Steve Suman
Enjoy Tuesday’s sunshine and 75 degrees, as you might not see the sun again until Friday when it is 48 degrees, followed by chances for rain showers through the weekend. On the other hand, these are only rain “chances,” and temperatures return to the low to mid 50s. Take advantage of these days; they are all freebies this time of year!
Reminder: Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. this Sunday, November 3. Make sure to turn clocks back one hour. If this causes a sleepless night or two, look south around 1-3 a.m., November 4-5, for the South Taurids Meteor Showers that produce 10-20 very slow and bright meteors per hour.
“Nice weather in the Quiet Lakes’ area this past weekend,” says Greg at Happy Hooker, “and it should be good and into the 70s Tuesday. Wednesday could bring a cold front with rain, and keep temperatures in the normal fall range.
“Water temperatures are holding in the low 50s, though should cool with the colder nights. Fishing is hit or miss, with most anglers targeting muskies.
“Musky fishing is up and down for most anglers, though they are catching many fish on shallow weeds and structure with suckers and on pull/pause and glide baits. Fish move deeper as water temperatures cool and weeds lose oxygen.
“Walleye anglers should target shallow structure first and work the deeper edges during mid-day. Fish should still be moving shallow at night, and dusk is a great time to be on transition areas.
“Northern pike anglers are finding pike with musky in and around shallow weeds. Slightly smaller musky baits should catch pike this time of year.
“Largemouth bass have hit some musky baits lately, and spinnerbaits and crankbaits can catch cold water largemouth.
“Smallmouth bass are elusive for most anglers, in part due to the water temperatures for this time of year. We are in a September rather than late October fishing pattern. Look for smallmouth on deep rocks and points with rocks, adjacent to deeper water.
“Crappies are schooling in deeper water, which is relative, but schools of crappie in this area are in 15-25 feet. Jigging crappie minnows and small jigging baits in the schools will catch fish.
“Bluegill and perch are not targets for many anglers now, but fish should be around shallow green weeds. Oxygen is important, and panfish are in areas with the most oxygen. Plastics and waxies on small jigs are the best choices.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter reports good news/bad news from the fall Chippewa Flowage survey.
“Each fall, the Hayward Fish Team conducts an electrofishing survey on the Chippewa Flowage, surveying the same four stretches of shoreline totaling about 18 miles on both the east and west side. This consistent and annual sampling allows us to track some trends in the fishery.
“Juvenile walleyes are the main target of these surveys, but we capture other gamefish species as well, including muskellunge, northern pike, and both species of bass. Our 2024 survey was a classic ‘good news/bad news’ situation for our popular gamefish.
“First, as is customary, here is the bad news. The juvenile walleye catch was down in 2024, representing a somewhat weak year class. Catch of juvenile walleye was stronger on the east side than the west side, possibly reflecting better river spawning this year than main-lake island or shoreline spawning.
“Walleye abundance is still very healthy in the Chip, and even the smaller year class produced this year will contribute some fish to future walleye harvest. However, this appears to be more of a ‘tread water’ year, not one that will increase the abundance of the population significantly. That is the bad news.
“The good news is that we saw the strongest natural muskellunge reproduction since 1999. The combination of natural-born musky this year and stocked musky from 2023 provides optimism for the future of this musky fishery.
“It might not be a coincidence that we also had the lowest catch of northern pike since the start of the Pike Improvement Project. We have yet to see big increases in northern pike size resulting from the project, but there are some indications that the additional pike harvest is creating some space for more successful muskellunge reproduction.
“We encourage anglers to continue to harvest pike, whether or not they participate in the Pike Improvement Project.”
Trapping seasons opens November 2 for beaver, mink, muskrat, otter, and for non-resident raccoon trappers.
Woodcock season closes November 4.
Fall turkey season closes November 22 in zones 6 and 7. The season remains open in zones 1-5 through January 5. Crow season is open from November 23 through March 26.
The first half of elk season in the Clam Lake management zone closes November 10. Unsuccessful elk hunters have a second go at it from December 12-20.
The application deadline for spring turkey and fall bear harvest permits and bonus points is December 10.
According to the DNR deer harvest report for Sawyer County, the total harvest for this season, as of October 22 (subject to correction), is 199 deer, including 109 antlered and 90 antlerless. These totals include:
- Archery: 47 deer (26 antlered, 21 antlerless)
- Crossbow: 101 deer (50 antlered, 51 antlerless)
- Youth Deer Hunt (Oct. 5-6): 46 deer (30 antlered, 16 antlerless)
For more information, search “deer harvest summary” on the DNR website.
Due to elevated wildfire risk across the state, the DNR is asking people to exercise caution when towing and/or using outdoor equipment. Despite recent rainfall in some areas, conditions remain dry, leading to high and very high fire danger. The DNR suspended DNR-issued annual burning permits for debris piles, burn barrels, and prescribed burns in several counties where the DNR has burn permit authority. Take the basic safety precautions to help prevent wildfires.
