Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report 10-7-24

Steve Suman

The forecast predicts another dry and sunny week ahead, with high temperatures ranging from 64-72 degrees and lows from 31-54 degrees. The current forecast indicates only slight chances for rain Saturday night and Sunday.

The Travel Wisconsin Fall Color Report shows Sawyer County is at 40-50-percent fall color. Check the map on the website for updates.

“Cool nights and strong winds brought Quiet Lakes’ water temperatures down considerably,” says Greg at Happy Hooker. “We saw 62 degrees most of Friday and heard of 60-degree spots on some lakes. Fishing is still in a late summer pattern, but the fall feed should start very soon. Lakes will turn over shortly, which could make fishing tough.

“Musky fishing picked up a bit, mostly on live bait. On Saturday, we had five follows on bucktails in shallow weeds, but the fish turned off as soon as they saw the boat. There are reports of some action on dive-and-rise and glide baits.

“Walleye fishing is tough. A few anglers are catching fish while jigging blade baits or Rippin’ Raps on deep rock ledges. Deep is relative from lake to lake, and fish can be anywhere in 12-30 feet.

“Northern pike are around shallow weeds, hitting small bucktails.

“Largemouth bass are on weed edges in 8-10 feet and walleye suckers and fatheads are doing a good job.

“Smallmouth bass anglers are finding smallmouth on deep rocks and rock ledges. Use baits that get down to the bottom and jig them aggressively.

“Crappie, bluegill, and perch anglers are not reporting any kind of panfish bite. A few anglers are still using crawlers and leaf worms because of the warm temperatures, but no word on any kind fishing success. Fish are probably still shallow, as the lakes still have some very green weeds.”

Jarrett at Hayward Bait says with the cold weather and first frost, fish will throw on the feedbag to prepare for winter!

“Musky anglers enjoyed success despite warm temperatures, but the bite will get much better with the cool weather. Fish are in 15 feet and shallower. Most anglers cast baits such as Medussas, Bull Dawgs, and other big plastics, and bucktails, while dragging suckers on harnesses.

“Walleyes are still deep, with some exceptions. Some are in deep basins where walleye suckers on live bait rigs shine. Some anglers troll and cast crankbaits along mid-depth weedlines for fish that moved shallow. Regardless, with the shorter days, prime time bite windows are easier to access.

“Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing is solid, with many fish moving shallow. There is a good bite on live bait, spinnerbaits, plastics, and topwaters. Weeds, lily pads, and docks are all still the key with warm daytime temperatures. Fish will soon focus on remaining weeds, as will most panfish and baitfish.

“Crappie fishing is good on deep weedlines or close to main lake structures such as cribs where anglers can pitch slip bobbers and jigs to coax fish from that structure. They should begin schooling and roaming main lake basins, suspending at all depths from 20-40 feet. Live bait, jigs, and plastics are the go-to baits.”

Mike at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage is down about 3 feet, with water temperatures in the high 50s to low 60s.

“Muskies are moving shallower with cooling water temperatures. Musky anglers did well in the tournament this past weekend, with considerable action on baits ranging from jerkbaits to cowgirls, and black the hot color. Non-tournament anglers reported good fishing with suckers, which should pick up in the coming weeks.

“Walleye fishing improved slightly, though still slower than usual. The good news is the cool down, a good sign for the weeks ahead. The bite is a mix of crawlers and minnows, and crankbaits cast over shallow to mid-depth weeds. If you do not mark baitfish on electronics, move to a different spot.

“Northern pike in weeds offer good action, though many are smaller fish. Tinsel Tails, square-bill crankbaits, and chatterbaits are all productive.

“Bass are quiet, but mostly as a function of fewer people fishing for them. Anglers catching largemouth are still getting them in greener weeds, while smallmouth are hanging around stumps and rock piles on the east side. Baits of choice are still Ned rigs, wacky worms, and Whopper Ploppers.

“Crappies are on cribs and brush piles, but cooler water will eventually push them into Moore’s Bay and Blueberry Flats, possibly in the next week or two. Some anglers report good success with crappie minnows, with others doing well on plastics, particularly 1- to 2.5-inch Gulp! Minnows.”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses Spider Lake musky research.

“We certainly love our muskies here in Hayward, and we focus much of our fish management on preserving and enhancing muskellunge populations.

“One of the biggest issues our local musky populations face is competition with introduced populations of northern pike in many of our popular native musky waters. While we know this issue is important, we still lack a thorough understanding of how the two species interact. A new, state-of-the-art research project on Spider Lake, led by DNR researcher Dr. Colin Dassow, will help fill that knowledge gap.

“Around 25 muskies and 15 pike will receive surgically implanted ‘acoustic tags’ tracked by receivers placed around the lake on the lakebed. The tags send out a ‘ping’ that the receivers detect, allowing us to continuously track the exact location of each fish for 3-4 years. These tags will give us some of the most detailed information ever collected about muskellunge and pike movement and how the two species interact.

