The Hayward area enjoyed beautiful weather recently, but the forecast for this week shows highs in the 50s, lows in the 30s, and a few chances for rain. Cooler temperatures are still comfortable, so use them while they are available!
“The Quiet Lakes’ area enjoyed a warm weekend,” says Greg at Happy Hooker, “with temperatures in the mid-80s and some strong winds. This week, highs do not get out of the 50s, with a few lows dipping towards the freezing mark. Last Friday, water temperatures were 57-58 degrees on Lost Land Lake.
“Musky fishing is good, many anglers report success with suckers, and the cooler temperatures should kick up the action a bit. Bull Dawgs, glide baits, dive and rise jerkbaits, tubes, and live bait all catch fish during and after turnover. For now, target green weeds and fish suspending off the edges.
Walleyes are likely in basins and just off deep edges. Minnows on jigs work great for fish off deep structure, and trolling crankbaits is good for fish suspending over basins.
“Northern pike action is good and they eat anything thrown at them, as shown by my 20-inch pike on a 12-inch Suick while casting for musky on Friday! Find them around still green weeds.
“Largemouth bass are around weeds. Minnows, small suckers, spinnerbaits, and inline spinners are all good choices.
“Smallmouth bass anglers are using walleye suckers and working minnows on jigs on deep rock and sand transitions.
“Panfish fishing turned off lately, another possible sign of turnover, and fish are moving and scattered. Anglers might find crappie and perch in basins, and crappie minnows on small jigs great for those species. Bluegills will be in still green weeds that hold the most oxygen, with waxies the best choice.”
TJ at Hayward Bait says fall fishing is in full swing, and cooling water and shorter days bring changes.
“Muskies are on deep green weed edges and rocky points near deeper water. Suckers, bucktails, jerkbaits, and rubber baits work well. Vary retrieves, and watch for follows.
“Walleye fishing should improve with cooling water. Fish are active in low light early morning and evening into dark. Work rocky shorelines, points, humps, and deep breaks with crankbaits and minnows on jigs.
“Northern pike are around green weeds, weedlines, shallow bays, and transitions to deeper water. Cover water with spinnerbaits, spoons, swimbaits, and large minnows to locate active fish.
“Largemouth bass are transitioning to weed beds, docks, drop-offs, and other cover. Jigs, Texas-rigged plastics, spinnerbaits, and shallow crankbaits work well. Slow your presentations, as colder conditions make fish less aggressive.
“Smallmouth bass are on rocky points, gravel flats, humps, and deep rock transitions. Ned and drop-shot rigs, tubes, and suspending jerkbaits can be effective. Work windblown shorelines, watch depth changes, and adjust presentations to fish activity.
“Panfish are shifting to fall locations and deeper weed edges, brush, and basins. Crappie minnows and small plastics on jigs work well, and slip bobbers keep baits at the right depth.
“Trout anglers should check season dates and special regulations. Look for moving water and suitable habitat. Small spinners, spoons, flies, and natural presentations are productive. Approach streams carefully, keeping a low profile.”
Mike at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage water level is down about 3.5 feet.
“Musky fishing is all over the place lately. The sucker bite is definitely solid, but musky locations are all over the map. Smaller fish are shallower, while bigger lunkers are in deeper water off edges. To cover both, drop a sucker down in deeper water while casting baits into shallower structure. Larger suckers are the most popular, glide baits and Suicks are particularly good, and Tom’s Custom Super Glides are raising many fish. We have plenty of large, wild caught suckers on hand, though mediums are a bit lacking in numbers.
“Walleye fishing week is particularly good on larger minnows. Bigger walleye suckers and extra-large fatheads are producing the most success. During the day, fish deep humps and cover. In early morning and evening, fish shallower edges. In evenings, working shallow cover bordering river channels is a good tactic.
“Smallmouth bass are very active, with Ned Rigs a great choice, but most action is coming on 3-3.5 inch paddletails on swim jigs and swim rigs. Look for fish on submerged rocks and stumps, as well as some bigger fish on cribs. Largemouth bass were very quiet last week.
“Crappies are not yet schooled in the bays, according to all reports, and a few anglers report marking fish just outside Moores and the Blueberries. Most action is on deeper cribs and timber. Crappie minnows are the go-to live bait, with Gulp! Minnows and Mini-Mites best for artificials.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses anglers catching the same fish more than once.
“Catch and release fishing creates the opportunity for a released fish to become a prized catch for another angler later on. Sometimes, however, the same angler comes back and catches the exact same fish.
“Anglers often note that they believe they catch the same fish more than once, especially if they can identify unique markings or scars on the fish. Musky anglers love to make these observations and often have pictures of the fish to back up their claims.
“Our musky tagging project creates an opportunity for participating anglers to have absolute confirmation they caught the same fish twice. These become some of the most interesting capture histories in our records. Local guide and musky tagging all-star Steve Genson caught the same Spider Lake musky on the exact same calendar day two years in a row.
“Stu Neville, of Hayward Fly Company, caught the same fish on two consecutive days! A local angler who prefers to keep his/her home waters a secret, managed to catch the same fish four times in the span of three years, and at one point catching it twice in 10 days.
“We also have many instances of anglers ‘sharing’ a release with each other. Guides Steve Genson and Pete Rich have several instances of their clients catching the same fish ‑ sometimes Steve’s client catches the fish first, and other times Pete’s client catches the fish first.
