This week brings a dose of weather reality, with rain chances most of the week and highs in the 60s, and lows in the 30s and 40s. This pleasant late October weather offers time to finish the lawn, garden, and other outdoor projects!
The Full Hunters Moon October 26 might be difficult to view with the expected cloudy skies.
Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday, November 1, at 2 a.m., so remember to turn back your clocks and regain that hour of sleep we “loaned out” last spring!
“The Quiet Lakes’ area has chances for rain this week,” says Greg at Happy Hooker, “and we can use it, with most lakes down 2 feet. Lake temperatures are around the mid-50s.
“Fishing is surprisingly good with the unseasonable warmth, and cooler water by week’s end should improve the bite.
“Muskies are in/around shallow weed beds and weedy bays, and action is very good. Glide baits, dive and rise baits, and rubber baits are excellent choices, but every angler should drag a sucker.
“Walleye fishing is not great, which will continue until the water is below 50 degrees. Most anglers jig walleye suckers on deep rocky structure. Fish move shallow near dark and anglers should cast jerkbaits and crankbaits such as Shad Raps.
“Northern pike action is good, with some musky anglers catching pike. Bucktails, crankbaits, and small musky suckers work well. Fish green weed beds, shoreline weeds, and bays off main lake basins.
“Smallmouth bass anglers do well jigging walleye suckers and fatheads off deep weed and rock edges that fall into basins. Look for fish in 12-18 feet, depending on the lake and depth of deep weed edges.
“Most panfish are still in shallower water and most anglers are using crappie minnows, fatheads, and plastics. Once the water cools below 50 degrees both crappie and perch will start schooling and push into basins.”
TJ at Hayward Bait says musky anglers should drag small to medium suckers behind the boat while casting.
“Slow-roll small 5- to 8-inch soft swimbaits such as Livingston Mustangs or Chaos Posseidons over weeds and on ledges in 15-20 feet.
“Walleyes are in 10-20 feet on mud flats, humps, and weeds. Use walleye suckers and minnows and be patient. The fish seem confused by the turnover and temperature rise.
“Northern pike are in shallow weeds in 3-5 feet, with spinnerbaits and chatterbaits the best bet. Larger pike feed best in evenings when bluegills feed on the surface. Work big surface baits over bluegill schools for topwater blow-ups.
“Largemouth bass are feeding aggressively for winter and hitting 5- to 7-inch baits. In the evening, throw topwaters over bluegill schools.
“Crappies around weeds and cribs in 4-10 feet are taking fatheads on bobbers or small soft-bodied minnows.
“Bluegills are feeding on small bugs and minnows during the day. Work baits just above the weeds at sunset. When fish rise higher in water column and move around, switch to small topwaters.”
Mike at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage pool is down 3.5 feet.
“Musky fishing is solid, and the key is following their food. Regardless of your tactics, float a sucker ‑ and we have plenty available. Various artificials are producing success, such as Suicks, Bobbies, gliders, bucktails, and topwaters.
“Walleye fishing is quiet, with few anglers targeting them. Local guide Noah Glitto says the key is deeper humps with coontail. Walleye suckers, chubs, and leeches on quarter-ounce jigs are effective, and we still have a few leeches in stock.
“Northern pike action is quiet, but few folks are fishing for them. Putting out a few suckers and wild chubs would be a solid move. The pike will follow crappies.
“Crappies are in Moores Bay, Cranberry Lake, and Blueberry Flats. Most anglers report crappies suspending in 10-12 feet in large schools. Minnows are the bait of choice, but with a bug hatch Friday, throwing Garland imitation mayflies might be a good idea.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses Sawyer County lakes that are showing some sudden increases in bluegill size.
“When changes happen in our local fisheries, they usually happen slowly and incrementally. Most often, we can determine why something is changing. However, not all changes happen slowly or predictably. Over the last few years, we have noticed a handful of lakes that have seen sudden, unexpected increases in the abundance of bigger bluegill.
“Our first example comes from the Spider Chain, where panfish size has always been average at best. In a 2012 survey, 0 percent of bluegills were over 8 inches. In 2021 we found 1 percent of bluegill were over 8 inches. Then, in 2025 we were surprised to see a very respectable 6 percent of bluegill were greater than 8 inches. This matched with results from other local surveys. In Spring Lake, we saw 0 percent of bluegill were 8 inches in 2012 and just 1 percent in 2019. However, our spring 2026 survey found 11 percent of bluegill hit that 8-inch mark.
