Hayward Lakes Sherry
08-12-2010, 09:59 AM
August 9, 2010
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Subtle changes slowly taking place in the north woods offer slight hints of fall. This week’s weather forecast, however, is all about summer, with 80- to mid-90-degree highs, 60- to 70-degree lows, and of course, the ever-present ‘chances’ of showers and thunderstorms.
According to DNR fisheries biologist Frank Pratt, the top of the thermocline is currently 28-30 feet down in lakes such as Round, LCO, Grindstone, and Whitefish.
“For big, cold-water and cool-water predator species (trout, walleye, northern) in open water, concentrate your efforts at these depths,” Pratt advises. “Bass and bluegills are also suspending, but much higher in the water column. Muskies can and will suspend, but are not limited to a narrow band. They might be anywhere from near the surface to 35 feet, depending on forage abundance and distribution.”
Pratt says the National Park Service’s Environmental Assessment of the big woody cover project on the Namekagon River is not yet approved, delaying the project for another year.
“Both agencies believe that under current regulations there is too much potential for over-harvest of wild brook trout. The DNR will propose new, river-wide regulations for the Namekagon, including a one-bag 15-inch minimum for brown trout, and a zero-bag – catch and release only – for brook trout.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says fishing continues to be slow.
“It’s possible the high amount of rain and increased water levels brought more food into the lakes and flowages,” Sommerfeldt says, “or perhaps the high and darker-stained water really changed the feeding behavior and habits of the fish. I’m not sure what is happening this summer, but topwater action is very tough – and my fishing action is about one-third to one-half of what I see in a ‘normal’ year.”
Fishing Reports
Muskies:
Muskie fishing is slow and inconsistent. This could portend fantastic fall fishing, but only time will tell. For now, action is best during the low light periods, especially after dark. Work the usual late summer locations of weeds/weed edges, humps, and bars in three to 25 feet of water, as well as look for fish suspending over deep water. Try bucktails, jerk, crank, spinner, and topwater baits, and large plastics. For night fishing use topwaters and bucktails.
Walleye:
Walleyes are still showing no definite pattern and fishing continues to be a rough go of it. They remain scattered, producing an angler version of “Where’s Waldo?” with “Where’s Walleye?” Early morning and late evening into after dark – the low light/no light conditions – remain the best times for success. Depths vary from 6-30 feet, depending on the lake, time of day, and ... apparently whatever personality quirks walleyes possess. Look for weeds/weed edges, mid-lake humps, bars, rocks, and brush. If fish aren’t in one area or depth, try another. Leeches under slip bobbers and crawlers on harnesses are most favored, but fish are also hitting walleye suckers and fatheads, as well as crank and stick baits.
Northern:
Northern pike are holding in and around weeds – and panfish – in 5-30 feet of water, as well as suspending in deeper water. Target weeds and weed lines at different depths until you find the fish. Top producers include spoons, spinners and spinnerbaits, crank, stick, and buzz baits, bucktails, topwaters, and of course northern suckers.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth fishing is fair to very good, depending on the day and the water you fish. Weeds/weed edges, reed beds, wood, lily pads, and slop, from very shallow out to about 12 feet, can all hold largemouth. Whatever baits you use, get “up close and personal” with the selected cover. Artificial baits producing action include crankbaits, stickbaits, spinners and spinnerbaits, scented worms, wacky worms, weedless spoons and jigs, Texas-rigged plastics, and frogs/topwaters. For live bait, use leeches, crawlers, and walleye suckers.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth are on rock, wood, weeds, cribs, and humps in depths from 6-25 feet. During low light periods look for them on the shallower end of the scale, along with occasional evening surface activity. Tubes, jigs, crankbaits, stickbaits, spinners and spinnerbaits, and topwaters will all work for smallies, especially in crayfish color combinations. Suckers, crawlers, and leeches are also good bets.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is relatively good, but the best times are from late in the day into and after dark. Some are holding near weeds, wood, brush, and bogs, while others are suspending in deeper water out to 25 feet or so. Most success is with crappie minnows on jigs or plain hooks fished under slip bobbers, however, waxies, leeches, plastics, small crankbaits, and Gulp! baits are also catching crappies.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is good, and in a variety of depths, from very shallow out to about 20 feet. Look for them near weeds/weed lines, wood, brush, and cribs, and some are suspending over deeper water. Waxies, worms, leaf worms, leeches, minnows, plastics, tiny crankbaits, and Gulp! baits are all working at this time. Tip them on small jigs or plain hooks, with or without a bobber.
