Hayward Lakes VCB
08-30-2023, 09:01 AM
Musky:
Musky action is good, consistent (for musky fishing), and getting better, with fish around weed cover in 4-18 feet. Preferred baits at this time include small to mid-size bucktails, gliders, some larger rubber baits, and topwaters in the evening. Trolling anglers report some success during the day.
Walleye:
Walleyes are scattered and fishing is fair to somewhat slow. Most anglers are trolling or drift-fishing crawler harnesses, bottom bouncers, Lindy Rigs, crankbaits, or stickbaits near the bottom around weedlines, flats, and basins, and/or searching for suspending balls of baitfish. Slip bobbers with sucker minnows are also producing.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike are active, with many anglers targeting other species making catches. Fish in and on both shallow and deep weeds, weed beds, and weed edges, points, and panfish and baitfish concentrations. Work bigger baits deeper for trophy pike. Northern and walleye suckers on jigs or slip bobbers, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and swimbaits all work.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass action is good and steady. Focus on shallow to mid-depth weeds, weed beds, weedlines, wood, lily pads, and docks. Live bait, spinners, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, plastics in various configurations and presentations, and assorted topwaters including Whopper Ploppers, frogs, and poppers all get the attention of largemouth.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is very good to excellent in 8-28 feet on rock and hard bottom humps, stumps, points, and basins. Best baits include sucker minnows, Ned, Texas, and drop-shot rigs, deep crankbaits, and topwaters such as Whopper Ploppers, frogs, and poppers.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good with fish in many locations. Deep basins, brush, bogs, flats, weedlines, wood, and cribs can all hold fish, with some suspending over deep water. Crappie minnows, plastics, Gulp! baits, and Garland Mayflies on small jigs fished near the bottom are all effective.
Bluegill/Perch:
Bluegill and perch fishing is good to very good in and around shallow weeds, brush, and docks. Waxies, leaf worms, crawler chunks, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs and plain hooks fished under slip bobbers are working well. For bigger bluegills, downsize presentations.
Musky action is good, consistent (for musky fishing), and getting better, with fish around weed cover in 4-18 feet. Preferred baits at this time include small to mid-size bucktails, gliders, some larger rubber baits, and topwaters in the evening. Trolling anglers report some success during the day.
Walleye:
Walleyes are scattered and fishing is fair to somewhat slow. Most anglers are trolling or drift-fishing crawler harnesses, bottom bouncers, Lindy Rigs, crankbaits, or stickbaits near the bottom around weedlines, flats, and basins, and/or searching for suspending balls of baitfish. Slip bobbers with sucker minnows are also producing.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike are active, with many anglers targeting other species making catches. Fish in and on both shallow and deep weeds, weed beds, and weed edges, points, and panfish and baitfish concentrations. Work bigger baits deeper for trophy pike. Northern and walleye suckers on jigs or slip bobbers, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and swimbaits all work.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass action is good and steady. Focus on shallow to mid-depth weeds, weed beds, weedlines, wood, lily pads, and docks. Live bait, spinners, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, plastics in various configurations and presentations, and assorted topwaters including Whopper Ploppers, frogs, and poppers all get the attention of largemouth.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is very good to excellent in 8-28 feet on rock and hard bottom humps, stumps, points, and basins. Best baits include sucker minnows, Ned, Texas, and drop-shot rigs, deep crankbaits, and topwaters such as Whopper Ploppers, frogs, and poppers.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good with fish in many locations. Deep basins, brush, bogs, flats, weedlines, wood, and cribs can all hold fish, with some suspending over deep water. Crappie minnows, plastics, Gulp! baits, and Garland Mayflies on small jigs fished near the bottom are all effective.
Bluegill/Perch:
Bluegill and perch fishing is good to very good in and around shallow weeds, brush, and docks. Waxies, leaf worms, crawler chunks, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs and plain hooks fished under slip bobbers are working well. For bigger bluegills, downsize presentations.