August 11, 2014 Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Mild days and cool nights continue – according to the forecast – with no mention of rain until Saturday. Take heart -- on “rare” occasions the forecast are wrong!
“Though Labor Day is just a few weeks away,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “the warming water should bring back more traditional summer fishing patterns.
“Fish muskies early and late on cloudy, humid days with bucktails, large crankbaits, and surface lures. For walleyes, work deep weedy, rocky areas with leeches, crawlers, and plastics on jigs.
“Look for largemouth around weeds and heavy cover in 4-10 feet with plastic worms, minnow imitations, and topwaters. Smallmouth are in deeper water, sometimes down 30 feet, and anglers are using deep-running crankbaits and crayfish imitations.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says muskie action is great on the Chippewa Flowage.
“Fish them along weedlines and weed edges with bucktails and topwaters. Cast plastics during tough conditions. For walleyes, fish deep brush and sunken bogs with hook and split shot rigs tipped with leeches and crawlers. Catch northern pike with bright bucktails on the weed edges.
“Largemouth action is good on the west side slop areas with weedless frogs and Texas-rigged plastic worms. Fish crappies on brush and cribs in 12-24 feet with 1/16-ounce jigs and tube skirts in pink/white, green/white, or chartreuse.”
Bob at Hayward Bait says bucktails, gliders, and topwaters work for muskies on weed beds in 8-15 feet.
“Fish walleye on gravel bars and structure in 15-30 feet with crawlers and leeches on slip bobbers, jigs, and Lindy harnesses, and trolled crankbaits. Fish northerns on weedlines in 5-15 feet with northern suckers, spinners, spoons, and bucktails.
“Catch largemouth in shallow weeds with plastics, jigs, topwaters, and buzz baits. Fish smallmouth with leeches, crawlers, walleye suckers, and crankbaits out to 25 feet. For suspending crappies, use minnows, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! Alive on jigs and slip bobbers.”
Mike at Jenk’s says muskie activity increased in the past week.
“Anglers are throwing bucktails, surface baits, Bull Dawgs, and crankbaits. Walleye action is decent with leeches and crawlers in deeper brush during the day; work bars and weed edges in the evening. We have another week or so before leeches are unavailable. Northern pike are hitting spinnerbaits, spoons, and northern suckers.
“Fish bass with leeches and crawlers on weeds and deep weeds off bars. Crappie fishing is good on bogs and brush with crappie minnows, Mini-Mites, and tube jigs. The best bite is in the evening.”
Jim at Minnow Jim’s says Nelson Lake’s water clarity decreased and anglers should try bright lures with splash, flash, rattle, and scent.
“For walleyes, troll early and late with shallow stickbaits and deep diving baits in the river channel, or use leeches, minnows, and artificials near weeds, bogs, and cribs. Catch bass and northern on weed beds with poppers, frogs, buzz baits, spoons, and scented worms.
“Crappie fishing is great on any bait in water six feet or deeper. Last week, customer Hank Adamczyk brought in a ‘gold crappie,’ a ‘one in a million fish’ according to a local DNR agent.”
Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says trout and salmon trolling is excellent from Long Island to Outer Island to the flats and everywhere between!
“Anglers trolling stickbaits are catching brown trout on the first breaks in early morning and on the rocks around the Islands during the day. In deeper water, lake trout are abundant for anglers trolling spoons and Spin-N-Glos (hot color is ‘57 Chevy) with Dipsey Divers, lead core line, and downriggers.
“Smallmouth action is good shallow with streamers, wacky worms, and Twister Tails. Use sucker minnows in deeper water, such as the breakwall, rock pile, and Long Island.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter bids goodbye to retiring DNR fisheries supervisor Dave Neuswanger.
“After 35 combined years as a biologist and supervisor in the Missouri Department of Conservation and Wisconsin DNR, Dave Neuswanger officially retired in July. Dave supervised fisheries management for the Upper Chippewa Basin, which includes Sawyer and five other counties.
“During his career, Dave brought many fresh ideas and constant professionalism to the table, and played a major role in many programs currently in place to improve our area fisheries, such as extended growth walleye stocking.
“Those of us on the Hayward Fish Team will greatly miss Dave as a supervisor. However, we know he will remain active in the community and be involved in future fisheries issues while enjoying his well-earned retirement.
“Thank you, Dave, for many great years of service!”
The annual Sawyer County Outdoor Projects & Education (SCOPE) Family Fun Day is Saturday August 23 atSummit Lake Game Farm. The event allows the public to interact with outdoor activities and expert demonstrations on the basics of many outdoor related skills. Admission cost is $5 for adults and free to youth 18 years of age and younger. For more information, visit www.sawyercountyoutdoors.com or call Chris Wunrow (715) 558-5371.
FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
Muskie action is inconsistent with some anglers reporting great success. Work weedlines and the outside edges of weed beds in 6-15 feet of water with bucktails, Bull Dawgs, spinners, spinnerbaits, surface baits, crankbaits, gliders, and plastics.
Walleye:
Walleye action is fair in 8-30 feet with rock, gravel, weeds, wood, brush, bogs, bars, cribs, and mid-lake structure. Work shallower water in late afternoon and evening hours. Top baits include crawlers and leeches on jigs, slip bobbers, and live bait rigs, minnows, and trolled or cast crankbaits and stickbaits.
Northern Pike:
Northern fishing is good to very good, especially for smaller fish. Look for pike (and apparently muskies, too) on weedlines and weed beds in 5-18 feet of water. Effective baits include spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, swim baits, bucktails, and northern suckers.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action is excellent on most waters, particularly in shallower weeds, wood, and slop out to about 10 feet, with some fish deeper. This is a great time to try different lures in your tackle box, with rigged plastics; crank, spinner, stick, and buzz baits; topwaters (frogs, poppers); and live bait such as crawlers and leeches.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth action is fair in deeper water, from 12-28 feet or more, on weeds, bars, and hard-bottom areas. Top baits include crayfish color crankbaits, tubes, jigs/plastics, and live bait such as leeches, crawlers, and walleye suckers. As a rule, artificials offer more leeway for error and “clean” releases.
Crappie:
Crappie action is good to very good, with evenings best. Find fish in 6-25 feet of water near weeds, woods, brush, bogs, and cribs, and suspending over deeper water. Bait choices include crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, tube jigs, and Gulp! baits fished on small jigs or plain hooks, with or without slip bobbers.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action is very good for small fish in shallow water weeds and docks. For larger ‘gills, try weeds, wood, cribs, and brush out to about 15 feet. Productive baits include waxies, worms, leaf worms, and leeches on small jigs and plain hooks. Poppers and rubber spiders offer great topwater fun.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 12-13: NRB meeting in Hayward (608- 267-7420).
Aug. 14-17: Sawyer County Fair (715-934-2721).
Aug. 17: Hayward Bass Club Youth Bass Tournament on Chippewa Flowage (405-227-1789).
Aug. 23: Remaining fall turkey permits go on sale.
Aug. 23: S.C.O.P.E. Family Fun Day (715-558-5371).
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear (see regs. for exceptions).
Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau and Sawyer County Record co-sponsor this report. For more information on area events and activities, visit the HLVCB’s Calendar of Events or call 800-724-2992.