Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report July 21, 2014
Steve Suman
The hot and humid Monday gives way to moderate temperatures through midweek, with thunderstorm chances early and late in the week ... according to the prognosticators ... and always subject to change!
“Finding good weed cover is the best bet for anglers,” says Pat at Happy Hooker.
“Muskies are both shallow and deep. Bucktails work, but try surface lures at sundown. For walleyes in deep weeds, use leeches and crawlers. Fish plastic worms and frogs in heavy cover for largemouth, and crankbaits and leeches along rock and gravel for smallmouth.
“Crappie action is good on weedlines in 4-8 feet with crappie minnows, small plastics, or Gulp! Minnows.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says Chippewa Flowage muskies are near weeds.
“Use bucktails for daytime and topwaters at dawn and dusk. For walleyes, use leeches and crawlers on slip bobbers or jigs near sunken bogs, humps, and wood in 12-22 feet. Many anglers fishing weeds for muskies are catching pike.
“For largemouth, fish thick slop with plastic worms and frogs. Catch crappies near brush or cribs in 12-22 feet on 1/16-ounce tube jigs, and bluegills on jigs and mini-plastics.”
Jim at Hayward Bait says glider and divers work for muskies on points and shallow weedlines.
“Walleye action is good with leeches and crawlers on weedlines and gravel bars in 12-20 feet. Fish pike around weeds with northern suckers, spinners, spoons, and bucktails. Catch largemouth with plastics and topwaters in weeds to 10 feet and smallmouth with leeches, crawlers, and crankbaits to 20 feet. Catch crappies suspending over deeper water with minnows, waxies, and plastics, and bluegills in 3-10 feet with waxies, leeches, and crawlers.”
Jim at Minnow Jim’s says Nelson Lake anglers should fish walleyes with a leeches or minnows under slip bobbers, or cast and troll stickbaits in morning and evening.
“On calm days, fish bass along weed beds and shorelines with surface and spinner baits, Jungle Jigs, or scented plastics. For northerns, try spinnerbaits, bucktails, or northern suckers.
“Crappies and bluegills are in deeper water and you can catch them on minnows, worms, waxies, Gulp!, Crappie Slugs, and Stinger Shad.”
Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says trout fishing is terrific.
“Some anglers use stickbaits in the shallows in early morning and evening, but most troll spoons off downriggers, Dipsey Divers, and lead core line. Bait flies behind dodgers can also be effective.
“Smallmouth fishing is good shallow and deep, depending on wind direction and current. Move baits slowly unless you see bass chasing minnows. Walleye fishing is good with stickbaits trolled on drops, humps, and weed beds.”
DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter says Nelson Lake is showing signs of improvement.
“During the early 2000s, Nelson Lake experienced one of the most dramatic declines in walleye of any lake in northern Wisconsin. Recovery efforts started several years ago include extended growth stocking, more restrictive regulations, and liberalized bass regulations to address slow growth and overabundance.
“Surveys in 2014 found Nelson Lake adult walleye numbers more than doubled from 2008, though still well below historical levels, and largemouth are dropping in abundance and increasing in average length.
“Progress is not rapid, but it is encouraging to see what could be the beginnings of a turn-around.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says some muskie anglers report multiple catches per trip.
“Walleye fishing is consistent in mid-depth weeds and deep weed edges with leeches or crawlers on slip bobbers. Bass anglers fishing weed edges are keeping busy with small pike.
“Use soft plastics for largemouth on mid-depth weeds, lily pads, bogs, and docks. Fish smallmouth near deep wood and structure. Catch crappie, bluegill, and perch on deep mud flats and weed edges with waxies and crawlers.”
Sawyer County Outdoor Projects & Education (SCOPE) and the DNR are offering a Hunter Education course. Classes meet at Hayward Middle School August 5, 7, 12, and Saturday August 9 at Summit Lake Game Farm. The course is limited to 35 students and requires advance registration. Cost is $10. To register, email scope4youth@hotmail.com. For more information, contact Chris Wunrow (715) 558-5371.
The Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. annual Kid’s Fishing Day on Tiger Cat Flowage is Sunday August 3, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Beer Bellies, 12 miles east of Hayward on Hwy 77. Club members guide the youth until noon, returning for a shore lunch and prize distribution. To request more information or to volunteer to guide or help with the event, contact Mike Persson (715) 634-4543.
FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
Muskie action is good on shallow weedlines, weed edges, and points, and in/on weed beds with bucktails, gliders, divers, and topwaters.
Walleye:
Walleye action is best in early morning and late evening into after dark. Fish deep water (to 24 feet or deeper) during the day and shallower water in evening hours. Work weeds, wood, brush, bogs, gravel, and humps with leeches and crawlers on slip bobbers rigs or jigs, or troll/cast stick and crank baits.
Northern Pike:
Anglers are catching good numbers of northern pike, though many are fishing for muskies and bass in weeds and along weed edges in 5-17 feet of water. When pike are active, bait choice is not critical – use northern suckers, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, swim baits, bucktails, and crank/stick baits. For trophy pike, fish bigger baits in deeper water.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action is very good to excellent on most waters, with fish in shallow, heavy cover out to about 12 feet. Target thick weeds and weed edges, slop, lily pads, stumps, logs, bogs, and docks with jigs and plastics (rigged worms, leeches, weedless frogs/topwaters), spinner and crank baits.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is good on deeper rock, gravel, wood, and other structure out to 20 feet and more. Best baits include crankbaits, tubes, leeches, crawlers, and topwaters. Crawdad colors are a great choice for artificials!
Crappie:
Crappies are in depths from four to more than 20 feet, depending on lake, weather, and time of day. Look for them in/on weeds, weedlines, brush, bogs, cribs, mud flats, and suspending over deeper water. Top bait choices include crappie minnows, waxies, worms, plastics, tube jigs, and Gulp! baits fished on jigs, with or without bobbers.
Bluegill:
Bluegills are on deeper water weed edges, mud flats, and holding with crappies. Best baits include waxies, worms, crawlers, leeches, Berkley baits, and plastics on teardrops, small jigs, and plain hooks, fished with or without bobbers.
Upcoming Events
July 24-26: 55th Annual Lumberjack World Championships (715-634-2484).
July 26-27: Project Appleseed event at Indianhead Rifle & Pistol Club (715-466-5145).
July 27: Hayward Bass Club Chippewa Flowage Open (405-227-1789).
Through July 31: Illegal to allow dogs to run on DNR lands and Federal WPA (see regs for exceptions).
Aug. 1: Application deadline: Fall turkey; Horicon goose; Wolf; Bobcat; Fisher; Otter; Sharp-tailed grouse; Upriver Winnebago system sturgeon spearing.
Aug. 2: Flambeau River State Forest Outdoor Camp Cooking (715-332-5271).
Aug. 3: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. Kids Fishing Day (715-634-4543).
Aug. 5-12: Hunter Education course at Hayward Middle School. (715-558-5371).
Aug. 9-10: Project Appleseed at Hayward Rod & Gun Club (715-466-5145).
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: SCOPE 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.