Hayward Lakes VCB
01-26-2023, 10:40 AM
Be aware that getting off the packed paths and trails is asking for trouble, with most lake travel limited to walking, snowmobiles, and ATVs/UTVs.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is fair to good, with best action in early morning and late evening into dark when fish move to shallower areas to feed. Walleye suckers, shiners, and fatheads on tip-ups, crappie minnows on dead-sticks, jigging spoons, and jigging baits are all producing good results.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike fishing is very good to excellent, with anglers catching good numbers of big fish. Focus on areas of shallow weeds, humps, rocks, points, and other structure, and concentrations of panfish and baitfish. Northern suckers and large shiners on tip-ups, and large jigging baits and jigging spoons are producing great action.
Crappie:
Crappie anglers are doing well when they find the fish, and locations vary from lake to lake. Fish can be in and on mid-depth to deeper weeds, weedlines, flats, wood, brush, in basins, and suspending (check the entire water column!) Crappie minnows, fatheads, waxies, spikes, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small tungsten jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks are working well.
Bluegill and Perch:
Bluegill fishing is fair to good for fish in and around shallow to mid-depth weeds, weedlines, weed edges, wood, and basins. Waxies, spikes, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks all catch fish. For perch, fish along shallow to mid-depth weed edges with small jigging spoons tipped with minnows or minnow heads.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is fair to good, with best action in early morning and late evening into dark when fish move to shallower areas to feed. Walleye suckers, shiners, and fatheads on tip-ups, crappie minnows on dead-sticks, jigging spoons, and jigging baits are all producing good results.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike fishing is very good to excellent, with anglers catching good numbers of big fish. Focus on areas of shallow weeds, humps, rocks, points, and other structure, and concentrations of panfish and baitfish. Northern suckers and large shiners on tip-ups, and large jigging baits and jigging spoons are producing great action.
Crappie:
Crappie anglers are doing well when they find the fish, and locations vary from lake to lake. Fish can be in and on mid-depth to deeper weeds, weedlines, flats, wood, brush, in basins, and suspending (check the entire water column!) Crappie minnows, fatheads, waxies, spikes, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small tungsten jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks are working well.
Bluegill and Perch:
Bluegill fishing is fair to good for fish in and around shallow to mid-depth weeds, weedlines, weed edges, wood, and basins. Waxies, spikes, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks all catch fish. For perch, fish along shallow to mid-depth weed edges with small jigging spoons tipped with minnows or minnow heads.