Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
This week’s forecast indicates a rather erratic mix of sun and showers, with – much like fishing for some species – no consistent pattern. Keep an eye on the sky, but do not allow weather “maybes” to affect your activity plans!
“Musky action is good,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “but mostly in early morning, evenings, and at night.
“Night fishing is best for trophy hunters. Work surface baits over weeds or Bull Dawgs in deeper areas during the day. At night, use bucktails and topwaters. For walleyes, fish leeches and crawlers around weeds in 6-15 feet during low light conditions. Fish northerns on weed beds in 8-12 feet with spinners, spoons, chatterbaits, and large minnows.
“Catch largemouth in shallow weeds with plastics and wacky worms. Fish smallmouth on hard bottom/rock areas in 8-12 feet with crayfish imitations (tubes, red crankbaits) and jumbo leeches. Crappies are suspending over deeper weeds. Bluegills are taking worms or waxies.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says Chippewa Flowage musky action is consistent.
“Fish are holding near green weeds in 2-8 feet. Use black bucktails with orange, green, or flame blades. Surface baits are productive in the evenings. With the warm water, handle fish gently and release them quickly. Fish walleyes on deep weed edges with crawlers and leeches on jigs or slip bobbers. Cast Rapalas along weed edges in the evening.
“Fish largemouth with weedless plastics/frogs around thick weed growth on the west side. Catch crappies on cribs in 15-22 feet with crappie minnows, jigs/plastics, and Gulp! Alive. Downsize your offerings to target bluegills mixed in with the crappies.”
Jim at Hayward Bait says the musky bite is spotty.
“Work weed, gravel, and shorelines in 8-15 feet with bucktails, gliders, and stickbaits. Catch walleyes on gravel bars and mid-lake structure in 10-20 feet with crawlers, leeches, walleye suckers, and fatheads. Northern fishing is good on suckers, spinners, and spoons on weedlines in 5-15 feet.
“Catch largemouth on topwaters and plastics around weeds in 4-10 feet. For smallmouth, fish rock bars and mid-lake humps with jigs/plastics, drop-shot rigs, and topwaters.
“Crappies suspending in 12-30 feet are taking crappie minnows, waxies, and plastics. Fish bluegills on gravel and rocky bottoms in 10-20 feet with waxies, leaf worms, leeches, and plastics.”
Mike at Jenk’s says Chippewa Flowage musky anglers are doing well.
“Sit over deep water and cast surface and subsurface baits on shallow, weedy bars. Fish walleyes on deep brush, cribs, weeds, and stumps with leeches and crawlers. Catch northerns in weeds with weedless spoons and spinnerbaits.
“For largemouth, fish weeds with spinnerbaits and other weedless baits. Catch smallmouth with frogs and poppers on rocks and stumps, or drop crawlers and wacky worms into cribs.
“Crappie fishing is very good on deep brush, bogs, and cribs with crappie minnows, Crappie Nibbles, Mini-Mites, and Gulp! baits.”
Jim at Minnow Jim’s says walleyes are scattered in Nelson Lake.
“Anglers should cast or jig rocky shorelines early and late and troll the river channel with diving, darting, or rattling lures. For bass and northerns, fish in and along weed beds with buzz baits, spinnerbaits, Mepps, stickbaits, poppers, frogs, dressed swim baits, and scented worms.
“Crappies and bluegills are in deeper bog and crib areas. Fish waxies, worm, crawlers, and Gulp! baits under bobbers, or add a spinner for casting.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses bait colors.
“There is a debate about which works better – natural color lures that closely mimic real prey or bright color lures that might draw more attention. An interesting 1970s study by a Wisconsin researcher could help answer the question.
“The researcher placed pike into tanks with three different colors of goldfish: white, gold/yellow, and a ‘natural’ color similar to a normal minnow. Showing no preference for one color over another, the pike ate all three colors of goldfish!
“The researcher concluded that to some fish, color might not be as important as the behavior and shape of the prey. Anglers might place too much emphasis on lure color when fish are really looking for a certain size, shape, or movement.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says the tough musky fishing continues.
