Hayward Lakes Sherry
08-27-2013, 10:43 AM
FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
Muskie action is finally showing a bit of stability, but early and late hours still offer you the best odds. Work weeds, weedlines, and bar edges, both shallow and deep, with bucktails, Bull Dawgs and other soft plastics, topwaters, jerkbaits, gliders, and stickbaits.
Walleye:
Walleyes are scattered and best success continues to be early morning, late evening, and after dark. Look at deeper water (to 30 feet; much shallower during prime time) weeds, weedlines, sand, gravel, brush, bogs, bars, and rock. Leeches, crawlers, and minnows lead the list, but crank and stick baits are also catching fish.
Northern:
Northern pike action is erratic (summer heat?). As always think weeds, structure, or baitfish, but in water a bit deeper than usual. Live bait is difficult to beat for pike, but you can also catch fish on spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and crankbaits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth fishing is very good, but the bass are in thick, heavy cover and it can be frustrating. Target shallow water lily pads, weeds, wood, slop, and bog edges, looking for openings where you can drop your bait. Hungry bass will hit just about anything, but the prime baits at this time include topwaters, spinnerbaits, minnow baits, stickbaits, and weedless plastics. Live bait, such as crawlers, minnows, and leeches will entice them, too.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth anglers are enjoying good success on deeper, hard bottom areas (rock, gravel), along weedlines, brush and other structure in or bordering deep water. You can catch the smallies on crankbaits, soft plastics (tubes, worms), minnow baits, and stickbaits. Crayfish patterns are a good starting point.
Crappie:
Crappie action is good when you find the scattered fish. Look for them suspending over deeper water, and in/on deeper weeds, weedlines, brush, bogs, cribs, and other structure. The most effective baits include crappie minnows, fatheads, waxies, plastics, tube jigs, and Gulp! baits, but their preferences can change from day to day.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action is good on most waters. You can have constant fun catching and releasing small fish around shallower weeds, docks, and brush, or try for larger fish (slower action) on deeper weedlines, brush, and cribs. Traditional baits – waxies, worms, leaf worms, leeches, plastics, and Gulp! baits – will all catch fish. Tip them on small jigs, ice jigs, or plain hooks, without or without a bobber. Small minnows work well for bigger fish and help avoid ‘bait robbers.’
Upcoming Events
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear (see regs for exceptions).
Sept. 1: Seasons open: Early September Canada goose (see regs); Mourning dove; Wild ginseng.
Sept. 1: Application deadline for hunters with disabilities to participate in sponsored hunt.
Sept. 3: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting at Beer Bellies (715-634-4543).
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; Turkey; Gray and fox squirrel; Cottontail rabbit in northern zone; 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:
Muskie action is finally showing a bit of stability, but early and late hours still offer you the best odds. Work weeds, weedlines, and bar edges, both shallow and deep, with bucktails, Bull Dawgs and other soft plastics, topwaters, jerkbaits, gliders, and stickbaits.
Walleye:
Walleyes are scattered and best success continues to be early morning, late evening, and after dark. Look at deeper water (to 30 feet; much shallower during prime time) weeds, weedlines, sand, gravel, brush, bogs, bars, and rock. Leeches, crawlers, and minnows lead the list, but crank and stick baits are also catching fish.
Northern:
Northern pike action is erratic (summer heat?). As always think weeds, structure, or baitfish, but in water a bit deeper than usual. Live bait is difficult to beat for pike, but you can also catch fish on spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and crankbaits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth fishing is very good, but the bass are in thick, heavy cover and it can be frustrating. Target shallow water lily pads, weeds, wood, slop, and bog edges, looking for openings where you can drop your bait. Hungry bass will hit just about anything, but the prime baits at this time include topwaters, spinnerbaits, minnow baits, stickbaits, and weedless plastics. Live bait, such as crawlers, minnows, and leeches will entice them, too.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth anglers are enjoying good success on deeper, hard bottom areas (rock, gravel), along weedlines, brush and other structure in or bordering deep water. You can catch the smallies on crankbaits, soft plastics (tubes, worms), minnow baits, and stickbaits. Crayfish patterns are a good starting point.
Crappie:
Crappie action is good when you find the scattered fish. Look for them suspending over deeper water, and in/on deeper weeds, weedlines, brush, bogs, cribs, and other structure. The most effective baits include crappie minnows, fatheads, waxies, plastics, tube jigs, and Gulp! baits, but their preferences can change from day to day.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action is good on most waters. You can have constant fun catching and releasing small fish around shallower weeds, docks, and brush, or try for larger fish (slower action) on deeper weedlines, brush, and cribs. Traditional baits – waxies, worms, leaf worms, leeches, plastics, and Gulp! baits – will all catch fish. Tip them on small jigs, ice jigs, or plain hooks, without or without a bobber. Small minnows work well for bigger fish and help avoid ‘bait robbers.’
Upcoming Events
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear (see regs for exceptions).
Sept. 1: Seasons open: Early September Canada goose (see regs); Mourning dove; Wild ginseng.
Sept. 1: Application deadline for hunters with disabilities to participate in sponsored hunt.
Sept. 3: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting at Beer Bellies (715-634-4543).
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; Turkey; Gray and fox squirrel; Cottontail rabbit in northern zone; 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.