December temperatures are near the average, though turning colder mid-week, with Wednesday and Thursday nighttime lows pushing -8 degrees. Warmer temperatures return Saturday, and most chances of snow for this week, at this time, are for flurries and no appreciable accumulation.
Turkey and bear hunters: Note thatDec. 10 is the application deadline for spring turkey and fall bear permits.
Travelers can check current road conditions at 511wi.gov for Wisconsin and 511mn.org for Minnesota.
“Mid-week Quiet Lakes’ temperatures look to drop down into the teens and lows around zero,” says Greg at Happy Hooker, “and this should get ice building back on track.
“Some spots on the Spider Chain have 4-6 inches, while other spots have open water. Some back bays and smaller, shallow lakes could have fishable ice, but always use caution and common sense when on the ice. No matter how much you ‘think’ the ice is safe, check the thickness every few steps. If it looks sketchy, it probably is sketchy. Trust your common sense: If it does not feel right, do not go. No fish is worth losing your gear ‑ or worse ‑ through the ice.
“Anglers are primarily using tip-ups and doing well. It is mixed bag for fishing at this time, with no real ‘targeting’ of any species. Walleye, northern pike, and bass are off weedlines and all will take suckers or shiners under tip-ups.
“Panfish anglers might have some success with jigs and waxies if they fish in pockets of weed beds.”
Jarrett at Hayward Bait says ice reports vary from no ice on bog bodies to 6-7 inches on small back bays.
“Early ice safety is extremely important this time of year, so be safe out there! As ice continues to form with frigid temperatures, anglers will venture onto bigger and deeper waters.
“Walleye fishing started off slow, with late ice coming to bodies of water such as the Chippewa Flowage at the Nov. 30 end of walleye season there. Nevertheless, anglers found fish relatively shallow in 10 feet or less, mostly on setlines. As the ice thickens, muffling topside ice activity, anglers will be able to sit on fish much easier without spooking fish. Walleye suckers and medium/small shiners are working.
“Panfish anglers cannot yet access deep basin crappies, so search remaining shallow weeds. Waxies and crappie minnows on small jigs work well for both bluegills and crappies.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses the numerous Hayward area fishing tournaments in 2024.
“Fishing tournaments are an interesting part of the larger fishing culture. Fishing competitively and testing your skills ‑ and luck ‑ against other anglers adds an entirely new element to an already exciting pastime. When fishing a few tournaments in my pre-DNR life, I remember feeling the butterflies when all the boats took off for the day.
“Our local Hayward area is popular for fishing tournaments, though we do not have the acreage of water to attract big B.A.S.S.-type events. Very small tournaments, such as a family and friends tournament with a few boats or a very small local bass club, do not need a permit from DNR.
“Larger tournaments that include 20 boats or more do require a DNR permit, and the permitting process ensures a few things. First, by issuing permits we can be sure that we do not have several big tournaments happening on the same lake at the same time, as obvious problems would arise from that situation.
“Second, the permitting process allows the local fisheries biologist to set conditions and make recommendations on how to minimize stress on fish or conflicts with other anglers. These conditions can include things such as where the tournament will release fish after the event, how far anglers can transport fish, and how many fish each angler can hold. Tournament organizers who live in our area or come to the area to organize an event have been very cooperative. It is in their best interest to preserve our fisheries, as well as minimize conflicts with other anglers.
“This was a big year for fishing tournaments in our area and I issued 40 tournament permits for larger events. Two tournaments targeted musky, both in immediate release formats, one targeted northern pike, one targeted black crappie, and two targeted two species simultaneously ‑ walleye/bass, and bass/pike.
“The remainder of the tournaments targeted bass, by far the most common tournament type. Only the pike and crappie tournaments involved planned harvest of the fish, with the remainder exclusively catch and release.
“Occasionally, I hear concerns or complaints from non-tournament anglers about area fishing tournament activity. My hope is that hearing about the realities of tournament fishing and their regulation will help everyone understand what is happening out there, and we will become better able to share and care for our amazing waters.”
Fall turkey hunters in Wisconsin registered 3,862 turkeys in the state as of December 3, with the season harvest in zones 4, 6, and 7 as follows:
- Zone 4: 637
- Zone 6: 395
- Zone 7: 211
The fall season in zones 6 and 7 closed November 22. The season in zones 1-5 runs through January 5. Bonus authorizations ($10/residents; $15/nonresidents) are available at one per person, per day, until the zone sells out or season ends. Bonus permits remain available in the following zones:
- Zone 1: 698
- Zone 2: 538
- Zone 3: 416
- Zone 4: 562
For more information, search “turkey hunting” on the DNR website.
