Hayward Lakes Sherry
08-23-2010, 02:46 PM
August 23, 2010
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Following a brief respite from our above average hot temperatures and humid conditions, this week is starting on the “warm” side, though the forecast indicates a cooling trend is on the way.
“Welcome to ‘almost’ autumn,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “The beginning of last week felt like September, the days are noticeably shorter, and we are starting to see the beginnings of color changes.”
DNR fisheries biologist Frank Pratt, still recovering from last spring’s automobile accident, says this is the first time in 35 years he is not in the field for summer stream shocking surveys.
“Russ Warwick and Joe Krahn are doing yeomen’s work to complete the job, however, and it appears 2009-10 was the year of the baby trout. There are tremendous amounts of natural reproduction, especially in the Namekagon basin.”
SCOPE (Sawyer County Outdoor Projects) invites the public to its first annual free Family Fun Day August 29, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Summit Lake Game Farm. There will be various exhibitions and demonstrations, and attendees can shoot shotguns, .22 caliber rifles, bows and arrows, and use a hunting simulator. Shooting events are free for youth 18 and younger. Team Benelli expert shooter Tim Bradley will perform an exhibition shooting demonstration at 2:00 p.m. For information, visit www.sawyercountyoutdoors.com, or call Summit Lake Game Farm (715) 354-7241.
Hayward Bass Club is holding a free youth (10-17 years old) bass tournament Sunday August 29, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at Wilderness Haven Resort on Spring Lake. Participants can use their own tackle or the club can provide equipment, and club members will guide youth on an afternoon of bass fishing. A cookout and prize presentations follow the 4 p.m. weigh-in. For information or to register, call Hayward Bait (715) 634-2921. To volunteer, call Wayne Balsavich (715) 699-1015.
Fishing Reports
Muskies:
Muskie action showed significant improvement in the past week or two, though the best times are still during low light hours. Fish are at varied depths on weeds and weed flats, bar edges, mid-lake humps, and suspending over deeper water. Bucktails, Bull Dawgs, plastics, twitch, jerk, topwater, and buzz baits are all having success, and topwater action is again working with the drop in water temps.
Walleye:
Walleye action is slow, with best action in early morning and evenings into dark. Trollers are having success working the thermocline at approximately 35 feet. Action should improve as the waters cool. Fish are scattered, from shallow weeds to deep water. Fish weed edges, rock bars, brush, humps, flats, channels, and cribs. Live bait – leeches, crawlers, fatheads, and walleye suckers – are producing the most catches. Use them with jigs, bait harnesses, Lindy Rigs, bottom bouncers, and slip bobbers. Stickbaits and crankbaits along weed edges are also taking fish.
Northern:
Northerns are in weeds at various depths. Fish shallow weeds if you seek action and numerous small fish, but concentrate on deeper weeds with larger baits for trophy pike. Best bets are bucktails, crankbaits, spoons, spinners and spinnerbaits, stickbaits, and northern suckers.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action can run hot or cold – or hot and cold. Fish are holding in/on weeds, weed edges, wood, rock, bogs, slop, and cribs. Depths range from very shallow out to 12 feet of deeper. Plastics, jig/craw combos, scented worms, Beetle Spins, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, surface and buzz baits, topwaters, and soft plastics frogs are all catching largemouth, as well as crawlers, leeches, and minnows.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is decent, with best action on the rivers and flowages. Look for rocks, humps, weeds, wood, and cribs, and other structure in depths to about 26 feet, and hard bottom areas adjacent to deep water. Crank and spinner baits, larger plastics, and topwaters are the top choices for artificials. For live bait, go with leeches, crawlers, and sucker minnows.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is fairly good on waxies, worms, crawlers, minnows, plastics, Mini-Mites, spinners, and one-inch Gulp! baits. You will find the fish in and around bogs, brush, weeds, cribs, and other structure out to about 25 feet, and some fish are suspending in deeper water.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action also continues to be good, with anglers using waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawlers, leeches, minnows, plastics, and one-inch Gulp! baits on plain hooks, jigs, with or without bobbers. Depths range from shallow out to about 15 feet or more for the larger ‘gills, in and near weeds, brush, bogs, cribs, and other structure.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 27-29: Mega Bass Shootout at Musky Tale Resort (715-462-3838.)
Aug. 28: Remaining fall turkey permits on sale at noon.
Aug. 29: SCOPE Family Fun Days (Summit Lake Game Farm (715-354-7241.)
Aug. 29: Hayward Bass Club youth bass tournament (715-634-2921; 699-1015.)
Aug. 31: Bear dog training closes. (See regs.)
Sept. 1-15: Early Canada goose season (see regs.)
Sept. 1: Mourning dove season opens.
Sept. 4: Lake sturgeon season opens on designated waters. (See regs.)
Sept. 4-5: Exeland Trout Festival (715-266-4181.)
Sept. 5: Cable Rod & Gun Club annual Pig Roast & Turkey Shoot (715-798-4459.)
Sept. 7: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting 7 p.m. (715-634-4543.)
Sept. 8: Bear season opens. (See regs.)
Sept. 18: Seasons Open: Archery deer; Ruffed grouse (Zone A); Canada goose (northern zone); Turkey; Cottontail rabbit (northern zone); Gray and fox squirrel; Crow.
Sept. 18: Ruffed Grouse Society Sportsmen’s Hunt, Shoot, and dinner (Dave Reardon 715-634-2674.)
Sept. 18-19: Youth Waterfowl Hunt.
Sept. 25: Seasons Open: Duck and Canada goose (Northern Zone) at 9 a.m.; Woodcock.
Sept. 30: Seasons Close: Trout on inland waters (see regs.); Lake trout (Lake Superior); Sturgeon.
