Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
If the forecast for this week holds true, we will experience a very warm start to September! There are chances for rain throughout the week, but most are less than 20 percent – and that is 80 percent against showers!
Pat at Happy Hooker says musky anglers should fish muskies along weedlines and breaks in 18-25 feet.
“Use bucktails, gliders, spinnerbaits, topwaters, and suckers on quick-strike rigs. Northern action is best in 18-25 feet with suckers, fatheads, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and buzz baits.
“Catch largemouth around weeds in 4-15 feet with spinners, tubes, topwaters, crawlers, and fatheads. Fish smallmouth on breaks and rock/gravel with tubes, swim baits, topwaters, fatheads, and small suckers.
“Crappies are near weed beds in 8-15 feet and suspending in deeper water. Cast or vertical jig small fatheads while drifting. Fish bluegills along weedlines in 8-18 feet with waxies, leaf worms, crawler pieces, and plastics.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says Chippewa Flowage muskies are still using the weeds.
“Bucktails, jerkbaits, and topwaters are productive. In sparse weeds, work deeper edges.
“Anglers are catching decent pike with spinners and twitch baits on the west side. Fish largemouth in slop with plastic frogs. For smallmouth, fish rock and wooded shores on the east side with Beetle Spins and jigs/Gulp! baits.
“Crappies are on cribs, brush, and sunken bogs in 15-22 feet. Crappie minnows work, but jigs/Gulp! baits are more effective. Downsize jigs and use plastics or waxies to catch bluegills mixed in with the crappies.”
Bob at Hayward Bait says muskies are hitting bucktails, Bull Dawgs, Monster tubes, and topwaters.
“Walleyes are in 15 feet and deeper and trolled stickbaits, walleye suckers, and crawlers are catching fish. Rapalas work well during low light. Catch northerns around weed beds on crankbaits, spoons, and spinnerbaits.
“Action is good for both smallmouth and largemouth on weeds and rock with plastic worms, creatures, and topwaters. Crappies are suspending around cover in 20-30 feet and fishing is good on Mini-Mites and Tattle-Tails. Try small minnows if action is slow.”
Mike at Jenk’s says Chippewa Flowage musky fishing was superb last week on bucktails, Bull Dawgs, and surface baits.
“Stay deeper and cast to drop offs and weed edges. For walleyes, use crawlers, Beetle Spins, crankbaits, and minnows. During the day, fish brush, sunken bogs, and cribs. At night, work weed and stump bars.
“Fish northerns in weeds with northern suckers, weedless spoons, and spinnerbaits. Catch smallmouth on the east side with minnows, crawlers, spinners, and plastic frogs. Crappies are on cribs and brush, taking crappie minnows, Mini-Mites, and Gulp! baits.”
Jim at Minnow Jim’s says Nelson Lake walleye anglers should use fatheads, crawlers, Rapalas, and Beetle Spins.
“For largemouth, use poppers, frogs, chatter baits, buzz baits, and spinner baits on weedlines, or toss swim jigs, weedless spoons, and plastics into weed beds. Catch northerns on sucker minnows, surface baits, Mepps, and spoons.
“Crappies and bluegills are scattered. Drift and bobber fish minnows, waxies, worms, and Gulp! baits at varied depths, or cast small dressed spinners.”
Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says fishing is picking up for bass, walleyes, northern, and perch.
“Fish smallmouth with sucker minnows on the back side of the breakwall, the rock pile, and tip of Long Island. Anglers are catching northern on large spinnerbaits and stickbaits fished quickly through the water column.
“Lake trout fishing remains excellent from the south channel to outer island. Brown trout are moving into shallower water toward stream mouths and the channel inside the Bay. Anglers fishing the Sioux are catching lake run browns, though not in big numbers.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses what musky and pike do NOT like to eat.
“Multiple field and laboratory experiments on musky and pike feeding habits have found similar results in their food preferences. The two species strongly prefer fish rather than the insects, crayfish, or other invertebrates many other fish like to consume, but their preferences get even more specific.
“When given a choice, musky and pike strongly prefer long-bodied, soft-finned prey such as suckers or minnows rather than deeper-bodied, spiny-rayed fish such as bluegill or crappie. When the preferred prey is not available, they will eat whatever they can encounter.
“For musky and pike anglers, the implications are simple: Fish long, slender baits rather than deep bodied baits!”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says mid to late afternoon hours produce the best musky action.
