Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
By Steve Suman
The weather forecast indicates an interesting week ahead, with more seasonal, cooler temperatures – including a few very cool nights – and some still much-needed rain showers. A warming (but mild) trend returns toward the end of the week. There is so much to do this time of year, from recreation to pre-winter projects, so make the best of the good days!
“The roller coaster weather continues with its ups and downs,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “and the same can be said about the fishing.
“One day you put fish in the boat and the next day you just enjoy being out on the water. This can be a frustrating time for the more serious angler, but for others it is just a relaxing time. Fall will soon bring forth the colors and migration, and on those bad fishing days, there is plenty of other things to do and see.”
Randy at Jenk’s says muskie action is a little slow on the Chippewa Flowage.
“Most action is on bucktails with black or black/green the best choice. Crappie fishing is good on cribs and bogs with minnows and Gulp baits.
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says muskie action remains good on the Chippewa Flowage.
“Fish weed beds and edges with topwaters during evenings and low light conditions and work bucktails over and through the weeds during the day. Make sure to try a double-10 bucktails and be ready for action on figure-8s.
“Anglers are doing very well on crappies and bluegills. For crappies, fish deep brush and cribs with tube jigs. For bluegills, try a waxie or worm piece.”
Carolyn at Anglers All Ashland says Chequamegon Bay fishing was good last week – between the rain and wind.
“Trout and salmon trolling is very good from the first drop to deep water, and while most are still trolling spoons, many salmon anglers are using small bait flies.
“Fishing smallmouth in the usual spots with sucker minnows is working for most anglers, and they are also catching some northern pike and walleyes.”
DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter says placing fish cribs in lakes has been a popular activity for several decades.
“This was done with the belief the deep-water structures would benefit fish populations – particularly panfish – by giving small fish a place to hide.
“Cribs are effective at concentrating fish, but we have not seen that they actually increase fish production. In fact, there is some evidence that concentrating fish around cribs can make them more susceptible to overfishing.
“In addition, effective panfish management usually requires as many young ones get eaten as possible each year so the remaining fish have the opportunity to grow big. Otherwise, with no lid on the recruitment of the population, you eventually end up with a very dense population of small fish.
“Lakes with lots of natural cover often have very poor panfish fishing as a result, even if there are lots of predators. Lakes with good numbers of predators and very little cover for panfish grow some nice panfish.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says North Woods fishing activity is good, even with the erratic and ever changing weather.
“Muskies are the highlight and action is very good, with nearly all anglers reporting sightings, follows, and strikes.
“Favorite baits include bucktails, jerkbaits, and topwaters fished in a variety of locations, such as weed beds, deep weed edges, and deeper water for suspending fish.”
The Wilderness Wings Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) will host its fifth annual Hunt, Shoot, and Conservation and Sportsmen’s Banquet September 20-21. The Friday evening banquet is at Lumberjack Steakhouse in Hayward. The Saturday hunt runs from the start of legal shooting hours to 4 p.m., then a 5-stand shoot for prizes at Summit Lake Game Farm, followed by an awards ceremony and social hour with hors d’oeuvres. Ticket packages range from $50-$65, with various sponsorship packages available. For more information and/or tickets, visit www.ruffedgrousesociety.org, or contact Dave Reardon (715) 634-2674.
FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
Muskie action is fair to good, with best fishing early and late in the day. Weather changes cause muskie pattern changes, so check with your favorite bait shop before hitting the water. Fish are in and around weeds and weed beds and weed edges in 10-15 feet of water, and on deeper breaks. The most productive baits include big bucktails, gliders, topwaters, plastics, and jerkbaits.
Walleye:
Walleyes remain scattered from 10-30 feet (sometimes shallower or deeper). Check weed edges, gravel, rock, brush, bogs, humps, and other structure. If you do not find them in one place, try another. Top bait picks include crawlers, leeches, fatheads, and walleye suckers. For artificials, try crankbaits, minnow baits, stickbaits, and Rapalas.
Northern:
Northern pike action is improving with the cooling water temperatures. Look for them in and around thick weeds, weedlines, weed edges, and near panfish in shallow to mid-depth areas. Northern suckers are very effective, but you can catch pike on spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, crankbaits, Mepps spinners, and swim baits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action is fair to very good on shallow weeds, weedlines, weed edges, slop, and brush. Largemouth will take a wide variety of baits, from plastics, plastic worms, swim jigs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, buzz baits, topwaters, crawlers, and fatheads. When largemouth are on the feed, it is tough not to catch them.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is good to very good on deeper hard bottoms, rocks, points, and breaklines. Use plastics, tubes, swim jigs, leeches, and fatheads on drop-shot rigs, but smallies are also hitting topwaters at times.
Crappie:
Crappie action is fair to good, with best success early and late in the day. Work on and along deeper weedlines, weed edges, bogs, brush, and cribs with crappie minnows, fatheads, waxies, plastics, tube jigs, and Gulp! baits on small jigs or plain hooks, with or without bobbers.
Bluegill:
Bluegills continue to provide fast action for small fish in shallow water. Fishing in deeper water (as deep as 20 feet) for larger bluegills is slower action, but you can catch some nice eating size fish. Baits of choice include waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawler chunks, plastics, and Gulp! baits fished on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks under slip bobbers.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 4: Bear season opened (see regs).
Sept. 7: Hook-and-line lake sturgeon season opened on designated waters.
Sept. 14: Seasons open: Early archery deer; Ruffed grouse in Zone A; Turkey; Gray and fox squirrel; Cottontail rabbit in northern zone; Crow.
Sept. 15: Early Canada goose season closes.
Sept. 16: Canada goose season opens in exterior zone.
Sept. 19-22: Youth Muskie Hunt at Mystic Moose Resort (715-462-3014).
Sept. 21: Hayward Fall Festival (715-634-8662).
Sept. 21: Duck season opens in northern exterior zone.
Sept. 27-28: Cable Area Fall Festival (800-533-7454).
Oct. 5-6: Youth Deer Hunt.
For more information on area events and activities, visit the Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau website, view its Calendar of Events, or call 1-800-724-2992.