Hayward Lakes Sherry
05-03-2011, 09:50 AM
May 2, 2011
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
We are counting down the days to Wisconsin’s game fish opener this Saturday May 7, and as I write this Monday afternoon, it is 34 degrees with snow flurries. However, the opening weekend forecast for calls for highs in the 60s with some chances for rain. Highs in the 60s? We’ll take it!
In the northern bass zone, bass season is open for catch and release only from May 7 through June 17. Musky season in the northern musky zone opens May 28.
All anglers 16 years old or older, resident and nonresident, need a fishing license to fish Wisconsin waters. Residents born before Jan. 1, 1927, do not need a license. Resident Armed Forces members on active duty can obtain a free fishing license when they are on furlough or leave. The DNR now offers a one-day fishing license ($8 resident, $10 nonresident) with an option to later upgrade to an annual license.
“Water temperature is a main driver in fish activity,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “As long as water temperature stays cool and in the low 40s that activity will be slow and stay that way until we see a run of warm days and mild nights. We have seen some panfish action on infrequent, warm afternoons.”
Nelson at Hayward Bait says water levels are where they should be, but anglers should expect patterns to be different from typical springs.
“Look for post-spawn walleyes around weeds, rock, and sand bars in water out to 30 feet. Fish pre-spawn crappies near spawning areas in 10-20 feet of water with crappie minnows, waxies, crawlers, leeches, plastics, and Gulp! baits.”
At Pastika’s, Al and Dan expect water temperatures to be in the low 40s on the big lakes and low to mid-50s on smaller waters if current weather conditions continue and forecasts hold true.
“Walleyes will be post-spawn and anglers should concentrate on darker water lakes that are quicker to warm. Use fatheads and maybe some crawlers. It might be a bit early for Rapalas on the shorelines in the evenings. Use crappie minnows, waxies, and plastics for pre-spawn crappies, fishing the warmest water you can find.”
Randy at Jenk’s thinks opening weekend will be fair for walleye and somewhat tougher for panfish.
“Walleye spawning is over and they should be in or near the channels close to their spawning areas. With the cold water, they should prefer smaller, slowly fished minnows. It might be a little chilly for leeches. Panfish will be deep – it will be awhile before warmer water pulls them into the shallows – so fish for them like you would in October.”
Anglers trolling shallow running stickbaits on Lake Superior for salmon and browns are having success from Houghton Point to Long Island to the Sioux, according to Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland. Streams need to drop and clear, she says, though there is good steelhead fishing. Trout and salmon fishing is productive with casting spoons off the Sioux and Onion rivers.
Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) recorded 12 turkeys for spring season Period C April 27-May 1. The five jakes and seven adult birds included two 25-pound birds, one with an 11-inch beard.
The Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. is holding its May 3 meeting at Dick-Sy Roadhouse, ten miles east of Hayward on Highway 77. Featured speaker is well-known local lure maker and Chippewa Flowage musky guide Ty Sennett. His presentation begins at 7 p.m., following a 6 p.m. general business meeting. As always, the club welcomes the public/non-members to attend the meetings. For more information, contact Mike Persson (715)634-4543.
Although most ATV trails are open all year, some do close at certain times. Trails on County Forest land close when highway road bans are in effect, and city ATV routes do not offer access out of city limits. For information on specific trail closures, Sawyer County ATV trails report on the Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau website, or contact Sawyer County Forest administrator Greg Peterson (715-634-6728.)
Upcoming Events
Final pre-opener reminder: Your old fishing and hunting licenses expired March 31!
May 1: Early catch-and-release trout season closed at midnight.
May 3: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting at Dick-Sy Roadhouse. (715-634-4543.)
May 7: Game fish opener (trout, walleye, northern pike, bass in the southern zone; Muskie in southern zone.)
May 7: Seasons open: Catch and release bass in northern zone.
May 13-15: 27th Annual Treeland Walleye Challenge on Chippewa Flowage. (715-462-3874.)
May 14: Quiet Lakes “Crappie-A-Thon” open on Lost Land, Teal, and Ghost lakes through Oct. 15.
May 20-22: 24th Annual Fishing Has No Boundaries (800-243-3462; 715-634-3185.)
May 20-22: Musky Tale Resort northern fishing tournament on Chippewa Flowage (715-462-3838.)
May 28: Muskie season opens in north zone.
Through July 31: Illegal to run dogs on DNR and WPA lands. (See regs.)
Spring turkey hunting periods
D: May 4-8; E: May 11-15; F: May 18-22.
