Hayward Lakes Sherry
08-30-2011, 02:08 PM
August 29, 2011
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
If forecasts hold true, we are in for one very good week in the Hayward area. With warm days, moderate nights, and (mostly) minimal chances for rainfall, we are kicking off the fall season in fine fashion!
“Probably the best news for anglers these days is the end of August,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “The month is not known as the best month to catch fish. However, we expect a gradual improvement in fishing as fall weather arrives and waters begin to cool.”
At Hayward Bait, Bob says fall muskie fishing should heat up as water temperatures cool down, and hunting season starts with the September 1 opening of early Canada goose and mourning dove seasons, and bear season September 7.
Al at Pastika’s says walleyes are starting the switch to minnows, but it is still a good idea to have leeches and crawlers in the boat.
“Watch for the start of frog migration – their move offers some of the best opportunities for trophy walleye, bass, and northern in the back bays.”
Randy at Jenk’s says Chippewa Flowage muskies are active and hitting bucktails on the bar edges. Crappie fishing continues to be best with crappie minnows, Gulp! baits, and Mini-Mites fished on cribs and bogs
At Minnow Jim’s, Cathy says Nelson Lake bass anglers are catching fish from shallow weeds to deeper water on light color spinnerbaits, with noisy baits productive in cloudy water.
“Muskie activity increased with the cooling water temperatures and some nicer fish are now showing up along the deep weed edges,” says DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt. “Nearly all muskie anglers report good numbers of follows and sightings.
“Bucktails, plastic swim baits, and surface lures are getting most of the strikes at all times of day. Action is mostly dependent on local weather conditions. Bass action is consistent, with anglers reporting nice catches of both largemouth and smallmouth.”
Wisconsin’s early Canada goose and mourning dove seasons opens September 1. Early Canada season runs through September 15; dove season runs through November 9. Visit the DNR website for specific regulations.
The Hayward Chapter of Muskies, Inc. welcomes the public to its meeting Tuesday September 6 at Dick-Sy Roadhouse, ten miles east of Hayward on Highway 77. Well-known local guide Tanner Wildes will discuss Chippewa Flowage muskie fishing. His presentation begins at 7 p.m., following a 6 p.m. general business meeting. For more information, contact Mike Persson (715) 634-4543.
Wilderness Wings Chapter - Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) is holding its third annual Hunt, Shoot, and Sportsmen’s Dinner at Summit Lake Game Farm Saturday September 17. Membership/dinner tickets are $75; additional dinner tickets are $25. Registration deadline is 6 p.m. Sept. 16. For more information, contact Dave Reardon (715) 634-2674.
FISHING REPORT
Muskies:
Water temperatures are cooling and muskies are responding with increased action in shallower water and with less importance on time of day. Target deeper green weeds, along weed edges, over weed beds, and on points, bars, and mid-lake humps. Most baits will work, including topwaters, bucktails, plastics, swim baits, gliders, and jerkbaits.
Walleye:
Walleye success is inconsistent, with best action in evening and for a couple hours after dark. Target deeper water near weeds and weed edges, structure, humps, and drop-offs, in depths from 10-30 feet. Use leeches and crawlers on jigs, under slip bobbers, or on harnesses, but fish are also hitting walleye suckers, Gulp! minnows, and trolled stick and crank baits.
Northern:
For good northern action, look for green weeds at any depth and offer up spinnerbaits, spoons, small bucktails, plastics, stickbaits, and northern suckers. For trophy pike, fish deeper water with large northern suckers.
Largemouth Bass:
Some largemouth are starting to move from the shallows to somewhat deeper water. Work weed lines from shallow out to the second break. Cast to tight to weeds, wood, docks, brush, structure, and bog edges with topwaters, soft plastics, rubber worms, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, buzz baits, jigs/pigs, and live bait.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth are active on deeper hard-bottom areas such as rock and gravel, near wood, cribs, structure, and drop-offs. Baits of choice include soft plastics and tubes in crayfish colors, topwaters, wacky worms, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and live bait.
Crappie:
Crappie action is good on cribs, bogs, and weed edges at various depths. Keep looking until you find them. Best baits include crappie minnows, waxies, worms, small leeches, Gulp! baits, plastics, Beetle Spins, tube jigs, and Mini-Mites.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is good, thought sorting is necessary for a meal. For bigger bluegills, work deeper weeds, cribs, structure, and brush with waxies, worms, leaf worms, panfish leeches, Gulp! baits, plastics, topwaters, and minnows.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 1: Seasons open: Early Canada goose; Mourning dove.
Sept. 3: Hook-and-line lake sturgeon season opens on designated waters. (See regs).
Sept. 2-4: Exeland Trout Festival (715-266-4181).
Sept. 4: Cable Rod & Gun Club Pig Roast & Turkey Shoot (715-798-4459).
Sept. 6: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting at Dick-Sy Roadhouse (715-634-4543).
Sept. 7: Bear season opens.
Sept. 7-10: Chippewa Flowage Musky Hunt (715-462-3276).
Sept. 11: Kids Fish O Rama at Fishing Hall of Fame (715-634-4440).
Sept. 15: Early Canada goose hunting season closes.
Sept. 17: Seasons open: Archery deer; Turkey; Ruffed grouse (Zone A); Cottontail rabbit; Gray and fox squirrel; Crow.
Sept. 24: Woodcock season opens.
Sept. 24: Hayward Fall Festival (715-634-8662).
Sept. 30: Seasons close: Trout on inland waters (see regs.), Lake trout on Lake Superior; Hook and line sturgeon.
Sept. 30-Oct. 2: Hayward Lakes Chapter of Muskies, Inc. 34th Annual Fall Fishing Tournament (715-634-4543).
For more information on area events and activities, visit the Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau website, view its Calendar of Events, or call 1-800-724-2992.
