Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report June 24, 2013
By Steve Suman
Warm temperatures continue, with highs in the 80s until a slight cooling occurs late in the week, and the forecast again includes too many ‘good’ chances for showers.
“As we move more into summer, fishing patterns are beginning to change,” says Pat at Happy Hooker.
“With most species having completed their spawning cycle and moving to deeper water, anglers should begin fishing mid-depth to deeper weeds and the drop-offs behind the weedlines.”
At Hayward Bait, Jim says muskies action is best on bucktails, plastics, and suckers fished in water to 20 feet deep.
“Walleye anglers using leeches, minnows, and stickbaits are catching fish on weedlines and gravel bars in 10-20 feet of water. Bluegills spawning in the shallows will hit waxies, leaf worms, crawlers, and plastics.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says Chippewa Flowage muskie anglers should work bucktails and topwaters around fresh green weeds.
“Walleye anglers are doing best fishing leeches on jigs or slip bobbers near brush and sunken bogs in 12-20 feet of water, while largemouth anglers report excellent success fishing weedless plastics in thick slop.”
Randy at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage water level is still high, with the water temperature in the low 70s.
“Muskie action is fair on bucktails and surface baits, northerns are hitting bright color spinners and spinnerbaits on the west side weed edges, and bluegills in the shallows are taking waxies and worms in 2-5 feet of water.”
Jim at Minnow Jim’s advises Nelson Lake bass anglers to work weedlines and spawning beds with surface baits, spinners, and plastic worms.
“To catch bluegills spawning in the shallows, use waxies, worms, poppers, and rubber spiders.”
At Anglers All in Ashland, Carolyn says trollers report good trout and salmon fishing.
“Most anglers are using bait flies, spoons, and Spin-N-Glos, starting on the first break in the early morning and moving deeper with the rising sun. Smallmouth are in spawn/post-spawn stages and providing excellent action, depending on weather conditions.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter addresses criteria the DNR uses for stocking lakes.
“Fish stocking is a tool used to create, maintain, and enhance populations of primarily sport fish. Most stocking in northern Wisconsin consists of walleye and muskellunge, with regular stocking of trout.
“When determining what lakes to stock, the DNR gives priority to lakes recently restored or needing rehabilitation, lakes with ongoing research related to stocking, and lakes where stocking is necessary to maintain a population due to poor natural reproduction.
“The DNR does not typically stock lakes with good natural reproduction since adding more fish to an already large population can hurt survival and growth of that population.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says the mayfly hatch on many waters has upset the walleye bite.
“Still, anglers are catching some fish with leeches and crawlers on floating jig heads or under slip bobbers, as well as with streamers and mayfly imitations on fly rods.
“Bring bug repellent! Biting insects are out in force. Mosquitoes are especially thick and there are plenty of deer flies, black flies, and gnats.”
The Fox River Valley Muskies and Youth Conservation Alliance (YCA) sponsored a youth muskie fishing event on Moose Lake June 12-15, hosted by Mystic Moose Resort. During the event, 21 young anglers ages 6-17 years old hooked and released 24 muskies. This is the fourth year for the event, now consisting of two groups, one in June and one in September. For more information on these events, visit the above websites.
FISHING REPORT
Muskie: Muskie action slowed somewhat, but the fish are still there – it is up to you to locate and tempt them. Look for green weeds in depths to 20 feet and work those areas with bucktails, Bull Dawgs, plastics, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, surface baits, and suckers on quick-strike rigs. Sounds simple enough ...
Walleye: Walleye fishing can be challenging at any time, but the current mayfly hatch adds an extra element of difficulty. Look for fish near weeds, weedlines, gravel bars, brush, bogs, drop-offs, and humps, with best times early morning and late evening hours. Work depths to 20 feet during the day and 4-10 feet in the evening. Leeches and crawlers on jigs, live bait rigs, and under slip bobbers are best, but fatheads and walleye sucker are still catching fish. Stick and crank baits trolled along shorelines and weedlines in the evening are also producing good catches.
Northern: Northern pike are active – sometimes too much so for anglers targeting other species – but they are great fighters and excellent on the table. Look for them around weeds and weedlines in depths out to 15 feet or so, especially near drop-offs and on the edges of panfish spawning areas. Spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, stickbaits, crank, chatter, and buzz baits will all catch pike, but it is difficult to beat a northern sucker under a bobber. Fish bigger baits deeper for trophy fish.
Largemouth Bass: Largemouth action is very good around weeds, weedlines, slop, wood, and brush in depths to 12 feet. This is a great time to mix and match baits. Try pre-rigged worms and plastics in various configurations and presentations, spinner and crank baits, and topwaters (particularly in early mornings and evening hours). Crawlers, leeches, fatheads, and suckers under bobbers or on live bait rigs are also great enticers.
Smallmouth Bass: Smallmouth bass are providing good action, particularly on hard bottom areas (rock, gravel) and along breaks in depths to 20 feet. Plastics, tubes, crankbaits, spinners, drop-shot rigs, jerkbaits, and topwaters are all excellent choices for artificials, and live bait such as leeches, crawlers, fatheads, and small suckers can be very effective.
Crappie: Crappies completed spawning and are scattering to deeper water location, but fishing is good once you find them. Look for fish in/on/over/near weeds, weedlines, wood, bogs, brush, and cribs at various depths, as well as suspending over deeper water. Top bait choices include crappie minnows, fatheads, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits on plain hooks or small jigs, fished with or without bobbers.
Bluegill: Bluegill action is excellent for fish spawning on shallower sand and gravel in 2-6 feet of water and near weeds out to about 10 feet, depending on the lake. Just about any bait will catch bluegills at this time. Use small jigs tipped with waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawler pieces, panfish leeches, plastics, and Gulp! baits, or try surface baits such as spiders, ants, and poppers.
Upcoming Events
July 19-21: Birchwood Bluegill Festival (800-236-2252).
July 25-27: Lumberjack World Championships (715-634-2484).
Through July 31: Illegal to allow dogs to run on DNR lands and Federal WPA (see regs for exceptions).
Aug. 1: Application deadline: Wolf; Fall turkey; Sharptail grouse; Bobcat, Fisher, Otter.
Aug. 3-4: Project Appleseed at Hayward Rod & Gun Club (715-466-5145).
Aug. 15-18: Sawyer County Fair (715-934-2721).
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.