Hayward Lakes Outdoor Report 12-1-25

Steve Suman

We start December with cold weather that turns colder through the week, with lows ranging from 11 to -14 degrees, and highs from 12 to 24 degrees. There are slight chances for snow and flurries throughout the week. Winter arrived in all its glory (and apparently with a bit of vengeance!) Keep an eye on current forecasts, as they can and do change daily!

Travelers can check current road conditions at 511wi.gov for Wisconsin and 511mn.org for Minnesota.

“Snow in the past week will probably bring the Quiet Lakes’ area’s open water season to a close,” says Greg at Happy Hooker. “Though there might be a bit of open water, it will be nearly impossible to get in and out of the landings. In addition, with the cold temperatures this week, it is safe to say the lakes should start making ice!

“There might be some safe ice out there, but we have yet to hear of any, so this is a good time to recap the 2025 open water season. The season ended with anglers catching some good numbers of all species.

“We filled three and one-half musky charts, with the largest fish a 49-incher from Lost Land Lake. At 35 fish per board, anglers posted about 125 fish, with many more catches not on the board.

“These are good numbers, given that it was a very warm summer and fair fishing. There were many 40-inch and larger fish from area lakes, with a few catches of mid to upper 40-inch fish on Moose, Teal, Spider, and Lost Land.

“Walleye anglers caught a good number of fish greater than the 24-inch slot, as well as a bunch in the 15- to 20-inch keeper range.

“Northern pike and largemouth bass catch numbers and sizes were typical over this past year.

“Smallmouth bass really took off, with good numbers of fish and great sizes on all the lakes. It is never too early (or late) to start booking trips and thinking about next year’s open water season!

“Panfish fishing was good and fish were plentiful, though we do not have great sizes on these lakes. In this area, it appears the Chippewa Flowage held some of the biggest panfish, crappie in particular.”

Jarrett at Hayward Bait says many small lakes have a thin layer of ice, 1-3 inches, but it will be a while before anything is fishable. However, the cold temperatures will make that happen fast!

“First ice safety is extremely important and anglers should always make sure to tell someone else where they are going, take throwable/life jackets, wear ice picks, have a spud bar, and go with a buddy.

“Walleyes will be shallow this early in the winter and angler will use walleye suckers and shiners on tip-ups for them. Low light and dark periods are the most favorable fishing times. Shallow water amplifies sound, so set tip-ups and retreat to shore so you do not spook the fish. Note that walleye season closed November 30 on the Chippewa Flowage.

“Northern pike are also shallow, chasing small fry around weeds. Target pike during the day with large suckers and shiners. Pike are sensitive to noise, but you can get away with more of it than with walleye.

“Anglers can catch many of these fish in water as shallow as 2 feet. Take advantage of the safe ice available and line the shorelines with shallow sets. Once the ice is safe, anglers can fish deeper water for panfish.”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses appreciation of the local Trout Unlimited Chapter.

“Trout Unlimited (TU) is a national organization that has 400 chapters across the country, with 300,000 members dedicated to protecting and restoring habitat for trout and salmon.

“Our local chapter, the Wild Rivers Chapter, is great, covering seven counties in northwest Wisconsin, from Sawyer County to the south shore of Lake Superior. This chapter has 2,126 miles of wonderful trout water in its area of focus, including the Namekagon, White, and Brule rivers.

“The Wild Rivers Chapter loves being involved in habitat projects and has supported past efforts such as the Namekagon River tree additions and stream channel repairs in the Exeland area. It has been very busy assisting with flood damage and buckthorn projects on the White River.

“John Simonson, the chapter’s current president, has been responsible for some remarkable updates to its spring fishing expo, which is now a must-attend April event for any area anglers. John also helped kick off a YouTube series that puts out useful information on fisheries topics and projects.

“Former DNR biologist Frank Pratt is very involved in the chapter, and Frank recently secured some funding for a project on Mosquito Brook.

“Our local TU chapter is comprised of great folks who are extremely passionate about protecting our area’s rivers and streams, and is an excellent partner on any trout projects that arises.

