The Hayward area will enjoy a week of absolutely wonderful weather, with sunshine, blue skies, highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s and 50s! These days are in short supply (pulling for more!), so do enjoy them to the fullest!
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.
Look for the Full Hunters Moon on display Monday night, October 26, if the skies are clear.
“The Quiet Lakes’ area received nearly 2 inches of rain Thursday, which is great,” says Greg at Happy Hooker. “Not sure if it helped lake levels, but did not hurt, and should lower water temperatures. Spider Chain is around 60 degrees surface temperatures, Lost Land and Teal lakes are just below mid-50s, and fishing is hit or miss.
“We will see what warmer weather this week does to the fish. It might be good for anglers fishing, but not for the fish.
“Musky action is okay. Anglers see many fish; not all hit the baits. Fish are on shallow weeds and weed beds, so look for the greenest weeds. Bucktails, glide baits, and suckers are good choices at this time.
“Walleye information is sparse, but walleyes are likely suspending or relating to deeper water, depending on the lake. Trolling crankbaits in 10-18 feet can pull walleye off deeper weed edges and structure. Jigging walleye suckers off deep rocky points and shelves should be good, too.
“Northern pike action is good, with anglers having success with smaller musky baits, walleye baits, and live bait. Small jerkbaits and crankbaits worked through the weeds, and walleye suckers on bobbers over weed beds, will find pike.
“Largemouth bass should be in and around weeds. Throwing spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and any kind of Rapala-like baits are good choices now.
“Smallmouth bass reports are light, but jigging walleye suckers and plastics off deep rocky points and reefs would be a good start. On most lakes, look for fish in 12-20 feet, working shallower later in the day.
“Panfish are not receiving much pressure. Crappie and perch have pushed off the weed edges or are out in the deep basins. They will feed on bloodworms and other larvae near bottom as they start to settle into the mud for winter. Bluegills are likely still in and around green weeds. Crappie minnows and plastics are best for panfish now.”
Rob at Hayward Bait says muskies are shallow and fattening up for winter.
“Musky action is good with the dropping water temperatures and it will only get better until the ice arrives. Anglers are doing well on suckers, bucktails, and some hard baits.
“Walleyes are starting to move shallow with water temperatures cooling, but do not give up on basins. Minnows and crawlers are still the best bet, paddletails on jigs work, and jerkbaits start producing with the cooling water.
“Northern pike are scattered and feasting on baitfish. Best bait choices are live bait, spinnerbaits, and about anything you can pull past their noses at this time.
“Largemouth and smallmouth bass are in varied locations, with anglers catching fish on weedlines, cribs, shallow lilies, and other areas. Live bait such as walleye suckers, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits all work well. Look for the greenest weeds you can find. These weeds are full of oxygen where young baitfish can hide to avoid hungry bass.
“Crappies are as shallow as 7 feet and could head shallower with cooler temperatures, and in basins, all lake dependent. Anglers are doing very well with plastics, crappie minnows, and fatheads. Bigger baits shine at this time when panfish and all other fish put on the feedbag for winter.
“Bluegills are with the crappies in shallow weeds, as well as in mid-depths on cribs. Anglers are using plastics for bigger fish and live bait for numbers. Plastics and live bait under slip bobbers is the presentation of choice.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses solid stocked walleye estimates in two Sawyer County lakes.
“Walleye stocking can be a valuable tool for creating fishable populations, even in lakes where very little natural reproduction is occurring. Surveys of two lakes by the DNR Hayward Fish Team show how walleye stocking can be very effective when stocking fish into the right conditions.
“Big Chetac in southwestern Sawyer County, and Ghost Lake in northern Sawyer County, do not have a lot in common. Chetac is big, long, and known as a panfish and bass producer. Ghost is a small to medium size lake with a simple fishery that includes many small muskies, undersize panfish, and not much else.
“Each lake, however, has one important thing in common: dark water. Walleye love low-light conditions, and lakes that have colored water can often support strong walleye populations. Chetac’s water is green late in the year, while Ghost’s has a strong stained color. Both lakes have received stocking with large fingerling walleye every other year, and neither have much for natural reproduction over the last decade.
“In spring 2026, we checked on the success of those stocked walleye and how many had made it to adulthood.
“Ghost came in at 1.6 adult walleye per acre, or 576 total adult walleye, which is right around the baseline density we hope to get from stocked populations. The most common walleye size in Ghost right now is in the coveted 15- to 20-inch range, which is the legal harvest slot for the lake (hint, hint anglers).
