Hayward Lakes VCB
02-10-2023, 06:00 PM
Moderate temperatures, walkable conditions, and staked snowmobile trails make lake travel easier. The ice is inconsistent in some areas, so use caution!
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is fair. During the day, fish deep water and hard to soft bottom transitions. In late evening into dark, fish move to shallower flats, shelves, and weed edges to feed. Walleye suckers, shiners, and fatheads on tip-ups and dead-sticks are productive, as are jigs and jigging spoons/baits tipped with live bait.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good to very good from shallow to mid-depth weed edges, points, and other structure, and always near baitfish and panfish concentrations. Use suckers and shiners on tip-ups, and/or jigging spoons/baits.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good to very good in deep basins and weed edges adjacent to spring spawning areas. Use crappie minnows, waxies, spikes, plastics, and Gulp! baits. Fish larger spoons, rattlebaits, and live bait in deep water for big crappies. Follow up by downsizing to smaller baits.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is fair to good, with fish feeding on bugs they find on shallow weeds and on the bottom. Waxies, spikes, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and teardrops are working well.
Perch:
Perch fishing is fair to good near deep weeds, soft to hard bottom transition, and mud flats in 8-12 feet. Move with the fish. Use small jigs and spoons with minnow heads, small minnows, and insect imitations, with tip-ups and tip-downs.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is fair. During the day, fish deep water and hard to soft bottom transitions. In late evening into dark, fish move to shallower flats, shelves, and weed edges to feed. Walleye suckers, shiners, and fatheads on tip-ups and dead-sticks are productive, as are jigs and jigging spoons/baits tipped with live bait.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good to very good from shallow to mid-depth weed edges, points, and other structure, and always near baitfish and panfish concentrations. Use suckers and shiners on tip-ups, and/or jigging spoons/baits.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good to very good in deep basins and weed edges adjacent to spring spawning areas. Use crappie minnows, waxies, spikes, plastics, and Gulp! baits. Fish larger spoons, rattlebaits, and live bait in deep water for big crappies. Follow up by downsizing to smaller baits.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is fair to good, with fish feeding on bugs they find on shallow weeds and on the bottom. Waxies, spikes, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and teardrops are working well.
Perch:
Perch fishing is fair to good near deep weeds, soft to hard bottom transition, and mud flats in 8-12 feet. Move with the fish. Use small jigs and spoons with minnow heads, small minnows, and insect imitations, with tip-ups and tip-downs.