Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Somewhat wet and mild early in the week (according to the forecast), but Thursday through the weekend looks to be excellent August weather! Enjoy it!
Pat at Happy Hooker says last week’s wind and thunderstorms continued inconsistent fishing success.
“Musky anglers are seeing fish and having follows, but catching mostly smaller fish with jerkbaits, bucktails, and topwaters on deep weed edges. Fish walleyes on deep weed edges and rock/gravel bars with leeches and crawler halves. Try crankbaits along weeds edges after dark.
“Catch largemouth near logs, stumps, and docks with soft plastics and crayfish imitations. For smallmouth, work deeper hard bottom areas with crankbaits, plastics, and leeches.
“Find larger panfish suspending near cover in 8-14 feet.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says Chippewa Flowage musky anglers should use Ghosttails with orange, green, flame, and copper blades.
“In the evening, work Pacemakers and other topwaters over the weeds. Scattered walleyes offer slow action. In the evening, fish Rapalas and Shad Raps over/along weeds.
“Catch largemouth in/over slop on the west side with weedless plastics and frogs. Fish smallmouth along woody shorelines on the east side with leeches and Gulp! baits on jigs.
“Crappies are schooling on brush and cribs in 15-22 feet, hitting crappie minnows, tubes, and jigs with Gulp! baits. Fish bluegills in weeds with crawlers, leeches, and jigs with Gulp! baits.”
Bob at Hayward Bait says musky anglers should work bucktails, gliders, plastics, and stickbaits on weed beds, gravel bars, and shorelines in 8-15 feet.
“Fish walleyes on gravel bars and structure in 10-25 feet with crawlers, walleye suckers, and fatheads on jigs or Lindy Rigs. Catch northerns on weedlines in 5-15 feet with suckers, spinnerbaits, and spoons.
“Fish largemouth in 4-10 feet with plastics/scented worms, spinners, and topwaters. For smallmouth, try jigs and plastics, tubes, and topwaters on deep rock bars and humps.
“Crappies are suspending in 12-30 feet. Use minnows, waxies, Gulp! baits, and topwaters. For bluegills, use waxies, leaf worms, and plastics on/along weedlines and gravel/rock bottoms in 10-20 feet.”
Jim at Minnow Jim’s says Nelson Lake walleye anglers should troll/cast deep divers and minnow and crawler rigs.
“Cast rocky shorelines and weed edges with floating stickbaits and jigs with minnow or leeches. For northern, work floating stickbaits, spinners, and spoons close to weed edges. Largemouth are hitting spinnerbaits, buzz baits, frogs, and topwaters.
“Crappies are near the bottom and bluegills nearer the surface. Cast small dressed spinners or bobber fish live and artificial baits, varying the depth.”
Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says the few anglers braving the heat on Chequamegon Bay last week reported moderate success.
“Early mornings and evenings offer a better bite for smallmouth, walleye, and pike. Smallmouth are periodically in their deeper summer haunts, but if not there, try shallow structure.
“Trout trolling is good, but with no thermocline in many areas. Start shallow early and move deeper as the sun rises.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses fish appetites.
“Anglers who run into a fish unwilling to take any bait might conclude the fish is not hungry. Is that really the case?
“Researchers have done hundreds of studies on the diets of dozens of fish species at all different times of the year. The studies consistently find that at any point in time, half the fish in a lake are digesting something in their stomach and the other half has empty stomachs.
“However, just because a fish has something in its stomach does not mean it will not continue feeding. It is very common to find multiple fish, insects, and other prey inside the stomach of one fish.
“These findings suggest that a truly ‘full’ fish may not be as common as some anglers might think!”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says musky action is hit or miss.
“Work bucktails, Bull Dawgs, stickbaits, and topwaters on weed edges. Some of the best times are mid-week, mid-day hours when boat traffic is lightest. Walleye fishing is slow, with fish suspending over/near deep mud flats and rock bars.
