Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report 9-18-12
By Steve Suman
You have until 6 p.m. September 21 to sign up for the Wilderness Wings Chapter-Ruffed Grouse Society's (RGS) fourth annual Hunt, Shoot, and Sportsmen’s Banquet Saturday September 22 at Summit Lake Game Farm. Individual tickets cost $75, family membership packages (two dinners) $80, and other ticket packages are available. For tickets or information, contact Dave Reardon (715) 634-2674.
“Muskie action continues to improve,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “and anglers are already starting to drag suckers.
“Green cabbage is a good place to start. Use topwater baits in the early morning and late evening hours, and bucktails and glide baits during other times.”
Mark at Hayward Bait says anglers looking to catch big smallmouth should consider fishing after dark. Annie says anglers must be versatile.
“Change baits. Change presentation. Change locations. What worked then – be it yesterday or last year – will not necessarily work today.”
Randy at Jenk’s says fishing is best for muskies with bucktails, surface baits, and Bull Dawgs; for walleyes, it is minnows in the brush in 15-20 feet of water; and for crappies, minnows on the cribs.
At Outdoor Creations, Guide Dave Dorazio says Chippewa Flowage muskie action continues to improve.
“The largest fish caught in last week’s Chippewa Flowage Musky Hunt was 51.25 inches, but anglers also registered six fish 45 inches or longer, all caught on bucktails or topwaters.”
This is the best time of year for fishing, says Dan at Bay Park Resort on the Trego Flowage, with no pressure and plenty of action!
“Now is the time for big smallmouth and we are seeing excellent action with live bait on the north end of the lake. Muskie fishing is also picking up, with last week’s biggest muskie a 48-incher caught on the south end.”
Carolyn at Anglers All on Chequamegon Bay in Ashland says brown trout and coho are moving into the shallower waters of the Bay.
“Anglers trolling stickbaits, spoons, bait flies, and Spin-N-Glos from the Ashland ore dock out to the Islands report good success. Smallmouth in deeper water are responsive to suckers, but artificials remain productive in shallower areas.”
According to DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter, ‘turnover’ may be more commonly associated with the Chicago Bears offense, but it still describes a limnological phenomenon set to happen soon on many or our lakes.
“Thermal stratification occurs during summer on most of our area lakes, particularly the large deep ones, when an upper layer of warmer water (epilimnion) traps the colder, dense water (hypolimnion) below it.
“In the fall, when dropping air temperatures cool the upper layer until it nears the temperature of the lower layer, the two layers completely mix and turnover occurs.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says aquatic weeds have started to die back and weed densities are declining from their summer levels.
“Muskie fishing continues to be very good across Wisconsin’s north woods. Most anglers are experiencing some action along deep weed edges and scattered weed patches with bucktails, Bull Dawgs, and stickbaits.”
Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) registered 21 bears in the past week. For the opening weekend of archery deer season, the stations registered eight antlerless and 12 bucks, including one eight-point, one 12-point, and one 14-point.
The DNR invites the public to the dedication and open house at the new DNR Northern Region headquarters building in Spooner Wednesday September 19. The program includes an open house from 1-2:30 p.m., ribbon cutting ceremony, and comments by DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp.
FISHING REPORT
Muskies: Muskie action is good and getting better – just in time for the Hayward Muskies, Inc. fall tournament October 5-7. Work the outside edges of weeds, weed beds, and cabbage in 8-15 feet of water with bucktails, Bull Dawgs, jerkbaits, glide baits, tubes, topwaters, and stickbaits. Vary the presentation and retrieve – and be prepared to set the hook!
Walleye: Walleye action is inconsistent, but improving. Fish are scattered from shallower water out to more than 30 feet, depending on the weather and time of day. Locations vary from drops, rocks, humps, holes, weeds, brush, bogs, and transition areas. They could be everywhere ... or anywhere. Best baits include crawlers, walleye suckers, fatheads, and leeches (if you can find them) fished on jigs, Lindy Rigs, and bait harnesses. Gulp! baits, jigs/plastics, and trolled crank and stick baits are also working.
Northern: Northern pike activity is increasing with the cooling water temperatures. Work in and on the edges of any green weeds you can find an anywhere you find concentrations of panfish (aka pike buffet) with spinnerbaits, spoons, and northern suckers ... or about any bait you choose. Pike make good table fare, whether baked, fried, or pickled.
Largemouth Bass: Largemouth anglers continue to do quite well this fall. Look for the bass in and around weeds and weed lines, wood, docks, brush, and bogs in a variety of depths, from shallow to deep. The most productive baits include soft/weedless plastics, spinners, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, buzz baits, tubes, and live bait.
Smallmouth Bass: Smallmouth action is starting to come on strong in many waters. Look for hard bottom areas in deeper water with rock, gravel, and wood, and along mid-depth weed lines. Top baits include artificials such as tubes, plastics, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and finesse plastics, as well as live bait, such as crawlers, fatheads, and sucker minnows.
Crappie: The majority of crappies are suspending and fishing is good on cribs, humps, brush, weeds, along weed line edges, and other cover in 10-20 feet of water. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, plastics, tubes, and Gulp! baits on jigs, plain hooks, and small spinners. Use slip bobbers to position your bait right in front of the crappies.
Bluegill: Bluegill anglers are doing well for larger ‘gills in and around deeper water weeds, weed lines, wood, brush, and cribs out to about 17 feet. Action is very good for smaller fish in shallower water near weeds, docks, and other structure. The standard bluegill baits are the way to go, including waxies, worms, plastics, tubes, and Gulp! baits on small jigs or plain hooks, with or without bobbers.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 15: Seasons opened: Early archery deer; Turkey; Ruffed grouse (Zone A); Cottontail rabbit (Northern Zone); Squirrel (gray and fox); Crow.
Sept. 16: Exterior Zone Canada goose season opened.
Sept. 22: RGS Hunt, Shoot, and Sportsmen’s Banquet at Summit Lake Game Farm (715-634-2674).
Sept. 22: Seasons open: Duck in Northern Zone; Woodcock.
Sept. 22: Hayward Fall Festival (715-634-8662).
Sept. 28-29: Cable Area Fall Festival (800-533-7454).
Sept. 30: Seasons close: Inland trout (see regs.); Sturgeon on inland waters. Lake trout season on Lake Superior.
Oct. 5-7: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. Fall Muskie Tournament (715-634-2921).
Oct. 6: Stone Lake Cranberry Festival.
Oct. 6-7: Musky Tale Resort Crappie Quest (715-462-3838).
For more information on area events and activities, visit the Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau website, view its Calendar of Events, or call 1-800-724-2992.