Hayward Lakes Sherry
09-25-2012, 11:07 AM
September 24, 2012
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
We have a mild, clear, and sunny Monday – but VERY windy! It looks to be an exceptionally nice week, with (currently) no precipitation in the forecast.
“Most lakes are hovering around 60-65 degrees and fish moved to the weeds and weed edges,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “Algae blooms are also driving the fish into the shallows. Greenish water does not mean the lake is in turnover. Turnover, by definition, happens when water temperatures get to the mid 50s.”
At Hayward Bait, Mark says white oak acorns are dropping and bears will pull off everything else for them. Dennis says bear registrations dropped abruptly when the season opened for hunters using dogs.
At Jenk’s, Randy says Chippewa Flowage water temperatures are in the upper 50s to low 60s, the water level is down nearly three feet, and some boat landings are becoming a problem.
Jim at Minnow Jim’s says Nelson Lake crappie anglers are doing well fishing deep water holes and channels with crappie minnows, waxies, and Gulp! minnows.
Fish are responding to lower Chippewa Flowage water temperatures, says guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations.
“Some muskies are still relating to the weeds and some have moved to deeper water. Bucktails, topwaters, jerkbaits (such as Suicks, Bull Dawgs) are all moving fish, and some anglers are having success with live bait.”
Dan at Bay Park Resort on the Trego Flowage says smallmouth fishing is amazing with crawfish colored jigs and live bait.
“Smallmouth continue to fatten up for winter and last week anglers caught and released several five-pounders. The water is crystal clear and pike and muskies are spooky, but one angler caught (and released) a 46-inch tiger muskie last week.”
At Anglers All in Ashland, Carolyn says Chequamegon Bay anglers are doing well – when wind does not keep them off the water. Those fishing the breakwall are doing great on smallmouth; however, it is hard to hold a drift with the strong currents. Brown trout and coho are moving around the Onion and Sioux rivers and trolling is very good when the wind allows. Wading anglers are casting spoons and flies.
Longnose gar, a strange and elusive ancient species native to Wisconsin, is present in low-density populations in several Couderay River drainage basin lakes, including Whitefish, LCO, Sissabagama, and Grindstone, says DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter.
“Gars ‘hunt’ by sitting almost motionless until a prey fish swims nearby and they snap them up in their long snout filled with hundreds of sharp teeth. Gar present a significant challenge to anglers not only because of their rarity, but because it is very difficult to set a hook into their bony mouths. Some anglers fish with pieces of frayed nylon rope and gar get their teeth caught in the strands.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says colder weather and the opening of major hunting seasons really minimized angling pressure in the north woods last week, though muskies are providing some consistent action. Aquatic weeds are to dying back with the cool nighttime temperatures and densities have declined from the high summer levels.
In the past week, Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) registered 14 bears. For archery deer season, the stations registered nine antlerless deer and 20 bucks, including one 12-point and a number of eight- and 10-pointers.
Reminder: Turkey hunters must register their birds through the Harvest Registration Hotline (1-888-486-8947) or Harvest Registration System on the DNR website. Registration stations no longer register turkey harvest.
The Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. 35th Annual Fall Muskie Tournament is October 5-7. The entry fee is $90 (post-Sept. 24) and $25 for youth 16 and younger. All entrants are eligible for the Grand Door Prize, a 2012 Lund 1725 Pro Guide tiller boat, ShoreLand’r trailer, and 60 hp Mercury motor (you do not have to fish!) Enter in person or by phone at Hayward Bait or Jenk’s until 11 p.m. Oct. 4. For information, call Hayward Bait (715-634-2921).
FISHING REPORT
Muskies:
Muskie fishing is good to very good on most area muskie waters. Work the edges of weeds, flats, points, and bars in 12-20 feet of water with soft plastics, jerkbaits, crankbaits, gliders, tubes, topwaters, bucktails, Bull Dawgs, Suicks, and suckers.
Walleye:
Walleyes are scattered deep to shallow, depending on the lake and conditions. Concentrate on weeds, rock, and transition areas in eight to 30+ feet of water. Take a variety of presentation options and bait choices, including crappie minnows, fatheads, walleye suckers, crawlers, leeches (if you can find them), Gulp! minnows, and plastics.