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
Subtle changes slowly taking place in the north woods offer slight hints of fall. This week’s weather forecast, however, is all about summer, with 80- to mid-90-degree highs, 60- to 70-degree lows, and of course, the ever-present ‘chances’ of showers and thunderstorms.
According to DNR fisheries biologist Frank Pratt, the top of the thermocline is currently 28-30 feet down in lakes such as Round, LCO, Grindstone, and Whitefish.
“For big, cold-water and cool-water predator species (trout, walleye, northern) in open water, concentrate your efforts at these depths,” Pratt advises. “Bass and bluegills are also suspending, but much higher in the water column. Muskies can and will suspend, but are not limited to a narrow band. They might be anywhere from near the surface to 35 feet, depending on forage abundance and distribution.”
Pratt says the National Park Service’s Environmental Assessment of the big woody cover project on the Namekagon River is not yet approved, delaying the project for another year.
“Both agencies believe that under current regulations there is too much potential for over-harvest of wild brook trout. The DNR will propose new, river-wide regulations for the Namekagon, including a one-bag 15-inch minimum for brown trout, and a zero-bag – catch and release only – for brook trout.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says fishing continues to be slow.
“It’s possible the high amount of rain and increased water levels brought more food into the lakes and flowages,” Sommerfeldt says, “or perhaps the high and darker-stained water really changed the feeding behavior and habits of the fish. I’m not sure what is happening this summer, but topwater action is very tough – and my fishing action is about one-third to one-half of what I see in a ‘normal’ year.”
Fishing Reports
Muskies:
Muskie fishing is slow and inconsistent. This could portend fantastic fall fishing, but only time will tell. For now, action is best during the low light periods, especially after dark. Work the usual late summer locations of weeds/weed edges, humps, and bars in three to 25 feet of water, as well as look for fish suspending over deep water. Try bucktails, jerk, crank, spinner, and topwater baits, and large plastics. For night fishing use topwaters and bucktails.
Walleye:
Walleyes are still showing no definite pattern and fishing continues to be a rough go of it. They remain scattered, producing an angler version of “Where’s Waldo?” with “Where’s Walleye?” Early morning and late evening into after dark – the low light/no light conditions – remain the best times for success. Depths vary from 6-30 feet, depending on the lake, time of day, and ... apparently whatever personality quirks walleyes possess. Look for weeds/weed edges, mid-lake humps, bars, rocks, and brush. If fish aren’t in one area or depth, try another. Leeches under slip bobbers and crawlers on harnesses are most favored, but fish are also hitting walleye suckers and fatheads, as well as crank and stick baits.
Northern:
Northern pike are holding in and around weeds – and panfish – in 5-30 feet of water, as well as suspending in deeper water. Target weeds and weed lines at different depths until you find the fish. Top producers include spoons, spinners and spinnerbaits, crank, stick, and buzz baits, bucktails, topwaters, and of course northern suckers.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth fishing is fair to very good, depending on the day and the water you fish. Weeds/weed edges, reed beds, wood, lily pads, and slop, from very shallow out to about 12 feet, can all hold largemouth. Whatever baits you use, get “up close and personal” with the selected cover. Artificial baits producing action include crankbaits, stickbaits, spinners and spinnerbaits, scented worms, wacky worms, weedless spoons and jigs, Texas-rigged plastics, and frogs/topwaters. For live bait, use leeches, crawlers, and walleye suckers.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth are on rock, wood, weeds, cribs, and humps in depths from 6-25 feet. During low light periods look for them on the shallower end of the scale, along with occasional evening surface activity. Tubes, jigs, crankbaits, stickbaits, spinners and spinnerbaits, and topwaters will all work for smallies, especially in crayfish color combinations. Suckers, crawlers, and leeches are also good bets.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is relatively good, but the best times are from late in the day into and after dark. Some are holding near weeds, wood, brush, and bogs, while others are suspending in deeper water out to 25 feet or so. Most success is with crappie minnows on jigs or plain hooks fished under slip bobbers, however, waxies, leeches, plastics, small crankbaits, and Gulp! baits are also catching crappies.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is good, and in a variety of depths, from very shallow out to about 20 feet. Look for them near weeds/weed lines, wood, brush, and cribs, and some are suspending over deeper water. Waxies, worms, leaf worms, leeches, minnows, plastics, tiny crankbaits, and Gulp! baits are all working at this time. Tip them on small jigs or plain hooks, with or without a bobber.
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.