Steve Suman
The Hayward area received 5-8 inches of much-needed snowfall over the weekend. This week’s forecast calls for low temperatures from -5 to -21 degrees, and highs ranging from 5 to 20 degrees, with more snow possible Friday. Many, many activities from which to choose ‑ view the Events Calendar at https://haywardlakes.com/events/calendar.
Bundle up and look for the Full Snow Moon Tuesday night, February 12.
Travelers can check current road conditions at 511wi.gov for Wisconsin and 511mn.org for Minnesota.
“The Quiet Lakes’ area received a few inches of snow Friday night and it continued to come down Saturday and Sunday,” says Greg at Happy Hooker, “This snow, combined with snow we received mid-week, should lay down a decent base for snowmobiling and skiing. We still have plenty of safe ice, which should continue as this week looks to bring some subzero overnight lows.
“Fishing is okay, though some anglers are getting into the winter doldrums.
“Walleye fishing slowed a bit, however anglers should still find fish along breaklines to deep basins. Fish might be negative or neutral, so deadsticking and tip-ups are great options. Targeting fish during specific times, such as moon phases, dusk, daylight, etc., helps catch more fish. Jigging might bring in fish, but have a deadstick near for finicky fish.
“Northern pike action is slow, with most coming on tip-ups. Focus on shallow weedy bays or big, shallow weed beds.
“Crappie action is hot on the Chippewa Flowage this winter. Most panfish are now schooling in lake basins. Look for fish in 15-25 feet, depending on the lake. Waxies and minnows on small jigs and spoons are the go to baits.”
Jarrett at Hayward Bait says this is one of our finest ice years in recent memory.
“Most lakes have 20-24 inches of ice, and lack of snow means easy travel, be it by foot, ATV/UTV, or vehicle. Use caution, as many lakes have produced pressure heaves, creating mounds of unstable ice and potential weak spots. If you take a vehicle, roll down the windows and do not wear a seatbelt.
“Walleye fishing slows at this time, and anglers move near walleye spawning areas. The fish gather on main lake flats outside of spawning bays, staging for ice-out. Ice-out is some time away; fish movement is not. Check deep flats with structure outside of spawning bays or a bay outside of a river where fish spawn. Low light early morning and dusk are peak times. Aggressively jigging reaction baits such as spoons and rattlebaits on jigging rods should tempt walleye cruising by setlines.
“Northern pike fishing is great this winter. At this time, pike scour lake bottoms for dead and dying fish due to winterkill and dead bait shines! Big baits such as smelt or ciscoes on or near bottom are great for big fish, while shiners and suckers will catch smaller eater-size pike.
“Crappies are currently in a basin bite in 15-50 feet, depending on the lake. Oxygen levels deep in the lake will start to deplete and bottom dwelling fish will rise and suspend. Locating these ever-moving fish can be difficult, but game on once you find them! Small rattlebaits, spoons, jigs and plastics, and setlines/deadsticking live bait produce big crappies.
“Bluegill fishing remains solid. Healthy weed flats are the key to finding good-size fish. They are in a bug bite, and holding to cover protection from predators. Small jigs with waxies and spikes work well. For bigger bulls, upsize to small spoons with live bait. This deters smaller fish that pick on jigs all day.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses a Chippewa Flowage woody habitat project for 2025.
“On February 3, the DNR Hayward Fish Team worked with the DNR Forestry and U.S. Forest Service staff to add woody habitat to the Chippewa Flowage. The area of focus was on the far eastern end, including shorelines from Moores Bay down through ‘The Nursery,’ shoreline primarily managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
“Fisheries and forestry staff selected trees to provide fish habitat, while not disturbing the shoreline forest community, which often-included felling trees that were crowding another tree. Selection of trees also factors in fish habitat quality, emphasizing large, well-branched trees into areas where species such as crappie and smallmouth bass will use them.
“In total, we added 150 trees during this 2025 work day. This follows past years when crews added more than 1,000 trees throughout other parts of the Flowage.
“We expect anglers will have a lot of fun fishing this new structure, and it will enhance the productivity of the Flowage’s fishery. In addition to structural habitat, adding trees at this scale introduces thousands of pounds of available nutrients that will become food for invertebrates, and then fish.
“This is a great example of collaboration between agencies and the enhanced capacity we have because of our federal counterparts. This project would not have happened this year without the contribution of the U.S. Forest Service staff.
“The U.S. Forest Service fisheries crew has been completing other fish habitat projects on lakes within the National Forest over the last few years ‑ perhaps more on that in the future. They have also been integral in helping us complete the necessary number of surveys in spring and fall to monitor things such as walleye reproduction and stocking success, musky abundance, and winterkill effects.”
