Hayward Lakes Sherry
06-09-2014, 10:00 AM
June 9, 2014
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
This week’s temperatures looks to be more seasonal, with highs in the upper 70s and nighttime lows in the 40s and 50s ... and of course, the ever-present (but mostly low!) chances for rain and thunderstorms.
“Inconsistent weather is always tough on fishing success,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “and we had some last week. More stable weather this week should give us more favorable fishing.
“Most muskies seem content to prowl shallow water weeds and panfish spawning beds. Catch walleyes in 10-15 feet on rice beds and rock/gravel area drop-offs with jigs and minnows.
“Largemouth are providing good action and great table fare when fried in the skillet. Smallmouth bass fishing is very good, but is catch-and-release only until June 21.
“Crappie spawn has peaked. You can still find them shallow, but the bigger fish moved deeper. Use crappie minnows or small plastics, varying depths. For bluegills on shallow beds, use waxies, leaf worms, and crawlers.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says fishing is outstanding on the Chippewa Flowage.
“Fish muskies on weed beds and edges with bucktails, gliders, and minnow baits. Numerous northern pike in green weeds are hitting spinners and spinnerbaits.
“During the day, fish walleyes on deep mud bogs with jigs and fatheads, brush in 12-15 feet with leeches and slip bobbers, and weeds with Beetle Spins. In the evening, cast floating Rapalas over weeds.
“Largemouth will hit any plastic dragged through their shallow beds. For smallmouth, fish shallow rock bars or rocky shores with plastic worms and tubes.
“Catch crappies on weeds in 5-9 feet with crappie minnows, jigs, and light color Beetle Spins. Bluegills bedding in 1-4 feet will take worms, crawlers, and small jigs with plastics.”
Jim at Hayward Bait says muskie action is good, with reports of a 52-inch fish on Lac Courte Oreilles last week.
“Anglers are fishing small bucktails, gliders, and plastics along shorelines and weed edges in 5-15 feet. Walleye anglers are fishing fatheads, crawlers, and leeches on live bait rigs and under slip bobbers, or casting and trolling stickbaits over weed beds in 8-12 feet.
“Topwaters and plastics are very effective for shallow largemouth. Crankbaits and live bait work well for smallmouth in deeper water. Crappies are deeper and hitting minnows, waxies, and plastics. Bluegills on shallow beds are taking waxies, worms, and plastics.”
Mike at Jenk’s says Chippewa Flowage muskie anglers report catching more males than females, with success on bucktails in the shallows.
“Walleye action is slow, but with some success on brush and bogs with minnows and leeches. Northern pike are hitting live bait and artificials such as spoons and spinnerbaits. Bass anglers are catching largemouth along bogs, rock bars, and stumps on plastics and spinnerbaits, with white the hot color.
“Crappies are moving toward the cribs, brush, and bogs, with best action on crappie minnows and plastics such as Mini-Mites.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter talks about fish years.
“Most people have heard about ‘dog years’ compared to human ages, but what if we applied this concept to fish? Based on an average human life of 80-90 years and how long a fish can live –if it does not end up in a frying pan – here are some rough estimates.
“Muskies can live to be 30 years old and one muskie year is about three human years. A walleye can live 20 years and one walleye year is equivalent to 4-5 human years. One bluegill year is equivalent to about 10 human years.
“These numbers might seem a little goofy, so let’s put them into some context. A legal walleye (15 inches) is equivalent to an 18-year-old person; a five-inch bluegill is equivalent to a 35-year-old human; and a 50-inch muskie is equivalent to a person 60 years of age.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says constantly changing weather, thunderstorms, and hordes of mosquitoes made for challenging fishing conditions last week.
“Warm weather quickly pushed water temperatures and many lakes reached the low 70 degrees, spurring spawning activity for warmwater species.
“Muskie action is slow, with most anglers working small bucktails and stickbaits on weed beds. Walleye action is good on live bait, with crankbaits along shorelines also producing good catches. Look for walleye fishing to get a little tougher when mayflies start hatching in the next few weeks.
“Crappie and bluegill action is good in shallow water; perch on mid-depth mud flats are keying on mayfly nymphs.”
FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
Muskie action varies from slow to decent to improving to very good. Take your pick. With spawning completed, look for fish in 5-15 feet of water along shorelines and near weeds, weed beds, and spawning panfish. Stick with smaller bucktails, glide baits, minnow baits, stickbaits, and plastics, with slow to moderate retrieves.
Walleye:
Walleye action is fair to very good, depending on lake, time of day, and ... angler. Look for fish in 8-15 feet of water on weeds and weedlines, drop-offs near rock and gravel, deep mud flats, brush, and bogs. Jigs and fatheads are catching fish, but fish are transitioning to leeches and crawlers on live bait rigs and slip bobbers. Casting and trolling crankbaits, stickbaits, minnow baits, Rapalas, and Beetle Spins will produce fish, especially over weed beds in late evening hours.