Northern:
Northern pike activity has dropped off a bit, though few anglers are (intentionally) targeting them. Work weeds (shallow and deep), weed edges, shorelines, and deeper points with spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, stickbaits, crankbaits, minnow baits, buzz baits, and northern suckers.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action is inconsistent. Bass are scattered in depths from shallow to deep, near and on the edges of weeds, wood, structure, rocks, docks, piers, brush, and bogs. Various baits will work, including plastics, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, surface baits, rigged plastic worms, Shad Raps, and jig/craw combinations.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is also inconsistent. The bass are on deeper water rock, gravel, drop-offs, and other structure, as well as on mid-depth weed edges and along rocky shorelines. The most productive artificial baits include plastics, tubes, and crawfish-colored stick and crank baits. For live bait, go with leeches, crawlers, and minnows.
Crappie:
Crappie action is fair to very good. Look for fish suspending in deeper water along weed edges, wood, cribs, channels, deep holes, and bogs. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, tube jigs, Mini-Mites, Tattle-Tails, and Gulp! minnows, with or without bobbers.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is good, with a few anglers catching some very nice fish on deeper weeds, flats, and weed edges. In most waters, bluegills are in the same areas as crappies and taking waxies, worms, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and ice jigs/teardrops. Minnows can be very effective for larger ‘gills.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 28-29: Cable Area Fall Festival (800-533-7454).
Sept. 30: Seasons close: Inland trout (see regs.); Sturgeon on inland waters. Lake trout season on Lake Superior.
Oct. 5-7: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. Fall Muskie Tournament (715-634-2921).
Oct. 6: Stone Lake Cranberry Festival.
Oct. 6-7: Youth deer hunt.
Oct. 6-7: Musky Tale Resort Crappie Quest (715-462-3838).
Oct. 6-14: Special deer hunt for people with disabilities (registration deadline Sept. 1).
Oct. 9: Bear season closes.
Oct. 15: Wolf hunting and trapping season opens (see regs).
Oct. 20: Seasons open: Pheasant; Ruffed grouse (zone B); Sharp-tailed grouse (by permit); Bobwhite quail; Hungarian partridge; Raccoon gun and trapping (residents); Red and gray fox hunting and trapping; Coyote trapping; Muskrat; Mink (northern zone); Fisher trapping; Bobcat hunting and trapping period 1 (north of Hwy. 64.)
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
We have a mild, clear, and sunny Monday – but VERY windy! It looks to be an exceptionally nice week, with (currently) no precipitation in the forecast.
“Most lakes are hovering around 60-65 degrees and fish moved to the weeds and weed edges,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “Algae blooms are also driving the fish into the shallows. Greenish water does not mean the lake is in turnover. Turnover, by definition, happens when water temperatures get to the mid 50s.”
At Hayward Bait, Mark says white oak acorns are dropping and bears will pull off everything else for them. Dennis says bear registrations dropped abruptly when the season opened for hunters using dogs.
At Jenk’s, Randy says Chippewa Flowage water temperatures are in the upper 50s to low 60s, the water level is down nearly three feet, and some boat landings are becoming a problem.
Jim at Minnow Jim’s says Nelson Lake crappie anglers are doing well fishing deep water holes and channels with crappie minnows, waxies, and Gulp! minnows.
Fish are responding to lower Chippewa Flowage water temperatures, says guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations.
“Some muskies are still relating to the weeds and some have moved to deeper water. Bucktails, topwaters, jerkbaits (such as Suicks, Bull Dawgs) are all moving fish, and some anglers are having success with live bait.”
Dan at Bay Park Resort on the Trego Flowage says smallmouth fishing is amazing with crawfish colored jigs and live bait.
“Smallmouth continue to fatten up for winter and last week anglers caught and released several five-pounders. The water is crystal clear and pike and muskies are spooky, but one angler caught (and released) a 46-inch tiger muskie last week.”
At Anglers All in Ashland, Carolyn says Chequamegon Bay anglers are doing well – when wind does not keep them off the water. Those fishing the breakwall are doing great on smallmouth; however, it is hard to hold a drift with the strong currents. Brown trout and coho are moving around the Onion and Sioux rivers and trolling is very good when the wind allows. Wading anglers are casting spoons and flies.
Longnose gar, a strange and elusive ancient species native to Wisconsin, is present in low-density populations in several Couderay River drainage basin lakes, including Whitefish, LCO, Sissabagama, and Grindstone, says DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter.
