Sunshine and winter temperatures continue this week, though with a few breaks and a Friday high of 45 degrees. Tuesday shows a chance of 2-3 inches of snowfall, but it is the only snow forecast chances until Sunday. This should be a mostly pleasant week for outdoor winter activities. Enjoy!
Travelers can check current road conditions at 511wi.gov for Wisconsin and 511mn.org for Minnesota.
“Ice conditions are great in the Quiet Lakes’ area,” says Greg at Happy Hooker. “There is still around 20 inches of ice, with a thin layer of slush, and anglers can still take trucks, ATVs/UTVs, and snowmobiles to their fishing spots. Last Friday, for the first time ever, I drove my truck on the ice, and it was nice and easy driving right to the shack!
“There are a couple weeks remaining for gamefish season, but jigging for panfish will continue for a while.
“Walleye anglers are doing well with suckers and shiners on tip-ups during low light hours. Look for fish in 14-20 feet on rocks and hard to soft bottom transitions.
“Northern pike action is consistent around weed beds and bays with weeds. We caught one pike on a deep weedline in about 14 feet. Jigging bigger profile baits, and suckers and shiners on tip-ups, are excellent choices.
“Bass anglers catch largemouth in weedy bays and weed beds with suckers, shiners, and smaller fatheads on tip-ups.
“Crappie action is good, though with short bite windows. Fish move around dusk and favor minnow heads and waxies on small jigging spoons. Look for fish in basins and on deep weed edges.
“Bluegill fishing is good for both nice fish and smaller fish around deep edges of green weeds in 14 feet. Bigger fish prefer waxies on jigging spoons with rattles and small blades.”
Jarrett at Hayward Bait says snow and rain last week made conditions on the ice wet and slushy, but incoming cold should tighten the top layer for this season’s final run.
“While most lakes still sport 18-24 inches of ice, but if taking vehicles on the lake, beware slush and wet spots.
“Northern pike fishing is good, with catches of various sizes in varied depths. Suckers, shiners, and dead bait on tip-ups do the trick. Fish will start moving adjacent to shallow, fast warming, weedy and muddy spawning bays.
“Crappies are still in the basins and deep in most lakes. On lakes that do not have deep portions available, some fish still roam shallow structure. Spoons, rattlebaits, and minnows on jigs all produce success.
“Bluegills still roam deep weeds or near any structure in 8-20 feet that offers protection from toothy critters. Waxies and spikes on small jigs work well.
“Perch will start staging on mid-depth mud flats with weeds in 10-15 feet preparing for spawn. A popular tactic is using big jigs and spoons that disturb the bottom, followed by smaller options after drawing in fish.
“Remember that gamefish season closes March 1 and current licenses expire March 31.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses fish biology basics and fish mortality.
“Nothing lives forever, which is very true for fish, and ‘mortality’ is an important concept in fisheries management, as it tells biologists how long fish are living or how quickly they are dying in a population.
“Fish mortality can be high, often much higher than most anglers realize. In panfish, it is not uncommon to see annual mortality rates around 50 percent. This means half of a lake’s bluegills could die in a given year. This might sound alarming, but it is part of nature’s strategy for an abundant species such as bluegill.
“Here is an example of how mortality works. Say there are 1,000 bluegills born in a pond in a given year. If there is 50 percent mortality in that population, we expect only 500 to survive the first year, 250 to survive the second year, 125 the third, and so on. In this scenario, only about 16 of those bluegills will make it to age six. That is the common structure of actual bluegill populations ‑ younger, smaller fish are more abundant, and older, larger fish are more rare.
“This might seem like a big problem, but with very low mortality, say 15 percent in that example, we would wind up with 377 six-year old bluegill, which might be way more than the pond could handle, leading to slower growth. We expect a certain degree of mortality in fish populations. They are wild animals with many factors, such as predators, starvation, disease, etc., that can result in their demise.
“However, there is also a human component to fish mortality, which is the percentage of the population that we harvest. This component is one we have more control over with things such as angling regulations and harvest quotas.
“Managing mortality is the ultimate balancing act of fish management. Too much mortality ‑ allowing lots of harvest ‑ can lead to populations of mostly smaller fish or even population collapses. Too little mortality ‑ little or no harvest ‑ can lead to overpopulation and slow growth.
“We estimate mortality in populations by estimating the age of fish and essentially determining how quickly fish start to disappear across older ages.”
