Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
November 2, 2015
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
While the forecast mentions chances of rain (and snow) throughout the week, this IS November in the North Woods so it is hard to complain about highs in the 60s (at least through mid-week)! Many hunting seasons are now underway, but fall also offers excellent fishing for anglers who choose to take advantage. Take advantage!
“Water temperatures are in the 40s to mid 50s on the Quiet Lakes,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “and fishing action is fair to good for musky, walleye, northern, smallmouth, and panfish.
“Most musky anglers are using medium to large suckers or double-10 bucktails on the deepest weed edges. Topwaters produce better in early morning and late evening. Always do a figure 8! Walleyes are in 15-20 feet, tight to bottom, off the deepest breaks. Use jigs and minnows. Northern are active on weed edges and in the shallows on spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and live bait.
“Smallmouth are taking jigs and minnows on hard bottom/rocky areas in 15 feet. Crappies are in mid lake basins, suspending and schooling in 15-30 feet. Use minnows on jigs or under slip bobbers. Fish bluegills in weeds in 6-10 feet with red worms on jigs or slip bobbers. Catch perch tight to bottom in 15-20 feet with minnows or red worms on jigs or slip bobbers.
“Deer rut is turning on and we see plenty of rubs, scrapes, and daytime bucks. Grouse hunters report fair to moderate hunting, but that should improve now that the leaves are off the trees.”
Kelly at Hayward Bait says fishing is picking up with the cooling temperatures.
“Muskies are hitting bucktails, Monster Tubes, Depth Raiders, and suckers on weed beds in 5-15 feet. The walleye bite is fair, with fish in deeper water. Use walleye suckers, fatheads, and crankbaits. For northern pike, work northern suckers along weedlines in 5-15 feet.
“Fish smallmouth in weeds, on rock piles, and around structure with walleye suckers and crawlers. The crappie bite is good on most lakes, with fish suspending over deeper water. Use crappie minnows, waxies, and small plastics. Bluegills are along rock bars and weedlines in 5-15 feet and taking waxies, leaf worms, and small plastics. Catch perch with fatheads in deeper water.
“Grouse hunting is much better now that the foliage is down and deer hunters are harvesting a few nice bucks.”
Mike at Jenk’s says muskie fishing is improving on the Chippewa Flowage.
“Many folks are catching and/or seeing fish on suckers, with several groups reporting multiple catches a day.
“Walleye action is starting to pick up as their fall patters starts to unfold with the cooler water. There are a couple strategies you can use to catch fall walleye, but definitely use large walleye suckers or bigger bait. Some anglers report action in deep holes, but many fishing from river shores report seeing beautiful walleyes (more than 25 inches) in channels along rocky shorelines.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses Chippewa Flowage tree drops.
“This winter, DNR staff will place trees in the water along several sections of state-owned, Chippewa Flowage shoreline. Work will start in December once the ice is safe for workers. We will fell selected trees along the shoreline out into the lake so the tree’s crown sits in 3-10 feet of water.
“The project goals are to improve fish spawning success, provide habitat for juvenile fish, and create attractive areas for anglers to fish. Trees in the water are an important component of the ecosystem and have wide-ranging benefits to many different fish species, as well as wildlife. Studies show trees in the water increase perch production, improve bluegill growth rates, and provide important habitat for juvenile muskellunge.
“We strategically select trees that will benefit the fishery without affecting shoreline aesthetics or disrupting wildlife habitat such as eagle nests.
“Sections planned for work in 2015 include Dorazio Bay, in coordination with the new handicap accessible fishing pier, Moss Creek, and the Bananas.”
Cool, wet, and windy weather limited fishing activity last week, says DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt.
“Water temperatures are holding in the upper 40s and musky anglers provide most of the fishing pressure, but with very inconsistent success. Anglers using both suckers and artificials say it is difficult to locate active muskies, though there were a few reports of mid-40s fish in the past week.
“Walleye fishing remains generally slow, with only a few catch reports. There is a surge in crappie action, with anglers catching fish suspending over deep water on small minnow on slip bobbers.”
The DNR is encouraging Washburn County deer hunters who harvest a deer within a 10-mile radius of Shell Lake during the 2015 archery and gun hunting seasons to submit sample of their deer for CWD testing. Following a CWD Citizen Advisory Team recommendation, the DNR is offering landowners within the two-mile sampling area scientific collector permits to harvest adult deer of either sex for the testing. This focuses sampling efforts that could provide valuable information regarding the health of deer on private lands. For more information, or to pick up a permit, call (715) 635-4025. Hunters can also submit deer heads to one of the DNR’s refrigerated, 24/7, self-serve sampling kiosks that contain sampling materials and tools to remove heads, or contact one of the cooperating taxidermists and processors in the area. For more information, search “CWD sampling” on the DNR website.
Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. invites the public to attend its Tuesday, November 3, meeting starting at 7 p.m., at Coop’s Pizza. The meeting includes a review of fall tournament results, discussion on donations to the DNR, and a lure and equipment swap. Admission is free. If you are interested in joining Muskies Inc., attend this meeting and purchase an annual membership for half price. For more information, call Mike Persson (715) 634-4543.
FISHING REPORT
Musky:
Musky action is fair to inconsistently good, with mornings and evenings providing the best bite. Target weed beds and deep weed edges in 4-18 feet with suckers on quick-set rigs, large bucktails, tubes, and topwaters.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is fair, but showing improvement with the cooling water and fish moving into their fall pattern. Concentrate on water out to 25 feet and deeper, and fish near the bottom on breaks and in holes. On the rivers, fish rocky shorelines along the river channel. Top baits include larger walleye suckers and fatheads on jigs, split shot rigs, and slip bobbers, and crankbaits.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good on shallow to mid-depth (5-18 feet) weeds and weedlines with northern suckers, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and chatterbaits.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth anglers are having good success fishing rock, weeds, hard bottoms, and other structure in 12-20 feet with walleye suckers, crawlers, and crankbaits.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing continues to be good, with fish schooling and suspending over deep water out to 30 feet and deeper. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs and slip bobbers.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action is fair to good on weeds, weedlines, and rock bars in 5-18 feet. Use waxies, leaf worms, red worms, small plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and/or under slip bobbers. Small minnows can be effective for larger ‘gills.
Perch:
Perch are hugging the bottom in deeper water (to 23 feet and deeper) and taking fatheads on jigs or red worms on slip bobbers.
Upcoming Events
Nov. 1: Wild ginseng season closed.
Nov. 2: Woodcock season closed.
Nov. 3: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting at Coop’s Pizza. (715-634-4543).
Nov. 7: Seasons open: Beaver trapping in northwest zone; Otter trapping in all zones; Non-resident raccoon.
Nov. 15: Trout and salmon fishing closes on downstream Lake Superior tributaries (see regs).
Nov. 19-Dec. 7: Northwest Relic Riders Vintage Snowmobile Club antique snowmobile display; Northern Lakes Co-op.
Nov. 19: Seasons close: Fall turkey; Crow.
Nov. 21-29: Regular gun deer season.
Nov. 24: Duck season closes in north zone.
Nov. 29: Mourning dove season closes.
Nov. 30: Season close: Muskellunge; Turtle.
Nov. 30-Dec. 9: Muzzleloader deer season opens.
Dec. 10-13: Four-day antlerless deer hunt.
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.