Hayward Lakes Sherry
10-11-2011, 09:49 AM
October 10, 2011
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
IF you were not in the north woods at any time during the past ten days, you really missed out. Big time. The good news is the coming cooling trend is moderate, with this week’s highs still pushing 60 degrees.
“Some smaller lakes are in the process of turning,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “but we will probably see the deep, clear lakes continue to be pre-turnover through this week.
“I must point out that during the 2011 Hayward Chapter - Muskies Inc. Tournament last weekend, nearly one-third of the registered fish came from the Quiet Lakes.”
Bob at Hayward Bait advises outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the warm weather – as it is surely soon to change. He notes that most hunting seasons are open and fall fishing continues to get better and better.
At Pastika’s, Al says the next month or so is a great time to catch trophy muskies on a variety of baits, including suckers, jerkbaits, plastics, and large, trolled crankbaits.
“The most consistent muskie action on the Chippewa Flowage is with suckers,” says Randy at Jenk’s, “but bucktails and glide baits are also working. Fish the bars in 4-8 feet of water.”
Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says smallmouth fishing is terrific in the Bay, with suckers producing the best catches, but tubes, Twister Tails, and crankbaits also working. Trout and salmon fishing slowed, but anglers are catching fish from Fish Creek all the way to Pikes on stickbaits and bait flies with dodgers.
“The onset of fall turnover in many lakes put a crimp in a lot of the fish activity,” says DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt, “and most affected were largemouth and smallmouth bass.
“On many lakes, largemouth deserted the shallows and are tough to find. Fish mid-depth cover, deep bog edges, and green weeds with soft plastics and slow presentations. Smallmouth also retreated to deeper water and are even harder to entice!”
In the past week, Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) registered 10 bears, one nearly 300 pounds, 10 antlerless deer, and four bucks, including a couple nice eight-pointers. For the Youth Deer Hunt October 8-9, the stations registered 12 antlerless deer and eight dandy bucks.
Fishing Has No Boundaries (FHNB) spaghetti dinner fall fundraiser is this Saturday, October 15, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Hayward Veterans Center. The event offers door prizes, raffle drawings, an auction, as well as the drawing for the Grand Prize, a Polaris Sportsman ATV and trailer. The dinner includes all you can eat spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, and dessert. Tickets (adults $7; kids under 12 $3.50) are available at the door. For more information, call the FHNB office (715) 634-3185.
FISHING REPORT
Muskies:
As is always the case, muskie action is excellent for some anglers and frustrating for others. Fish are in scattered depths, shallow to deep, and along weed and bar edges. Locations can be very lake-dependent. On the plus side, it is almost impossible to pick the “wrong” bait. While suckers are receiving a bulk of the interest, jerk, glide, and crank baits, bucktails, topwaters, plastics, and big swim baits are all catching fish. But ya gotta be there to catch ‘em!
Walleye:
Walleye action is inconsistent, but showing signs of improvement. Best success is in the hour just before dark. Look for fish in deep water, on the edges of mid-lake bars, brush and other structure, though you will find some fish around shallow weeds. Use jigs or slip bobbers with walleye suckers and fatheads, but Gulp! baits are working and crawlers are still catching fish. Trolling crankbaits is also effective.
Northern:
Northern pike fishing is very good around weeds, weed beds, and any areas holding panfish. Cast spinnerbaits and spoons, or use northern suckers under bobbers or on Lindy Rigs. Fisher bigger baits in deeper water for trophy pike.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action is slow, with the bass moving to deeper water weeds and various other structure, such as bogs. Use soft plastics, crankbaits, and live bait, all with a slow presentation. Bass fishing can be challenging this time of year, but the fish tend to congregate and action can be outstanding once you find them.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is fair to very good. Work deep, hard bottom locations near weeds and other structure with plastics, crankbaits, and live bait.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing success is fair on some waters to very good on other lakes. Fish are scattered and at various depths, from deep to shallow, though they are starting to school in the normal fall haunts. Look for them around weeds, weed lines/edges, cribs, and other cover. Crappie minnows, plastics, Mini-Mites, tubes, and Gulp! minnows are all productive.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action is fairly good on cribs and weed lines at various depths, depending on the day and weather. Top baits are the normal suspects – waxies, worms, plastics, and Gulp! grubs and minnows.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 11: Bear season closes.
Oct. 15: Seasons Open: Pheasant; Sharptail grouse; Raccoon gun/trapping (resident); Red and gray fox hunting/ trapping; Coyote trapping; Fisher; Muskrat and mink in Northern Zone; Bobcat (Period 1 hunting/trapping north of Hwy. 64).
Oct. 15: Fishing Has No Boundaries fundraiser spaghetti dinner (715-634-3185).
Oct. 29: Raccoon season opens for non-residents.
Nov. 6: Daylight Saving Time ends.
Nov. 7: Woodcock season closes.
Nov. 17: Fall turkey season closes.
Nov. 19-27: Gun deer season.
Nov. 28-Dec. 7: Muzzleloader deer season.
