Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report June 4, 2012
By Steve Suman
Aside from a few mentions of rain in the forecast, this week holds promises for lows in the 40s and highs in the upper 70s. Very pleasant spring weather – and most of the precipitation possibility percentages are 70- to 80-percent against rain.
“Small crankbaits, six inches or smaller, and spinnerbaits are currently the choice for muskies on the Quiet Lakes,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “Some anglers are also floating small musky suckers on quick-strike rigs while casting bucktails and crankbaits. Bass are on the beds, providing fast and easy catch and release fishing action.”
Guide Steve Genson at Hayward Bait says muskies are active in shallower water, biting on a variety of baits, and fishing is especially good for panfish and bass. (Until June 16, bass fishing in the northern zone is catch-and-release only.)
At Outdoor Creations, guide Dave Dorazio says the hot muskie baits on the Chippewa Flowage are bucktails and topwaters fished on green weeds, preferably cabbage.
Cathy at Minnow Jim’s recommends Nelson Lake walleye anglers use leeches and slip bobbers or troll stickbaits along rocky shorelines, or work deep diving crankbaits along the channel.
Randy at Jenk’s says an angler using a small bucktail caught a 53-inch muskie last week on Callahan Lake.
Dan at Bay Park Resort on the Trego Flowage says last week’s storms and cool nights dropped the water temperature and slowed fishing, but there is still good action for small fish.
At Anglers All on Chequamegon Bay in Ashland, Carolyn says the Bay is clearing and smallmouth action is good on a wide variety of baits in the shallows. Troll the mud lines for trout and salmon, hitting the first breaks early in the morning. Streams are clearing and browns and brookies should be active.
Jim at Jim Hudson’s Guide Service in Bayfield says the best smallmouth action is in Sand Cut. For spawning fish, work worms, flukes, and grubs. For post-spawners, use crankbaits, spinnerbaits, topwaters, and plastics. Lake trout fishing is great in the shallows and deeper portions of the islands on 3 1/2- to 4 1/2-inch spoons in green, gold, purple, and chrome, and flashers/dodgers with Spin-N-Glos.
“The mayfly hatch underway on many lakes will disrupt the walleye bite for the next few weeks,” says DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt. “Mayflies provide a big source of natural food and walleyes key on them this time of year. This usually signals the end of the jig/minnow bite and the switch to leeches and crawlers.”
One new rule among new ATV/UTV regulations taking effect July 1 mandates a rear license plate for all ATVs/UTVs. The DNR does NOT provide this plate – obtaining it is the owner’s responsibility. For more information on this and the other new rules, visit the DNR website.
Hayward Bass Club is holding an open tournament on Round Lake Sunday June 24. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., anglers will fish in two-person teams. Individuals may compete as a ‘team,’ but are restricted to the daily legal bag limit of five fish. You do not have to be a club member to participate. The entry fee is $100 per boat. Entry forms are available at Hayward Bait, Famous Dave’s, Outdoor Creations, Stone Lake Bait, and St Croix Rods in Park Falls. For more information, contact Wayne Balsavich (715) 699-1015.
Mark your calendars for June 17 and the Third Annual Big Chip Fish Fest at The Landing on County Road CC, sponsored by the Chippewa Flowage Property Owners Association and Lake Chippewa Flowage Resort Association. Proceeds go for the purchase of extended growth walleyes. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes a shore lunch with all the fixings ($5 event button covers it), games and contests for the kids, and raffles and drawings for some outstanding prizes – including two float plane trips over the Flowage. The first 125 children receive a rod/reel combo or a bait-filled tackle box. For more information, contact John Kaiser (715) 462-3450; or Rick Marks (715) 634-2204.
FISHING REPORT
Muskies: Muskie action is good and improving, with many anglers catching fish from less than 30 inches up to some in the upper 40-inch range. Concentrate on new green weeds and weed beds out to about 10 feet of water. Best baits include bucktails, topwaters, twitch and crank baits, plastics, spinnerbaits, and small muskie suckers on quick-strike rigs.
Walleye: Walleye action is erratic, perhaps in large part due to the current mayfly hatch on many lakes. Fish weeds, weed edges, drop-offs, bars, rocks, and humps in 12-25 feet of water. The best bite is on leeches on jigs or under slip bobbers and crawlers on harnesses. Anglers are also catching fish on jigs tipped with fatheads, as well as with cast and trolled stick, minnow, and crank baits worked along the shallows in early morning and late evening hours.
Northern: Northern pike action is good on deeper weeds and bars in 5-10 feet of water, as well as in shallow bays near spawning panfish. Cast spinnerbaits, spoons, buzz baits, topwaters, and jigs and plastics, or drift northern suckers under bobbers.
Bass: Reminder: Bass fishing in the northern bass zone is catch-and-release only until June 16.
On most lakes, both largemouth and smallmouth are in the final stages of spawning. For largemouth, fish shallow bays, weeds, wood, and lily pad beds with plastics, topwaters, spinner, buzz, and surface baits, as well as live bait. For smallmouth, fish soft plastics, tubes, and creature baits on gravel and sand flats in 5-10 feet of water.
Crappie: Crappie action continues to be very good on most lakes. They have finished spawning and are moving to deeper water near weeds, bogs, brush, cribs, and other cover, though you will still find some fish in shallower water. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs or plain hooks (with/without bobbers), or Beetles Spins and spinners.
Bluegill: Bluegills are spawning in the shallows and this is the time to get after them, particularly on warm, sunny days. Look for “elephant tracks” in shallow areas with sand and gravel bottoms. Spawning bluegill will hit just about anything you toss their way, but best choices include small jigs and or plain hooks tipped with waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawler chunks, plastics, and Gulp! baits, though there is also some topwater action.
Upcoming Events
June 16: Northern zone bass season goes from catch-and-release to daily bag limits. (See regs.)
June 17: Third Annual Big Chip Fish Fest at The Landing on County Road CC (715-462-3450; 634-2204).
June 24: Hayward Bass Club open tournament on Round Lake (715-699-1015.)
June 21-24: Musky Festival (715-634-8662).
June 22-24: Hayward Lions Club 63rd Annual Musky Festival Fishing Contest.
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.