“Interested in trout and joining a community of knowledgeable anglers and conservationists? I recommend you visit www.tu.org/chapters/wisconsin/wild-rivers and attend a chapter meeting ‑ that often includes fishing and good food!”

Hunters:

Application deadline: Dec. 10 is the application deadline for 2026 spring turkey and fall bear season permits.

Mourning dove season closed Nov. 29

Muzzleloader deer season is open Dec. 1-10

Bobwhite Quail season closes statewide Dec. 10

Antlerless-only deer season is open statewide Dec. 11-14 (see regs)

Fall turkey season in zones 1-5 only is open through Jan. 5, with many bonus tags still available in zones 1-4.

Anglers:

Walleye season on the Chippewa Flowage closed Nov. 30

Musky season closes statewide Dec. 31

The DNR will hold a public informational meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at Northwood Technical College in Ashland, to discuss progress on the Lake Superior Fisheries Management Plan.

The meeting will begin with a brief presentation on the progress made, followed by questions and comments related to priorities for the remainder of the 10-year plan period (2026-2029) or any other Lake Superior fisheries topic.

For more information on Lake Superior fisheries management, visit “fish Lake Superior.”

The DMUs in the Northern Forest Management zones were converted to habitat-based units, now by number, rather than county-based units. Review the map of the new DMUs so you know in which DMU you are hunting, and view a breakdown of the season structure by county and DMU. Units in Sawyer County extend into other counties. The 2025 weekly DMU deer harvest numbers for these units, as of November 25, are available by referencing the DMU map and deer harvest summary. In a number of units, bonus antlerless licenses remain available.

Wisconsin’s Deer Donation Program, which began in 2000, helps stock food pantries and supports residents in need. Hunters have donated more than 4 million pounds of ground venison, providing nutritious, hearty meals.

Donating is easy and free. Hunters donate the entire deer free of charge. Processors ask you to complete a sheet indicating your intent to donate, and charitable organizations then distribute the processed venison.

Hunters and non-hunters can support the Deer Donation Program through monetary donations at  license sales locations or online through  Go Wild. For more information, visit “Deer Donation Program.”

Fall turkey season is now open in zones 1-5 through January 4. Many bonus tags are still available for zones 1-4. As of November 18, the current harvest total for all seven zones is 2,557 birds. Locally, Zone 6 has registered 302 birds and Zone 7 registered 147 birds.

For more information, visit “turkey hunting” on the DNR website.

Crex Meadows Wildlife Area will hold a deer processing class at its 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. Crex will provide all necessary equipment and participants will receive venison to take home.

This class requires registration to reserve your spot. The course fee is $10 to attend.

For more information, email Gregg@raisedatfulldraw.com, visit Crex, or call (715) 463-2739.

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 at HLVCB 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.

Snowmobile/Ski Trail Report

Snowmobiles must have a current registration and display a valid snowmobile trail pass to operate on public snowmobile trails. You can renew registrations and order trail passes online or purchase trail passes from sales agents. Members of the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs (AWSC) can purchase trail passes at a discounted rate directly from www.awsc.org. You do not need to be a Wisconsin resident to be an AWSC member.

Visit HLVCB snowmobile trail report for updates on the Sawyer County trails.

Fishing Report

There are reports of some lakes with thin ice, but do not rush the ice fishing season! This week will be cold and should make ice quickly.

Walleyes move shallow in the evening hours and hit walleye suckers and shiners on tip-ups. After setting tip-ups, return the shore to avoid spooking fish. Walleye season closed November 30 on the Chippewa Flowage.

Northern pike are shallow to very shallow and actively feeding most of the day. Northern suckers and shiners are all it takes to catch them.

There is no sense in tempting fate when you can effectively fish shallow areas, so IF you choose to go, go safely and well prepared should you or another break through the ice. Fish with a friend and tell others where you are going and when you will return. Flotation devices, rope, spud bar, ice picks, and a cell phone in a waterproof case are the basics. For more information, visit “ice fishing safety” on the DNR website.