Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report August 26, 2013
By Steve Suman
It is starting to look like fall, feel like fall, and smell like fall, but the forecast for this week has full-bore summer temperatures written all over it! Get out there and take advantage of this already abbreviated season!
“Overall,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “fishing’s ups and downs continue as we move into this last week of August. Repeated cold fronts in the past couple weeks slowed action, so the warming trend this week bodes well for anglers, as the fish like steady weather.
“Water temperatures drifted lower during the cooler weather and a return to the more normal August temperatures should spur some better fishing action.”
Jim at Hayward Bait says bucktails, plastics, and topwaters are currently very effective for muskies.
“The bite really picked up with the cooler temperatures and there are reports of 50-inch and larger fish caught on area lakes. Walleyes are active on deep weedlines and gravel bars for anglers using leeches, crawlers, and minnows. Nelson Lake and the Flowage are good for crappies suspending over deeper water. Use crappie minnows, waxies, and plastics.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says muskie anglers are starting to see more big fish and action is steady on the Chippewa Flowage.
“Fish weed beds and the edges in 2-10 feet of water with bucktails, topwaters, and Suicks. Bass anglers continue to catch lots of largemouth on the west side fishing the thick ‘slop’ with weedless plastics. Tube jigs work for crappies on cribs and deep brush. For bluegills, fish the same areas with smaller jigs tipped with plastics, waxies, worms, and Gulp!”
Randy at Jenk’s says Chippewa Flowage muskies are still hitting bucktails and surface baits on the bar edges and largemouth are taking spinnerbaits, weedless plastics, and crawlers. Anglers are catching crappies with minnows on cribs, bogs, and brush.
Jim at Minnow Jim’s says Nelson Lake anglers are catching some fish.
“For bass, cast around thick weeds with weedless plastic surface baits such as frogs and Chug Bugs, spinnerbaits with Colorado blades, and Bill’s 8-inch scented baits. Walleye anglers report success with leeches on rocky points and weedline edges. Drift fish for panfish, using crappie minnows and Gulp! for crappies and waxies, worms, and leeches for bluegills.”
DNR LTE fisheries technician Scott Braden says fishing is settling in nicely in Sawyer County.
“Muskies seem to be coming around, though every day is bringing different results. Walleyes are on deep weed edges and structure, with some starting to suspend over deeper water. Northern pike are scattered in deeper cabbage beds.
“Crappies and perch are spread out in deep weeds in the clear lakes and on deep structure such as wood and humps in stained lakes. Bluegills are schooling on deep structure on the Flowage and suspending in deep water on the clear lakes.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says with relatively light rainfall in the last month river and stream levels remain very low.
“Most lakes and flowages have seen water levels decline and are near typical summer lows. However, both the weather and fish are cooperating, muskies and bass are especially active, and fishing is good in the North Woods.
“Muskies, along weed edges and in shallower weed beds, are hitting topwaters, soft plastics, and slow stickbaits. Largemouth are relating to thick cover and weedless topwaters and soft plastics are productive.”
The Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. invites the public to its September 3 meeting at Beer Bellies, 10 miles east of Hayward on Hwy 77. Following a 6-7 p.m. business meeting, Wendy Williamson and Larry Mann from Hayward Fly Fishing Company will present a lake-side demonstration on fly-fishing for muskies. Admission is free – and non-members can purchase a Muskies, Inc. membership for half price. For more information, call Mike Persson (715) 634-4543.
FISHING REPORT
Muskie: Muskie action is finally showing a bit of stability, but early and late hours still offer you the best odds. Work weeds, weedlines, and bar edges, both shallow and deep, with bucktails, Bull Dawgs and other soft plastics, topwaters, jerkbaits, gliders, and stickbaits.
Walleye: Walleyes are scattered and best success continues to be early morning, late evening, and after dark. Look at deeper water (to 30 feet; much shallower during prime time) weeds, weedlines, sand, gravel, brush, bogs, bars, and rock. Leeches, crawlers, and minnows lead the list, but crank and stick baits are also catching fish.
Northern: Northern pike action is erratic (summer heat?). As always think weeds, structure, or baitfish, but in water a bit deeper than usual. Live bait is difficult to beat for pike, but you can also catch fish on spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and crankbaits.
Largemouth Bass: Largemouth fishing is very good, but the bass are in thick, heavy cover and it can be frustrating. Target shallow water lily pads, weeds, wood, slop, and bog edges, looking for openings where you can drop your bait. Hungry bass will hit just about anything, but the prime baits at this time include topwaters, spinnerbaits, minnow baits, stickbaits, and weedless plastics. Live bait, such as crawlers, minnows, and leeches will entice them, too.
Smallmouth Bass: Smallmouth anglers are enjoying good success on deeper, hard bottom areas (rock, gravel), along weedlines, brush and other structure in or bordering deep water. You can catch the smallies on crankbaits, soft plastics (tubes, worms), minnow baits, and stickbaits. Crayfish patterns are a good starting point.
Crappie: Crappie action is good when you find the scattered fish. Look for them suspending over deeper water, and in/on deeper weeds, weedlines, brush, bogs, cribs, and other structure. The most effective baits include crappie minnows, fatheads, waxies, plastics, tube jigs, and Gulp! baits, but their preferences can change from day to day.
Bluegill: Bluegill action is good on most waters. You can have constant fun catching and releasing small fish around shallower weeds, docks, and brush, or try for larger fish (slower action) on deeper weedlines, brush, and cribs. Traditional baits – waxies, worms, leaf worms, leeches, plastics, and Gulp! baits – will all catch fish. Tip them on small jigs, ice jigs, or plain hooks, without or without a bobber. Small minnows work well for bigger fish and help avoid ‘bait robbers.’
Upcoming Events
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear (see regs for exceptions).
Sept. 1: Seasons open: Early September Canada goose (see regs); Mourning dove; Wild ginseng.
Sept. 1: Application deadline for hunters with disabilities to participate in sponsored hunt.
Sept. 3: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting at Beer Bellies (715-634-4543).
Sept. 4: Bear season opens (see regs).
Sept. 7: Hook-and-line lake sturgeon season opens 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.
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.