Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
We had a good run while it lasted, but nearly every day in this week’s forecast shows chances for rain and temperatures sliding down the scale. Be prepared to take advantage of warm, sunny days sure(?) to follow!
“Water temperatures are dropping,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “and fishing continues to be fairly good.
“Muskie action is best along weedlines and breaks with bucktails, gliders, plastics, and suckers on quick-strike rigs.
“Walleyes are near deep structure during the day and taking walleye suckers, fatheads, and crawlers. After dark, fish shallower weed beds and rock bars with minnow/stick baits and paddle tails. Northern pike are very active around mid-depth weeds and deeper structure in 5-12 feet, hitting spinner, crank, and swim baits, and medium suckers.”
Dennis at Hayward Bait says muskie anglers are doing well on topwaters, gliders, and bucktails.
“Walleye fishing is best with minnows and crawlers off humps, bars, and weed edges in 15-30 feet of water. Northern action is good on spinnerbaits, spoons, and suckers in weedy bays and on deeper weed edges. Fish crappies near weeds and wood with minnows and plastics.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says Chippewa Flowage muskies are responding to several different patterns.
“The fall patterns have not yet kicked in and muskies are hitting topwaters, bucktails, jerkbaits, twitch baits, and suckers on the edges of green weeds. For nice northerns and largemouth bass, work spinnerbaits through the weeds.
“Crappies are starting to move into traditional fall areas – try crappie minnows and jig/tube skirt combinations.”
Randy at Jenk’s says Chippewa water temperatures continue to cool (in the upper 50s), and the water level is slowly dropping (now down slightly more than 2.5 feet).
“Muskie fishing is still best on the bar edges with jerkbaits and suckers early in the day and bucktails in late afternoon. Walleyes continue to prefer regular walleye minnows in 18-25 feet in riverbeds, holes, and humps. Fish crappies with minnows and Gulp! baits around brush in 15-20 feet.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter addresses the ‘biggest panfish myth.’
“Anglers frequently comment on the need to create cover for small panfish. They believe that by ‘saving’ these fish from predation, the fish will someday become big panfish for people to catch. However, most science on panfish points in the opposite direction.
“When young panfish have excessive amounts of cover, survival of year classes can be very high and the growth rate suffers dramatically, leading to a stunted population. Big panfish are more common in lakes where survival of young panfish is relatively low, usually due to predation. When this happens, the remaining panfish grow quickly.
“Unlike walleye and muskie, to have a quality panfish population, it is important to limit the number of recruits into the system.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says Indian Summer weather, coupled with great fall colors, made it nice to be in the outdoors last week.
“However, some strong winds made for very tough fishing conditions, though anglers enjoyed fair to good success overall. Muskie anglers are providing most of the fishing pressure on local lakes, with generally good success. Most are using 12- to 14-inch suckers on quick-set rigs.
“Walleye action remains slow and the fish have not yet settled into a solid fall pattern. There is a surge in crappie action, with some nice fish found along/near mid-depth cover such as emergent weedlines and brush in 4-8 feet of water.
“With the cooling water temperatures, many bass anglers have put away their gear for the year.”
The DNR is hosting a Public Walleye Initiative meeting Oct. 15, from 7- 9:30 p.m., at Hayward High School to discuss walleye fisheries and the allocation of increased walleye stocking under the Wisconsin Walleye Initiative. DNR biologists will offer a presentation on current walleye populations, the walleye initiative, and walleye management. DNR northern region fisheries supervisor Steve Avelallemant says the larger (4- to 8-inch) fish are more expensive to produce, but survival rates are much greater than traditionally stocked fingerlings. People unable to attend the meeting can submit comments on the DNR website (search ‘Wisconsin Walleye Initiative’).
FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
This is the time for big muskies and anglers reports good fishing on the edges of green weeds, weedlines, and on points. Most anglers are using bucktails, Bull Dawgs, topwaters, gliders, plastics, jerk and twitch baits, and suckers on quick-strike rigs.
Walleye:
Walleyes are scattered and not in their fall pattern. Depending on the weather, lake, and time of day, look for them in 8-30 feet of water on humps, holes, brush, bogs, break lines, rock bars, and weed edges. It is primarily a minnow bite (fatheads, walleye suckers), with crawlers still catching fish, and stickbaits and crankbaits working well in evening hours.
Northern:
Northern pike action is very good for smaller fish on shallow weed beds and for bigger fish on deep weed edges and structure, with spinnerbaits, spoons, and suckers.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth anglers report fickle fishing and many have moved on to other fall activities. Fish weeds in shallow to mid-depths with plastics, spinnerbaits, swim jigs, tubes, and live bait.
Smallmouth Bass:
As with largemouth, smallmouth action is inconsistent and drawing little interest – too bad, as this is a great time to catch trophy smallmouth. Smallies are on shallow rock bars, points, breaks, and weed flats. Best producing baits include spinnerbaits, spoons, plastics, tubes, swim jigs, and live bait.
Crappie:
Crappie action is improving as fish move toward their fall areas. If you do not know those areas, check with your favorite bait shop. Look for fish in 4-20 feet of water, near weedlines, wood, and brush. Top baits include crappie minnows, fatheads, plastics, tube jigs, and Gulp! baits.
Bluegill:
Anglers targeting bluegills are still catching fish, and some nice ones! Depths vary, but you will find the larger ‘gills in deeper water, taking larger baits, such as minnows. Otherwise, fish weeds and wood in mid-depths with waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawler pieces, and plastics.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 8: Bear season closed.
Oct. 15: Wolf hunting and trapping season opened.
Oct. 15: DNR Walleye Initiative meeting; Hayward High School.
Oct. 19: Seasons open: Pheasant; Ruffed grouse (Zone B); Bobwhite quail; Hungarian partridge; Raccoon gun and trapping (residents); Red and gray fox hunting and trapping; Coyote trapping (hunting continuous); Muskrat; Mink (Northern Zone); Fisher trapping; Bobcat hunting and trapping Period 1.
Oct. 19: Fishing Has No Boundaries spaghetti dinner fundraiser (715-634-3185).
Oct. 28: Hayward Chapter-Whitetails Unlimited banquet (715-634-6013).
Nov. 1: Ginseng season closes.
Nov. 2: Seasons open: Beaver trapping; Otter trapping; Non-resident raccoon.
Nov. 4: Woodcock season closes.
Nov. 9: Mourning dove season closes.
Nov. 15: Trout and salmon season closes on sections of Lake Superior tributaries (see regs).
Nov. 19: Duck season closes in North Zone.
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.