Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
October 10, 2016
Steve Suman
This week (according to forecasts) brings cooler temperatures, but with generally improved chances for sunshine, especially when compared with many (most?) forecasts throughout this past summer and fall! It is October – enjoy it!
“We are in a very late fall,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “with very late fishing conditions for anglers.
“Musky action is erratic, with pre-turnover fish from shallow weeds to deep water, though moving into weeds for feeding. All bait types work and sucker action is just starting, with small and medium suckers working best.
“Walleyes are moving in and around weeds, holes, and humps. On some days, fish are active around hole edges in 12-18 feet, but there is still a lot of night feeding. On the bigger lakes, anglers are catching fish on minnows in 15-30 feet.
“Northerns are in the weeds, hitting spinnerbaits, spoons, and large minnows. Largemouth are still in weeds and favor minnows and minnow imitations. Smallmouth are deeper, foraging for minnows.
“Crappies are in deeper water and require searching, while bluegills and perch remain in the weeds.”
Mike at Jenk’s says Chippewa Flowage muskie fishing is very good.
“Action is all over in terms of baits, including topwaters and bucktails, but it will increase on jerkbaits, large plastics, and suckers. Walleye fishing is picking up, though slow during the day. Try fishing crawlers and minnows on stump bars around twilight.
“Round Lake smallmouth action is very good on the cribs. Try fishing off structure in 6-11 feet during the day and in rock and stump areas just before dusk.
“Crappie fishing is spread out with the warmer temperatures. They are yet to school and we need it to cool a bit. In the meantime, anglers are catching 2-3 fish and moving to a new spot.”
At Anglers All in Ashland, Carolyn says anglers are finally seeing a fall pattern develop on Chequamegon Bay.
“Trout and salmon anglers trolling spoons, bait flies, and stickbaits on downriggers, lead-core, and Dipsey Divers report good catches of nice size coho, brown trout, splake, and steelhead from the Islands into the Bay, especially off the river mouths.
“Anglers without boats report good success casting heavier spoons and larger spinners off river mouths. Many migratory fish moved into the streams and anglers are using yarn, spawn, spinners, and small spoons.
“Smallmouth and walleyes are moving into their fall haunts, schooling in deeper drops, especially during high sun hours. During low light, walleyes are along the Ashland shoreline following baitfish – which we have loads of this year, sometimes making it more difficult for anglers!”
Variable weather and hunting seasons combined to produce low fishing pressure, says DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt.
“Musky anglers report good to excellent action in and near weed beds, with some in deep water. Suckers on quick-set rigs provide most of the action, though some anglers still throw artificials. Walleye fishing is slowly improving with the cooling water temperatures, and a few anglers report decent catches on medium-size minnows on deep edges along gravel shorelines and weed beds.
“Largemouth are taking soft plastics in shallow weeds and mid-depth cover. A few smallmouth are near mid-depth cover, but getting tougher to catch with the cooling water temperatures.
“Panfish anglers report some good catches of crappie, bluegill, and perch along weedlines and weed bed edges.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses radio tagging Hayward area muskies.
“During the past 10 years, more than 13,000 muskies in the Hayward area received implants of small radio tags (PIT tags) to track survival, growth, and movement. Tagging efforts really ramped up in 2012, and after that, we started tagging large batches of fingerlings before stocking them into the Chippewa Flowage, Lac Courte Oreilles, Sand, and Lost Land.
“In 2016, we are starting to reap the benefits of this massive tagging effort. Recaptures of tagged fish are becoming more and more common, and that will continue to increase as we tag more fish.
“Each recaptured fish returns a wealth of information on stocking survival, growth, and movement. We can make numerous management decisions from data collected via these tags, including stocking sizes, numbers, brood stock management, and harvest regulations.
“Tags also reveal how interconnected our muskellunge waters are in the Hayward area, with large movements already observed between connected lakes. Muskellunge have moved between waterbodies where connections were hardly thought to exist, as large fish are willing to travel through small creeks that may have only intermittent flows.”
Fishing has No Boundaries is hosting its annual fall fundraiser/all you can eat spaghetti feed this Saturday, October 15, from 4:30-7 p.m., at Flat Creek Inn in Hayward. The event includes both live and silent auctions, door prizes, raffle prizes, and more. Tickets cost $8 for people 10 years and older and $4 for youth 2-9 years of age. For more information, visit www.haywardfhnb.org/events.html or call (715) 634-3185.
FISHING REPORT
Musky:
Musky action is fair to good for some anglers and excellent for others. Fish remain scattered in various locations and habitat, as well as a range of depths, from shallow to deep. Most baits are working, though bucktails, jerkbaits, plastics, and suckers on quick-strike rigs provide most of the action.
Walleye:
Walleye action is improving, albeit slowly, with best fishing in late evening and after dark. During the day, focus on deep weeds, weed beds, humps, and holes out to 30 feet. In low light periods, work the edges of shallower weedlines, humps, stumps, and gravel bars and shorelines with walleye suckers, crawlers, and trolled/cast crank and stick baits.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike fishing is good in weeds at various depths for anglers fishing spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and northern suckers. Fish deeper water with larger baits for trophy pike.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action is slowing with the cooling water temperatures. Most fish are moving to deeper weeds and other cover, though some remain shallow. Top baits include live bait, minnow baits, crawlers, and soft plastics.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is fair, with fish in deeper weeds and near mid-depth cribs, rock, stumps, and other cover. Minnows are producing the best success, particularly late in the day.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good, though fish are scattered and action is not yet at peak fall levels. Fish are moving to deeper weeds, weedlines, and other structure.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is fair to good for fish in the weeds, weed beds, and along weed edges. Use waxies, leaf worms, crawler pieces, and plastics fished on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks. Fish deeper water for larger ‘gills.
Perch:
Perch are in the weeds and along weed edges, providing fair to good fishing on waxies, crawlers, fatheads, and plastics on jigs and split shot rigs tight to the bottom along weed edges.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 11: Bear season closes.
Oct. 15: Seasons open: Pheasant; Ruffed grouse Zone B; Bobwhite quail; Hungarian partridge; Raccoon gun/trapping (residents only); Red and gray fox hunting/trapping; Coyote and fisher, trapping; Bobcat hunting/trapping Period 1.
Oct. 15: Inland trout season closes (see regs).
Oct. 15: FHNB Annual Fall Fundraiser spaghetti feed at Flat Creek Inn; 4:30-7 p.m. (715-634-3185).
Oct. 22: Seasons open: Muskrat; Mink.
Oct. 22: Fun in the Forest ATV benefit ride at Lakewoods Resort (715-794-2561).
Oct. 29: Raccoon hunting and trapping season opens for non-residents.
Nov. 5: Trapping seasons open in North Zone: Beaver; Otter.
Nov. 19-27: Gun deer hunt (see regs).
Nov. 28-Dec. 7: Muzzleloader deer season (see regs).
Dec. 8-11: Statewide Antlerless Hunt (see regs).
For more information on area events and activities, visit the Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau website, view its Calendar of Events, or call 800-724-2992.