Hayward Lakes Sherry
08-21-2013, 10:25 AM
FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
Following a somewhat unusual slow period this summer, muskie action is taking a good turn. Fish are moving all day, though evening fishing moves the odds in your favor. You will find muskies on deep weeds, weedlines, drop-offs, humps, bars, and breaklines, but do not overlook shallower structure. Bucktails, Bull Dawgs, and topwaters work well, with plastics, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and gliders also hooking fish.
Walleye:
Walleye success remains erratic, though anglers report improving action. Depths vary from 8-30 feet and deeper, depending on conditions, lake, and time of day. Holding areas include weeds, weedlines, breaklines, gravel bars, brush, sunken bogs, and rock humps. The leech and minnow bite continues, but minnows – fatheads and walleye suckers – are starting to produce catches. Fish the baits on slip bobbers, Lindy Rigs, spinner rigs, and plain hooks with split shot. Trolling or casting crank, stick, or minnow baits in the late evening hours is also effective.
Northern:
Northern pike fishing is good, improving with the cooler water. You will find pike around weeds, weedlines, and weed flats, from shallow to deep. Spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, surface and swim baits, buzz baits, crank and chatter baits are all catching fish, but it is difficult to beat a northern sucker under a bobber. For trophy pike, fish deeper water with bigger baits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass action is very good and consistent, with anglers taking some nice fish. You will catch them in/on/near thick weeds, weed edges, wood, lily pads, slop, brush, bogs, docks, cribs, and other cover in depths out to 12 feet. Most bass anglers are throwing weedless plastics, plastic worms, jerkbaits, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and topwaters, but do not overlook live crawlers for bass bait.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass are also providing consistent fishing action. Look for fish on weed edges, wood, bars, humps, breaklines, and cribs in deeper water or adjacent to deeper water. The best choice in artificials includes tubes, plastic worms, spinners, spinnerbaits, and topwaters. Leeches and crawlers currently get the nod for live bait.
Crappie:
Crappie action is good, with best success in early mornings and late afternoons. Fish are scattered at various depths, near weeds, weedlines, cribs, brush, and bogs, and suspending over deep water. Top baits include crappie minnows, small fatheads, plastics, and Gulp! baits fished on jigs or plain hooks, with or without bobbers – but slip bobbers can hold your bait on a fish’s nose. Beetle Spins are also catching crappies.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is very good for smaller fish in shallower water and fair to good for bigger ‘gills in deeper water. Look for weeds, weedlines, and brush. The most productive baits are waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawlers, leeches, small minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits fished on small jigs, ice jigs, and plain hooks, with or without bobbers.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 17: Unit-specific antlerless deer tags now on sale.
Aug. 20: Deadline to transfer Class A Bear licenses to youth hunters.
Aug. 24: Remaining fall turkey permits go on sale.
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear (see regs for exceptions).
Sept. 1: Seasons open: Early Canada goose (see regs); Mourning dove; Wild ginseng.
Sept. 1: Application deadline for hunters with disabilities to participate in sponsored hunt.
Sept. 4: Bear season opens (see regs).
Sept. 7: Hook-and-line lake sturgeon season opens on designated waters.
Sept. 14: Seasons open: Early archery deer; Ruffed grouse in Zone A; Fall turkey; Gray and fox squirrel; Cottontail rabbit in northern zone; Fall crow.
Sept. 15: Early Canada goose season closes.
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:
Following a somewhat unusual slow period this summer, muskie action is taking a good turn. Fish are moving all day, though evening fishing moves the odds in your favor. You will find muskies on deep weeds, weedlines, drop-offs, humps, bars, and breaklines, but do not overlook shallower structure. Bucktails, Bull Dawgs, and topwaters work well, with plastics, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and gliders also hooking fish.
Walleye:
Walleye success remains erratic, though anglers report improving action. Depths vary from 8-30 feet and deeper, depending on conditions, lake, and time of day. Holding areas include weeds, weedlines, breaklines, gravel bars, brush, sunken bogs, and rock humps. The leech and minnow bite continues, but minnows – fatheads and walleye suckers – are starting to produce catches. Fish the baits on slip bobbers, Lindy Rigs, spinner rigs, and plain hooks with split shot. Trolling or casting crank, stick, or minnow baits in the late evening hours is also effective.
Northern:
Northern pike fishing is good, improving with the cooler water. You will find pike around weeds, weedlines, and weed flats, from shallow to deep. Spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, surface and swim baits, buzz baits, crank and chatter baits are all catching fish, but it is difficult to beat a northern sucker under a bobber. For trophy pike, fish deeper water with bigger baits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass action is very good and consistent, with anglers taking some nice fish. You will catch them in/on/near thick weeds, weed edges, wood, lily pads, slop, brush, bogs, docks, cribs, and other cover in depths out to 12 feet. Most bass anglers are throwing weedless plastics, plastic worms, jerkbaits, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and topwaters, but do not overlook live crawlers for bass bait.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass are also providing consistent fishing action. Look for fish on weed edges, wood, bars, humps, breaklines, and cribs in deeper water or adjacent to deeper water. The best choice in artificials includes tubes, plastic worms, spinners, spinnerbaits, and topwaters. Leeches and crawlers currently get the nod for live bait.
Crappie:
Crappie action is good, with best success in early mornings and late afternoons. Fish are scattered at various depths, near weeds, weedlines, cribs, brush, and bogs, and suspending over deep water. Top baits include crappie minnows, small fatheads, plastics, and Gulp! baits fished on jigs or plain hooks, with or without bobbers – but slip bobbers can hold your bait on a fish’s nose. Beetle Spins are also catching crappies.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is very good for smaller fish in shallower water and fair to good for bigger ‘gills in deeper water. Look for weeds, weedlines, and brush. The most productive baits are waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawlers, leeches, small minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits fished on small jigs, ice jigs, and plain hooks, with or without bobbers.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 17: Unit-specific antlerless deer tags now on sale.
Aug. 20: Deadline to transfer Class A Bear licenses to youth hunters.
Aug. 24: Remaining fall turkey permits go on sale.
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear (see regs for exceptions).
Sept. 1: Seasons open: Early Canada goose (see regs); Mourning dove; Wild ginseng.
Sept. 1: Application deadline for hunters with disabilities to participate in sponsored hunt.
Sept. 4: Bear season opens (see regs).
Sept. 7: Hook-and-line lake sturgeon season opens on designated waters.
Sept. 14: Seasons open: Early archery deer; Ruffed grouse in Zone A; Fall turkey; Gray and fox squirrel; Cottontail rabbit in northern zone; Fall crow.
Sept. 15: Early Canada goose season closes.
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.