Hayward Lakes Sherry
05-31-2011, 12:03 PM
May 30, 2011
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Outdoor recreationist in the Hayward area enjoyed reasonably good weather for much of Memorial Day weekend, though Monday’s rains and thunderstorms put somewhat of a damper on some activities.
“Although late arriving warmer weather is finally nudging early fishing season in the right direction, we are still running behind normal,” says Pat at Happy Hooker.
“If you fish as you usually do in late May and early June, you might be disappointed, though some small lakes warmed enough that crappies are shallow. With warmer weather forecast this week, they may be in full spawn by this weekend.”
Muskies are spawning, says Steve Genson at Pastika’s, and he recommends angler concentrate on shallow water near sand and gravel and work small twitch and glide baits, and jig/plastic combinations.
At Hayward Bait, Bob says bass fishing is improving on local waters, with good action coming on tubes, plastics, spinnerbaits, and Senko worms.
“Largemouth and smallmouth bass activity is increasing,” says DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt, “but the erratic weather is really affecting both species. Largemouth are starting to build nests, but varying water temperatures continually chase them back to deep water. Bass spawning activity should explode with warm, stable weather.”
Hayward Chapter of Muskies, Inc. invites the public to attend its monthly meeting Tuesday June 7 at Dick-Sy Roadhouse, ten miles east of Hayward on Highway 77. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Featured speaker is Jordan Weeks, a DNR biologist, muskie researcher and angler, and a regular contributor to Muskie Hunter magazine. For more information, contact Mike Persson (715) 634-4543.
The upcoming weekend offers many bargains for outdoor enthusiasts.
Free Fishing Weekend is June 4-5, and during those two days residents and nonresidents of all ages can fish free, without a license, trout, or salmon stamp. All other regulations apply, and all waters are open. On June 5, State Park Open House Day, admission stickers are not required on vehicles entering state parks, forests, and recreation areas, and trail passes are not required for bicyclists, in-line skaters, and horseback riders using state trails.
The U.S. Forest Service Great Divide Ranger District, Walleyes for Northwest Wisconsin, and Sawyer Country Outdoor Projects Education (SCOPE), is hosting a free Kid’s Fishing Derby June 4 at Hayward City Beach Park on Lake Hayward, behind the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. The event is open to youth 15 years of age and younger and accompanied by an adult. Registration begins at 9 a.m. For more information, call Kathy Moe (715) 634-4821.
FISHING REPORT
Muskies:
Muskie reports were relatively slim for opening weekend in the north zone. Fish are in the shallows for spawning. Try sand and gravel areas, the edge of drop-offs, and along new weeds and shallow shorelines. Top lure choices at this time include jigs and plastics and small twitch, crank, and glide baits fished with a fairly slow retrieve.
Walleye:
Walleye action is still slow and inconsistent. It requires an effort to locate them and a willingness to adjust presentations. Depths range from 4-25 feet, and locations include weeds, gravel, rock, sand, brush, bars, points, cribs, channels, and shorelines. Take your pick. Baits and presentations include fatheads, walleye suckers, leeches, crawlers, jigs and minnows under bobbers, and plastics, or cast or troll crank, stick, and minnow baits over gravel and near shorelines in the evenings. Again, take your pick.
Northern:
Northern pike action is good to excellent in shallow water areas containing new weeds, sand – and spawning panfish. Pike are aggressive feeders and will readily hit a variety of baits, from live bait, such as northern suckers and larger minnows fished under bobbers or on jigs, or artificials such as jigs tipped with plastics, Husky Jerks, X-Raps, spoons, soft plastics, and spinner, stick, surface, and minnow baits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing in the northern zone is catch and release only until June 18. Look for largemouth in shallower water near weeds, wood, logs, brush, and docks. Top artificials include plastics, tubes, craws, Senko worms, jigs/plastics, spinner, crank, and surface baits. Best live baits are fatheads, leeches, and crawlers.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth action is improving. Fish are in two feet to deeper water around sand, gravel, rocks, docks, and logs. Use jigs/plastics, jerk shads, tubes, craws, plastics, spinner and crank baits, X-Raps, and Senko worms.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good to excellent, though inconsistent due to weather effects. Fish near weeds and brush in warmer bays and along shorelines in 6- to 12-foot depths. Use crappie minnows, waxies, Mini-Mites, Tattle-Tails, Gulp! minnows, and plastics on small jigs or plain hooks, without or without bobbers.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action is good, but it will become excellent once the water temperatures warm and fish begin spawning. For now, fish near weeds, brush, and docks in 1-10 feet of water with waxies, worms, crawlers, Gulp! baits, and plastics on small jigs or plain hooks, with or without bobbers.
Upcoming Events
May 28: Muskie season opened in north zone.
June 4-5: Free Fishing Weekend.
June 4: Free Kid’s Fishing Derby (715-634-4821).
June 5: State Parks Open House Day. Free admission to all state parks, forests, and trails.
June 7: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting at Dick-Sy Roadhouse (715-634-4543).
June 18: Northern zone bass season goes from catch-and-release to daily bag limits.
June 20: Walleyes for Northwest Wisconsin meeting (715-699-1015).
June 23-26: 62nd Annual Musky Festival (715-634-8662).
June 24-26: Dr. John Ryan Lions Club Musky Fest fishing contest.