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 brief respite from our above average hot temperatures and humid conditions, this week is starting on the “warm” side, though the forecast indicates a cooling trend is on the way.
“Welcome to ‘almost’ autumn,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “The beginning of last week felt like September, the days are noticeably shorter, and we are starting to see the beginnings of color changes.”
DNR fisheries biologist Frank Pratt, still recovering from last spring’s automobile accident, says this is the first time in 35 years he is not in the field for summer stream shocking surveys.
“Russ Warwick and Joe Krahn are doing yeomen’s work to complete the job, however, and it appears 2009-10 was the year of the baby trout. There are tremendous amounts of natural reproduction, especially in the Namekagon basin.”
SCOPE (Sawyer County Outdoor Projects) invites the public to its first annual free Family Fun Day August 29, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Summit Lake Game Farm. There will be various exhibitions and demonstrations, and attendees can shoot shotguns, .22 caliber rifles, bows and arrows, and use a hunting simulator. Shooting events are free for youth 18 and younger. Team Benelli expert shooter Tim Bradley will perform an exhibition shooting demonstration at 2:00 p.m. For information, visit www.sawyercountyoutdoors.com, or call Summit Lake Game Farm (715) 354-7241.
Hayward Bass Club is holding a free youth (10-17 years old) bass tournament Sunday August 29, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at Wilderness Haven Resort on Spring Lake. Participants can use their own tackle or the club can provide equipment, and club members will guide youth on an afternoon of bass fishing. A cookout and prize presentations follow the 4 p.m. weigh-in. For information or to register, call Hayward Bait (715) 634-2921. To volunteer, call Wayne Balsavich (715) 699-1015.
Fishing Reports
Muskies:
Muskie action showed significant improvement in the past week or two, though the best times are still during low light hours. Fish are at varied depths on weeds and weed flats, bar edges, mid-lake humps, and suspending over deeper water. Bucktails, Bull Dawgs, plastics, twitch, jerk, topwater, and buzz baits are all having success, and topwater action is again working with the drop in water temps.
Walleye:
Walleye action is slow, with best action in early morning and evenings into dark. Trollers are having success working the thermocline at approximately 35 feet. Action should improve as the waters cool. Fish are scattered, from shallow weeds to deep water. Fish weed edges, rock bars, brush, humps, flats, channels, and cribs. Live bait – leeches, crawlers, fatheads, and walleye suckers – are producing the most catches. Use them with jigs, bait harnesses, Lindy Rigs, bottom bouncers, and slip bobbers. Stickbaits and crankbaits along weed edges are also taking fish.
Northern:
Northerns are in weeds at various depths. Fish shallow weeds if you seek action and numerous small fish, but concentrate on deeper weeds with larger baits for trophy pike. Best bets are bucktails, crankbaits, spoons, spinners and spinnerbaits, stickbaits, and northern suckers.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action can run hot or cold – or hot and cold. Fish are holding in/on weeds, weed edges, wood, rock, bogs, slop, and cribs. Depths range from very shallow out to 12 feet of deeper. Plastics, jig/craw combos, scented worms, Beetle Spins, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, surface and buzz baits, topwaters, and soft plastics frogs are all catching largemouth, as well as crawlers, leeches, and minnows.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is decent, with best action on the rivers and flowages. Look for rocks, humps, weeds, wood, and cribs, and other structure in depths to about 26 feet, and hard bottom areas adjacent to deep water. Crank and spinner baits, larger plastics, and topwaters are the top choices for artificials. For live bait, go with leeches, crawlers, and sucker minnows.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is fairly good on waxies, worms, crawlers, minnows, plastics, Mini-Mites, spinners, and one-inch Gulp! baits. You will find the fish in and around bogs, brush, weeds, cribs, and other structure out to about 25 feet, and some fish are suspending in deeper water.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action also continues to be good, with anglers using waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawlers, leeches, minnows, plastics, and one-inch Gulp! baits on plain hooks, jigs, with or without bobbers. Depths range from shallow out to about 15 feet or more for the larger ‘gills, in and near weeds, brush, bogs, cribs, and other structure.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 27-29: Mega Bass Shootout at Musky Tale Resort (715-462-3838.)
Aug. 28: Remaining fall turkey permits on sale at noon.
Aug. 29: SCOPE Family Fun Days (Summit Lake Game Farm (715-354-7241.)
Aug. 29: Hayward Bass Club youth bass tournament (715-634-2921; 699-1015.)
Aug. 31: Bear dog training closes. (See regs.)
Sept. 1-15: Early Canada goose season (see regs.)
Sept. 1: Mourning dove season opens.
Sept. 4: Lake sturgeon season opens on designated waters. (See regs.)
Sept. 4-5: Exeland Trout Festival (715-266-4181.)
Sept. 5: Cable Rod & Gun Club annual Pig Roast & Turkey Shoot (715-798-4459.)
Sept. 7: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting 7 p.m. (715-634-4543.)
Sept. 8: Bear season opens. (See regs.)
Sept. 18: Seasons Open: Archery deer; Ruffed grouse (Zone A); Canada goose (northern zone); Turkey; Cottontail rabbit (northern zone); Gray and fox squirrel; Crow.
Sept. 18: Ruffed Grouse Society Sportsmen’s Hunt, Shoot, and dinner (Dave Reardon 715-634-2674.)
Sept. 18-19: Youth Waterfowl Hunt.
Sept. 25: Seasons Open: Duck and Canada goose (Northern Zone) at 9 a.m.; Woodcock.
Sept. 30: Seasons Close: Trout on inland waters (see regs.); Lake trout (Lake Superior); Sturgeon.
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.