Hayward Lakes VCB
09-16-2022, 09:46 AM
Musky:
Musky action is good to very good with the cooling weather, and fish are lurking on weeds and weed edges from shallow to mid-depths and deeper. For now, smaller bucktails, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, gliders, jerkbaits, and topwaters are working well. Vary retrieve speeds and be sure to figure eight at the boat. As the fall cool-down proceeds, fish will begin to prefer bigger baits and musky suckers.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is slow, but improving. Fish are near the bottom of the deepest areas of most lakes, in anywhere from 8-35 feet or deeper, on rocks, breaklines, points, and humps. Anglers are using crawlers and minnows on jigs, snap jigging Jigging Raps and similar baits along bottom, and trolling crankbaits, crawler harnesses, and live bait rigs with some success. Try shallower weedlines just before and into dark.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good to very good in/on shallow to mid-depth thick weeds, weedlines, weed edges, and any areas holding concentrations of panfish and baitfish. Baits of choice include sucker minnows, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, bucktails, Beetle Spins, Shad Raps, chatterbaits, jerkbaits, and plastics.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is good to very good on shallow weeds, weed edges, wood, lily pads, slop, and near panfish concentrations. Best baits include crankbaits, spinners, spinnerbaits, swim jigs, jerkbaits, plastics, drop-shot rigs, Ned rigs, and live bait.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is good, with fish in deep, hard bottom areas on a variety of weeds, wood, rock, cribs, and other structure. Work crankbaits, jerkbaits, plastics, Ned rigs, drop-shot rigs, and wacky worms near the bottom.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is fair to good and getting better. Look for fish in 8-22 feet in basins, on cribs, weeds, brush, and other structure, and suspending check the entire water column. Crappie minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and under slip bobbers, Mimic Minnows, Mini-Mites, and Beetle Spins are all catching fish.
Bluegill and perch:
Bluegill and perch fishing is good for numbers in shallow, weedy areas and off docks. For bigger fish, look for deeper weeds, brush, and structure. Waxies, worms, crawler chunks, and plastics on small jigs under bobbers are working.
Musky action is good to very good with the cooling weather, and fish are lurking on weeds and weed edges from shallow to mid-depths and deeper. For now, smaller bucktails, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, gliders, jerkbaits, and topwaters are working well. Vary retrieve speeds and be sure to figure eight at the boat. As the fall cool-down proceeds, fish will begin to prefer bigger baits and musky suckers.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is slow, but improving. Fish are near the bottom of the deepest areas of most lakes, in anywhere from 8-35 feet or deeper, on rocks, breaklines, points, and humps. Anglers are using crawlers and minnows on jigs, snap jigging Jigging Raps and similar baits along bottom, and trolling crankbaits, crawler harnesses, and live bait rigs with some success. Try shallower weedlines just before and into dark.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good to very good in/on shallow to mid-depth thick weeds, weedlines, weed edges, and any areas holding concentrations of panfish and baitfish. Baits of choice include sucker minnows, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, bucktails, Beetle Spins, Shad Raps, chatterbaits, jerkbaits, and plastics.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is good to very good on shallow weeds, weed edges, wood, lily pads, slop, and near panfish concentrations. Best baits include crankbaits, spinners, spinnerbaits, swim jigs, jerkbaits, plastics, drop-shot rigs, Ned rigs, and live bait.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is good, with fish in deep, hard bottom areas on a variety of weeds, wood, rock, cribs, and other structure. Work crankbaits, jerkbaits, plastics, Ned rigs, drop-shot rigs, and wacky worms near the bottom.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is fair to good and getting better. Look for fish in 8-22 feet in basins, on cribs, weeds, brush, and other structure, and suspending check the entire water column. Crappie minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and under slip bobbers, Mimic Minnows, Mini-Mites, and Beetle Spins are all catching fish.
Bluegill and perch:
Bluegill and perch fishing is good for numbers in shallow, weedy areas and off docks. For bigger fish, look for deeper weeds, brush, and structure. Waxies, worms, crawler chunks, and plastics on small jigs under bobbers are working.