“Largemouth are in/near woody cover, thick weeds, and lily pads. Use plastics or topwaters in early morning and late evening. Smallmouth are hitting larger plastics near woody cover along deeper breaks. Catch decent crappies and bluegills over mid-depth cover and deep weedlines edges.”
Bonus unit-specific antlerless deer tags are now on sale at a rate of one tag per person per day. Sales continue until tags sell out or the season ends. For information, search “deer” on the DNR website.
Leftover fall turkey permits go on sale Saturday, August 22, on a one per-day basis. Permits cost $10 for residents, $15 for nonresidents, and $5 for 10-11 year olds. For information, visit turkey hunting information on the DNR website.
The free annual Sawyer County Outdoor Projects & Education (SCOPE) Family Fun Day is this Saturday, August 22, at Summit Lake Game Farm. This is an excellent opportunity to interact with outdoor activities and demonstrations by experts on the basics of many outdoor related skills. Registration starts at 8 a.m. Interactive stations open at 8:30 a.m., but close at 2 p.m. during the Gould Brothers Exhibition Shooting, this year’s featured performance. Admission is free, though there is a $5 fee (to cover ammunition) for adults who choose to participate in rifle and shotgun shooting activities. For more information, visit www.sawyercountyoutdoors.com/ or call Chris Wunrow (715) 558-5371.
FISHING REPORT
Musky:
Musky anglers report sightings and follows, but difficulty tempting bigger muskies. Concentrate on weedlines/edges, gravel bars, and shorelines in 3-18 feet, with some fish suspending over deeper water. Bucktails, Bull Dawgs, gliders, topwaters, jerkbaits, stickbaits, and crankbaits can all produce action.
Walleye:
Scattered walleyes offer fair action. Target 8-30 feet near weeds/edges, rock and gravel, mud flats, and mid-lake structure with leeches, crawlers, walleye suckers, and fatheads on jigs, Lindy Rigs, and live bait rigs. Troll/cast crankbaits and stickbaits along weedlines and river channels. Work shallower areas in evenings and after dark.
Northern Pike:
Northern fishing is fair to good on/along weeds and weed edges in 3-18 feet with northern suckers under bobbers, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, crankbaits, and stickbaits. For trophies, go deeper with larger baits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth fishing is fair to very good. Fish slop, thick weeds, wood, docks, stumps, logs, and lily pad beds in 3-12 feet. Best baits include weedless plastics, scented worms, crayfish imitations, spinnerbaits, twitch baits, buzz baits, and frogs/topwaters.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth are scattered and action is fair, but inconsistent. Fish deeper rock bars, mid-lake humps, breaks, hard bottoms, and woody shoreline cover. Top baits include jigs/leeches, Gulp! baits, plastics, tubes, crankbaits, crayfish imitations, twitch baits, and topwaters.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good, with fish schooling in 8-30 feet on deep weedlines edge, mid-depth cover, cribs, and brush. Best baits include crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, tubes, and Gulp! baits on jigs or plain hooks, and topwaters.
Bluegill:
Bluegills are scattered and suspending in various depths from 6-22 feet around weeds, weedlines, brush, gravel, rock, and cribs. Use waxies, leaf worms, crawlers, plastics, leeches, and Gulp! baits on jigs or plain hooks, and topwaters.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 17-20: Bonus unit-specific antlerless deer tags go on sale at noon.
Aug. 22: Remaining fall turkey permits on sale at 10 a.m.
Aug. 22: SCOPE Family Fun Day at Summit Lake Game Farm.
Aug. 25: Deadline to transfer Class A bear licenses to youth hunters.
Aug. 28-30: Musky Tale Resort Mega Bass Shoot-Out (715-462-3838).
Aug. 29: Tag along with elk biologist Laine Stowell, 6:30 p.m., Flambeau River State Forest (715-332-5271).
Aug. 31: Bear dog training by pursuing bear closes.
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.