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
If forecasts hold true, we are in for one very good week in the Hayward area. With warm days, moderate nights, and (mostly) minimal chances for rainfall, we are kicking off the fall season in fine fashion!
“Probably the best news for anglers these days is the end of August,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “The month is not known as the best month to catch fish. However, we expect a gradual improvement in fishing as fall weather arrives and waters begin to cool.”
At Hayward Bait, Bob says fall muskie fishing should heat up as water temperatures cool down, and hunting season starts with the September 1 opening of early Canada goose and mourning dove seasons, and bear season September 7.
Al at Pastika’s says walleyes are starting the switch to minnows, but it is still a good idea to have leeches and crawlers in the boat.
“Watch for the start of frog migration – their move offers some of the best opportunities for trophy walleye, bass, and northern in the back bays.”
Randy at Jenk’s says Chippewa Flowage muskies are active and hitting bucktails on the bar edges. Crappie fishing continues to be best with crappie minnows, Gulp! baits, and Mini-Mites fished on cribs and bogs
At Minnow Jim’s, Cathy says Nelson Lake bass anglers are catching fish from shallow weeds to deeper water on light color spinnerbaits, with noisy baits productive in cloudy water.
“Muskie activity increased with the cooling water temperatures and some nicer fish are now showing up along the deep weed edges,” says DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt. “Nearly all muskie anglers report good numbers of follows and sightings.
“Bucktails, plastic swim baits, and surface lures are getting most of the strikes at all times of day. Action is mostly dependent on local weather conditions. Bass action is consistent, with anglers reporting nice catches of both largemouth and smallmouth.”
Wisconsin’s early Canada goose and mourning dove seasons opens September 1. Early Canada season runs through September 15; dove season runs through November 9. Visit the DNR website for specific regulations.
The Hayward Chapter of Muskies, Inc. welcomes the public to its meeting Tuesday September 6 at Dick-Sy Roadhouse, ten miles east of Hayward on Highway 77. Well-known local guide Tanner Wildes will discuss Chippewa Flowage muskie fishing. His presentation begins at 7 p.m., following a 6 p.m. general business meeting. For more information, contact Mike Persson (715) 634-4543.
Wilderness Wings Chapter - Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) is holding its third annual Hunt, Shoot, and Sportsmen’s Dinner at Summit Lake Game Farm Saturday September 17. Membership/dinner tickets are $75; additional dinner tickets are $25. Registration deadline is 6 p.m. Sept. 16. For more information, contact Dave Reardon (715) 634-2674.
FISHING REPORT
Muskies:
Water temperatures are cooling and muskies are responding with increased action in shallower water and with less importance on time of day. Target deeper green weeds, along weed edges, over weed beds, and on points, bars, and mid-lake humps. Most baits will work, including topwaters, bucktails, plastics, swim baits, gliders, and jerkbaits.
Walleye:
Walleye success is inconsistent, with best action in evening and for a couple hours after dark. Target deeper water near weeds and weed edges, structure, humps, and drop-offs, in depths from 10-30 feet. Use leeches and crawlers on jigs, under slip bobbers, or on harnesses, but fish are also hitting walleye suckers, Gulp! minnows, and trolled stick and crank baits.
Northern:
For good northern action, look for green weeds at any depth and offer up spinnerbaits, spoons, small bucktails, plastics, stickbaits, and northern suckers. For trophy pike, fish deeper water with large northern suckers.
Largemouth Bass:
Some largemouth are starting to move from the shallows to somewhat deeper water. Work weed lines from shallow out to the second break. Cast to tight to weeds, wood, docks, brush, structure, and bog edges with topwaters, soft plastics, rubber worms, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, buzz baits, jigs/pigs, and live bait.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth are active on deeper hard-bottom areas such as rock and gravel, near wood, cribs, structure, and drop-offs. Baits of choice include soft plastics and tubes in crayfish colors, topwaters, wacky worms, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and live bait.
Crappie:
Crappie action is good on cribs, bogs, and weed edges at various depths. Keep looking until you find them. Best baits include crappie minnows, waxies, worms, small leeches, Gulp! baits, plastics, Beetle Spins, tube jigs, and Mini-Mites.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is good, thought sorting is necessary for a meal. For bigger bluegills, work deeper weeds, cribs, structure, and brush with waxies, worms, leaf worms, panfish leeches, Gulp! baits, plastics, topwaters, and minnows.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 1: Seasons open: Early Canada goose; Mourning dove.
Sept. 3: Hook-and-line lake sturgeon season opens on designated waters. (See regs).
Sept. 2-4: Exeland Trout Festival (715-266-4181).
Sept. 4: Cable Rod & Gun Club Pig Roast & Turkey Shoot (715-798-4459).
Sept. 6: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting at Dick-Sy Roadhouse (715-634-4543).
Sept. 7: Bear season opens.
Sept. 7-10: Chippewa Flowage Musky Hunt (715-462-3276).
Sept. 11: Kids Fish O Rama at Fishing Hall of Fame (715-634-4440).
Sept. 15: Early Canada goose hunting season closes.
Sept. 17: Seasons open: Archery deer; Turkey; Ruffed grouse (Zone A); Cottontail rabbit; Gray and fox squirrel; Crow.
Sept. 24: Woodcock season opens.
Sept. 24: Hayward Fall Festival (715-634-8662).
Sept. 30: Seasons close: Trout on inland waters (see regs.), Lake trout on Lake Superior; Hook and line sturgeon.
Sept. 30-Oct. 2: Hayward Lakes Chapter of Muskies, Inc. 34th Annual Fall Fishing Tournament (715-634-4543).
For more information on area events and activities, visit the Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau website, view its Calendar of Events, or call 1-800-724-2992.