“These capture histories point to the obvious benefit of catch and release for long-lived trophy species like muskies.
“Muskies are too much fun to catch just once!”
Lakewoods Resort’s – Fun in the Forest ATV Benefit & Ride is October 15-17. For more information, visit Lakewoods Resort or call (715) 794-2561.
Anglers
The General Inland Trout season closes October 15 on inland lakes, streams, springs and spring ponds (see regs).
The DNR is hosting a public meeting in Ashland Thursday, October 15, to discuss the Lake Superior lake trout quota in area WI-2. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Vaughn Library. Call (715) 779-4036 for more information.
The Ladies Musky Fishing School is October 16-18 at Deerfoot Lodge. Call (715) 462-3328 for more information.
Hunters/Trappers
Bear season closes October 13. See regulations for details.
Wisconsin’s Elk season is open October 17-December 13. Tags are by permit drawing.
Hunting and/or trapping seasons open October 17 for Coyote; Fox (red/gray); Raccoon (resident); Fisher (by permit drawing); Bobcat Period 1 (by permit drawing). Check the hunting and trapping regs!
Bonus antlerless deer harvest authorizations remain available for the Sawyer County/Northern Forest management zones. Purchase thru license sales locations and Go Wild for $12/resident, $20/nonresident, and $5/age 12 and younger. For more information, visit “deer hunting” on the DNR website.
ATV/UTV Trail Report
All ATV/UTV riders should review recent law changes effective June 1. Visit 2026 ATV/UTV regulations for details. For questions, contact DNR Customer Service at (888) 936-7463.
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; Wisconsin residents must display a registration sticker. Riders must run headlights at all times when operating.
Unless posted otherwise, all county roads outside LCO Reservation in Sawyer County are legal for ATV/UTV use.
As of June 30, 2026, additional county road sections through the LCO Reservation approved for ATV/UTV traffic include: Hwy CC from New Post to Hwy NN; Hwy NN from Hwy B to Hwy N; Hwy CC from Hwy N to the Village of Couderay; Hwy H from Hwy Cc to Hwy 27/70 (Helsing’s).
NOTE: These sections are open ONLY May 1-Oct 31 and from 6 a.m.-10 p.m. This update is not on the current paper map. For updates and closures, visitHLVCB ATV/UTV trail conditions report.
Sawyer County ATV & Snowmobile trail maps are available from the Hayward Lakes Visitor & Convention Bureau and Trail Treker smartphone app ($2) for the complete map ($2).
Fishing Report
Fish are in fall transition and angler success can vary by daily. Fall offers some of the best fishing of the year, so get on the water! Your favorite bait shop will share current fish locations, movements, bite windows, baits, and presentations.
Musky:
Musky action is good for fish on shallow to deep green weeds, off edges, rocky points, and other structure. Suckers, bucktails, Bull Dawgs, jerkbaits, gliders, Suicks, and tubes all produce. Make sure to figure-8 and watch for follows!
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is best during low light early morning and late evening into dark. During the day, work deep edges, humps, and points. During low light, fish shallow weeds, weed edges, points, humps, and breaklines. Walleye suckers and fatheads on jigs, and trolled crankbaits and stickbaits, do the job.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good to very good in and around green weeds, weed edges, shallow bays, and panfish and baitfish concentrations. Top baits include suckers, fatheads, minnows, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and swimbaits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass are relatively quiet around weeds and weed beds, drop-offs, docks, and other cover. Baits of choice include small suckers, minnows, spinners, spinnerbaits, Texas-rigged plastics, and shallow crankbaits.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is very good on deep rock, gravel, humps, points, sand, cribs, and windblown shorelines. Sucker minnows, Ned and drop-shot rigs, tubes, suspending jerkbaits, and 3-inch paddletails on swim jigs are effective.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is slow, with fish scattered and moving in/on basins, deep weeds and weed edges, brush, timber, and cribs. Crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, Mini-Mites, and Gulp! baits on small jigs under slip bobbers all work well.
Bluegill/Perch:
Bluegill and perch fishing is fair. Bluegills are on green weeds, weed edges, and brush, taking waxies and plastics on small jigs under slip bobbers. Perch in deeper weeds and basins hit minnows, waxies, and plastics on small jigs.
Trout
Trout are in moving water and suitable habitat. Before fishing, check season dates and special regulations. Approach the stream carefully and keep a low profile. Spinners, spoons, and flies are productive, depending on species.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 13: Bear season closes (see regs).
Oct. 15: General Inland Trout season closes on inland lakes, streams, springs and spring ponds (see regs).
Oct. 15: DNR hosting Lake Superior lake trout quota meeting at Vaughn Library in Ashland, 6 p.m. (715-779-4036).
Oct. 15-17: Lakewoods Resort – Fun in the Forest ATV Benefit & Ride (715-794-2561).
Oct. 16-18: Ladies Musky Fishing School at Deerfoot Lodge (715-462-3328).
Oct. 17: Hunting/trapping seasons open: Fox (red/gray); Raccoon (resident); Bobcat Period 1 and Fisher (by permit).
Oct. 17: Coyote trapping season opens (coyote hunting is a continuous open season).
Oct. 17-Dec. 13: Elk season open. Tags by permit application and June drawing.
Oct. 21-22: Orionids Meteor Shower, 15/hr., best viewing/peak before dawn, south.
Oct. 24: Trapping seasons open for Northern Zone Mink, Muskrat.
Oct. 26: Full Hunters Moon.
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.