Hayward Lakes Sherry
10-29-2012, 02:05 PM
FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
Fall is trophy time for muskies and fishing is very good for anglers willing to deal with adverse weather conditions. The bite windows are short, mid-afternoon is prime time, and more than a few anglers are catching several fish in an afternoon of fishing. Muskies are on drop-offs, weed lines, deep edges, deep breaks, rock, wood, along steep shorelines near river channels, and near baitfish. Medium to large suckers on quick-strike rigs work best, but anglers are also catching fish on Bull Dawgs, plastics, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and gliders.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing continues to be somewhat erratic and fish are in depths varying from 12 to more than 30 feet. Holding areas include deep holes, weed lines, humps, bumps, rocks, breaklines, and other deeper structure. Walleye suckers and fatheads on jigs or under slip bobbers are the top producers, but anglers continue to catch fish on crawlers, stickbaits, and crankbaits. Use big minnows for big fish.
Northern:
Northern action is good on deeper weed lines, cribs, and other structure with spinnerbaits, spoons, stickbaits, crankbaits, and live bait. Fish deeper water with larger baits for bigger pike.
Smallmouth Bass:
Most bass anglers are done with largemouth fishing for this season, but some continue to pursue smallmouth with good success. Concentrate on deeper water structure or weeds and flats, especially in locations holding baitfish. Top baits for late fall fishing include plastics, tubes, and Gulp! baits, but it is hard to beat live bait.
Crappie:
Crappie action is good once you locate them, but that can be a challenge. Look for them in deeper water (20 feet), suspending in/over/and near structure, often just off bottom, in traditional schooling areas such as Moores Bay and Blueberry Lake. The most productive baits include crappie minnows, fatheads, waxies, plastics, tubes, and Gulp! baits. Tip them on small jigs or plain hooks with split shot.
Bluegill:
Panfish anglers are catching bluegills, often while fishing for crappies, but few are purposely targeting bluegills at this time. Work deeper weed lines with waxies, plastics, worms, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and teardrops. Minnows can work well for bigger ‘gills.
Muskie:
Fall is trophy time for muskies and fishing is very good for anglers willing to deal with adverse weather conditions. The bite windows are short, mid-afternoon is prime time, and more than a few anglers are catching several fish in an afternoon of fishing. Muskies are on drop-offs, weed lines, deep edges, deep breaks, rock, wood, along steep shorelines near river channels, and near baitfish. Medium to large suckers on quick-strike rigs work best, but anglers are also catching fish on Bull Dawgs, plastics, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and gliders.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing continues to be somewhat erratic and fish are in depths varying from 12 to more than 30 feet. Holding areas include deep holes, weed lines, humps, bumps, rocks, breaklines, and other deeper structure. Walleye suckers and fatheads on jigs or under slip bobbers are the top producers, but anglers continue to catch fish on crawlers, stickbaits, and crankbaits. Use big minnows for big fish.
Northern:
Northern action is good on deeper weed lines, cribs, and other structure with spinnerbaits, spoons, stickbaits, crankbaits, and live bait. Fish deeper water with larger baits for bigger pike.
Smallmouth Bass:
Most bass anglers are done with largemouth fishing for this season, but some continue to pursue smallmouth with good success. Concentrate on deeper water structure or weeds and flats, especially in locations holding baitfish. Top baits for late fall fishing include plastics, tubes, and Gulp! baits, but it is hard to beat live bait.
Crappie:
Crappie action is good once you locate them, but that can be a challenge. Look for them in deeper water (20 feet), suspending in/over/and near structure, often just off bottom, in traditional schooling areas such as Moores Bay and Blueberry Lake. The most productive baits include crappie minnows, fatheads, waxies, plastics, tubes, and Gulp! baits. Tip them on small jigs or plain hooks with split shot.
Bluegill:
Panfish anglers are catching bluegills, often while fishing for crappies, but few are purposely targeting bluegills at this time. Work deeper weed lines with waxies, plastics, worms, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and teardrops. Minnows can work well for bigger ‘gills.