Steve Suman
The forecast for this week predicts highs from the mid-50s to 70 degrees, and lows from the 30s to mid-50s. There are chances of rain throughout the week and weekend. Get out now and enjoy this mild fall weather!
The Orionids Meteor Shower will occur Tuesday and Wednesday nights, October 21-22. Look south around 2-4 a.m. for the display that will have 15-25 meteors per hour in swift streaks.
“In the Quiet Lakes’ area, it was a nice weekend to be outside and fishing,” says Greg at Happy Hooker. “Temperatures hover in the 60-degree range however, still too warm for this time of year, and fishing reflects it.
“Muskies are in and on the edges of green weeds, and live bait and big rubber baits with pull-pause retrieves are working well.
“Walleye should start moving to their fall transition areas, likely deeper rocky edges, with fish moving shallow at dusk into dark. Walleye suckers and fatheads are great bait choices as the water keeps cooling.
“Northern pike are actively hitting musky baits and smaller offerings. Look in and around weeds and mid-lake reefs.
“Largemouth bass are a bit quiet, likely pushing slightly deeper for fall, and with most anglers targeting other species. Working spinnerbaits midway through the water column is a good choice.
“Smallmouth bass favor deep rocky points and edges adjacent to main lake basins. Working minnows and plastics on jigs deep can be very effective.
“Crappies have been elusive lately, but we saw some bait balls in 12-18 feet Friday and Saturday that were likely crappie or perch. Jigs and minnows are the way to go to catch both crappie and perch right now. We did not see any bluegills in weeds, so they might have scattered.”
Jarrett at Hayward Bait says cold weather is pushing fish shallow or deep, depending on species.
“Musky anglers find active fish throughout the day in 4-12 feet, and most throw bucktails and topwaters. Cooling water temperatures will change the bite to slow-moving live bait and big rubber baits.
“Walleyes are deep and anglers are trolling Lindy Rigs, crawlers, and stickbaits. Walleye suckers on slip bobbers and live bait rigs are hot in fall. For shallow moving fish, toss jerkbaits and plastics on jigs. Fish are in 10-25 feet.
“Northern pike move to shallow weed flats for the winter. Northern suckers, and jigs and minnows under slip bobbers, are effective, or toss spinnerbaits, swimbaits, and spoons. Ideally, find baitfish schools in weed cover in 8-14 feet.
“Largemouth bass are scattered. Some track frogs migrating to shorelines, with others deep chasing bluegills and baitfish. Live bait is excellent, typically bigger is better, and swimbaits and jerkbaits in minnow patterns will produce.
“Smallmouth bass are moving to shallower rock and weeds, feeding on crayfish and small minnows. As with largemouth, live bait is excellent, and minnow pattern swimbaits and jerkbaits are productive.”
“Crappies are on deep cribs, weed edges, and roaming basins. Minnows and plastics on jigs work well. As it cools, fish put on the feedbag so upsize to 2- to 3-inch baits.
“Bluegills are on deeper structure. Try crawlers and red worms on slip bobbers, or cast small spoons and crankbaits.”
Mike at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage is down 2.5 feet and the water temperature 62 degrees.
“Musky anglers report fish near shorelines bordering steep shelf-like drop-offs, with various baits viable in current water temperatures. Offset blade bucktails, jerkbaits such as Suick and Bobbie baits, and surface baits are effective. If casting, float suckers, too.
“Walleye anglers report success around bogs with slip bobbers suspending baits at 7-10 feet. Suckers, minnows, and crawlers are the baits of choice.
“Northern pike are active in weeds, with musky anglers catching some upper 20- to low 30-inch fish on bucktails. Tinsel Tails and chatterbaits are great options, but live bait to entice them is a good idea.
“Smallmouth bass are still quiet, but few anglers are targeting them. Some report decent action in the river as you near the dam. Anglers are using a variety of baits from Ned Rigs to crawlers.
“Crappies are very active on the cribs. A few anglers are catching crappies in 4-5 feet in thick weeds, but the consensus is the fish are still on cribs in 16-22 feet. Cribs just south of Pork Barrel Island and cribs in Chief Narrows are the most productive. Crappie minnows remain the way to go for live bait. For artificials, one-inch Gulp! Minnows and Mini-Mites are the stars of the show!”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses abnormal conditions and fall musky tournament results.
“The Hayward Lakes Chapter-Muskies Inc. held their fall musky tournament October 3-5. This is the biggest musky tournament in our area, occurring annually on the same October weekend for decades.
“Records from this tournament provide insights into our local musky fishing scene. This year, the results were very out of line with recent trends, and one has to look at the extremely abnormal conditions for answers. We will start with some good news: 541 anglers participated, the highest number since 2009.
“Money raised through this event goes directly into local fisheries conservation projects, including musky stocking, so more participation means the club can do more good things in the area.
“The number of fish caught was down, with anglers registering just 46 muskies, the fewest since 1997. Anglers were facing unprecedented conditions for early October, including stiff winds and water temperatures 10-20 degrees higher than historically recorded for this weekend.