Northern:
Northern pike activity is improving, particularly around green weeds and weedlines – and spawning panfish. Northern suckers are hard to beat for pike, but spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons tipped with tails, jigs, and plastics will all catch pike. As usual, work deeper water with bigger baits for larger fish.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action is good to very good, with fish shallow and/or on spawning beds or near bogs, brush, and stumps. Spinners, spinnerbaits, topwaters, plastics, crawlers, and leeches are all catching largemouth bass.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass finished/are finishing spawning and moving to deeper water (to 15 feet or so), holding on rocky, hard-bottom areas (bars, shorelines). Plastics, rigged plastic worms, spinners, spinnerbaits, tube jigs, and crankbaits are effective artificials, and live bait such as crawlers and leeches are productive.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good, but slowed as fish completed spawning and are now moving to deeper, summer holding areas. Concentrate on depths from 5-18 feet, with weeds, weedlines, brush, bogs, and cribs. Check the entire water column for suspending fish. Best baits include crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, Tattle-Tails, Mini-Mites, Gulp! baits, and Crappie Nibbles, on dressed jigs or plain hooks, with or without bobbers. Beetle Spins, too, can be particularly effective.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action is good to excellent, with many fish in very shallow water on spawning beds or near weedlines, brush, and timber. Nearly any bait will work at this time, but top producers include waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawler pieces, plastics, and Berkley baits fished on jigs or plain hooks, with or without bobbers.
Upcoming Events
June 14: Kids Fishing Derby, Lake Hayward Beach; 9-11 a.m. (715-634-4821).
June 15: Father’s Day Brunch Train – Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad (www.spoonertrainride.com; 715-635-3200).
June 19-22: 65th Annual Musky Festival (715-634-8662).
June 20-22: Hayward Lion’s Club – Musky Fest Fishing Contest (715-634-8662).
June 20-21: 8th Annual Shue’s Pond Family Fishing; noon-4 p.m.
June 21: Smallmouth bass season opens in Northern Zone.
June 29: Hayward Bass Club Round Lakes Open (715-699-1015).
Through July 31: Illegal to allow dogs to run on DNR lands and Federal WPA (see regs for exceptions).
Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau and Sawyer County Record co-sponsor this report. For more information on area events and activities, visit the HLVCB’s Calendar of Events or call 800-724-2992.
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
This week’s temperatures looks to be more seasonal, with highs in the upper 70s and nighttime lows in the 40s and 50s ... and of course, the ever-present (but mostly low!) chances for rain and thunderstorms.
“Inconsistent weather is always tough on fishing success,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “and we had some last week. More stable weather this week should give us more favorable fishing.
“Most muskies seem content to prowl shallow water weeds and panfish spawning beds. Catch walleyes in 10-15 feet on rice beds and rock/gravel area drop-offs with jigs and minnows.
“Largemouth are providing good action and great table fare when fried in the skillet. Smallmouth bass fishing is very good, but is catch-and-release only until June 21.
“Crappie spawn has peaked. You can still find them shallow, but the bigger fish moved deeper. Use crappie minnows or small plastics, varying depths. For bluegills on shallow beds, use waxies, leaf worms, and crawlers.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says fishing is outstanding on the Chippewa Flowage.
“Fish muskies on weed beds and edges with bucktails, gliders, and minnow baits. Numerous northern pike in green weeds are hitting spinners and spinnerbaits.
“During the day, fish walleyes on deep mud bogs with jigs and fatheads, brush in 12-15 feet with leeches and slip bobbers, and weeds with Beetle Spins. In the evening, cast floating Rapalas over weeds.
“Largemouth will hit any plastic dragged through their shallow beds. For smallmouth, fish shallow rock bars or rocky shores with plastic worms and tubes.
“Catch crappies on weeds in 5-9 feet with crappie minnows, jigs, and light color Beetle Spins. Bluegills bedding in 1-4 feet will take worms, crawlers, and small jigs with plastics.”
Jim at Hayward Bait says muskie action is good, with reports of a 52-inch fish on Lac Courte Oreilles last week.
“Anglers are fishing small bucktails, gliders, and plastics along shorelines and weed edges in 5-15 feet. Walleye anglers are fishing fatheads, crawlers, and leeches on live bait rigs and under slip bobbers, or casting and trolling stickbaits over weed beds in 8-12 feet.
“Topwaters and plastics are very effective for shallow largemouth. Crankbaits and live bait work well for smallmouth in deeper water. Crappies are deeper and hitting minnows, waxies, and plastics. Bluegills on shallow beds are taking waxies, worms, and plastics.”
Mike at Jenk’s says Chippewa Flowage muskie anglers report catching more males than females, with success on bucktails in the shallows.