“Gars ‘hunt’ by sitting almost motionless until a prey fish swims nearby and they snap them up in their long snout filled with hundreds of sharp teeth. Gar present a significant challenge to anglers not only because of their rarity, but because it is very difficult to set a hook into their bony mouths. Some anglers fish with pieces of frayed nylon rope and gar get their teeth caught in the strands.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says colder weather and the opening of major hunting seasons really minimized angling pressure in the north woods last week, though muskies are providing some consistent action. Aquatic weeds are to dying back with the cool nighttime temperatures and densities have declined from the high summer levels.
In the past week, Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) registered 14 bears. For archery deer season, the stations registered nine antlerless deer and 20 bucks, including one 12-point and a number of eight- and 10-pointers.
Reminder: Turkey hunters must register their birds through the Harvest Registration Hotline (1-888-486-8947) or Harvest Registration System on the DNR website. Registration stations no longer register turkey harvest.
The Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. 35th Annual Fall Muskie Tournament is October 5-7. The entry fee is $90 (post-Sept. 24) and $25 for youth 16 and younger. All entrants are eligible for the Grand Door Prize, a 2012 Lund 1725 Pro Guide tiller boat, ShoreLand’r trailer, and 60 hp Mercury motor (you do not have to fish!) Enter in person or by phone at Hayward Bait or Jenk’s until 11 p.m. Oct. 4. For information, call Hayward Bait (715-634-2921).
FISHING REPORT
Muskies:
Muskie fishing is good to very good on most area muskie waters. Work the edges of weeds, flats, points, and bars in 12-20 feet of water with soft plastics, jerkbaits, crankbaits, gliders, tubes, topwaters, bucktails, Bull Dawgs, Suicks, and suckers.
Walleye:
Walleyes are scattered deep to shallow, depending on the lake and conditions. Concentrate on weeds, rock, and transition areas in eight to 30+ feet of water. Take a variety of presentation options and bait choices, including crappie minnows, fatheads, walleye suckers, crawlers, leeches (if you can find them), Gulp! minnows, and plastics.
Northern:
Northern pike activity has dropped off a bit, though few anglers are (intentionally) targeting them. Work weeds (shallow and deep), weed edges, shorelines, and deeper points with spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, stickbaits, crankbaits, minnow baits, buzz baits, and northern suckers.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action is inconsistent. Bass are scattered in depths from shallow to deep, near and on the edges of weeds, wood, structure, rocks, docks, piers, brush, and bogs. Various baits will work, including plastics, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, surface baits, rigged plastic worms, Shad Raps, and jig/craw combinations.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is also inconsistent. The bass are on deeper water rock, gravel, drop-offs, and other structure, as well as on mid-depth weed edges and along rocky shorelines. The most productive artificial baits include plastics, tubes, and crawfish-colored stick and crank baits. For live bait, go with leeches, crawlers, and minnows.
Crappie:
Crappie action is fair to very good. Look for fish suspending in deeper water along weed edges, wood, cribs, channels, deep holes, and bogs. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, tube jigs, Mini-Mites, Tattle-Tails, and Gulp! minnows, with or without bobbers.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is good, with a few anglers catching some very nice fish on deeper weeds, flats, and weed edges. In most waters, bluegills are in the same areas as crappies and taking waxies, worms, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and ice jigs/teardrops. Minnows can be very effective for larger ‘gills.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 28-29: Cable Area Fall Festival (800-533-7454).
Sept. 30: Seasons close: Inland trout (see regs.); Sturgeon on inland waters. Lake trout season on Lake Superior.
Oct. 5-7: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. Fall Muskie Tournament (715-634-2921).
Oct. 6: Stone Lake Cranberry Festival.
Oct. 6-7: Youth deer hunt.
Oct. 6-7: Musky Tale Resort Crappie Quest (715-462-3838).
Oct. 6-14: Special deer hunt for people with disabilities (registration deadline Sept. 1).
Oct. 9: Bear season closes.
Oct. 15: Wolf hunting and trapping season opens (see regs).
Oct. 20: Seasons open: Pheasant; Ruffed grouse (zone B); Sharp-tailed grouse (by permit); Bobwhite quail; Hungarian partridge; Raccoon gun and trapping (residents); Red and gray fox hunting and trapping; Coyote trapping; Muskrat; Mink (northern zone); Fisher trapping; Bobcat hunting and trapping period 1 (north of Hwy. 64.)
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.