Through July 31: Illegal to run dogs on DNR and WPA lands (see regs).
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
Outdoor recreationist in the Hayward area enjoyed reasonably good weather for much of Memorial Day weekend, though Monday’s rains and thunderstorms put somewhat of a damper on some activities.
“Although late arriving warmer weather is finally nudging early fishing season in the right direction, we are still running behind normal,” says Pat at Happy Hooker.
“If you fish as you usually do in late May and early June, you might be disappointed, though some small lakes warmed enough that crappies are shallow. With warmer weather forecast this week, they may be in full spawn by this weekend.”
Muskies are spawning, says Steve Genson at Pastika’s, and he recommends angler concentrate on shallow water near sand and gravel and work small twitch and glide baits, and jig/plastic combinations.
At Hayward Bait, Bob says bass fishing is improving on local waters, with good action coming on tubes, plastics, spinnerbaits, and Senko worms.
“Largemouth and smallmouth bass activity is increasing,” says DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt, “but the erratic weather is really affecting both species. Largemouth are starting to build nests, but varying water temperatures continually chase them back to deep water. Bass spawning activity should explode with warm, stable weather.”
Hayward Chapter of Muskies, Inc. invites the public to attend its monthly meeting Tuesday June 7 at Dick-Sy Roadhouse, ten miles east of Hayward on Highway 77. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Featured speaker is Jordan Weeks, a DNR biologist, muskie researcher and angler, and a regular contributor to Muskie Hunter magazine. For more information, contact Mike Persson (715) 634-4543.
The upcoming weekend offers many bargains for outdoor enthusiasts.
Free Fishing Weekend is June 4-5, and during those two days residents and nonresidents of all ages can fish free, without a license, trout, or salmon stamp. All other regulations apply, and all waters are open. On June 5, State Park Open House Day, admission stickers are not required on vehicles entering state parks, forests, and recreation areas, and trail passes are not required for bicyclists, in-line skaters, and horseback riders using state trails.
The U.S. Forest Service Great Divide Ranger District, Walleyes for Northwest Wisconsin, and Sawyer Country Outdoor Projects Education (SCOPE), is hosting a free Kid’s Fishing Derby June 4 at Hayward City Beach Park on Lake Hayward, behind the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. The event is open to youth 15 years of age and younger and accompanied by an adult. Registration begins at 9 a.m. For more information, call Kathy Moe (715) 634-4821.
FISHING REPORT
Muskies:
Muskie reports were relatively slim for opening weekend in the north zone. Fish are in the shallows for spawning. Try sand and gravel areas, the edge of drop-offs, and along new weeds and shallow shorelines. Top lure choices at this time include jigs and plastics and small twitch, crank, and glide baits fished with a fairly slow retrieve.
Walleye:
Walleye action is still slow and inconsistent. It requires an effort to locate them and a willingness to adjust presentations. Depths range from 4-25 feet, and locations include weeds, gravel, rock, sand, brush, bars, points, cribs, channels, and shorelines. Take your pick. Baits and presentations include fatheads, walleye suckers, leeches, crawlers, jigs and minnows under bobbers, and plastics, or cast or troll crank, stick, and minnow baits over gravel and near shorelines in the evenings. Again, take your pick.
Northern:
Northern pike action is good to excellent in shallow water areas containing new weeds, sand – and spawning panfish. Pike are aggressive feeders and will readily hit a variety of baits, from live bait, such as northern suckers and larger minnows fished under bobbers or on jigs, or artificials such as jigs tipped with plastics, Husky Jerks, X-Raps, spoons, soft plastics, and spinner, stick, surface, and minnow baits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing in the northern zone is catch and release only until June 18. Look for largemouth in shallower water near weeds, wood, logs, brush, and docks. Top artificials include plastics, tubes, craws, Senko worms, jigs/plastics, spinner, crank, and surface baits. Best live baits are fatheads, leeches, and crawlers.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth action is improving. Fish are in two feet to deeper water around sand, gravel, rocks, docks, and logs. Use jigs/plastics, jerk shads, tubes, craws, plastics, spinner and crank baits, X-Raps, and Senko worms.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good to excellent, though inconsistent due to weather effects. Fish near weeds and brush in warmer bays and along shorelines in 6- to 12-foot depths. Use crappie minnows, waxies, Mini-Mites, Tattle-Tails, Gulp! minnows, and plastics on small jigs or plain hooks, without or without bobbers.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action is good, but it will become excellent once the water temperatures warm and fish begin spawning. For now, fish near weeds, brush, and docks in 1-10 feet of water with waxies, worms, crawlers, Gulp! baits, and plastics on small jigs or plain hooks, with or without bobbers.
Upcoming Events
May 28: Muskie season opened in north zone.
June 4-5: Free Fishing Weekend.
June 4: Free Kid’s Fishing Derby (715-634-4821).
June 5: State Parks Open House Day. Free admission to all state parks, forests, and trails.
June 7: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting at Dick-Sy Roadhouse (715-634-4543).
June 18: Northern zone bass season goes from catch-and-release to daily bag limits.
June 20: Walleyes for Northwest Wisconsin meeting (715-699-1015).
June 23-26: 62nd Annual Musky Festival (715-634-8662).
June 24-26: Dr. John Ryan Lions Club Musky Fest fishing contest.
Through July 31: Illegal to run dogs on DNR and WPA lands (see regs).
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.