Hayward Lakes Sherry
10-27-2011, 03:30 PM
October 24, 2011
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
You can look forward to rather typical north woods fall weather this week, with cool nights and moderate days nearing 50 degrees for the high. Tuesday looks like a good chance for showers, but dry conditions are on tap for the remainder of the week. Get out and enjoy the outdoors now. It won’t be long before we will consider this balmy weather!
“Muskies are moving into shallower water and relating to any remaining weeds,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “and now is the time for trophy muskies. Jerkbaits and glide baits such as Warlocks are all producing good catches. Also, get out your quick-strike rigs, hook on a 12-inch sucker, and make sure you retrieve your lures past the sucker just in case you have a muskie follow.
“Right now, the water temperature is around 52 degrees and muskies are shallow, but they will soon move deeper with falling water temps.”
Randy at Jenk’s says Chippewa Flowage muskies are going for suckers fished in 5-10 feet of water along bar edges. Walleyes have switched over to walleye suckers and anglers are catching fish in 20-25 feet of water.
At Outdoor Creations, Brian says muskie action is heating up on area lakes.
“Most anglers are finding fish in the 8 to 15 foot depths along points, bars, and weed edges,” says Brian “Jerkbaits, bucktails, and glide baits work well, and many anglers are trolling suckers.”
Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says high winds kept anglers off the lake for most of last week, but steelhead are starting to show up in the Brule River and other streams, along with more browns and coho.
“Muskies continue to be the main highlight for Upper Chippewa Basin anglers,” says DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt, “though strong winds made it quite a challenge for much of the last week! Anglers are having generally good success fishing with large suckers, but there is some action for smaller fish on artificials.
“Though most bass anglers have put away their boats for the year, sunny, warm days can produce good largemouth action.”
The Whitetails Unlimited fall fundraising banquet is November 7 at Lumberjack Steakhouse on Hwy 27 South in Hayward. Individual tickets cost $40; additional spouse/child tickets are $25. All attendees receive a WTU collector mug. The reservation deadline is Oct. 31.
For tickets or more information, call (715) 634-6013 or visit www.whitetailsunlimited.com.
FISHING REPORT
Muskies:
The later in the fall, the better the chances for trophy muskies, and there is a little more than one month remaining in the season. Work depths from very shallow out to 15 feet or deeper, near weeds and on bar edges. Large suckers on quick-strike rigs are the number one bait, but sucker supplies are again limited this year. Artificials, such as jerkbaits, gliders, bucktails, tubes, big plastics, and Bull Dawgs are also doing well, though often for smaller fish.
Walleye:
Walleye action continues to improve, though still a bit slow. The two hours before dark offer the best odds for catching fish, as well as catching them in shallower water. Otherwise, go deeper – even more than 25 feet – near weeds and weed lines, drop-offs, rock, and gravel. It is primarily a live bait bite (walleye suckers, fatheads), trolled crank and stick baits are also effective, and crawlers are still catching a few fish.
Northern:
Northern action improved with the cooling water, but as always, they continue to hold near weeds and panfish. Top northern baits include spinner, spinnerbaits, spoons, crankbaits, and northern suckers.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth fishing slows this time of year, but they congregate in deeper water near any weeds and other structure, and if you can locate them, you can have great action. Plastics, spinnerbaits, and live bait are all productive at this time.
Smallmouth Bass:
Fish for smallmouth in deeper water on bars, weed edges, rock, drop-offs, bars, and along break lines. Best bet is live bait, but spinners, spinnerbaits, tubes, and plastics are all tempting smallies.
Crappie:
Crappies are still somewhat scattered, but in the process of schooling. Look for them in water from three to 22 feet and check the entire water column. Weeds, wood, bogs, cribs, and other cover can all hold fish. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, Gulp! baits, tube jigs, small spinners, and plastics on jigs or plain hooks, with or without a bobber.
Bluegill:
Bluegills are scattered near weeds, weed lines, cribs, and other mid-depth cover. Depths vary from two to 20 feet, depending on the lake and the weather. Waxies, worms, leaf worms, plastics, tubes, and Gulp! baits are all working well, but for larger ‘gills try deeper water with small minnows.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 29: Raccoon season opens for non-residents.
Nov. 1: Wild ginseng season closes.
Nov. 5: Trapping Seasons Open: Beaver; Otter.
Nov. 6: Sharptail grouse season closes.
Nov. 6: Daylight Saving Time ends.
Nov. 7: Woodcock season closes.
Nov. 7: Whitetails Unlimited banquet (715-634-6013).
Nov. 9: Mourning dove season closes.
Nov. 15: Trout and salmon fishing closes on downstream section of Lake Superior tributaries (see regs).
Nov. 17: Seasons Close: Early archery deer; Turkey; Crow.
Nov. 18: Illegal to hunt with a firearm or bow the day before gun deer season. (See regs for exceptions.)
Nov. 19: Seasons open: Regular gun deer; Late archery deer.
Nov. 22: Northern zone duck season closes.
Nov. 27: Regular gun deer season closes.
Nov. 28: Seasons Open: Muzzleloader deer; Fall turkey (extended season zones 1-5).
