Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report July 2, 2012
By Steve Suman
Just in time for the summer vacation and recreation season, the DNR has added a new activities locator – Explore Outdoors – to its website. Visitors can search millions of acres of public lands by county, city, property type, or outdoor activities, and can cover all opportunities on DNR state parks, trails, forests, natural areas, wildlife areas, fisheries areas, and wild rivers.
What a deal! Wisconsin now offers first-time buyer annual fishing licenses for residents ($5) and non-residents ($25.75). Also available are one-day fishing licenses ($8 resident; $10 nonresident) and you can later credit the purchase price toward an annual license.
“It is summer and people are swimming, canoeing, and kayaking in the Quiet Lakes area,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “We all like to have fun without incidents, so when you motor around the lakes, be careful and observant. Anglers should fish early morning and evenings for the best success and use the mid-day hours for other summer activities.”
“Warm water temperatures are creating hot topwater action for muskies, bass, pike, and panfish,” says Bob at Hayward Bait. “Get out and enjoy all of the outdoor recreation this area offers. Kick back, relax, and have a good time!”
The Chippewa Flowage is full, says Randy at Jenk’s, although it is coming down.
“The water temperature is hitting the 80-degree mark and that means it is time to take extra care with minnows – cold water, aeration and leave your floating minnow bucket in the garage.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says muskie action is decent on the Chippewa Flowage. Dusk and dawn are the prime times, with topwaters and bucktails producing the most action.
“With high surface water temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s, it is easy to over-stress a fish. Carefully unhook the muskie while it is in the net, snap a couple quick photos, and get the fish back in the lake.”
Dan at Bay Park Resort on the Trego Flowage says anglers are catching some nice walleyes with leeches in 15-25 feet of water on the north end of the lake and in the fast current below the dam with large walleye suckers. They are also catching some nice catfish below the dam. Fish northern pike with spinnerbaits along weed edges and near the river channel edges on the south end of the lake. For smallmouth, use surface baits in the morning, switching to jerkbaits and live bait during the day.
At Anglers All in Ashland, Carolyn says Chequamegon Bay fishing is very good despite some ‘dirty’ water and you can still catch fish, particularly walleyes.
“Walleye fishing is best at the east end of the bay, with most anglers slow trolling crawler harnesses and stickbaits over the weeds off Second Landing. Smallmouth are taking various baits and sucker minnows. Fish shallow in early morning and evening; fish drops and the rock pile during the day. Troll the flats for lake trout with Spin-N-Glos and spoons containing pink.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says heavy rains in the past few weeks have produced very high water levels on nearly all area rivers, streams, lakes, and flowages.
“Rivers and streams have been nearly impossible to fish and on many lakes water is lapping over the tops of shoreline piers and docks. Water continues to be more dark-stained than usual and many areas have much lower weed densities than in past years.”
Hayward Bass Club is holding an open bass fishing tournament Sunday July 29, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the Chippewa Flowage. The field limited to 19 boats (one or two-person teams) and the entry fee is $50 per boat. This is an artificials-only tournament, with some exception (pork rinds, Gulp products). For more information, contact Wayne Balsavich (715) 699-1015; haywardbassclub@charter.net.
FISHING REPORT
Muskies: Muskie action is good and getting better, with best action during early morning and evening hours. Focus on shallow weed edges, the deep edges of cabbage, humps, drop-offs, and other structure. Baits of choice include bucktails, topwaters, spinnerbaits, plastics, and jerkbaits.
Walleye: Walleye fishing is good for some anglers and not so good for others, depending on multiple factors ranging from waters fished, fishing times, as well as mayfly and other various hatches. Depths will vary from lake to lake –you will find walleyes in water less than 10 feet deep to depths of more than 30 feet. Concentrate on weeds, cabbage, humps, wood, and other structure. Leeches and crawlers on jigs, harnesses, and under slip bobbers are most productive, but Beetle Spins, Gulp! baits, minnows, and trolled crank and stick baits also catching some fish.
Northern: Northern pike action is good and they will bite during normal daytime hours. Fish weeds and structure from shallow to deeper water, as well as any place you find panfish. Pike are cooperative and willing to take northern suckers, spinnerbaits, spoons, stickbaits, minnow baits, and plastics.
Largemouth Bass: According to most reports, largemouth fishing is tough and causing frustration for many anglers. Target shoreline vegetation, weeds, lily pads, wood, brush, docks, bogs, and slop. Plastics, topwaters, spinner, buzz, stick, and crank baits can all entice largemouth, and weedless baits will make for a more pleasant fishing experience.
Smallmouth Bass: Smallmouth bass are also challenging anglers, perhaps even more-so than largemouth. Look for them on rocky shorelines, rocks, gravel, and mid-depth wood and weed lines. Give the fish some options and try spinnerbaits, plastics, tubes, topwaters, Beetle Spins, worms, and leeches, but note that artificials are easier on the fish.
Crappie: Crappie action remains good, though fish are somewhat scattered at various depths and/or suspending up from the bottom in deeper water. Fish the edges of shallow weed beds, bogs, cribs, and other structure out to more than 15 feet. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, waxies, worms, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs or plain hooks fished with or without bobbers.
Bluegill: Bluegills also continue to provide good action on waxies, worms, leaf worms, small minnows, plastics, Gulp! baits, and small pre-rigged worms. Work your bait in/over/around weeds and weed lines, weed pockets, and cribs from the shallows out to 20 feet or deeper water. Go deeper for the bigger ‘gills.
Upcoming Events
July 3-4: Winter July Jubilee (715-266-7233).
July 15: Turtle season opens statewide for species not listed as endangered or threatened (see regs).
July 19-22: LCO Honor the Earth Pow Wow (715-634-8934).
July 20-22: Birchwood Bluegill Festival (800-236-2252).
July 27-29: Lumberjack World Championships (715-634-2484).
Through July 31: Illegal to run dogs off leash on DNR and WPA lands (see regs).
Aug. 1: Application deadline: Fall turkey; Sharptail grouse; Bobcat, Fisher, Otter.
Aug 16-19: Sawyer County Fair (715-934-2721).
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear (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 1-800-724-2992.