Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
September 2, 2013
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
This week’s forecast promises mild weather, with warming temperatures and ‘chances’ for rain later in the week. It looks as if September is off to a great start!
“Late summer conditions are here,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “Early morning and evening fishing is good and comfortable, but warm temperatures and high humidity dominate the late mornings and afternoons.
“With the sun still high, fish are in deep weeds or water during the day. Lake levels are lower than we would like, and weed growth is good, with most weeds right to the top.”
Jim at Hayward Bait says bass are very active in most lakes.
“Largemouth are in 3-12 feet of water and hitting plastics, spinners, topwaters, crawlers, and leeches. Smallmouth are in 15-30 feet of water, on rock humps or near cribs, and jigs with trailer plastics, drop-shot rigs, crawlers, and leeches are all catching fish.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says muskie fishing remains good on the Chippewa Flowage.
“Work bucktails, topwaters, jerkbaits, and Bull Dawgs on weed beds, weed edges, and over deeper water. Northern pike action is good with spinnerbaits and jig/plastic combinations in and around the weeds.
“For walleyes, work sunken bogs, deep brush, and weed edges with leeches, crawlers, and minnows.”
Randy at Jenk’s says Chippewa Flowage muskie action is ‘up and down’ at this time, with surface baits and bucktails still the baits of choice.
“Walleyes are on drops and humps in 12-17 feet of water and showing no bait preference. Fish bass around any structure in 4-10 feet of water with tubes, spinnerbaits, plastics, and crawlers.”
DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter says the new Wisconsin Walleye Initiative created an influx of money for stocking walleye in the area. Many places need the fish and they will benefit the lakes.
“This program also forces fisheries biologists to look at a lake’s characteristics to determine if we can manage it for walleye, or if the habitat is better suited for other species, such as largemouth bass.
“The lakes where walleyes are successful are typically deeper, rockier, have less dense aquatic vegetation, and often have stained water, though if clear lakes are very deep, they can be good for walleye. Largemouth bass lakes are typically the opposite – shallow, mucky, weedy, and clear.
“Deciding which species to manage for in any given lake is important going forward to ensure that we are not wasting time and money fighting against the natural state of a lake.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says recent fishing activity is as hot as the weather.
“Largemouth and smallmouth bass are the highlights, with most bass waters providing great action. Largemouth favor woody cover, deep weedlines, and bog edges, and soft plastics and jig/craw combinations provide the most success.
“For smallmouth, fish deep running crankbaits and small finesse plastics near structure along hard bottom areas close to deeper water.”
There is a free wild ricing workshop September 14 at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with demonstrations by biologists from the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission. Attendees will learn the ecology, harvesting, and finishing of wild rice, and see the entire process from raw to finished product. Presenters will parch hand-harvested wild rice over an open fire and finish it using a small-batch threshing/winnowing machine. For more information, visit www.crexmeadows.org, or call (715) 463-2739.
Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. invites the public to attend its September 3 meeting. At 7 p.m., Wendy Williamson and Larry Mann from Hayward Fly Fishing Company will present a lakeside fly-fishing for muskies demonstration. The meeting is at Beer Bellies, 10 miles east of Hayward on Hwy 77. There is no charge and non-members can purchase an annual Muskies, Inc. membership for half price. For information, call Mike Persson (715) 634-4543.
FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
Muskie anglers are enjoying relatively good action, with the best activity in early morning and late afternoon hours. Work weed beds, weed edges, and over deeper water with bucktails, Bull Dawgs, topwaters, plastics, gliders, and jerkbaits. Some nice fish caught in recent days!
Walleye:
Walleye action is erratic, though surprisingly good at times. The low light early morning and evening hours into dark continue to offer the best fishing. Fish are scattered in various locations, on gravel bars, weedlines, weed edges, brush, bogs, and cribs, in depths from 12 to more than 30 feet, depending on the lake. Leeches (if you can find them) and crawlers still lead the pack, with the minnow transition in progress.
Northern:
Northern pike action will improve with cooler temperatures. Work deep weeds, weedlines, and wherever you find panfish with spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, crankbaits, jigs and plastics, but it is still difficult to beat northern suckers.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth continue to provide the most consistent action for anglers. Look for them in and around shallow weeds, wood, docks, brush, bogs, and slop, particularly in heavy cover where extricating them can be a challenge. Plastics, spinners, spinnerbaits, topwaters (frogs, poppers), and crawlers all work well, and weedless baits can make for easier fishing.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth anglers are doing well fishing deeper water rocks, humps, cribs, and structure on/near hard bottom areas. Top bait choices include tubes, plastics, swim jigs, drop-shot rigs, deep diving Rapalas and crankbaits, leeches, and crawlers. Crayfish are the top forage for smallmouth, so choose color patterns accordingly. Just sayin’ ...
Crappie:
Crappie action is fair to good. Look for fish on deep weeds, cribs, and bogs, as well as suspending over deeper water. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, small fatheads, waxies, tubes, plastics, and Gulp! baits fished on small jigs and plain hooks, with or without bobbers.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is generally good. Small fish are cooperative and offer plenty of action in shallow water. Catching larger ‘gills will require some patience. Work deeper weeds, weedlines, brush, and structure with waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawler chunks, and panfish leeches on small jigs, teardrops, or plain hooks. Small minnows work well for the bigger fish and help avoid bait robbers.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 1: Seasons opened: Early September Canada goose (see regs); Mourning dove; Wild ginseng.
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.
Sept. 16: Canada goose season opens in exterior zone.
Sept. 19-22: Youth Muskie Hunt at Mystic Moose Resort (715-462-3014).
Sept. 21: Hayward Fall Festival (715-634-8662).
Sept. 21: Duck season opens in northern exterior zone.
Sept. 27-28: Cable Area Fall Festival (800-533-7454).
Oct. 5-6: Youth Deer Hunt.
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.