“The Chippewa Flowage registered the highest number of muskies for the second year in a row, with Grindstone the second most productive lake. This was the most muskies ever registered from Grindstone in this tournament, a somewhat surprising result.
“The biggest registered musky was a nice 47.5-inch Lake Namakagon fish. In many years, that fish would win the prize for biggest catch, though we have also seen many years with larger fish. Much of the catch was of quality size, and the percentage of total catch greater than 40 inches was 46 percent, the third highest in the event’s history.
“Muskies Inc. and the DNR are planning fall stocking in many of the tournament lakes, such as Tiger Cat Chain, Lost Land, Teal, and Mud/Callahan, which have produced fewer tournament catches over the last decade.”
The Northern Forest Zone now consists of a number of DMUs. Some of these exist in Sawyer County and extend into other counties. The 2025 weekly deer harvest numbers are available by referencing the 2025 deer management units map (or DMU map) and deer harvest summary.
Hunting and fishing season updates include the Oct. 15 closing of general inland trout season (with some exceptions); and the Oct. 18 season opener for pheasant, bobwhite quail, Hungarian partridge, and sharp-tailed grouse, trapping season for coyote, muskrat, mink, and fisher, and trapping/hunting season for bobcat, fox, and resident raccoon. In addition, the Wisconsin elk season first period also opens Oct. 18.
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 very good, depending on the species and lake. Temperatures continue a bit warmer than average for this time of year and holding somewhat steady. As always, checking with bait shop personnel for the most current information before hitting the water pays great dividends and saves time on the water.
Anglers: The general inland trout season closes Oct. 15, with some exceptions. Check the regulations for details.
Musky:
Musky action is good and improving. Focus on depths out to 15 feet around green weeds and weed edges, and shallow shorelines along steep drop-offs. Best offerings include suckers on quick-strike rigs, bucktails with offset blades, Bull Dawgs, Medussas, and other big rubber baits, Suicks, Bobbie Baits, and other jerkbaits, gliders, and topwaters.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is fair to good. Fish remain in late summer patterns in/on mid-depth to deep weeds, weed edges, breaklines, and rock. Best success is in early morning and late evening into dark. Top baits include walleye suckers, fatheads, and crawlers on jigs and slip bobbers, and trolled stickbaits, crankbaits, minnowbaits, and Lindy Rigs.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good to very good. Find fish on shallow to mid-depth weeds, weedlines, and weedy flats, points, and reefs, and around panfish and baitfish concentrations. Effective baits include northern and walleye suckers, minnow on jigs, bucktails, spinners, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, spoons, chatterbaits, and crankbaits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is slow to fair and the fish can currently be just about anywhere. Look for fish along shallow weedy shorelines lily pads, and bays, following frogs, and near deeper panfish and baitfish concentrations. Sucker minnows, fatheads, Ned Rigs, wacky rigs, plastics, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, and jerkbaits all catch largemouth.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is fair to good on shallow, mid-depth, and deep rocks and weeds, points and edges near basins, breaklines, and in the rivers. Effective baits include sucker minnows, minnows and plastics on jigs, crawlers, crankbaits, jerkbaits, minnowbaits, spinnerbaits, Ned Rigs, wacky rigs, and even some topwaters.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good to very good when you find them. Locations include thick weeds, weed edges, brush piles, cribs, and basins in 4-24 feet. Best baits include crappie minnows, fatheads, plastics, Mini-Mites, and one-inch Gulp! Minnows on jigs and slip bobbers, and Beetle Spins.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is good on deep structure, as well as in shallow green weeds and bays. Waxies, red worms, leaf worms, crawler chunks, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and teardrops under slip bobbers work well. Small minnows and Beetle Spins can do the trick for larger fish.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 15: General inland trout season closes (see regs).
Oct. 16-18: Fun in the Forest ATV Benefit & Ride at Lakewoods Resort (715-794-2561).
Oct. 17-19: Ladies Musky Fishing School ‑ Deerfoot Lodge & Resort (715-462-3328).
Oct. 18: Seasons open: Pheasant; Bobwhite Quail; Hungarian Partridge (see regs); Sharp-tailed grouse (by drawing).
Oct. 18-Nov. 16: Elk season, first period (by drawing).
Oct. 18: Trapping seasons open: Coyote; Muskrat; Mink; Fisher.
Oct. 18: Trapping/hunting seasons open: Bobcat; Fox; Raccoon (resident).
Oct. 21-22: Orionids Meteor Shower, south 2-4 a.m., 15-25/hr., Swift streaks.
Nov. 1: Trapping seasons open: Beaver (Northwest Zone); Otter (North Zone); Raccoon hunt/trap (non-resident).
Nov. 2: Daylight Saving Time ends ‑ turn back clocks one hour.
Nov. 3: Woodcock season closes.
Nov. 4-5: South Taurids Meteor Shower, south, 1-3 a.m., 10-20/hr., bright and very slow.
Nov. 5: Full Beaver 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.