Hayward Lakes VCB
11-15-2022, 11:46 AM
Musky:
Musky fishing is slowing, though anglers continue to search for the “big” one. Some fish are suspending under baitfish schools, while others are on weeds, weedlines, points, bays, bars, and breaklines. Find their food and you will find muskies. Suckers on quick-strike rigs, Suicks, and large trolled baits such as Mattlocks all produce.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is good, with best success in late afternoon into evening hours. Look for them near baitfish and panfish in mid-depth to shallow weeds, rock, sand, and humps. Walleye suckers, fatheads, plastics, and jerkbaits worked slowly are all catching fish.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike fishing is good to very good during the day, particularly during mid-afternoon, as the fish continue to bulk up for winter. Find them around mid-depth to shallow weeds, points, and flats holding concentrations of baitfish and panfish. Northern and walleye suckers, minnows, bucktails, and jerkbaits can all grab a pike’s interest!
Largemouth Bass:
Any anglers fishing for largemouth are keeping it a close secret. Unless some hard water anglers focus on largemouth, this will be the final report for this season. Unless we return to 60-degree temperatures (sure... see previous sentence).
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass are on weeds, rock, sand, points, and humps in 6-18 feet searching for food (i.e., panfish and baitfish). Sucker minnows, fatheads, and plastics on jigs, and some crankbaits/jerkbaits, are all quite effective. As with largemouth, angler interest is waning and this will most likely conclude the smallmouth reports for this season.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good on mid-depth to deep weeds, weedlines, and lake basins. Make sure to check the entire water column. Crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and plain hooks will catch fish, as will small Jigging Raps and similar baits.
Bluegill and Perch:
Bluegill and perch fishing is fair to good as early ice begins to form on area lakes. Shallow to deep weeds and brush hold fish and will do so for some time. Small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks with waxies, spikes, minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits all work well. The less you announce your presence, the better your chances.
Musky fishing is slowing, though anglers continue to search for the “big” one. Some fish are suspending under baitfish schools, while others are on weeds, weedlines, points, bays, bars, and breaklines. Find their food and you will find muskies. Suckers on quick-strike rigs, Suicks, and large trolled baits such as Mattlocks all produce.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is good, with best success in late afternoon into evening hours. Look for them near baitfish and panfish in mid-depth to shallow weeds, rock, sand, and humps. Walleye suckers, fatheads, plastics, and jerkbaits worked slowly are all catching fish.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike fishing is good to very good during the day, particularly during mid-afternoon, as the fish continue to bulk up for winter. Find them around mid-depth to shallow weeds, points, and flats holding concentrations of baitfish and panfish. Northern and walleye suckers, minnows, bucktails, and jerkbaits can all grab a pike’s interest!
Largemouth Bass:
Any anglers fishing for largemouth are keeping it a close secret. Unless some hard water anglers focus on largemouth, this will be the final report for this season. Unless we return to 60-degree temperatures (sure... see previous sentence).
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass are on weeds, rock, sand, points, and humps in 6-18 feet searching for food (i.e., panfish and baitfish). Sucker minnows, fatheads, and plastics on jigs, and some crankbaits/jerkbaits, are all quite effective. As with largemouth, angler interest is waning and this will most likely conclude the smallmouth reports for this season.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good on mid-depth to deep weeds, weedlines, and lake basins. Make sure to check the entire water column. Crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and plain hooks will catch fish, as will small Jigging Raps and similar baits.
Bluegill and Perch:
Bluegill and perch fishing is fair to good as early ice begins to form on area lakes. Shallow to deep weeds and brush hold fish and will do so for some time. Small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks with waxies, spikes, minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits all work well. The less you announce your presence, the better your chances.