Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Once again, the forecast calls for chances of showers nearly every day this week, but temperatures are warmer and more summer-like! Do not let “chances” of rain deter you from any outdoor activities – plan ahead and take it day by day!
“Musky anglers should target shallow weeds and rock near spawning bluegills with spinnerbaits, bucktails, and swim baits,” says Pat at Happy Hooker.
“Walleye fishing is good along weed edges in 8-23 feet with leeches, crawlers, and fatheads. In early morning and evening, cast minnow baits and plastics over weed tops. Fish northern on weedlines and drop-offs in 7-10 feet with medium suckers, spinners, and crankbaits.
“Catch largemouth near weeds, wood, and piers in 3-10 feet with plastics, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, crawlers, and leeches. During early morning and evening, cast buzzbaits and topwaters over weed flats. Fish smallmouth on rock, points, and breaks in 8-15 feet with plastics, drop-shot rigs, jerkbaits, leeches, and fatheads.
“Larger crappies are suspending around weeds in 8-15 feet. Use crappie minnows under slip bobbers. Spawning bluegills are on gravel near green weeds in 2-10 feet, taking waxies, leaf worms, and panfish leeches under bobbers”
At Hayward Bait, guide Steve Genson says fishing is good, with many reports on walleyes and bluegills.
“Muskie action is decent out to 10 feet on points and bars with new weeds, as well as panfish spawning areas. Use jerkbaits, twitchbaits, bucktails, and topwater. Walleyes are biting over a variety of structure, with the bite slowly shifting to leeches and crawlers. Early and late, fish new weed beds in 8-15 feet. During the day, work deeper breaks and humps.
“Bass action is good on new weeds, docks, and brush. Use Senko’s, jig and plastics, and topwaters.
“Crappie action is good in 15-30 feet with minnows and plastics under slip floats. Bluegills are spawning in shallow, sandy areas. Use small jigs with leaf worms, waxies, and leeches – be aware of new panfish regulations on the area lakes.”
Jim at Minnow Jim’s says Nelson Lake walleye anglers should fish shorelines early and late, still-fishing minnows and leeches on river channel edges or trolling across the river channel.
“Northern anglers are catching some nice pike on larger Mepps spinners, spoons, and sucker minnows. Largemouth bass anglers are doing well with scented plastic worms and critter tails, frogs, and dressed spinners.
“For crappies, fish 5-8 feet with minnows, leeches, and Gulp! Alive under bobbers or cast small spinners. Fish bluegills shallow and then work out from shore with waxies, worms, and crawler chunks.”
Mike at Jenk’s says musky action is decent, but fish are not excessively aggressive.
“Use smaller spinnerbaits, minnow baits, crankbaits, and topwaters. Walleye activity is increasing with the warmer, drier weather. During the day, fish brush in 15-17 feet with minnows, leeches, crawlers, plastics, crankbaits, and minnow baits. At dusk, fish weed edges with leeches and crawlers. Northern pike are active in the weeds, hitting both live bait and artificials.
“Crappie anglers should fish flat mud and sand bottoms in 25 feet, as well as cribs, brush piles and other cover in 15-25 feet, with minnows and Gulp! minnows.”
Erratic weather last week made for tough fishing conditions, says DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt.
“Nearly all musky anglers are seeing fish. Work the edges of new weed beds with smaller bucktails and stickbaits, fished a little slower than normal. The mayfly hatch upset the walleye bite on most waters, with leeches and crawlers now producing the best success. Northern action is good in shallow water around and over any new weed beds.
“Largemouth action is good on soft plastics and finesse baits in new weed and lily pad beds. Both largemouth and smallmouth are finishing spawning on some larger lakes. Smallmouth season in the Northern Zone opens Saturday, June 18, but anglers should still practice catch-and-release since many bass might still be guarding schools of fingerlings.
“Crappies are shallow along emergent weedlines and small minnows under bobbers provide good action. Bluegills are still nesting on many waters.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses trout habitat in the Exeland area.
“The Exeland area is home to some fantastic coldwater trout fisheries and the key to their success is excellent groundwater inputs in the area. However, beavers can negate that success when they dam the streams and make large ponds where water warms and becomes uninhabitable for trout.