“Other elements of the study of the two species include collecting information on habitat characteristics and use, diets, and how the fish react to human activities such as boating and angling. We expect the gathered information will lead to new strategies to manage muskies in lakes with introduced northern pike.

“This study receives considerable support by donations from groups and individuals including Hayward Lakes Chapter of Muskies Inc., The Rich Ford Foundation, The Wisconsin Musky Alliance, the H.C. Becker Foundation (Twin Cities Muskies Inc.), and around 45 families in the Spider Lake community.

“Expect to hear more about this project in the future!”

The DNR encourages people to check the fire danger before conducting any outdoor burning this fall. The main cause of autumn wildfires is burning brush and leaf piles, with debris burning the number one cause of Wisconsin wildfires. Dry vegetation and dead leaves are especially susceptible, which will continue until there is significant rainfall.

The DNR recommends avoiding debris burning until the ground is completely snow-covered.

For more information, visit “fire danger” and “burning restrictions” on the DNR website.

This week, bear season closes October 8; elk hunting season opens October 12 in the Clam Lake Elk Management Zone; and the Hunters with Disabilities deer hunt ends October 13.

Northwest Relic Riders will host its vintage snowmobile show and swap Saturday, October 12, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at Flat Creek Lodge. For more information, visit www.relicriders.com or call (715) 482-1026.

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. The 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. Check the HLVCB ATV/UTV trail conditions report and Sawyer County Snowmobile & ATV Alliance for trail and road updates.

Fishing Report

Weather is cooling, fish are transitioning and should start feeding, and turnover still to come!

Trout anglers please note the general inland trout fishing season closes Saturday, October 15, with some exceptions. Consult the hook and line regulations or trout regulations guides. Dates are inclusive and subject to change.

Musky:

Musky action is improving, but still with many follows turning away at the boat. Look for fish around weeds, weed beds, and weedlines out to 18 feet. Suckers on quick-strike rigs, Bull Dawgs, Medussas, and other plastics, bucktails, jerkbaits, glide baits, and topwaters all attract muskies… and sometimes get them to hit!

Walleye:

Walleye fishing is improving, but for this time of year it should be better ‑ and will be better ‑ as the water cools. Deep rocks and ledges, mid-depth to deeper weedlines and breaklines out to 30 feet, and areas with baitfish, can all hold fish. Use walleye suckers and fatheads, crawlers on harnesses, crankbaits, and jigged blade baits and Rippin’ Raps.

Northern Pike:

Northern pike action is good, but mostly for smaller fish. Look for shallow to mid-depth weeds and concentrations of panfish and baitfish and there will be pike nearby. Northern and walleye suckers, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, bucktails, crankbaits, and chatterbaits do the job. Go deeper with bigger baits for trophy pike.

Largemouth Bass:

Largemouth bass anglers are sparse with the changing season, but the fish are still there! Find them on green weeds and weed edges, remaining docks, and lily pads in depths out to 12 feet. Walleye suckers, fatheads, spinnerbaits, Ned rigs, wacky worms, plastics, and Whopper Ploppers and other topwaters are all effective.

Smallmouth Bass:

Smallmouth bass fishing is good to very good. Anglers are finding fish in various depths, from deep rocks, rock ledges, and weeds, to shallow to mid-depth weeds, stumps, and other structure. Favored baits include sucker minnows, wacky worms, Ned rigs, jigging baits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, plastics, and topwaters.

Crappie:

Crappie fishing is good, with fish on deep weedlines, lake basins, brush piles, cribs, and other structure, and suspending over depths to 40 feet. Crappie minnows, fatheads, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! Minnows on jigs and slip bobbers are the top baits, with Beetle Spins also productive.

Bluegill/Perch: Bluegill and perch are moving to shallow green weeds and warmer water bays and fishing is good. Waxies, leaf worms, crawler pieces, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and teardrops work well. Small minnows are good for bigger bluegills and perch

Upcoming Events

Oct. 5-13: Hunters with Disabilities Gun Deer Hunt.

Oct. 8: Bear season closes.

Oct. 12: Elk hunting season opens in the Clam Lake Management Zone (888-936-7463).

Oct. 12: Northwest Relic Riders vintage snowmobile show/swap, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Flat Creek Lodge (715-482-1026).

Oct. 15: General inland trout fishing season closes.

Oct. 17: Full Hunter’s Moon (Supermoon).

Oct. 18-20: Ladies musky fishing school (715-462-3328).

Oct. 19: FHNB annual fall all you can eat spaghetti dinner fundraiser 4:30-8 p.m., Flat Creek Lodge (715-634-3185).

Oct. 19: Seasons open: Pheasant; Bobwhite quail; Hungarian Partridge; Coyote trapping; Fox hunting/trapping; Bobcat hunting/trapping Period 1; Fisher trapping; Raccoon hunting/trapping.

Oct. 21-22: Orionids Meteor Shower; south, 2-4 a.m., 15-25/hr., swift streaks.

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.