Steve Suman
The forecast for this week predicts moist and cooler days ‑ mid-40s highs, upper-20s to mid-30s lows and a sunny Thursday. Temperatures warm through Monday, with highs in the low to upper 50s lows from the mid-20s to upper 40s, and shower chances Sunday night into Monday. Never know what will really happen, so get out and enjoy the North Wood’s fall weather!
The Orionids Meteor Shower will occur Tuesday and Wednesday nights, October 21-22. If skies are clear, look south from 2-4 a.m. for the display that should offer 15-25 meteors per hour moving in swift streaks.
“In the Quiet Lakes’ area, it sure felt like a very warm October to me,” says Greg at Happy Hooker. “Though fall temperatures might creep in over the next 15 days, it appears to be a mild fall moving forward.
“Fishing is good for the species anglers are targeting, but with most area lakes down a couple feet, use caution!
“Musky fishing is good, sucker action is starting to heat up, and dive and rise, glide baits, and big rubber baits with pull/pause retrieves are catching fish. Work the shallow and deep edges of still green weeds. Fish will likely be slightly deeper to start, but move shallow to feed in low light conditions.
“Walleye fishing is still tough, but with cooling water, walleyes should start moving into fall transition areas. Look for deeper rocks, deep weed edges, and other structure adjacent to deep lake basins. Walleye suckers and fatheads on jigs are great for live bait choices, while jigs and plastics should produce for artificials.
“Northern pike action is good in and around shallow weeds. Small musky, northern, and walleye suckers, bucktails, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits can produce.
“Largemouth bass anglers are offering no reports now, as few if any anglers are targeting them. Bass will likely relate to weed beds, with slow retrieved spinnerbaits and crankbaits effective.
“Smallmouth bass anglers are also not targeting smallmouth now, but walleye anglers could have success with the same baits in the same locations.
“Crappie, bluegill, and perch anglers are finding fish schooled off deep weed edges in 10-15 feet, depending on the lake and basin structure. Minnows on small jigs or under bobbers, as well as small Beetle Spins and Mimic Minnows cast into the schools, can be effective.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter offers a roundup of fall fisheries surveys.
“Fall survey results are in the books, and as is often the case, the results are a mixed bag for area fisheries.
“Juvenile walleye are the main target of these surveys. We found small to medium-sized year classes of walleye on the usual producers, including Chippewa Flowage, Round, Sand, and Windigo lakes. We also assessed walleye stocking survival on a few area lakes, with moderately positive results on Lake Chetac, Spider Chain, and Sissabagama.
“Muskellunge are a secondary target in these surveys. Musky reproduction looked strong on a few Winter area lakes, including Black Dan and Barber. Ghost Lake holds a nice density of muskies as well, and Lower Clam showed some positive musky numbers.
“We also saw many bass as a result of the warmer water temperatures throughout almost the entire survey window.
“Largemouth bass on Nelson, Chetac, and the Tiger Cat Chain had very good size, presenting some exciting opportunities for anglers.
“The spring 2026 surveys will check adult walleye, muskellunge, pike, panfish, and bass on another set of area lakes.”
Crex Meadows Wildlife Area will offer a deer processing class at the facility Saturday, December 6, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Instructors will cover all aspects of deer processing, including hanging, aging, caping, skinning, CWD testing, and hands-on processing and packaging meat for home use and storage.
Participants will learn safe handling techniques, proper cuts, and practical tips to maximize the yield and quality of the harvest. Crex will provide all necessary equipment and participants will receive venison to take home.
This class requires registration to reserve your spot. The fee is $10 to attend.
For more information, email Gregg@raisedatfulldraw.com, visit Crex, or call (715) 463-2739.
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.
Wisconsin elk season, first period, opened Oct. 18, the eighth season since the reintroduction of elk in the state, and the first year with antlerless harvest opportunities.
For the Clam Lake Elk Range, 17,737 hunters applied for a license. The DNR established an eight-bull quota and randomly selected four state hunters for licenses. Per treaty rights, the Ojibwe tribes declared four bulls of the bull harvest quota. The random drawing ensures that each applicant has an equal chance of selection.
Revenue from hunter application fees contribute directly to the future of the state’s elk population. For each $10 application fee, $7 goes directly toward elk management, habitat restoration, and research.
The 2026 elk hunt application period for Wisconsin residents will run March 1 through May 31, with the 2026 elk hunting season opening Saturday, Oct. 17. When applying, hunters must select which unit they intend to hunt.
