Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report October 1, 2012
By Steve Suman
If you were not ‘up north’ in the past few days, you missed an outstanding weekend of warm weather and display of fall colors. Simply spectacular!
“It is hard to believe September is history,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “but that does not mean the end of fishing. In fact, this is a great time of year to fish. Just being on the water when it is quiet, witnessing the beautiful fall colors, makes it well worth it.”
At Hayward Bait, Bob says duck and grouse numbers are up and hunters report good success.
Archery deer hunting is also very good,” Jim adds, “and hunters are registering some very nice bucks. Bear registrations are slow, however. With the excellent acorn crop, bears are just not showing much movement.”
Randy at Jenk’s says Chippewa Flowage muskie action is steady on jerkbaits and suckers, with some bucktail success, on bars and weeds in 4-8 feet of water. For walleyes, work minnows in the brush in 14-18 feet of water.
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says some Chippewa Flowage muskies are still relating to weeds, but many moved to deeper water.
“Try jerk baits such as Suicks, Warlocks, and Bull Dawgs, and live bait on quick-strike rigs. Fish walleyes in both 15-20 feet of water and in weeds, particularly in early mornings and evening, with bright color jigs tipped with fatheads.”
Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says fishing is excellent in and around Chequamegon Bay.
“Smallmouth action is great at the rock pile, Long Island, and the end of the breakwall for anglers drifting suckers, with some success on crankbaits and jigging spoons. Anglers casting and trolling stickbaits along the Ashland shoreline during low light hours and after dark are experiencing good walleye action. Brown trout and coho by the Onion and Sioux rivers are hitting trolled bait flies, dodgers, stickbaits, spoons, and Spin-N-Glos.”
Conserving muskie genetics has received a lot of attention over the last decade, says DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter. He notes a well-publicized Minnesota DNR study addressing the slow growth of brood stock traced problems back to poor brood stock management.
“The Wisconsin DNR has implemented a brood stock management plan that relies heavily on some of our local, world renowned muskie populations. Governor Thompson Fish Hatchery in Spooner now uses Lac Courte Oreilles, Chippewa Flowage, and Teal Lake, on a rotating basis, as the egg source for muskies stocked in northwest Wisconsin.
“Through this plan we can maintain genetic integrity and diversity and stock fish well-adapted to survive and grow in our specific lakes.”
In the past week, Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) registered 12 bears, including two weighing more than 300 pounds, one of which with exceptionally long fur. For archery deer season, the stations registered 13 antlerless deer, and 13 bucks.
Reminder: Turkey hunters must register their birds through the Harvest Registration Hotline (1-888-486-8947) or Harvest Registration System on the DNR website. Registration stations no longer register turkey harvest.
During September 20-23, Jim Onarheim and Mystic Moose Resort on Moose Lake served as host and headquarters for the third annual Muskies Inc. and Youth Conservation Alliance Youth Muskie Hunt. Participants included nearly 50 Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota youths 6-17 years of age, each accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, including dads, moms, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. The youth learned how to read lake maps, the importance of boating safety, how to produce their own muskie bucktails – and caught 56 muskies!
The 2013 Youth Muskie Hunt (Sept. 19-22) is in the planning stages – look for information in the coming months on the YCA and Muskies Inc. websites.
The Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. 35th Annual Fall Muskie Tournament is this weekend, October 5-7. You can enter in person or by phone until 11 p.m. October 4 at or Jenk’s (715-462--3055) or Hayward Bait (715-634-2921). Every entrant is eligible for the Grand Door Prize, a 2012 Lund 1725 Pro Guide tiller boat, ShoreLand’r trailer, and 60 hp Mercury motor. The entry fee is $90 for adults and $25 for youth ages 16 and younger.
FISHING REPORT
Muskie: Muskie action is good to very good. Fish weeds, weed edges, and bars in 3-16 feet of water, as well as deeper weeds. Currently, the top producing baits are suckers, bucktails, jerkbaits, crankbaits, tubes, and topwaters. Remember – anglers using suckers measuring eight inches and longer must use quick-strike rigs or a non-offset circle hooks.
Walleye: Walleye anglers are doing well, catching fish on weeds, weed edges, breaks, brush, and mud bottom/transition areas in depths from six to more than 30 feet of water. Jigs and fatheads, walleye suckers, and crawlers are all producing catches.
Northern: Northern pike action is improving with the cooling water. Fish weeds and anywhere you find panfish with spinners, spinnerbaits, stickbaits, spoons, minnow baits, Rapalas, and of course northern suckers.
Bass: The number of anglers targeting bass drops quickly as the water cools and shallow weeds die off, but the bass are still there! For largemouth, fish weeds, brush, and other structure, from shallow to deep, with plastics, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and live bait. For smallmouth, work deeper weeds, rocks, structure, and drop-offs with plastics, tubes, stick and crank baits, and crawlers – and minnows can be very productive this time of year.
Crappie: Crappie action is good, getting better, and they should soon start schooling. For now, look for fish suspending in/over deeper water and/or on cribs and brush in 10-25 feet of water. Best baits include crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, tube jigs, and Gulp! baits tipped on plain hooks and small jigs and fished with or without slip bobbers.
Bluegill: Interest in bluegills, as with bass, drops this time of year, but the anglers who target them are catching some nice big ones. Fish deeper weeds and weed edges with waxies, worms, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, and other ice jigs. You will often find bluegills mixed in with crappies, and bigger ‘gills in deeper water.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 30: Seasons closed: Inland trout (see regs.); Sturgeon on inland waters. Lake trout season on Lake Superior.
Oct. 5-7: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. Fall Muskie Tournament (715-634-2921).
Oct. 6: Stone Lake Cranberry Festival.
Oct. 6-7: Youth deer hunt.
Oct. 6-7: Musky Tale Resort Crappie Quest (715-462-3838).
Oct. 6-14: Special deer hunt for people with disabilities (registration deadline Sept. 1).
Oct. 9: Bear season closes.
Oct. 15: Wolf hunting and trapping season opens (see regs).
Oct. 20: Seasons open: Pheasant; Ruffed grouse (zone B); Sharp-tailed grouse (by permit); Bobwhite quail; Hungarian partridge; Raccoon gun and trapping (residents); Red and gray fox hunting and trapping; Coyote trapping; Muskrat; Mink (northern zone); Fisher trapping; Bobcat hunting and trapping period 1 (north of Hwy. 64.)
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.