May 19, 2014 Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Aside from rain and wind early this week, the forecast indicates we might finally break the cool weather barrier! The extended forecast shows no lows temperatures less than 40 degrees for the next two weeks and highs in the 60s and 70s.
“Fishing conditions improved appreciably in the last 10 days,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “but water temperatures are still too cold.
“Walleyes are near shallow water, holding on drop-offs in deeper water during the day and moving shallow at night. Use jigs with minnows or artificials, or crankbaits, with slow retrieves. Crappies are staging off spawning areas on many lakes and anglers using small jigs tipped with minnows or plastics are doing well. Warming waters should make fish more aggressive.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says Chippewa Flowage anglers are finding some great fishing.
“Anglers are catching good numbers of nice size walleyes, with the better fish fairly shallow. Work shorelines, looking for wood or bog areas. Jigs and minnows will take walleyes, but crankbaits are producing larger fish. Northern pike are coming to the shallows and spinnerbaits or shallow crankbaits will take them.
“Crappies are starting to come into the shallows. Look for dark bottom bays with 2-6 feet of water. Though crappie minnows work, marabou jigs or a jigs and plastics are more effective.”
Bob at Hayward Bait says walleye fishing is good on the Chippewa Flowage, Lac Courte Oreilles, and Moose.
“The bite slowed some, but jigs and minnows and crankbaits remain the main presentations. Northern pike are hitting minnows, spoons, and jigs, and bass action is good on jigs and crankbaits. Crappie activity is improving, but slowed with last week’s cooler weather.”
Mike at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage water temperature is in the low 50s and warming.
“With walleyes heading out of the riverbeds and into the main lake body, fishing slowed a bit. Anglers still report success on fatheads and Rapala X-Raps, Husky Jerks, and Rat-L-Traps fishing deeper water and in brush. Northern pike are on the move and taking northern suckers.
“Crappie anglers report success fishing crappie minnows and Mini-Mites in 6-10 feet of water and on the bogs. Bass anglers are catching largemouth on spinners, smaller bucktails, and live bait.”
At Anglers All in Ashland, Carolyn says ice shoved into the Washburn side from Bodin’s to Basswood Island this past weekend, it is/was moving a lot, and before going out, anglers should check wind forecasts.
“When the ice is gone, anglers are catching trout and salmon from Bodin’s to the Onion. Walleye anglers using shallow running stickbaits are still catching fish at the hot pond.
“Smallmouth action has begun in the Sand Cut area, with most fish caught in deeper areas until the water warms.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses electrofishing etiquette.
“Our electrofishing boats are loud and bright and lakeshore owners often want to see what is going on. Here are a few tips for when you see an approaching electrofishing boat.
“Please stay on shore. For safety purposes, we immediately turn off the electricity if people come onto the dock to watch us. Most likely, you can see everything going on watching from a safe vantage point on shore. On a similar note, make sure pets are not near the water.
“Do not leave out unattended lines. In addition to being illegal, they are hard to see at night and we occasionally run into them.
“Finally, people often want to ask what we are seeing. When the generators are running, we cannot hear you. If you would like information on survey results, call or email the following day and we will be happy to chat about it.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says constantly changing weather makes for erratic fishing success.
“Walleye action varies from slow to very good. A few anglers are making nice catches on jig and minnows and on large minnows under slip bobbers. Crankbait action will pick up as the water warms into the mid 50s.
“Warming water spurred decent largemouth bass action in some shallow bays, with catches made on slowly fished Rapalas and soft plastics.
“Anglers fishing small minnows or worms a foot or two below bobbers are catching crappie and bluegill along shallow weedlines.”
Wisconsin’s northern zone muskie season opens May 24 and biologist expect a normal opening despite the late ice-out. Anglers will find fishable muskie populations in 667 lakes and 100 rivers in 48 counties, with the headwater regions of the Chippewa, Flambeau, and Wisconsin rivers holding the heaviest concentration of lakes with muskies. For more information, read the muskie reports in the “2014 Fishing Report” on the DNR website.
The HLVCB Sawyer County ATV Trail Report for May 16 offers the following updated ATV trail conditions information. Trail #77 is too soft and temporarily closed from “OO” to Rock Lake Fire Lane. Trail #26 in the Birchwood area is too soft and temporarily closed from Green Lake Road to the Washburn County line. Both trails will open for Memorial Day weekend. Chequamegon National Forest temporarily closed all trails and will open them May 22. For specific information, contact: Sawyer County Forest Department (715-634-4846); Wisconsin DNR (715-266-7032): or Chequamegon National Forest District recreational trail manager Elizabeth Tichner (etichner02@fs.fed.us. Check the 2014 Trails map – new ATV routes offer access out of city limits.
FISHING REPORT
Walleye:
Walleye action slowed, but anglers continue to catch some nice fish. Concentrate on shallow water during low light periods and shallow to mid-depths during daylight, working weedlines, wood, breaklines, bogs, brush, and drop-offs. It is primarily a jig and fathead bite, but anglers are catching fish on crawlers, leeches, plastics, Gulp!, crankbaits, and Rapalas.
Northern:
Northern pike action is good to very good in the shallows and near schools of panfish. Northern suckers, minnows, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and crankbaits are all good for tempting pike.
Bass:
Largemouth bass harvest season opened May 3 this year with the opening of the game fish season.Smallmouth bass fishing is catch-and-release only until June 21. Action will improve as the water warms. Fish shallow bays and along shallower weedlines with spinners, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, bucktails, jigs, soft plastics, and live bait.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good to very good as fish start staging near spawning locations. You will find them in shallow to mid-depths (2-12 feet) around weeds, bogs, and brush, as well as in shallow, warmer bays. Top baits include crappie minnows, leeches, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs and/or under slip bobbers. Downsizing tackle will improve success.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is fair to good, with fish starting their move to shallower water. Fish around shallow weeds, weedlines, and brush with waxies, worms, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, or plain hooks, with or without bobbers.
Upcoming Events
May 21-27: Spring turkey hunting Period F.
May 24: Muskie season opens in Northern Zone.
May 24: Wooden Boat and Canoe Show - Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum, Spooner (715-635-3580).
June 3: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting at Beer Bellies (715-634-4543.)
June 7-8: Free Fishing Weekend/Free Fun Weekend.
June 19-22: 65th Annual Musky Festival (715-634-8662).
June 21: Smallmouth bass season opens in Northern Zone.
June 29: Hayward Bass Club Round Lakes Open (715-699-1015).
Through July 31: Illegal to allow dogs to run on DNR lands and Federal WPA (see regs for exceptions).
The 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.