“Walleye action is slow, but with some success on brush and bogs with minnows and leeches. Northern pike are hitting live bait and artificials such as spoons and spinnerbaits. Bass anglers are catching largemouth along bogs, rock bars, and stumps on plastics and spinnerbaits, with white the hot color.
“Crappies are moving toward the cribs, brush, and bogs, with best action on crappie minnows and plastics such as Mini-Mites.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter talks about fish years.
“Most people have heard about ‘dog years’ compared to human ages, but what if we applied this concept to fish? Based on an average human life of 80-90 years and how long a fish can live –if it does not end up in a frying pan – here are some rough estimates.
“Muskies can live to be 30 years old and one muskie year is about three human years. A walleye can live 20 years and one walleye year is equivalent to 4-5 human years. One bluegill year is equivalent to about 10 human years.
“These numbers might seem a little goofy, so let’s put them into some context. A legal walleye (15 inches) is equivalent to an 18-year-old person; a five-inch bluegill is equivalent to a 35-year-old human; and a 50-inch muskie is equivalent to a person 60 years of age.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says constantly changing weather, thunderstorms, and hordes of mosquitoes made for challenging fishing conditions last week.
“Warm weather quickly pushed water temperatures and many lakes reached the low 70 degrees, spurring spawning activity for warmwater species.
“Muskie action is slow, with most anglers working small bucktails and stickbaits on weed beds. Walleye action is good on live bait, with crankbaits along shorelines also producing good catches. Look for walleye fishing to get a little tougher when mayflies start hatching in the next few weeks.
“Crappie and bluegill action is good in shallow water; perch on mid-depth mud flats are keying on mayfly nymphs.”
FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
Muskie action varies from slow to decent to improving to very good. Take your pick. With spawning completed, look for fish in 5-15 feet of water along shorelines and near weeds, weed beds, and spawning panfish. Stick with smaller bucktails, glide baits, minnow baits, stickbaits, and plastics, with slow to moderate retrieves.
Walleye:
Walleye action is fair to very good, depending on lake, time of day, and ... angler. Look for fish in 8-15 feet of water on weeds and weedlines, drop-offs near rock and gravel, deep mud flats, brush, and bogs. Jigs and fatheads are catching fish, but fish are transitioning to leeches and crawlers on live bait rigs and slip bobbers. Casting and trolling crankbaits, stickbaits, minnow baits, Rapalas, and Beetle Spins will produce fish, especially over weed beds in late evening hours.
Northern:
Northern pike activity is improving, particularly around green weeds and weedlines – and spawning panfish. Northern suckers are hard to beat for pike, but spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons tipped with tails, jigs, and plastics will all catch pike. As usual, work deeper water with bigger baits for larger fish.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action is good to very good, with fish shallow and/or on spawning beds or near bogs, brush, and stumps. Spinners, spinnerbaits, topwaters, plastics, crawlers, and leeches are all catching largemouth bass.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass finished/are finishing spawning and moving to deeper water (to 15 feet or so), holding on rocky, hard-bottom areas (bars, shorelines). Plastics, rigged plastic worms, spinners, spinnerbaits, tube jigs, and crankbaits are effective artificials, and live bait such as crawlers and leeches are productive.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good, but slowed as fish completed spawning and are now moving to deeper, summer holding areas. Concentrate on depths from 5-18 feet, with weeds, weedlines, brush, bogs, and cribs. Check the entire water column for suspending fish. Best baits include crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, Tattle-Tails, Mini-Mites, Gulp! baits, and Crappie Nibbles, on dressed jigs or plain hooks, with or without bobbers. Beetle Spins, too, can be particularly effective.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action is good to excellent, with many fish in very shallow water on spawning beds or near weedlines, brush, and timber. Nearly any bait will work at this time, but top producers include waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawler pieces, plastics, and Berkley baits fished on jigs or plain hooks, with or without bobbers.
Upcoming Events
June 14: Kids Fishing Derby, Lake Hayward Beach; 9-11 a.m. (715-634-4821).
June 15: Father’s Day Brunch Train – Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad (www.spoonertrainride.com; 715-635-3200).
June 19-22: 65th Annual Musky Festival (715-634-8662).
June 20-22: Hayward Lion’s Club – Musky Fest Fishing Contest (715-634-8662).
June 20-21: 8th Annual Shue’s Pond Family Fishing; noon-4 p.m.
June 21: Smallmouth bass season opens in Northern Zone.
June 29: Hayward Bass Club Round Lakes Open (715-699-1015).
Through July 31: Illegal to allow dogs to run on DNR lands and Federal WPA (see regs for exceptions).
Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau and Sawyer County Record co-sponsor this report. For more information on area events and activities, visit the HLVCB’s Calendar of Events or call 800-724-2992.