According to the DNR deer harvest report for Sawyer County, total harvest for this season, as of December 3, is 2,055 deer, including 1,305 antlered and 750 antlerless. Sawyer County totals (subject to correction) include:
- Archery: 208 deer (156 antlered, 52 antlerless)
- Crossbow: 490 deer (337 antlered, 153 antlerless)
- 9-Day Gun Season (preliminary): 519 deer (349 antlered, 170 antlerless)
- Muzzleloader season (preliminary): 3 deer (3 antlered, 0 antlerless)
- Youth Hunt: 46 deer (30 antlered, 16 antlerless)
For more information, search “deer harvest summary” on the DNR website.
The DNR encourages hunters to donate Wisconsin-harvested deer through the Deer Donation Program. This helps the stocking of food pantry shelves with ground venison made from donated deer. Since the program began in 2000, hunters have donated more than 98,000 deer, totaling nearly 4 million pounds of venison.
For more information, search “deer donation program” on the DNR website.
Hunters and trappers who harvested their first deer, bear, turkey, bobcat, fisher, or otter this year can commemorate the event with a free first harvest certificate. Check out the online form, fill in all the necessary information, and upload a photo. The DNR will send a printable certificate to the email address supplied.
The DNR is hosting a public Lake Superior fisheries management meeting at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center in Ashland Wednesday, December 11, starting at 6 p.m. Attendees will discuss brown trout and splake stocking, and future stocking plans. An open forum for questions or comments will follow a short presentation.
The DNR Fisheries Management staff will also introduce a proposed walleye regulation that will be one of the questions during the Wisconsin Conservation Congress spring hearings.
For more information, search “Lake Superior fisheries management meeting” on the DNR website.
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 certificationAll 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 (changes shown on Trail Treker).
Check now for trail and road updates, closures, and upcoming closures atHLVCB ATV/UTV trail conditions report and Sawyer County Snowmobile & ATV Alliance.
Order Sawyer County Snowmobile and ATV trail maps from the Hayward Lakes Visitor & Convention Bureau. 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. Set phone in Airplane Mode to conserve the battery and GPS still shows your location and map business sponsors in “Points of Interest.”
Fishing Report
Ice fishing season has kicked in, but “early ice” conditions remain questionable. Recent mild, rainy days thinned the ice on some lakes, thickness varies between lakes, and even between spots on the same lake. Use a spud bar to check the ice as you go ‑ and as you return. The forecast for Wednesday and Thursday nights this week is for -8 degrees, so that should build some ice!
Anglers should note that walleye season on the Chippewa Flowage closed November 30, and musky season closes statewide December 31. Check the regulations for the waters you are fishing.
Walleye/Northern Pike:
Walleye and northern pike anglers should target weed beds and weedlines out to 10 feet if the ice is thick enough for access. Find the panfish and you find the predator fish. Most anglers are using walleye suckers and shiners under tip-ups, with a few jig fishing. Keep safety as the priority!
Crappie/Bluegill/Perch:
For panfish anglers so inclined, look for crappie, bluegill, and perch in and around shallow weeds, weedlines, and weed bed pockets that are “less risky” for travel. Deeper fish will have to wait until the ice thickens. Baits of choice include crappie minnows and waxies on tip-ups, small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks.
Upcoming Events
Nov. 30: Walleye season closed on the Chippewa Flowage.
Dec. 2-11: Muzzleloader deer season.
Dec. 2-31: Hayward Holiday Raffle Drawings; tickets $10 each (715-634-8662).
Dec. 10: Application deadline for spring turkey, fall bear permits.
Dec. 11: Bobwhite quail season closes statewide.
Dec. 12-15: Statewide antlerless-only deer season (see regs).
Dec. 12-20: Elk season second period open.
Dec. 13-14: Geminids Meteor Shower; 60-120/hr., medium speed, overhead, 1-3 a.m.
Dec. 15: Full Cold Moon.
Dec. 16: Goose season closes in Northern Zone.
Dec. 21: Winter Solstice – first day of winter.
Dec. 22-23: Ursids Meteor Shower; 5-15/hr., medium speed, north, all night.
Dec. 24-Jan. 1: Antlerless-only holiday deer season (not statewide; see regs); open only in select farm counties.
Dec. 25: Bobcat Period 1 hunting and trapping season closes.
Dec. 26-Jan. 31: Bobcat Period 2 hunting and trapping season opens.
Dec. 31: Musky season closes (see regs).
Jan. 2-4: Quadrantids Meteor Shower; 60-120/hr. medium speed, northeast, 4-6 a.m.
Jan. 4: 13th Annual Pat’s Landing Tipper Tourney, 8am-3pm, $25 entry fee (715-945-2511).
Jan. 5: Seasons close: Archery and crossbow deer; Grouse Zone A; Turkey zones 1-5; Pheasant; Hungarian partridge; Fisher trapping.
Jan. 7: Big Sissabagama Lake fishery planning Zoom meeting, 5:30-7 p.m. (715-634-7429).
Jan. 18-19: Free Fishing Weekend.
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.