“Fish Bull Dawgs, stickbaits, and topwaters near deep weed edges. For walleyes, work leeches and crawlers on weed edges and pockets, gravel, and rock in 12-18 feet. Northern action is good around near-shore weeds with spinnerbaits and crankbaits.
“Largemouth are near thick weed beds and mid-depth logs, bogs, and stumps. Fish soft plastics/frogs in late afternoon for the best action. For smallmouth, work finesse plastics near deeper rock and wood in rivers and flowages. Action is decent for crappie, bluegill, and rock bass.”
Fishing Has No Boundaries has received a “Spirit of ADA” award from Disability Rights Wisconsin, based on FHNB’s outstanding commitment to full inclusion of people with disabilities, the elimination of barriers to participation, and the development of new opportunities for cultural expression. The awards recognize Wisconsin companies, organizations, or individuals who positively change and improve the lives of people with disabilities in Wisconsin.
The Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. invites the public to attend its holding its September 1 meeting at Coop’s Pizza in Hayward. Following a 6 p.m., business meeting, special guest speaker Neal Rosenberg, manager of the DNR fish hatchery in Spooner, will give his presentation starting at 7 p.m. For more information, call Mike Persson (715-634-4543).
FISHING REPORT
Musky:
Musky action remains good, with early morning and nights offering the best opportunities. Focus on weedlines, breaks, and drop-offs in 10 to more than 20 feet of water. The most productive baits include bucktails, Bull Dawgs, gliders, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, stickbaits, jerkbaits, tubes, and topwaters.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is best in early morning and evening. Fish are scattered from shallow to more than 25 feet. Work weed beds, brush, sunken bogs, stumps, gravel, and rock with leeches, crawlers, fatheads, and walleye suckers on live bait rigs, harnesses, slip bobbers, and split shot rigs, or cast/troll crankbaits, minnow baits, stickbaits, and Beetle Spins.
Northern Pike:
Northern action is decent and improving and you will find them in 8-20 feet in/on/near weeds and baitfish. Tempt them with northern suckers, fatheads, spinners, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, chatterbaits, twitch baits, buzz baits, weedless spoons, and topwaters.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth fishing is good on most waters. Target weedlines/weed beds, brush, bogs, logs, stumps, slop, rocks, and points in 3-17 feet. Top producing baits include soft plastics (frogs, worms, tubes, creature baits), spinners, spoons, swim jigs, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, buzz baits, topwaters, fatheads, and crawlers.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth action is good to very good on/along/near breaks, rock, and wood along shorelines and in deeper water. Baits of choice include plastics (tubes, worms, grubs, frogs, finesse baits), jerkbaits, Beetle Spins, spinners, Gulp! baits, topwaters, minnows, and crawlers.
Crappie:
Crappies are scattered, but fishing is good in most waters. Concentrate on weeds, weedlines, brush, bogs, and cribs in 7-30 feet and fish suspending over deep water. Crappie minnows, fatheads, waxies, worms, Mini-Mites, Tattle-Tails, Gulp! baits, and plastics work well, with or without bobbers, or try small dressed spinners.
Bluegill:
Look for bluegills along weedlines out to 20 feet, with the larger ‘gills on the deeper end of the spectrum, as well as around brush, bogs, and cribs. Small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks tipped with waxies, leaf worms, crawler pieces, plastics, and Gulp! baits will all catch fish.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 1: Seasons open: Early teal; Canada goose; mourning dove.
Sept. 1: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting, Coop’s Pizza. Business 6 p.m.; speaker 7 p.m. (715-634-4543).
Sept. 4-6: 21st Annual Exeland Trout Festival (715-266-4181).
Sept. 5-30: Lake sturgeon season (hook and line) on local waters.
Sept. 6: Cable Rod & Gun Club Annual Pig Roast and Chicken Shoot; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (715-798-4459).
Sept. 9: Bear season opens.
Sept. 10-12: 17th Annual Chippewa Flowage Musky Hunt.
Sept. 12: Seasons open: Deer (archery, crossbow); Ruffed grouse (northern zone); Cottontail rabbit; Squirrel (gray/fox); Turkey; Crow.
Sept. 17-20: Youth Muskie Hunt at Mystic Moose Resort (715-462-3014).
Sept. 18-19: Lucky Lunker Bass Tournament on Lake Chippewa Flowage; Treeland Resort (715-471-0325).
Sept. 18-19: Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival (715-798-3594).
Sept. 19-20: Youth Waterfowl Hunt.
Sept. 26: Duck season opens in North Zone.
Sept. 26: 31st Annual Hayward Fall Festival (715-634-8662).
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.