Steve Suman
Smoke, rain, thunderstorms, sunshine, and wind lie ahead this week… much like looking back at previous weeks, but somewhat cooler! Keep an eye on the sky and enjoy a pleasant week of quickly dwindling summer days!
“Thunderstorms rolled through the Quiet Lakes’ area early Saturday morning,” says Greg at Happy Hooker. “We needed the rain, as most lakes are down about one foot, and the rain should cool water temperatures.
“The bite is good for most species, but others in the summer doldrums are difficult to find and catch.
“Muskies are on weed edges and shallow structure in 8-12 feet, with anglers moving fish on spinnerbaits and smaller twitchbaits and crankbaits.
“Walleye fishing is tough. Deep running presentations should work on most lakes. On others, fish are hunkered in weeds and difficult to extract. Crawler harnesses, Lindy rigs, and other slow moving presentations are great choices, while minnows and plastics on jigs work on weed walleyes.
“Northern pike are active in and around weeds in 3-12 feet, hitting smaller bucktails, spinnerbaits, and Rapalas.
“Largemouth bass are in shallow weeds, reeds, lily pads, and other vegetation. They are taking everything from wacky rigged plastics to buzzbaits, small musky baits, and topwater frogs.
“Smallmouth bass are on or near structure, rocks, or weeds adjacent to deeper basins. Wacky rigged plastics and topwaters such as Whopper Ploppers are working well.
“Panfish are in and around weed beds in 6-12 feet. Crawlers, leaf worms, and crappie minnows are great options, as are Mimic Minnows, Gulp! Minnows, and small Beetle Spins.”
Jarrett at Hayward Bait says fishing is steady, and improving with cooler weather.
“Muskies are on weedlines and structure in 10-20 feet, with anglers throwing bucktails, plastics, and topwaters. Sunrise and sunset offer the best success.
“Walleyes are in depths holding food and fishing is tough. Anglers troll crawler harnesses and crankbaits covering water for reaction strikes. Action is best at sunrise and sunset.
“Northern pike are on shallow flats to deep weeds, and action is good for numbers on various baits including minnows, other live bait, swimbaits, spinnerbaits, and spoons.
“Largemouth and smallmouth bass are on main lake humps and weed edges, with anglers catching good numbers of both species. For largemouth, use Texas and wacky rigs. For smallmouth, use leeches and topwaters.
“Crappies are in and on deep cribs, weed flats, and basins. Look for schools before sitting on favorite spots. At sunrise and sunset, try jigs and bobbers.
“Bluegills are in mid-depths to deep water, taking leeches and crawlers under slip bobbers. Some anglers use drop-shots and small crankbaits for bigger fish.”
Mike at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage is down two feet and the water temperature 78 degrees.
“Muskies are deeper and scattered during the day and trolling is effective. Early morning is good with blades. During evening and night hours, fish are shallower and surface baits produce, and creepers are very effective at this time.
“Walleye fishing is tough, with most success outside weeds in early morning and late evening. In early morning and evening, use leeches and crawlers. Waters are still warm enough to keep walleyes deeper during the day. Troll Flicker Shads and Shad Raps, Flicker Minnows, and Reef Runners over deeper water.
“Northern pike action is solid on Tinsel Tails and Chatter Flashes in weeds for good eaters, but not many big fish. Target thicker weed beds, particularly on the west side of the Flowage.
“Smallmouth bass remain active on shallow rock and stumps, especially on the southeast end. Ned rigs are still the go-to, but Jitterbugs made a rare appearance as the top bait.
“Crappie fishing is strong on bogs in the evening. During the day, target deeper cribs and cover. The northeast corner of Birch Island is great for midday crappie fishing. Crappie minnows remain the live bait of choice. For artificials, use Garland Mayflies and Voodoo Flashbang jigs, tipping Flashbangs with minnows or waxies.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses the ‘freak factor’ in Hayward area lakes.
“Everyone knows the standard fish species in northern Wisconsin lakes are bass, panfish, pike, walleye, and musky. We survey these popular, common species all the time, handling 10,000-20,000 of them every year.
“While our team never gets bored seeing fish, certainly some excite us more than others. We love it when a real freak shows up in a survey, something rare or unexpected, but it can also be a very large specimen of a common species.
“Here is a quick rundown of waters in our area that hold the greatest freak potential.
“Small, isolated lakes often have the lowest potential for freaks, since species diversity and maximum size are usually low, though with exceptions. Smaller, limited access lakes sometimes have exceptionally large ‑ and old ‑ bass and panfish, which are a little freaky.
“The freak factor increases in the Red Cedar drainage, where bowfins are present and can grow big. A large male bowfin in spawning colors (do an internet search) is the definition of a freaky fish.
“The Couderay drainage lakes offer their own freak potential, with 50-inch longnose gar, massive greater redhorse, and the possibility that any survey could produce a monster musky or tiger musky.
“The freak potential has to be highest in the Chippewa River drainage’s connected lakes and rivers, including the East Fork and its lakes. In this dark, flowing water we find catfish, four redhorse species, common carp ‑ including the only ‘mirror carp’ I have ever handled ‑ and gigantic sturgeon, as well as the muskies, bass, panfish and walleye. You truly never know what type of freaks might appear in an East Fork survey.
“Our local freak factor is tiny, however, compared to huge, warm, ultra-connected waters such as the Mississippi River, where all the species mentioned above, plus dozens more, and at huge sizes, might appear in a survey.
