Hayward Lakes Sherry
07-03-2012, 02:01 PM
FISHING REPORT
Muskies:
Muskie action is good and getting better, with best action during early morning and evening hours. Focus on shallow weed edges, the deep edges of cabbage, humps, drop-offs, and other structure. Baits of choice include bucktails, topwaters, spinnerbaits, plastics, and jerkbaits.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is good for some anglers and not so good for others, depending on multiple factors ranging from waters fished, fishing times, as well as mayfly and other various hatches. Depths will vary from lake to lake –you will find walleyes in water less than 10 feet deep to depths of more than 30 feet. Concentrate on weeds, cabbage, humps, wood, and other structure. Leeches and crawlers on jigs, harnesses, and under slip bobbers are most productive, but Beetle Spins, Gulp! baits, minnows, and trolled crank and stick baits also catching some fish.
Northern:
Northern pike action is good and they will bite during normal daytime hours. Fish weeds and structure from shallow to deeper water, as well as any place you find panfish. Pike are cooperative and willing to take northern suckers, spinnerbaits, spoons, stickbaits, minnow baits, and plastics.
Largemouth Bass:
According to most reports, largemouth fishing is tough and causing frustration for many anglers. Target shoreline vegetation, weeds, lily pads, wood, brush, docks, bogs, and slop. Plastics, topwaters, spinner, buzz, stick, and crank baits can all entice largemouth, and weedless baits will make for a more pleasant fishing experience.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass are also challenging anglers, perhaps even more-so than largemouth. Look for them on rocky shorelines, rocks, gravel, and mid-depth wood and weed lines. Give the fish some options and try spinnerbaits, plastics, tubes, topwaters, Beetle Spins, worms, and leeches, but note that artificials are easier on the fish.
Crappie:
Crappie action remains good, though fish are somewhat scattered at various depths and/or suspending up from the bottom in deeper water. Fish the edges of shallow weed beds, bogs, cribs, and other structure out to more than 15 feet. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, waxies, worms, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs or plain hooks fished with or without bobbers.
Bluegill:
Bluegills also continue to provide good action on waxies, worms, leaf worms, small minnows, plastics, Gulp! baits, and small pre-rigged worms. Work your bait in/over/around weeds and weed lines, weed pockets, and cribs from the shallows out to 20 feet or deeper water. Go deeper for the bigger ‘gills.
Upcoming Events
July 3-4: Winter July Jubilee (715-266-7233).
July 15: Turtle season opens statewide for species not listed as endangered or threatened (see regs).
July 19-22: LCO Honor the Earth Pow Wow (715-634-8934).
July 20-22: Birchwood Bluegill Festival (800-236-2252).
July 27-29: Lumberjack World Championships (715-634-2484).
Through July 31: Illegal to run dogs off leash on DNR and WPA lands (see regs).
Aug. 1: Application deadline: Fall turkey; Sharptail grouse; Bobcat, Fisher, Otter.
Aug 16-19: Sawyer County Fair (715-934-2721).
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear (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
Muskies:
Muskie action is good and getting better, with best action during early morning and evening hours. Focus on shallow weed edges, the deep edges of cabbage, humps, drop-offs, and other structure. Baits of choice include bucktails, topwaters, spinnerbaits, plastics, and jerkbaits.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is good for some anglers and not so good for others, depending on multiple factors ranging from waters fished, fishing times, as well as mayfly and other various hatches. Depths will vary from lake to lake –you will find walleyes in water less than 10 feet deep to depths of more than 30 feet. Concentrate on weeds, cabbage, humps, wood, and other structure. Leeches and crawlers on jigs, harnesses, and under slip bobbers are most productive, but Beetle Spins, Gulp! baits, minnows, and trolled crank and stick baits also catching some fish.
Northern:
Northern pike action is good and they will bite during normal daytime hours. Fish weeds and structure from shallow to deeper water, as well as any place you find panfish. Pike are cooperative and willing to take northern suckers, spinnerbaits, spoons, stickbaits, minnow baits, and plastics.
Largemouth Bass:
According to most reports, largemouth fishing is tough and causing frustration for many anglers. Target shoreline vegetation, weeds, lily pads, wood, brush, docks, bogs, and slop. Plastics, topwaters, spinner, buzz, stick, and crank baits can all entice largemouth, and weedless baits will make for a more pleasant fishing experience.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass are also challenging anglers, perhaps even more-so than largemouth. Look for them on rocky shorelines, rocks, gravel, and mid-depth wood and weed lines. Give the fish some options and try spinnerbaits, plastics, tubes, topwaters, Beetle Spins, worms, and leeches, but note that artificials are easier on the fish.
Crappie:
Crappie action remains good, though fish are somewhat scattered at various depths and/or suspending up from the bottom in deeper water. Fish the edges of shallow weed beds, bogs, cribs, and other structure out to more than 15 feet. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, waxies, worms, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs or plain hooks fished with or without bobbers.
Bluegill:
Bluegills also continue to provide good action on waxies, worms, leaf worms, small minnows, plastics, Gulp! baits, and small pre-rigged worms. Work your bait in/over/around weeds and weed lines, weed pockets, and cribs from the shallows out to 20 feet or deeper water. Go deeper for the bigger ‘gills.
Upcoming Events
July 3-4: Winter July Jubilee (715-266-7233).
July 15: Turtle season opens statewide for species not listed as endangered or threatened (see regs).
July 19-22: LCO Honor the Earth Pow Wow (715-634-8934).
July 20-22: Birchwood Bluegill Festival (800-236-2252).
July 27-29: Lumberjack World Championships (715-634-2484).
Through July 31: Illegal to run dogs off leash on DNR and WPA lands (see regs).
Aug. 1: Application deadline: Fall turkey; Sharptail grouse; Bobcat, Fisher, Otter.
Aug 16-19: Sawyer County Fair (715-934-2721).
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear (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