For more information, search “elk hunting” on the DNR website.
The Sawyer County Snowmobile & ATV Alliance is now selling raffle tickets for its 2025 fundraiser. The prizes include 20 firearms and 22 other prizes. Raffle tickets cost $20 each and only 2,500 are available. The drawing is Saturday, November 15, at Flambeau Forest Inn on W980 County Rd W, Winter. Winners do NOT need to be present.
For more information, visit Sawyer County Snowmobile & ATV Alliance.
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).
As of October 2, there are reports of a sinkhole on Trail 111 east of Hay Creek Bridge, with a bypass at Blockhouse Road. Many operators report machines almost stuck or rolled. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GO THROUGH. The US Forest Service received notification. Check HLVCB Trail conditions for updates.
Sawyer County snowmobile and ATV trail maps are available from Hayward Lakes Visitor & Convention Bureau.
Fishing Report
Anglers and boat owners are transitioning for winter ‑ and so are the fish! Fishing is good for most species when you figure out where they are, the bite windows, and their changing food preferences. Bait shop personnel know what is happening and are more than happy to share their knowledge IF you stop and inquire. Check with these folks just before you get on the water and save time you might otherwise spend trying to put together all the pattern puzzle pieces!
Musky:
Musky fishing is good and hitting its fall stride. Green weed edges, humps, points, and panfish concentrations from shallow to mid-depths hold fish, and they move shallow to feed during low light periods. Suckers on quick-strike rigs, bucktails, glide baits, big rubber baits, jerkbaits, and stickbaits are all working at this time.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing remains a challenge, but improving with cooling water. During daylight, work mid-depth to deeper weeds, weed edges, rock, drop-offs, and near deep basin structure. In evening to after dark, move to shallower weeds and weedlines. Walleye suckers, fatheads, and plastics on jigs, and cast and trolled stickbaits and crankbaits are productive.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good to very good in and around shallow to mid-depth weeds, weedlines, weed edges, bays, points, and wherever you can find concentrations of baitfish and panfish. Northern and walleye suckers, fatheads, bucktails, crankbaits, swimbaits, spinners, spinnerbaits, and spoons are all effective.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is still good for the few anglers who continue to target them. As the weather and water temperatures cool, fish change locations, scattering from shallow to deep weeds, weedlines, wood, and around baitfish and panfish concentrations. Minnows, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, plastics, and drop-shot, Ned, and wacky rigs can all produce.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is good for anglers pursuing them. Focus on hard bottom areas that include deep weeds, weedlines, weed edges, rocks, and points adjacent to deeper water, the same locations that hold walleye ‑ and vice-versa! Sucker minnows, various plastics, swimbaits, and Ned, drop-shot, and wacky rigs are all working.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good once you locate active schools of fish. Find them in lake basins, on weeds and weed edges in 8-25 feet, and suspending over deep weeds. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, fatheads, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs with or without slip bobbers, and small spoons, Mimic Minnows, and Beetle Spins.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is fair to good. Depending on the lake, look for schools on shallow green weeds, along mid-depth to deeper weeds, weed edges, wood, cribs, and other structure. Best baits include waxies, worms, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and teardrops and/or fished under slip bobbers, and small Beetle Spins and Mimic Minnows.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 15: General inland trout season closes (see regs).
Oct. 18: Seasons opened: Pheasant; Bobwhite Quail; Hungarian Partridge (see regs); Sharp-tailed grouse (by drawing).
Oct. 18: Elk season, first period, opened (by drawing).
Oct. 18: Trapping seasons opened: Coyote; Muskrat; Mink; Fisher.
Oct. 18: Trapping/hunting seasons opened: 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.
Nov. 16: Elk season, first period, closes.
Nov. 12-14: North Taurids Meteor Shower, south, 12-2 a.m., 10-20 per hour, slow fireballs.
Nov. 16-17: Leonids Meteor Shower, southeast, 4-5 a.m., 10-15 per hour, very swift.
Nov. 21: Fall turkey season closes statewide.
Nov. 22-30: Wisconsin’s traditional nine-day gun deer season.
Nov. 22-Jan. 4: Fall turkey season open in zones 1-5.
Nov. 25: Duck season closes in Northern Zone.
Nov. 29: Mourning dove season closes.
Nov. 30: Walleye season closes on Chippewa Flowage.
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.