The Deerfoot Lodge 2025 Ice Junkies Outdoors Tim Cruchelow Memorial Panfish Tournament is this Saturday, February 15, on the Chippewa Flowage. The entry fee is $100 for two-angler teams. The tournament allows all electronics. For more information, visit https://deerfootlodge.com, Cruchelow Tournament, or call (715) 462-3328.
The 25th Annual Drummond Bar Stool Races, hosted by the Dirt & Sno-Jacks ATV/Snowmobile Club, is this Saturday, February 15, in Drummond. Check-in begins at 11 a.m.; races begin at 12 noon. All proceeds go to local ATV and snowmobile trail maintenance. For more information, visit www.dirtandsno-jacks.com or call (715) 373-6100.
Reminder: Coyote trapping, fox hunting and trapping, and raccoon hunting and trapping seasons close February 15.
ATV/UTV TRAIL REPORT
All ATV and 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.
Before you ride, check for trail and road closures and updates at HLVCB ATV/UTV trail conditions report and Sawyer County Snowmobile & ATV Alliance websites.
The Sawyer County Snowmobile & ATV Trail Map is available from the Hayward Lakes Visitor & Convention Bureau, or download the Trail Treker app ($2) to your smartphone and get the complete Sawyer County Trail Map ($2). Place the phone in Airplane Mode to conserve the battery and your GPS still shows your location and all map business sponsors in “Points of Interest.”
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.
The February 10 HLVCB snowmobile trail report says the area received 5-7 inches of snow over the weekend, trails are fair to good, and grooming is in progress. Some areas still have exposed rocks and grass, so drive with caution, at safe speeds. Stay on the trail ‑ there are many known heaves, more can form at any time, and the warning applies for all lakes.
The February 10 Travel Wisconsin snowmobile trail report for the Cable area says trails are open, groomed with a base of 5-6 inches, and in fair condition. Warning: A large ice heave developed at the opening between Garden Lake and Namakagon, just off Duck Point. Crews moved the stick trail to avoid this hazard, but ride with extreme caution!
American Birkebeiner week is February 19-23. Birkie Ski Trail reports are available at www.birkie.com/trail-maps-conditions. Skiing any part of the Birkie Trail System December through March requires a Birkie Trail Ski Pass; skiing on the snowmaking loop requires an All-Access Snow Pass. For more information, call (715) 634-5025.
Fishing Report
Fishing is fair to good, depending on the species and bite window timing. This past weekend’s 5-8 inches of fresh, wind-blown snow can make travel a bit challenging. Be aware of drifts and ice heaves that can make the outing more “interesting” ‑ and dangerous, in some instances. Check with your favorite bait shop for details on ice and travel conditions, as well as fish locations, movement, bite windows, and bait and presentation preferences.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing slowed, and the best bite windows are during low light periods of dawn and late evening into after dark. Find fish near spawning areas on deep flats, breaklines to basins, and bays near rivers where they spawn. Walleye suckers and shiners on tip-ups and deadsticks, and jigged spoons and rattlebaits, work well.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is fair to excellent (reports vary). Anglers are catching fish around weeds in shallow bays and on big shallow weed beds. Some do well fishing large dead bait and/or smelt and ciscoes on the bottom. Others are using northern suckers and shiners on tip-ups for smaller pike for meals and pickling.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is very good, with anglers finding schools of fish in deep basins in 15-50 feet, depending on the lake. The deep fish will start moving upward and suspend higher in the water column due to oxygen deprivation. Crappie minnows and waxie on small jig, spoons and plastics, rattlebaits, and setlines and deadsticking are all effective.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is good to very good and you can find fish on weed flats, near protective cover, where they are feeding on bugs. Best offerings include waxies and spikes on small jigs and spoons. Small minnows work well for bigger bluegills and helps avoid bait robbers.
Upcoming Events
Feb. 12: Full Snow Moon.
Feb. 15: Seasons close: Coyote trapping; Fox hunting/trapping; Raccoon hunting/trapping.
Feb. 15: 25th Annual Drummond Bar Stool Races (715-373-6100).
Feb. 15: Deerfoot Lodge’s 2025 Ice Junkies Outdoors Tim Cruchelow Memorial Panfish Tournament (715-462-3328).
Feb. 19-23: American Birkebeiner Week (715-634-5025).
Feb. 28-March 2: World’s Longest Weenie Roast at Lakewood’s Resort (715-794-2561).
Feb. 28: Seasons close: Cottontail; Squirrel (gray and fox).
March 2: General inland fishing season closes.
March 9: Daylight Saving Time begins ‑ turn clocks ahead one hour!
March 13-4: Total lunar eclipse.
March 14: Full Worm Moon.
March 15: Shamrock Shuffle in Downtown Hayward, The Lot, 11:45am-2pm, (715-634-0437).
March 26: Crow season closes.
March 31: The 2024-2025 fishing and hunting licenses expire.
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 800-724-2992.