“Nearly all musky anglers report fish sightings and follows, with jerkbaits, bucktails, and surface baits on deep weed edges and less-dense weed beds producing the best action. Walleye success is best on leeches and crawler halves along deep weed edges and rock/gravel bars, and stickbaits along weeds edges after dark.
“Largemouth are near logs, stumps, and bog edges, hitting soft plastics and crayfish-imitations. Smallmouth are around wood near deep water and hard bottom areas. Small crankbaits and finesse plastics get the most action. Look for panfish suspending near cover in 8-14 feet.”
Bonus unit-specific antlerless deer tags go on sale Monday, Aug. 17, at 10 a.m. Hunters must know the DMZ and unit, and if they plan to hunt on public or private land. Permits cost $12 for residents, $20 for nonresidents, and $5 for 10-11-year-olds. In whole or part, 12 counties – including Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Price, and Sawyer – have no antlerless permits available.
Hayward Bass Club’s annual free Youth Bass Tournament is this Sunday, August 16, on the Chippewa Flowage, with The Landing and LCO Resort as headquarters. Guides and experienced anglers take the youth for an afternoon of fun bass fishing competition. The youth fish catch-and-release style like the pros, holding their largest three fish in livewells for the weigh-in. A shore lunch and awards ceremony follows the fishing. For information, and to register (required), stop at Hayward Bait or Outdoor Creations, or contact Wayne Balsavich (haywardbassclub@gmail.com; 715-699-1015).
FISHING REPORT
Musky:
Musky fishing is best in early morning, evenings, and after dark. Concentrate on weedy areas – beds, bars, edges, shorelines, and gravel bars – in 2-18 feet. Bucktails, Bull Dawgs, gliders, stickbaits, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and topwaters are all catching fish.
Walleye:
Walleye action is best in low light/dark hours. Fish are scattered in 6-25 feet around weed edges, brush, stumps, cribs, river channels, rock/gravel bars, and rocky shorelines. Use leeches, crawlers, walleye suckers, and fatheads on jigs, Lindy Rigs, and slip bobbers, or cast/troll crankbaits, stickbaits, and minnow baits
Northern Pike:
Northern fishing slowed, but anglers are catching fish. Work weedlines in 3-18 feet with spinnerbaits, spoons, Mepps spinners, crankbaits, chatter baits, buzz baits, topwaters, and northern suckers under bobbers.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth fishing is very good around thick weeds, bogs, logs, brush, stumps, and slop in 2-12 feet. The most productive baits include weedless soft plastics, rigged/scented worms, spinnerbaits, Mepps spinners, swim baits, twitch baits, buzz baits, and topwaters/frogs.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth action is fair to excellent, with fish scattered on wood, stumps, humps, hard bottoms, cribs, and bars in 6-20 feet. Baits in crayfish colors work well, such as soft plastics, swim jigs, tubes, and crankbaits, as well as rigged worms, frogs, poppers, drop-shot rigs, leeches, and crawlers.
Crappie:
Crappie action is best during morning and evening hours. Look for fish in or suspending over depths from 6-30 feet around weeds, brush, bogs, and cribs. Use crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, Mini-Mites, Tattle-Tails, Crappie Nibbles, and Gulp! baits fished on jigs or plain hooks.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is fair to good for larger fish suspending in 6-22 feet along deep weedlines, on gravel and rock bottoms, bogs, and cribs. Top baits include waxies, leaf worms, leeches, plastics, and Gulp! baits.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 13-16: Sawyer County Fair (715-934-2721).
Aug. 16: Hayward Bass Club free Youth Bass Tournament (715-699-1015; haywardbassclub@gmail.com).
Aug. 17-20: Bonus unit-specific antlerless deer tags go on sale at noon.
Aug. 22: Remaining fall turkey permits on sale at 10 a.m.
Aug. 22: SCOPE Family Fun Day at Summit Lake Game Farm.
Aug. 25: Deadline to transfer Class A bear licenses to youth hunters.
Aug. 28-30: Musky Tale Resort Mega Bass Shoot-Out (715-462-3838).
Aug. 29: Tag along with elk biologist Laine Stowell, 6:30 p.m., Flambeau River State Forest (715-332-5271).
Aug. 31: Bear dog training by pursuing bear closes.
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.