Nov. 30: Seasons Close: Muskellunge; Turtle.
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
You can look forward to rather typical north woods fall weather this week, with cool nights and moderate days nearing 50 degrees for the high. Tuesday looks like a good chance for showers, but dry conditions are on tap for the remainder of the week. Get out and enjoy the outdoors now. It won’t be long before we will consider this balmy weather!
“Muskies are moving into shallower water and relating to any remaining weeds,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “and now is the time for trophy muskies. Jerkbaits and glide baits such as Warlocks are all producing good catches. Also, get out your quick-strike rigs, hook on a 12-inch sucker, and make sure you retrieve your lures past the sucker just in case you have a muskie follow.
“Right now, the water temperature is around 52 degrees and muskies are shallow, but they will soon move deeper with falling water temps.”
Randy at Jenk’s says Chippewa Flowage muskies are going for suckers fished in 5-10 feet of water along bar edges. Walleyes have switched over to walleye suckers and anglers are catching fish in 20-25 feet of water.
At Outdoor Creations, Brian says muskie action is heating up on area lakes.
“Most anglers are finding fish in the 8 to 15 foot depths along points, bars, and weed edges,” says Brian “Jerkbaits, bucktails, and glide baits work well, and many anglers are trolling suckers.”
Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says high winds kept anglers off the lake for most of last week, but steelhead are starting to show up in the Brule River and other streams, along with more browns and coho.
“Muskies continue to be the main highlight for Upper Chippewa Basin anglers,” says DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt, “though strong winds made it quite a challenge for much of the last week! Anglers are having generally good success fishing with large suckers, but there is some action for smaller fish on artificials.
“Though most bass anglers have put away their boats for the year, sunny, warm days can produce good largemouth action.”
The Whitetails Unlimited fall fundraising banquet is November 7 at Lumberjack Steakhouse on Hwy 27 South in Hayward. Individual tickets cost $40; additional spouse/child tickets are $25. All attendees receive a WTU collector mug. The reservation deadline is Oct. 31.
For tickets or more information, call (715) 634-6013 or visit www.whitetailsunlimited.com.
FISHING REPORT
Muskies:
The later in the fall, the better the chances for trophy muskies, and there is a little more than one month remaining in the season. Work depths from very shallow out to 15 feet or deeper, near weeds and on bar edges. Large suckers on quick-strike rigs are the number one bait, but sucker supplies are again limited this year. Artificials, such as jerkbaits, gliders, bucktails, tubes, big plastics, and Bull Dawgs are also doing well, though often for smaller fish.
Walleye:
Walleye action continues to improve, though still a bit slow. The two hours before dark offer the best odds for catching fish, as well as catching them in shallower water. Otherwise, go deeper – even more than 25 feet – near weeds and weed lines, drop-offs, rock, and gravel. It is primarily a live bait bite (walleye suckers, fatheads), trolled crank and stick baits are also effective, and crawlers are still catching a few fish.
Northern:
Northern action improved with the cooling water, but as always, they continue to hold near weeds and panfish. Top northern baits include spinner, spinnerbaits, spoons, crankbaits, and northern suckers.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth fishing slows this time of year, but they congregate in deeper water near any weeds and other structure, and if you can locate them, you can have great action. Plastics, spinnerbaits, and live bait are all productive at this time.
Smallmouth Bass:
Fish for smallmouth in deeper water on bars, weed edges, rock, drop-offs, bars, and along break lines. Best bet is live bait, but spinners, spinnerbaits, tubes, and plastics are all tempting smallies.
Crappie:
Crappies are still somewhat scattered, but in the process of schooling. Look for them in water from three to 22 feet and check the entire water column. Weeds, wood, bogs, cribs, and other cover can all hold fish. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, Gulp! baits, tube jigs, small spinners, and plastics on jigs or plain hooks, with or without a bobber.
Bluegill:
Bluegills are scattered near weeds, weed lines, cribs, and other mid-depth cover. Depths vary from two to 20 feet, depending on the lake and the weather. Waxies, worms, leaf worms, plastics, tubes, and Gulp! baits are all working well, but for larger ‘gills try deeper water with small minnows.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 29: Raccoon season opens for non-residents.
Nov. 1: Wild ginseng season closes.
Nov. 5: Trapping Seasons Open: Beaver; Otter.
Nov. 6: Sharptail grouse season closes.
Nov. 6: Daylight Saving Time ends.
Nov. 7: Woodcock season closes.
Nov. 7: Whitetails Unlimited banquet (715-634-6013).
Nov. 9: Mourning dove season closes.
Nov. 15: Trout and salmon fishing closes on downstream section of Lake Superior tributaries (see regs).
Nov. 17: Seasons Close: Early archery deer; Turkey; Crow.
Nov. 18: Illegal to hunt with a firearm or bow the day before gun deer season. (See regs for exceptions.)
Nov. 19: Seasons open: Regular gun deer; Late archery deer.
Nov. 22: Northern zone duck season closes.
Nov. 27: Regular gun deer season closes.
Nov. 28: Seasons Open: Muzzleloader deer; Fall turkey (extended season zones 1-5).
Nov. 30: Seasons Close: Muskellunge; Turtle.
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.