The forecast indicates this is a good week for addressing indoor projects, with rain chances every day until Friday and through the weekend. Look for highs mostly in the mid-40s to mid-50s and lows in the low 30s to 40s.
The peak of the Northern Taurids meteor shower will be visible providing there are clear skies Friday, November 9, if you look south late in the evening. This shower averages only three meteors per hour, but often produces bright fireballs.
“It looks like a wet week in the Quiet Lakes’ area,” says Greg at Happy Hooker, “and with the temperatures dipping a bit. Water temperatures are still in the mid-50s, about 2-3 weeks behind where we should be at this time of year.
“It appears the DNR has removed most public launch docks and anglers should be aware if they choose to chase late fall fish. While removing docks on many lakes, we see very few boats on the remaining lifts. Temperatures remain in the 50s for the 15-day forecast, with no lows below freezing, so we should have a solid 3-4 weeks of open-water fishing.
“Musky fishing is good and getting better as the water keeps cooling. Slower presentations, longer pauses, and live bait are all great triggers his time of year. Look for muskies in and around still green weeds or off edges, points, and bars where baitfish hold shallow.
“Walleyes will soon start setting up on wintering spots, if they have not done so already, particularly on weed edges, steep shoreline edges, and rocky transitions into deeper water. Suckers and minnows on jigs, and slower moving jerkbaits with a good pause can work great now. Cloudy days and low light conditions can be the best times to fish.
“Northern pike are in the same areas as muskies. Smaller crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and live bait are all good choices. Work baits in the middle of the water column, depending on the type of lake and structure you are fishing, which are different from lake to lake. On most lakes, running baits down 2-8 feet is a good bet.
“Smallmouth bass should be in the same areas as walleye, and steep, rocky shorelines are good choices. Live bait and plastics on jigs and can work great. Look for fish in 8-20 feet, depending on the lake and basin depth.
“Crappie and perch will push into basins and their wintering areas. They might be closer to the bottom of basins, feeding on bugs and larvae in the muck. Minnows and plastics on jigs worked in these schools are excellent choices.
“Bluegills are in green weeds, and plastics on jigs and small Beetle Spins are good choices.”
Jarrett at Hayward Bait says water temperatures are hesitant to drop, making for good fishing!
“Musky fishing is good and will only get better with dropping water temperatures. Fish are shallow, fattening up for winter, and bucktails and hard baits are producing.
“Walleyes are starting to move shallow, but do not give up on the basins yet. Minnows and crawlers are the best bet, paddletails on jigs will work, and jerkbaits should soon start to produce.
“Northern pike action is good, with fish feasting on baitfish. Best baits are live bait, spinnerbaits, and just about anything works!
“Largemouth and smallmouth are in various places, with anglers catching fish on cribs, and green weeds and weedlines full of oxygen where baitfish hide from hungry bass. Baits of choice are live bait such as walleye suckers, and crankbaits and spinnerbaits.
“Crappies are as shallow as 7 feet and might move shallower with cooler temperatures, and in basins. Anglers do well with plastics, crappie minnows, and fatheads. Bigger baits shine as panfish and others put on the feedbag for winter.
“Bluegills are with crappies in shallow weeds and on mid-depth cribs. Use plastics to catch bigger bluegills and live bait for numbers, fishing baits under slip bobbers.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses the sources of Chippewa Flowage muskies.
“This was a big survey year for muskies in the Chippewa Flowage. In 2026, between the Hayward DNR Fish Team and the DNR Governor Thompson hatchery crew, we handled 173 different muskies, with a few caught multiple times.
“Of the fish we captured, 44 percent were ‘new fish,’ never previously handled muskies that did not have a tag from the hatchery. We assume these are mostly wild born fish, though some could be fish stocked prior to 2013 when we started attaching PIT tags. Of the fish we handled, 13 percent were fish we had caught in the past and attached a PIT tag.
“Often, the hatchery crew has caught these fish multiple times on the spawning grounds. Muskies typically return to the same place to spawn year after year, which makes the odds of recapturing them greater.
“We know 43 percent of our catch was stocked fish because they carried tags placed in them before they left the hatchery. That includes fish from 2013, 2016, and 2019 stocking events.
