Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
November 9, 2015
Steve Suman
Monday and Tuesday appear to be “the” days to take care of outside projects and recreational interests this week, though according to the extended forecast, this Saturday through Tuesday next week looks promising. Grab the most from every available mild and sunny day – this time of year, they are all freebies!
“We know it is coming,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “but this year’s colder fall period is the latest in memory and with a profound negative effect on fishing!
“Musky fishing is fair – a temperature decline will result in a surge in success – but anglers are catching some fish, primarily on suckers on quick set rigs. The walleye bite showed a spike, but it still is not what one expects this late in the fall. Walleyes are on the bottom in deeper water and around humps, with fatheads and walleye suckers the best choices.
“Northern pike are hitting in the weeds. Walleye suckers work well – pike are even hitting musky suckers at times – and any flashy or noisy baits will work. Few anglers are targeting bass, but some anglers targeting walleyes and muskies report catching an occasional largemouth in the weeds.
“Crappie action is good in deeper water, with fish hitting jigs tipped with minnows or small plastics. Many anglers who start fishing for walleyes switch to crappies when crappies start hitting their walleye jigs. Look for crappies a little higher in the water column than walleye.”
Dennis at Hayward Bait says fishing is picking up with the cooling temperatures.
“Musky anglers should concentrate on weed beds in 5-15 feet with suckers, Bull Dawgs, and Red October tubes. Walleye action is fair for anglers fishing walleye suckers and fatheads in deeper water. Northern pike fishing is good on sucker minnows fished along weedlines in 5-10 feet.
“Smallmouth fishing is improving for anglers fishing suckers and crawlers. Crappies are suspending over deeper water and the bite is good on most lakes. Use crappie minnows, waxies, and small plastics. You can catch bluegills along rock bars and on weedlines in 5-15 feet with waxies, leaf worms, and small plastics.
“Grouse hunters are doing well now that the foliage is down, and with bucks in rut, deer hunters are taking some nice ones. Stop in and register for our Big Buck Contest!”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses brook and brown trout “turf battles.”
“Throughout the country, much has been made about negative interaction between brook trout and brown trout. Though we rarely see it on a local basis, the popular idea is that brown trout, through aggression, out-compete brook trout in a stream.
“Both brook and brown trout exist in many Hayward area streams, yet the dominance of one species over the other seems to be almost entirely determined by water temperature.
“Rivers (such as the Namekagon) and streams that are on the warm side (>60F) in the summer tend to favor brown trout, which are more tolerant of warmer water. Brook trout tend to dominate streams such as Cap Creek, Swan Creek, and Big Brook that have good groundwater inflows and stay cool through summer (<60F).
“Some streams seem to flip back and forth or support almost equal numbers of both species.
“Mosquito Brook, for example, is an important tributary to the Namekagon River. In 2014, brown trout reproduction in Mosquito Brook was very high and there was almost no brook trout reproduction. In 2015, the opposite was the case.
“Locally, there is not much support for one species hindering the other, with the success of the two trout species dependent more on the environment.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says sunny skies and mild temperatures made for pleasant fishing in the last week, though fishing pressure continues to drop due to the multitude of hunting opportunities.
“Water temperatures are slowly cooling, with most lakes now in the mid to upper 40s. It seems as if only die-hard musky and walleye anglers are on the water and they report variable success.
“Muskies get most of the attention, with the majority of anglers dragging large suckers through deeper water areas.
“Walleye fishing is inconsistent, with some days offering good action for small and medium-size fish. Fish near bottom on deeper breaklines and along the edges of green weeds with minnows on jigs, slip bobbers, or bare hooks. As a bonus, walleye anglers are catching a few nice perch.”
The DNR issued a preliminary black bear harvest report for 2015 showing hunters tagged 4,163 bears. Bear Management Zone D led all zones for harvest (1,320), followed by Zone A (1,113), Zone C (978), and Zone B (750). For the 2015 season, the DNR received more than 109,000 permit applications and made available 10,690 permits. The application deadline for a 2016 bear harvest permit or preference point is December 10. Huntersmust apply for a preference point or harvest permit at least once every three years to maintain their accumulated preference point total.
Regular gun deer season (November 21-29) opens in less than two weeks and hunters should be aware of new registration rules now in effect for all deer hunting seasons. After tagging their deer, hunters can go online to gamereg.wi.gov, call the registration system (844-426-3734), or register their deer electronically at a participating registration station. Hunters receive a 10-digit confirmation number to write on the tag as proof of registration. The DNR will host a chat at noon, November 16, to answer questions about registration, regulations, safety, and other deer season topics. To participate, search “chat” on the DNR website. For more information, search “deer” and “electronic registration” on the DNR website.
FISHING REPORT
Musky:
Musky action is inconsistent, but getting better as the water cools. Work weed beds and deeper water with large suckers on quick strike rigs, big Bull Dawgs, tubes, jerkbaits, and stickbaits.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is erratic, but improving. Look for fish in deeper water, holding near bottom along breaklines, weed edges, and humps. For the best success, use walleye suckers and fatheads on jigs, slip bobbers, and plain hooks.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike are active in/on/around weeds and weedlines in depths to 12 feet. Northern suckers, walleye suckers, spinnerbaits, spoons, and artificials producing flash and/or noise will all get their attention.
Largemouth Bass:
Few, if any anglers, are concentrating on largemouth at this time, however ... if you feel the urge to try one more time for largemouth before freeze-up , anglers fishing muskies and walleyes are catching a few in the weeds with live bait.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth action (for anglers fishing for them) is decent along deeper weed edges and on rock and other hard bottom areas in mid-depth to deeper water, with the top baits walleye suckers and crawlers.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing remains reasonably good, with fish continuing to suspend over deeper water. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, waxies, small plastics, and Gulp! baits.
Bluegill:
There is still a good bluegill bite when you locate them – fish mid-depth (6-16 feet) weedlines and rock piles with waxies, leaf worms, small plastics, and Gulp! baits. Small minnows are nearly always a good bet for large ‘gills.
Upcoming Events
Nov. 7: Seasons opened: 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: Permit application deadline: Spring turkey; Bear.
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.