces, leeches, small minnows, plastics, surface baits/poppers, and small crankbaits.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 19-22: 103rd annual Sawyer County Fair (715-934-2721.)
Aug. 24: Deadline to transfer Class A bear harvest permit to a person under age 18.
Aug. 27-29: Mega Bass Shootout at Musky Tale Resort (715-462-3838.)
Aug. 28: Remaining fall turkey permits go on sale at noon.
Aug. 31: Bear dog training by pursuing bear closes. (See regs.)
Sept. 1: Mourning dove season opens.
Sept. 8: Bear season opens. (See regs.)
Sept. 18: Seasons Open: Archery deer; Turkey; Cottontail rabbit (northern zone); Gray and fox squirrel; Ruffed grouse (Zone A); Crow.
Sept. 25: Woodcock season opens.
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.