“Recent beaver control efforts removed hundreds of dams and these streams again flow freely, but the streams still remain damaged with shallow, braided channels and large buildups of soft mucky material that were once sand and gravel.
“Eventually, the streams’ natural processes will solve these problems, but it can take a long time. This summer, DNR crews, with assistance from LCO Youth Conservation Corp and Trout Unlimited, will conduct habitat projects on two streams in the area to restore natural stream banks and recreate great trout habitat in areas once dammed by beavers.”
Adams Publishing Group’s (APG) Species Master fishing contest starts June 15 and runs through September 7. The first angler with the most points at the end of the contest wins an appearance on John Gillespie’s Waters and Woods TV program with Gillespie and Pete Maina. For more information, visit www.SpeciesMaster.com or call (715) 718-6438.
The Hayward Lions Club’s Musky Fest fishing contest runs June 17-19 and includes all Hayward area waters. There is no entry fee and all children ages 12 and younger who enter the contest receive a tackle bag. The contest awards first- and second-place prizes for all eight fish categories. Organizers will award prizes and draw lottery winners starting at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, June 19, at the Lion’s fish booth. Photo contest entrants must have date and time recording for all fish photos. Stop at Walgreen’s or Walmart all weekend to get your free 5x7 fish photos and submit them by 5 p.m. Saturday. Anglers receive one free raffle ticket per entry, with additional tickets available for $1 each or 6/$5. One prize per entrant in the drawing and must be present to win. For more information, visit www.haywardlions.com or call (715) 634-6456.
FISHING REPORT
Musky:
Musky fishing is fair to good in shallow weeds, rock, and around spawning panfish. Bucktails, spinners, spinnerbaits, stickbaits, and swim baits all work well at this time.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is fair to good, though the mayfly hatch is negatively affecting the bite. Look for fish along river channels and on weeds, wood, and brush in 8-25 feet, depending on lake and time of day. Leeches and crawlers on jigs, slip bobbers, and Lindy Rigs work best, but anglers also catch fish on minnows, minnow baits, crankbaits, and plastics.
Northern:
Northern action is good in shallow water around weeds, drop-offs, and spawning panfish out to about 10 feet. Northern suckers, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and crankbaits will all catch pike.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is good to excellent as they finish their spawning on some lakes. Concentrate on new weeds, wood, brush, docks, and lily pads out to about 10 feet. Baits of choice include plastics (worms in various configurations, swim jigs, crawfish, frogs, Twister Tails, etc.), spinners, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and topwaters, as well as crawlers, leeches, and sucker minnows under slip bobbers.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth are also spawning and action is very good, but remember that smallmouth fishing is catch and release only until June 18. Fish rock, points, breaks, and drop-offs in 6-20 feet. The most productive offerings include plastics (tubes, grubs, swim baits, etc.), drop-shot rigs, and jerkbaits, as well as leeches and fatheads on live bait rigs and under slip bobbers.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good to excellent for fish in/on/along/suspending near weed edges, and near wood, brush, drop-offs, and cribs in 5-25 feet. Top producing baits include crappie minnows, leeches, Gulp! Minnows, plastics, and spinners.
Bluegill:
Bluegills are spawning and fishing is excellent in shallow water out to about 10 feet. Look near green weeds, but look for “elephant tracks” on shallow gravel and sand bottoms. Use small jigs, plain hooks, and split shot rigs tipped with waxies, leaf worms, crawler pieces, panfish leeches, plastics, and Gulp! baits with/without slip bobbers, and poppers.
Upcoming Events
June 15 through Sept. 7: APG Species Master fishing contest (715-718-6438).
June 16-19: 67th Annual Musky Fest (715-634-8662).
June 17-19: Hayward Lions - Fishing Contest (715-634-6456).
Through June 17: Northern Zone smallmouth bass catch and release only.
July 7-9: 63rd Annual Heart of the North Spooner Rodeo (800-367-3306).
July 14-17: 43rd Annual LCO Honor the Earth Pow Wow (715-634-8934).
July 27-30: 57th Annual Lumberjack World Championships (715-634-2484).
Through July 31: Illegal to allow dogs to run on DNR lands and FWPAs (see regs).
For more information on area events and activities, visit the Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau website, view itsCalendar of Events, or call 1-800-724-2992.