“On Chetac, the estimated number of walleye came in at a very impressive 3.8 per acre, or 7,269 total walleye. Walleye in Chetac are big too, with the most common size again being 15-20 inches, but walleye greater than 20 inches were almost as common. The minimum length limit for walleye on Chetac is 18 inches.
“These lakes are good examples of when stocking into the right habitat can provide excellent fishing opportunities.”
Anglers
The General Inland Trout season closed October 15 on inland lakes, streams, springs and spring ponds (see regs).
Hunters/Trappers
Bear season closed October 13. See regulations for details.
Wisconsin’s Elk season is open thru December 13. Tags are by permit drawing.
Hunting and/or trapping seasons opened October 17 for Coyote; Fox (red/gray); Raccoon (resident); Fisher (by permit drawing, trapping only); and Bobcat Period 1 (by permit drawing). Check the hunting and trapping regs!
MANY bonus antlerless deer harvest authorizations remain available in 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 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
Fishing is fair to good, depending on the species. It could be an interesting week with the mild weather, but certainly great for being on the water. Anglers, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to get those fish to bite! Checking with the bait shops for fish locations, movements, bite windows, and favored baits and presentations can save time and effort to get on the fish quickly.
Musky:
Musky action is decent to good, with anglers seeing fish but not always getting hits. Cooler water will improve success going forward. Fish are in and on shallow green weeds and weed beds feeding for winter. Suckers on quick-strike rigs, bucktails, gliders, Bull Dawgs, and other rubber baits are all connecting.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is slow to fair, but improving with cooling water. Look for fish in mid-depths to deeper basins and on deep rocky points, shelves, and edges. Walleye suckers, minnows, crawlers, and paddletails on jigs work well. Jerkbaits, and trolling stickbaits and crankbaits on deep weed edges and structure are also good presentations.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good to very good in and around shallow to mid-depth green weeds and baitfish and panfish concentrations. Best offerings include northern and walleye suckers, fatheads, small musky baits, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, jerkbaits, and crankbaits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass are in and around greed weeds and weedlines, shallow lilies, cribs, and other structure. Walleye suckers, fatheads, crankbaits, chatterbaits, spinners, spinnerbaits, stickbaits, and minnowbaits can all produce interest.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass are scattered in 12-20 feet, but move shallower as the day evolves. Focus on green weeds and weedlines, cribs, and similar structure. Walleye suckers and plastics jigged off deep rocky points and reefs, and drop-shots, crankbaits, plastics, and spinnerbaits can all be effective.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is fair to good in around green weeds as shallow as 7 feet or in deep basins, so locating them can be a challenge! Crappie minnows, fatheads, plastics, Mini-Mites, Gulp! baits, and Beetle Spins are productive. Use bigger baits for bigger fish.
Bluegill/Perch: Bluegill and perch are not attracting much attention, but that could change with the warmer weather this week. Bluegills are around shallow green weeds with crappies; perch are off weed edges or in basins feeding on bottom. Live bait, minnows, and plastics on small jigs under slip bobbers are working well.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 13: Bear season closed (see regs).
Oct. 15: General Inland Trout season closed on inland lakes, streams, springs and spring ponds (see regs).
Oct. 17: Seasons opened: Pheasant; Bobwhite Quail; Hungarian Partridge.
Oct. 17: Hunting/trapping seasons opened: Fox (red/gray); Raccoon (resident); Bobcat Period 1.
Oct. 17: Trapping seasons open: Fisher (by permit); Coyote trapping (coyote hunting is continuous open season).
Oct. 17-Dec. 13: Elk season open. Tags by permit application; drawing in 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.
Oct. 31: Raccoon hunting/trapping season opens for nonresidents.
Nov. 1: Daylight Saving Time ends (TBD) at 2 a.m. ‑ turn back clocks one hour (maybe…)
Nov. 2: Woodcock season closes (see regs).
Nov. 2: Hayward Chapter-Muskies, Inc. meeting, elect officers, 7 p.m. Hayward Rod and Gun Club (715-558-2835).
Nov. 7: Trapping seasons open: Beaver (zones A, B); Otter (Northern Zone, by permit).
Nov. 21-29: Wisconsin’s traditional nine-day gun deer season.
Nov. 13: Deer processing class at Crex Meadows in Grantsburg, 6-9 p.m., $10, attendance limited (715-651-8033).
Nov. 21: Crow season opens.
Nov. 24: Northern Duck Zone seasons closes.
Nov. 29: Mourning dove season closes.
Nov. 30: Walleye season closes on Chippewa Flowage.
Nov. 30-Dec. 9: Muzzleloader deer season.
Dec. 10-13: Statewide antlerless-only deer hunt.
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.