Hayward Lakes Sherry
08-08-2013, 02:01 PM
FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
Muskie fishing remains challenging, though there are some excellent Chippewa Flowage reports. Evenings offer the best chances for action, but just being on the water increases your odds for success. Anglers are finding fish both shallow and deep, on bars, weeds, and weed edges. The most productive lures include bucktails, Bull Dawgs, gliders, crankbaits jerkbaits, tubes, and topwaters.
Walleye:
Walleye action is typical – inconsistent and best in the low light conditions of early morning, late evening/after dark, and on cloudy days. Fish are scattered in various depths and locations, from shallow to deep, and in/on weeds, weedlines, brush, bogs, and river channels. The best bite is with leeches and crawlers fished on jigs, live bait rigs, and under slip bobbers. Beetle Spins, spinnerbaits, and Twister Tails will pull the walleyes from weeds, and trolling crankbaits, stickbaits, and crawler harnesses is productive.
Northern:
Northern pike action improved with the cooler water temperatures. You will find them in and along weeds and weed edges at various depths. Spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, crankbaits, bucktails, surface baits, and minnow baits work well, but northern suckers are nearly always the top draw. Work larger baits in deeper water for trophy pike.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action is good on thick, heavy weeds, wood, brush, bogs, slop, and docks from shallow to mid-depths. Top producing artificials include plastics (worms in various riggings, frogs, poppers, tubes), crankbaits, surface baits, weedless spoons, buzz and spinner baits. Crawlers, leeches, and minnows are the live bait choices.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is fair to good. Work deeper water rock, gravel, and wood with crankbaits, plastics (tubes, frogs, worms, crawfish), and jigs tipped with leeches and crawlers.
Crappie:
Crappie action is good, with best success for anglers fishing in late afternoon into the evening hours. Fish are scattered from relatively shallow weeds to suspending over deeper water weeds and structure, brush, bogs, and cribs. Crappie minnows under slip bobbers work best, but plastics, tubes, worms, panfish leeches, and Gulp! baits on small jigs or plain hooks are also catching fish.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is fair to good, though inconsistent. Look for fish in 4-15 feet of water near weeds, weedlines, brush, bogs, and cribs. Baits of choice include waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawler chunks, panfish leeches, tubes, and plastics on small jigs or plain hooks, with or without bobbers. Look for bigger bluegills in the deeper water.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 5-8: DNR public hearings on proposed 2013 migratory game bird seasons.
Aug. 10: Flambeau River State Forest Learn the basic rules for survival 10 a.m., (715-332-5271).
Aug. 12-13: Perseid meteor shower.
Aug. 15-18: Sawyer County Fair (715-934-2721).
Aug. 17: Flambeau River State Forest ‘Fungus Among Us’ 1-5 p.m. (715-332-5271).
Aug. 18: Hayward Bass Club free Youth Bass Tournament (715-699-1015).
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear (see regs for exceptions).
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.
Muskie:
Muskie fishing remains challenging, though there are some excellent Chippewa Flowage reports. Evenings offer the best chances for action, but just being on the water increases your odds for success. Anglers are finding fish both shallow and deep, on bars, weeds, and weed edges. The most productive lures include bucktails, Bull Dawgs, gliders, crankbaits jerkbaits, tubes, and topwaters.
Walleye:
Walleye action is typical – inconsistent and best in the low light conditions of early morning, late evening/after dark, and on cloudy days. Fish are scattered in various depths and locations, from shallow to deep, and in/on weeds, weedlines, brush, bogs, and river channels. The best bite is with leeches and crawlers fished on jigs, live bait rigs, and under slip bobbers. Beetle Spins, spinnerbaits, and Twister Tails will pull the walleyes from weeds, and trolling crankbaits, stickbaits, and crawler harnesses is productive.
Northern:
Northern pike action improved with the cooler water temperatures. You will find them in and along weeds and weed edges at various depths. Spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, crankbaits, bucktails, surface baits, and minnow baits work well, but northern suckers are nearly always the top draw. Work larger baits in deeper water for trophy pike.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action is good on thick, heavy weeds, wood, brush, bogs, slop, and docks from shallow to mid-depths. Top producing artificials include plastics (worms in various riggings, frogs, poppers, tubes), crankbaits, surface baits, weedless spoons, buzz and spinner baits. Crawlers, leeches, and minnows are the live bait choices.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is fair to good. Work deeper water rock, gravel, and wood with crankbaits, plastics (tubes, frogs, worms, crawfish), and jigs tipped with leeches and crawlers.
Crappie:
Crappie action is good, with best success for anglers fishing in late afternoon into the evening hours. Fish are scattered from relatively shallow weeds to suspending over deeper water weeds and structure, brush, bogs, and cribs. Crappie minnows under slip bobbers work best, but plastics, tubes, worms, panfish leeches, and Gulp! baits on small jigs or plain hooks are also catching fish.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is fair to good, though inconsistent. Look for fish in 4-15 feet of water near weeds, weedlines, brush, bogs, and cribs. Baits of choice include waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawler chunks, panfish leeches, tubes, and plastics on small jigs or plain hooks, with or without bobbers. Look for bigger bluegills in the deeper water.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 5-8: DNR public hearings on proposed 2013 migratory game bird seasons.
Aug. 10: Flambeau River State Forest Learn the basic rules for survival 10 a.m., (715-332-5271).
Aug. 12-13: Perseid meteor shower.
Aug. 15-18: Sawyer County Fair (715-934-2721).
Aug. 17: Flambeau River State Forest ‘Fungus Among Us’ 1-5 p.m. (715-332-5271).
Aug. 18: Hayward Bass Club free Youth Bass Tournament (715-699-1015).
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear (see regs for exceptions).
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.