Visit https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/wisburn/%23/FireDanger on the DNR website to check current fire danger, wildfire reports, and burning restrictions.
ATV/UTV TRAIL REPORT
All ATV and 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.
Unless otherwise posted, all county roads outside the LCO Reservation in Sawyer County are legal for ATV/UTV use. Trail Treker app shows the changes. Trails 174 and 176 in Spider Lake Township are no longer open to ATV/UTV use. The ATV/UTV trails in Sawyer County Forest (715-634-4846), Chequamegon National Forest (715-634-4821), and Flambeau State Forest (715-332-5271) are open, however check NOW for trail and road updates and closures at HLVCB ATV/UTV trail conditions report and Sawyer County Snowmobile & ATV Alliance.
Order a Sawyer County Snowmobile & ATV Trail Map from Hayward Lakes Visitor & Convention Bureau or download the Trail Treker app ($2) on your smartphone and get the complete Sawyer County Trail Map ($2). Once loaded, you never need mobile coverage. Put the phone in Airplane Mode to conserve the battery and your GPS still shows your location and all map business sponsors in “Points of Interest.”
Fishing Report
Beautiful fall weather this past weekend, though a bit windy. Get in another day on the water while you can, before the arrival of cooler temperatures and even some rain this week. Fish are in transition, so check with your favorite bait shop personnel to learn about locations, bait and presentation preferences, and daily bite windows.
Musky:
Musky action is fair to good and getting better. Find fish on shallow to mid-depth weeds, weedlines, weed edges, humps, and points, and other structure, and panfish concentrations. Suckers on quick-strike rigs, stickbaits, crankbaits, jerkbaits, gliders, and bucktails work well, and drag a live sucker while casting artificials.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is fair. During the day, look for fish on shallow structure to mid-depth and deeper edges, breaklines, and transition areas. In the evening and after dark, focus on shallow weeds and weed edges. Productive baits include walleye sucker, fatheads, and crankbaits, and stickbaits and crankbaits trolled along weedlines, weed edges, and drop-offs.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good to very good on shallow to mid-depth weeds, weedlines, points, and near panfish and baitfish concentrations. Northern suckers, walleye suckers, fatheads, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and swimbaits are all catching fish. For trophy pike, fish deeper water with bigger baits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass interest wanes at this time, with fishing fair to good for those who pursue them. The fish can be anywhere from shallow to deep weeds, weedlines, wood, and other cover, and near baitfish and panfish concentrations. Minnows, spinnerbaits, stickbaits, swimbaits, crankbaits, plastics, and Ned, wacky, and drop-shot rigs work well.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is fair to good, with anglers catching fish on deep weeds, weedlines, weed edges, rock, points, and other hard-bottom locations near deep water. Sucker minnows, plastics, swimbaits, and drop-shot, wacky, and Ned rigs are all effective at this time.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good if you can locate fish that are feeding. Look for schools in deep basins out to 25 feet, suspending over deep weeds, and on weeds and weed edges. Top offerings include crappie minnows, fatheads, plastics, Gulp! baits, and small jigging baits.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is good around shallow green weeds, but look for bigger fish in deeper water on weeds, weed edges, wood, and cribs. Best baits include Waxies, worms, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and teardrops fished under slip bobbers. Try small minnows for those bigger fish.
Upcoming Events
Nov. 2: Trapping seasons open: Beaver; Mink; Muskrat; Otter; Raccoon (non-resident).
Nov. 3: Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m.; turn clocks back one hour.
Nov. 4-5: South Taurids Meteor Showers; 10-20/hr., very slow and bright, south 1-3 a.m.
Nov. 4: Woodcock season closes.
Nov. 10: Elk season closes in Clam Lake management zone (888-936-7463).
Nov. 11: Veterans Day.
Nov. 12: Hayward Chapter-Muskies Inc. general meeting, elect officers, 7 p.m., Flat Creek Lodge (715-634-4543).
Nov. 12-14: North Taurids Meteor Showers; 10-20/hr., slow fireballs, south 12-2 a.m.
Nov. 15: Full Beaver Moon.
Nov. 16-17: Leonids Meteor Shower; 10-15/hr., very swift, southeast 4-5 a.m.
Nov. 16-22: Hayward Rod & Gun Club sight-in days, $6/firearm, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (715-492-0834).
Nov. 19: Duck season closes in Northern Zone.
Nov. 22: Fall turkey season closes in zones 6, 7.
Nov. 23: Seasons open: Fall turkey in zones 1-5; Crow.
Nov. 23-Dec. 1: Traditional nine-day gun deer season.
Nov. 29: Mourning dove season closes.
Dec. 2-11: Muzzleloader deer season.
Dec. 10: Application deadline for spring turkey, fall bear permits.
Dec. 12-20: Elk season second period open.
Dec. 13-14: Geminids Meteor Shower; 60-120/hr., medium speed, overhead, 1-3 a.m.
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 800-724-2992.