“The unpredictability of fishing is what makes it fun for anglers and those who work with fish, and that potential for a true freak is captivating!”
Sales of bonus antlerless harvest authorizations through the Go Wild license portal and at license sales locations start at 10 a.m. Monday, August 18, at one per person per day until sold out or deer season ends. Bonus authorizations cost $12/residents, $20/non-residents, and $5/youth 11 years and younger. Visit Antlerless Deer Harvest Authorization for a list of authorizations available.
The first three days of sales are management zone-specific; the fourth day is open to all zones.
Hunters must know the deer management zone (DMZ) and unit where they will hunt, if on public or private land, and have deer hunting license approval. Due to Northern and Central Forest unit changes, hunters should review the new maps before buying licenses.
For more information, search “deer hunting” on the DNR website.
The Sawyer County Fair is this Thursday thru Sunday, August 14-17, at the Sawyer County Fairgrounds on County Highway B. For the events schedule, admission fees, and more, visit www.sawyercountyfair.org or call (715) 699-2022.
Brule State Forest and Fish Hatchery is hosting a Family Fun Day Saturday, August 16, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. For information on event activities, visit Family Fun Day or call (715) 372-4820.
Hayward Bass Club (HBC) is hosting its annual free Youth Bass Tourney on the Chippewa Flowage from noon-4 p.m. this Sunday, August 17, headquartering at The Landing Resort. Club members, local guides, and avid bass anglers take anglers 10-17 years of age for an afternoon of catch-and-release bass fishing, followed by a shore lunch for participants, families, guides, and spectators.
Participants must have reservations! To request a permission slip, email haywardbassclub@gmail.com.
For more information, call (405) 227-1789).
ATV/UTV Trail Report
All ATV/UTV operators born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, who are at least 12 years old for ATV and at least 16 years old for UTV, must complete an ATV/UTV safety certification course to operate legally on public ATV/UTV trails and areas in Wisconsin. The DNR requires trail passes for non-residents and Wisconsin residents must display a registration sticker. Riders must run headlights at all times when operating. Visit the DNR ATV website for rules and regulations.
Check for trail openings, closures, and more atHLVCB ATV/UTV trail conditions report. Contacts for forest ATV/UTV trails are as follows: Sawyer County Forest (715-634-4846), Chequamegon National Forest (715-634-4821), and Flambeau State Forest (715-332-5271).
Sawyer County snowmobile and ATV trail maps are available from Hayward Lakes Visitor & Convention Bureau.
Fishing Report
Fishing is fair to good for most species, and rain and cooler nighttime lows for part of this week should improve it. Bite windows are relatively stable, though patterns fluctuate with the weather. Check with the bait shops for the current conditions and most effective methods.
Musky:
Musky action is improving, with early morning and evening into dark best for success. Work weedlines, weed edges, and structure in 8-20 feet during the day, fishing shallower during the prime hours. Bucktails, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, twitchbaits, plastics, and topwaters are all effective.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is slow with the warm water, and action is best in shallower water in early morning and late evening into dark. During the day, focus on deeper weeds and weed edges. Leeches and crawlers on jigs, harnesses, and Lindy rigs, and trolling crankbaits, Flicker Shads, Shad Raps, Flicker Minnows, and Reef Runners over deep water all work.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is very good, particularly for smaller fish. Target weeds, weed beds, flats, and around baitfish and panfish concentrations in 4-14 feet. Sucker minnows, spinners, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, spoons, bucktails, and chatterbaits are all producing hits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is excellent in shallow weeds, weed edges, reeds, lily pads, and slop. The bass are taking most offerings, but Texas and wacky rigs, plastics, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, frogs, and other topwaters are most productive.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass are on shallow to deep rocks, weeds, weed edges, stumps, humps, and structure near deep basins. Best baits include sucker minnows, leeches, Ned and wacky rigs, and Whopper Ploppers, Jitterbugs, and other topwaters.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good around weeds, weed flats, deep cribs, basins, and bogs in the evening. Crappie minnows, waxies, Mimic Minnows, and Gulp! Minnows on jigs under bobbers, and Beetle Spins, Garland Mayflies, and Flashbang jigs all work well.
Bluegill/Perch:
Bluegill and perch fishing is good in/near weeds in 6 feet out to deeper water. Use waxies, crawler chunks, leeches, leaf worms, and Gulp! baits under slip bobbers, drop-shots, and small Beetle Spins and crankbaits.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 11-13: Perseids Meteor Shower 1-3 a.m., northeast, 45-90 per hour, very swift, rich display.
Aug. 14-17: Sawyer County Fair at Sawyer County Fairgrounds on Highway B (715-699-2022).
Aug. 16: Brule State Fish Hatchery Family Fun Day 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (715-372-4820).
Aug. 17: HBC Free Youth Bass Tourney, Chippewa Flowage, The Landing Resort, Noon-4 p.m. (405-227-1789).
Aug. 18: Bonus antlerless deer harvest authorizations on sale.
Aug. 23: Seeley Lions PreFat Bike Race 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Aug. 24: HBC Tom Turner Open Benefit Tourney on Tiger Cat Flowage, Weber’s, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (405-227-1789).
Sept. 1: Seasons open: Early Canada goose; Early teal; Mourning dove (see closing dates).
Sept. 1: Labor Day.
For more information on area events and activities, visit the Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau and Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce websites, view the Calendar of Events, or call (715) 634-8662 or (715) 634-4801.