Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report 10-08-12
By Steve Suman
What a weather change from the previous weekend! Anglers have come to expect it during the annual Muskies Inc. fall fishing tournament, but strong winds, temperatures in the 30s to low 40s, and a rain/sleet/snow mix made it a challenge to be on the water.
Of the 440 tournament anglers entered, 51 caught and released 64 muskies. Kyle Keith, Eau Claire, registered the largest muskies, a 47.5-inch fish. Though Dale Hoch, also from Eau Claire, did not catch a fish, he won the Grand Door Prize – a 2011 Lund 1725 Pro Guide boat, 60 hp Mercury motor, and ShoreLand’r trailer.
In the past week, Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) registered six bears and 49 deer, including 28 antlerless deer and 21 bucks combined for the archery and youth hunt deer seasons.
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.
“A big cool down over the past weekend brought colder air and water temperatures,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “Most lakes are hovering around the 50-degree mark at this time and fish reacted to the cool down by moving into the weeds and weed edges.”
At Hayward Bait, Annie says anglers should look for the lakes to turn over soon – in fact, some customers and lake home owners she has talked with are saying a number of the lakes have already reached the turnover stage.
Randy at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage water level came up an inch and the water temperature is generally in the low 50s.
“The 2012 Hayward Chapter-Muskies, Inc. fall musky tournament had good results considering the tough conditions. Anglers registered 64 fish, the largest a 47.5-inch Chippewa Flowage fish caught on a Bull Dawg.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says Chippewa Flowage water temperatures are falling into the lower 50s with the cooler weather and fish are moving into their fall patterns.
“Some muskies are still relating to the remaining green weeds, but many fish are in deeper water. Fish steep shores and rocky areas with jerkbaits, gliders, minnow baits, and live bait.”
Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says Chequamegon Bay fished well last week until the arrival of gale-force winds.
“Bass fishing is terrific, with many reports of five- and six-pound fish. Walleye anglers are catching fish at night and in the early morning hours along the Ashland shoreline on dark color crankbaits. We are hearing reports of big numbers of brown trout and coho in the South Channel and from Pikes Creek to Houghton Point and out to Long Island. Techniques and colors are varying greatly – and with the weather change there will be even more variation.”
DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter says the DNR’s Hayward fisheries team conducted 10 fall electrofishing surveys on area lakes in the last few weeks, targeting juvenile walleye and muskellunge.
“We found some young of year walleyes in Windigo Lake, Round Lake’s stocked muskies are doing well, and the lake produced a nice year class of walleye. Moose Lake has several nice walleye year classes from 2011 and 2010, but the 2012 class looks weak.
“In general, the 2012 walleye year classes appear to be weak almost everywhere in northern Wisconsin, likely a result of extreme spring weather. Teal, Whitefish, Sissabagama, Durphee, Chippewa Flowage, Chetac, and Black Dan did not have large 2012 walleye year classes, but fish stocked in the fall of 2011 are doing well. A special thanks to all of our partners who help make those stockings possible.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says that with nearly all of the major hunting seasons open, fishing activity has been relatively low on waters across the north.
“The sunny, warm weather last week made for excellent fishing conditions and it was very pleasant to be on the water. Water temperatures have dropped to the mid to upper 50-degree range and many lakes have a fall algae bloom associated with the turnover period.
“A reminder to anglers – the general inland trout season ended September 30 when most streams, rivers, and spring ponds closed to trout fishing. Many stocked trout lakes remain open and there is a list in the trout regulations pamphlet.”
Fishing Has No Boundaries is holding a spaghetti dinner fundraiser at Moose Lodge Saturday October 13. For more information, call (715) 634-3185.
FISHING REPORT
Muskie: Muskies are offering fair to good action on weed edges, flats, and rock in 5-20 feet of water. The most productive baits are bigger bucktails, Bull Dawgs, gliders, jerkbaits, crankbaits, minnow baits, topwaters, tubes, and suckers.
Walleye: Walleye action is fair, but improving. Look for them on deeper water rock, gravel, and transition areas, as well as on breaks and weeds lines, in depths from 12 to more than 30 feet. Baits of choice include jigs and fatheads, walleye suckers, crawlers, and trolled crank and stick baits.
Northern: Northern pike, cruising at various depths around weeds, weed edges, and any areas holding panfish, are taking spinnerbaits, stickbaits, spoons, and northern suckers. Many anglers are catching nice pike while muskie fishing.
Bass: Interest in bass fishing is waning in direct relation to the dropping temperatures. For largemouth, the best action is in late afternoon with plastics, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, soft plastics, and live bait. Work weeds, brush, and other structure, both shallow and deep. Smallmouth are on deep weeds, rock, and drop-offs and hitting plastics, stickbaits, crankbaits, tubes, and live bait.
Crappie: Crappies are suspending in deeper water, at various points in the water column, along weed edges, cribs, and over mud and wood flats and just starting to school. Top bait choices include crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, Tattle-Tails, Mini-Mites, tubes, and one-inch Gulp! minnows.
Bluegill: Bluegill action is fair in deeper weeds, weed edges, and other cover on waxies, worms, crawler pieces, plastics, tube jigs, and Gulp! baits fished on small jigs, ice jigs, and plain hooks, with or without bobbers. As with most panfish, the best fishing is during late afternoon hours.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 30: Seasons closed: Inland trout (see regs.); Sturgeon on inland waters. Lake trout season on Lake Superior.
Oct. 6-14: Special deer hunt for people with disabilities.
Oct. 9: Bear season closes.
Oct. 13: Fishing Has No Boundaries spaghetti dinner fundraiser at Moose Lodge (715-634-3185).
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.)
Nov. 10-16: Hayward Rod & Gun Club sight-in days 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (715-865-2506).
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.