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
We are counting down the days to Wisconsin’s game fish opener this Saturday May 7, and as I write this Monday afternoon, it is 34 degrees with snow flurries. However, the opening weekend forecast for calls for highs in the 60s with some chances for rain. Highs in the 60s? We’ll take it!
In the northern bass zone, bass season is open for catch and release only from May 7 through June 17. Musky season in the northern musky zone opens May 28.
All anglers 16 years old or older, resident and nonresident, need a fishing license to fish Wisconsin waters. Residents born before Jan. 1, 1927, do not need a license. Resident Armed Forces members on active duty can obtain a free fishing license when they are on furlough or leave. The DNR now offers a one-day fishing license ($8 resident, $10 nonresident) with an option to later upgrade to an annual license.
“Water temperature is a main driver in fish activity,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “As long as water temperature stays cool and in the low 40s that activity will be slow and stay that way until we see a run of warm days and mild nights. We have seen some panfish action on infrequent, warm afternoons.”
Nelson at Hayward Bait says water levels are where they should be, but anglers should expect patterns to be different from typical springs.
“Look for post-spawn walleyes around weeds, rock, and sand bars in water out to 30 feet. Fish pre-spawn crappies near spawning areas in 10-20 feet of water with crappie minnows, waxies, crawlers, leeches, plastics, and Gulp! baits.”
At Pastika’s, Al and Dan expect water temperatures to be in the low 40s on the big lakes and low to mid-50s on smaller waters if current weather conditions continue and forecasts hold true.
“Walleyes will be post-spawn and anglers should concentrate on darker water lakes that are quicker to warm. Use fatheads and maybe some crawlers. It might be a bit early for Rapalas on the shorelines in the evenings. Use crappie minnows, waxies, and plastics for pre-spawn crappies, fishing the warmest water you can find.”
Randy at Jenk’s thinks opening weekend will be fair for walleye and somewhat tougher for panfish.
“Walleye spawning is over and they should be in or near the channels close to their spawning areas. With the cold water, they should prefer smaller, slowly fished minnows. It might be a little chilly for leeches. Panfish will be deep – it will be awhile before warmer water pulls them into the shallows – so fish for them like you would in October.”
Anglers trolling shallow running stickbaits on Lake Superior for salmon and browns are having success from Houghton Point to Long Island to the Sioux, according to Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland. Streams need to drop and clear, she says, though there is good steelhead fishing. Trout and salmon fishing is productive with casting spoons off the Sioux and Onion rivers.
Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) recorded 12 turkeys for spring season Period C April 27-May 1. The five jakes and seven adult birds included two 25-pound birds, one with an 11-inch beard.
The Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. is holding its May 3 meeting at Dick-Sy Roadhouse, ten miles east of Hayward on Highway 77. Featured speaker is well-known local lure maker and Chippewa Flowage musky guide Ty Sennett. His presentation begins at 7 p.m., following a 6 p.m. general business meeting. As always, the club welcomes the public/non-members to attend the meetings. For more information, contact Mike Persson (715)634-4543.
Although most ATV trails are open all year, some do close at certain times. Trails on County Forest land close when highway road bans are in effect, and city ATV routes do not offer access out of city limits. For information on specific trail closures, Sawyer County ATV trails report on the Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau website, or contact Sawyer County Forest administrator Greg Peterson (715-634-6728.)
Upcoming Events
Final pre-opener reminder: Your old fishing and hunting licenses expired March 31!
May 1: Early catch-and-release trout season closed at midnight.
May 3: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting at Dick-Sy Roadhouse. (715-634-4543.)
May 7: Game fish opener (trout, walleye, northern pike, bass in the southern zone; Muskie in southern zone.)
May 7: Seasons open: Catch and release bass in northern zone.
May 13-15: 27th Annual Treeland Walleye Challenge on Chippewa Flowage. (715-462-3874.)
May 14: Quiet Lakes “Crappie-A-Thon” open on Lost Land, Teal, and Ghost lakes through Oct. 15.
May 20-22: 24th Annual Fishing Has No Boundaries (800-243-3462; 715-634-3185.)
May 20-22: Musky Tale Resort northern fishing tournament on Chippewa Flowage (715-462-3838.)
May 28: Muskie season opens in north zone.
Through July 31: Illegal to run dogs on DNR and WPA lands. (See regs.)
Spring turkey hunting periods
D: May 4-8; E: May 11-15; F: May 18-22.
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.