Nov. 30: Muskie season closes in the northern zone (see regs.)
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 you were not in the north woods at any time during the past ten days, you really missed out. Big time. The good news is the coming cooling trend is moderate, with this week’s highs still pushing 60 degrees.
“Some smaller lakes are in the process of turning,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “but we will probably see the deep, clear lakes continue to be pre-turnover through this week.
“I must point out that during the 2011 Hayward Chapter - Muskies Inc. Tournament last weekend, nearly one-third of the registered fish came from the Quiet Lakes.”
Bob at Hayward Bait advises outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the warm weather – as it is surely soon to change. He notes that most hunting seasons are open and fall fishing continues to get better and better.
At Pastika’s, Al says the next month or so is a great time to catch trophy muskies on a variety of baits, including suckers, jerkbaits, plastics, and large, trolled crankbaits.
“The most consistent muskie action on the Chippewa Flowage is with suckers,” says Randy at Jenk’s, “but bucktails and glide baits are also working. Fish the bars in 4-8 feet of water.”
Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says smallmouth fishing is terrific in the Bay, with suckers producing the best catches, but tubes, Twister Tails, and crankbaits also working. Trout and salmon fishing slowed, but anglers are catching fish from Fish Creek all the way to Pikes on stickbaits and bait flies with dodgers.
“The onset of fall turnover in many lakes put a crimp in a lot of the fish activity,” says DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt, “and most affected were largemouth and smallmouth bass.
“On many lakes, largemouth deserted the shallows and are tough to find. Fish mid-depth cover, deep bog edges, and green weeds with soft plastics and slow presentations. Smallmouth also retreated to deeper water and are even harder to entice!”
In the past week, Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) registered 10 bears, one nearly 300 pounds, 10 antlerless deer, and four bucks, including a couple nice eight-pointers. For the Youth Deer Hunt October 8-9, the stations registered 12 antlerless deer and eight dandy bucks.
Fishing Has No Boundaries (FHNB) spaghetti dinner fall fundraiser is this Saturday, October 15, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Hayward Veterans Center. The event offers door prizes, raffle drawings, an auction, as well as the drawing for the Grand Prize, a Polaris Sportsman ATV and trailer. The dinner includes all you can eat spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, and dessert. Tickets (adults $7; kids under 12 $3.50) are available at the door. For more information, call the FHNB office (715) 634-3185.
FISHING REPORT
Muskies:
As is always the case, muskie action is excellent for some anglers and frustrating for others. Fish are in scattered depths, shallow to deep, and along weed and bar edges. Locations can be very lake-dependent. On the plus side, it is almost impossible to pick the “wrong” bait. While suckers are receiving a bulk of the interest, jerk, glide, and crank baits, bucktails, topwaters, plastics, and big swim baits are all catching fish. But ya gotta be there to catch ‘em!
Walleye:
Walleye action is inconsistent, but showing signs of improvement. Best success is in the hour just before dark. Look for fish in deep water, on the edges of mid-lake bars, brush and other structure, though you will find some fish around shallow weeds. Use jigs or slip bobbers with walleye suckers and fatheads, but Gulp! baits are working and crawlers are still catching fish. Trolling crankbaits is also effective.
Northern:
Northern pike fishing is very good around weeds, weed beds, and any areas holding panfish. Cast spinnerbaits and spoons, or use northern suckers under bobbers or on Lindy Rigs. Fisher bigger baits in deeper water for trophy pike.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action is slow, with the bass moving to deeper water weeds and various other structure, such as bogs. Use soft plastics, crankbaits, and live bait, all with a slow presentation. Bass fishing can be challenging this time of year, but the fish tend to congregate and action can be outstanding once you find them.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is fair to very good. Work deep, hard bottom locations near weeds and other structure with plastics, crankbaits, and live bait.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing success is fair on some waters to very good on other lakes. Fish are scattered and at various depths, from deep to shallow, though they are starting to school in the normal fall haunts. Look for them around weeds, weed lines/edges, cribs, and other cover. Crappie minnows, plastics, Mini-Mites, tubes, and Gulp! minnows are all productive.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action is fairly good on cribs and weed lines at various depths, depending on the day and weather. Top baits are the normal suspects – waxies, worms, plastics, and Gulp! grubs and minnows.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 11: Bear season closes.
Oct. 15: Seasons Open: Pheasant; Sharptail grouse; Raccoon gun/trapping (resident); Red and gray fox hunting/ trapping; Coyote trapping; Fisher; Muskrat and mink in Northern Zone; Bobcat (Period 1 hunting/trapping north of Hwy. 64).
Oct. 15: Fishing Has No Boundaries fundraiser spaghetti dinner (715-634-3185).
Oct. 29: Raccoon season opens for non-residents.
Nov. 6: Daylight Saving Time ends.
Nov. 7: Woodcock season closes.
Nov. 17: Fall turkey season closes.
Nov. 19-27: Gun deer season.
Nov. 28-Dec. 7: Muzzleloader deer season.
Nov. 30: Muskie season closes in the northern zone (see regs.)
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.