“On Sissabagama, we had seen less than 1 percent of bluegills were greater than 8-inches in 2010, 2015, and 2021 surveys. In 2025, however, a whopping 18 percent of bluegill met that mark. These lakes differ from one another in size, habitat, and even angling regulations, so the exact reasons for bigger bluegill are not immediately clear.
“In general, warmer water and longer growing season conditions are becoming more favorable for bluegill, which might explain some of the size improvements. Denser predator populations, including more walleye in Sissabagama and Spider, might also be a driving force. When predators are able to keep panfish numbers in check, the remaining panfish are usually able to grow faster.
“Regardless of the mechanism driving the trend, anglers can enjoy some bigger bluegills on lakes where they were not always available in the past. We will be keeping an eye on other local bluegill populations for similar changes.”
Anglers
The General Inland Trout season closed October 15 on inland lakes, streams, springs and spring ponds (see regs).
Hunters/Trappers
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); Bobcat Period 1 (by permit drawing). Check the hunting and trapping regs!
Numerous bonus antlerless deer harvest authorizations remain available in a number of 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.
The Hayward Chapter-Muskies, Inc. invites the public to its meeting Monday, November 2, starting at 7 p.m., at Hayward Rod and Gun Club. They will review the fall tournament, plan for and elect officers for 2027, followed by a presentation by DNR research biologist Colin Dassow’s update on the Spider Lake project. Admission is free, and attendees interested in becoming a new member of Muskies, Inc. can purchase a half-price membership. For more information, call Mike Persson at (715) 558-2835.
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.
County road sections through the LCO Reservation recently 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 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 good for most species despite lake levels down more than two feet and water temperatures in the mid-50s. Fish are transitioning, but slowly. Check with the bait shops for the current information on movement, bite windows, and baits and presentation preferences.
Musky:
Musky action is very good, with fish in/around shallow green weeds and weed beds, bays, on ledges in 12-22 feet, and near panfish concentrations. Musky suckers on quick-strike rigs, bucktails, Bobbie baits, Suicks, gliders, rubber baits, swimbaits, and topwaters all produce good action.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is fair, but improving. Best success is evening into dark when fish move shallow to feed. During the day, target deep rocky areas, humps with coontail, and mud flats, humps, and weeds in 10-20 feet. Walleye suckers, chubs, fatheads, and leeches on jigs, and jerkbaits, Shad Raps, and similar baits work well.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good, depending on the lake. Focus on shallow green weeds, bays near basins, and crappie and panfish concentrations. Baits of choice include northern suckers and chubs, bucktails, crankbaits, chatterbaits, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and topwaters.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass are in shallow to mid-depth weeds and on the feed! Use larger baits for these hungry fish. In the evening, cast topwaters over schools of bluegills.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass are on deep weed and rock edges in 10-20 feet that drop into basins, depending on the lake. Jigging walleye suckers and fatheads work well.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is fair to good for fish around weeds and cribs in depth to 12 feet, and schools of suspending fish out to 14 feet. Crappie minnows, fatheads, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs under slip bobbers, and Garland mayflies and Beetle Spins are all effective.
Bluegill/Perch:
Bluegills remain shallow and feeding on minnows and small bugs during the day. Perch will soon school and move to the basins. Plastics and live bait on jigs work for both species. Run baits just above the weeds at sunset.
Upcoming Events
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. 24: Trapping seasons opened 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 at 2 a.m. ‑ turn back clocks back one hour.
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. 9: Northern Taurids meteor shower, only 3/hour, but often bright fireballs, look south, late evening.
Nov. 13: Deer processing class at Crex Meadows in Grantsburg, 6-9 p.m., $10, attendance limited (715-651-8033).
Nov. 17-18: Leonids meteor shower, 10-15/hour, look south, predawn,
Nov. 21: Crow season opens.
Nov. 21-29: Wisconsin’s traditional nine-day gun deer season.
Nov. 24: Northern Duck Zone seasons closes.
Nov. 24: Full Beaver Moon.
Nov. 25-27: Andromedid meteor shower, 5/hour, look south, late evening,
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.
Dec. 13: Elk season closes. Tags by permit application; drawing in June drawing.
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.