“The 2013 stocking event does not appear as successful as 2016 or 2019. The 2013 fish made up just 1.7 percent of our catch, while 2016 accounted for 22 percent and 2019 was 19 percent.
“The number of fish stocked in each of those years varied, with the most fish stocked in 2016, so it is not a surprise to see that year class strongly represented in the population today. Those fish are now 10 years old, with females ranging around 40-45 inches.
“In other words, they are just starting to be exciting fish for anglers ‑ and there are quite a few of them out there!”
Anglers
Walleye season closes Nov. 30 on Chippewa Flowage.
Hayward Chapter-Muskies, Inc. invites the public to its meeting at Hayward Rod and Gun Club Monday, November 2, starting at 7 p.m. Members will review the fall tournament, plan for and elect officers for 2027, and a presentation by DNR research biologist Colin Dassow updating 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.
Hunters/Trappers
Raccoon hunting/trapping season opened Oct. 31 for nonresidents.
Woodcock season closes November 2.
Trapping seasons opens Nov. 7 for Beaver in zones A, B, and Otter in the Northern Zone (by permit).
Crow season opens November 21.
Wisconsin’s Elk season is open thru December 13. Tags are by permit drawing.
Numerous 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. For more information, visit “deer hunting” on the DNR website.
Crex Meadows will host a hands-on deer processing class in Grantsburg Friday, November 13, from 6-9 p.m. The class fee is $10 and attendance is limited to 20 participants. Pre-register by calling (715) 651-8033.
ATV/UTV Trail Report
Riders should review recent law changes by visiting 2026 ATV/UTV regulations for details on law changes effective June 1. 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.
Additional county road sections through the LCO Reservation approved June 30, 2026, 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. 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. VisitHLVCB ATV/UTV trail conditions for updates and closures.
Sawyer County ATV & Snowmobile trail maps are available from the Hayward Lakes Visitor & Convention Bureau.
Fishing Report
Fishing is fair to good for most species. According to the current forecast, keep rain gear handy (and likely on) if fishing between now and Friday. In addition, reports indicate that the DNR has removed most of its public landing docks. Water temperatures remain in the mid-50s, but should drop this week. As always, check with your favorite bait shop for the most current fish locations and movements, bite windows, and the most productive baits and presentations.
Musky:
Musky action is good and improving as the water is cooling. Focus on shallow green weeds, points, edges, and bars that hold baitfish where muskies are pre-winter feeding. The most productive offerings include musky suckers on quick-strike rigs, bucktails, and hard baits with slow presentations.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is fair, with overcast, low light conditions most favorable for angler success. Find fish on mid-depth to shallow weeds and shoreline edges, and rock transitions to basins and deeper water. Walleye suckers, minnows, crawlers, and paddletails on jigs, and slow moving jerkbaits can all produce success.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good on shallow green weeds and edges, points, and bars holding baitfish. Work the middle of the water column and/or 2-8 feet with northern suckers, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, swimbaits, and crankbaits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is fair to good, with fish on green weeds and weedlines, cribs, and near panfish and baitfish concentrations. Effective offerings include walleye suckers, minnows, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is good for fish on green weeds, weedlines, cribs, rocky shorelines, and the same areas as walleye. Walleye suckers, minnows, and plastics on jigs, and crankbaits and spinnerbaits, will all work for smallmouth.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is fair to good. Fish are as shallow as five feet, but starting to move toward basins. Crappie minnows, fatheads, and plastics on jigs are working well. Try bigger baits for bigger fish.
Bluegill:
Bluegills are with crappies in and around shallow green weeds and mid-depth cribs. Live bait and plastics on small jigs under slip bobbers, and small Beetle Spins, are all producing success.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 24: Trapping seasons opened for Northern Zone Mink, Muskrat.
Oct. 31: Raccoon hunting/trapping season opened for nonresidents.
Nov. 1: Daylight Saving Time ended at 2 a.m. (were you one hour early to work on Monday?)
Nov. 2: Woodcock season closed (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, 3/hour, though often producing 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. 14-20: Hayward Rod & Gun Club ‑ sight-in days.
Nov. 17-18: Leonids meteor shower, 10-15/hour, but has produced “meteor storms,” 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.