The DNR is hosting a virtual meeting Thursday, February 26, from 6-8 p.m., to discuss the status and management of walleye in northwest Wisconsin. Presenters include DNR fisheries biologists Max Wolter, Kyle Broadway, Craig Roberts, and Nate Thomas who will provide an overview of walleye status and management in northwest Wisconsin. They will discuss good walleye habitat, waterbody types where they do well, and stocking strategies.
To join this meeting via Microsoft Teams: Meeting ID: 221 904 954 539 7; Passcode: ZU7Fk3KD, or by phone: (608) 571-2209; Phone conference ID: 86675640#.
For more information, email Aaron.Cole@wisconsin.gov or call (715) 418-0897.
Hunters/Trappers
Coyote trapping; fox hunting/trapping; and raccoon hunting/trapping seasons closed February 15.
Anglers
Wisconsin’s inland gamefish season closes March 1, and current fishing and hunting licenses expire March 31.
The DNR has an open public comment period through March 6 on 2026-30 migratory bird hunting season frameworks. It will receive comments through the online comment tool, at public hearings, and by email. This is a new process to set season structures for multiple years at a time, and the first time the DNR is doing so. After the DNR collects public comments, a final season structure will go to the Natural Resources Board for approval. Supporting information is available on the DNR Waterfowl Hunting webpage and at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/calendar.
A public hearing in Rice Lake is March 3, from 7-9 p.m. A virtual public hearing via Zoom is March 4 from 7-9 p.m. and requires registration.
Lakewoods Resort will host its annual World’s Longest Weenie Roast from 1 p.m. Friday, February 26, through Sunday noon, March 1.·For an event schedule, visit Lakewoods, view the event poster, or call (715) 794-2561.
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.
Unless otherwise posted, all county roads outside the LCO Reservation in Sawyer County are legal for ATV/UTV use. Contact numbers are as follows for the ATV/UTV trails in Sawyer County Forest (715-634-4846); Chequamegon National Forest (715-634-4821); and Flambeau State Forest (715-332-5271).
For trail and road updates and closures, visitHLVCB ATV/UTV trail conditions report.
Sawyer County ATV trail maps are available from the Hayward Lakes Visitor & Convention Bureau, or download the Trail Treker app ($2) on your smartphone for the complete map ($2).
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 need not to be a Wisconsin resident to be an AWSC member.
For snowmobile trail updates and closures, visitHLVCB snowmobile trail conditions report.
Sawyer County snowmobile trail maps are available from the Hayward Lakes Visitor & Convention Bureau, or download the Trail Treker app ($2) on your smartphone for the complete map ($2).
The February 23 HLVCB snowmobile trail report says Sawyer County trails are open. Crews cut and groomed what they could over the weekend, but trails are bare in some areas and thin in others. Many wooded trails have a decent, but hard and icy base that needs fresh snow, and lakes are very slick. A few inches of snow Tuesday could refresh the trails for another week of riding. Ride with caution on corners and lakes, and do not overheat sleds.
Check here for Birkie trail maps and conditions. Skiing the Birkie Trail System December through March requires a Birkie Trail Ski Pass. Skiing on the snowmaking loop required an All-Access snow pass.
For more information, visit www.birkie.com or call (715) 634-5025.
Fishing Report
The lakes have about 20 inches of ice and colder temperatures firmed the slush, though with thin layers of slush and wet spots. Do use caution. Check with your favorite bait shop for the most current information on ice conditions, fish locations, bite windows, and bait and presentation preferences.
Wisconsin’s inland gamefish season closes March 1, and 2025-26 licenses expire March 31.
Walleye:
Walleye anglers are catching some fish on deeper rocks and on hard-to-soft bottom transitions in 12-22 feet, with best success during sunrise, sunset, and other low-light hours. Walleye suckers and shiners on tip-ups are working well.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good to very good in/around weed beds, deep edges, and weedy bays near spawning bays that warm quickly. Northern suckers, shiners, and dead bait on tip-ups, and jigging larger profile baits, are all effective.
Bass:
Bass anglers are catching largemouth in/on weed beds, weedy bays, and areas similar to pike. Sucker minnows, shiners, and small fatheads on tip-ups are working well.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good, but with short bite windows. Best success is just before sundown. Find fish on deep weed edges in deep basins, with some fish on shallower structure. Use crappie minnows, minnow heads, and waxies on small jigs and jigging spoons, and rattlebaits.
Bluegill:
Bluegill anglers are doing well, catching some decent fish on the deep edges of green weeds in about 14 feet, and in deep weeds and near structure in 8-20 feet. Use waxies, spikes, and plastics on small jigs and jigging spoons with small blades and rattles.
Perch:
Perch are in basins and staging on weedy, mid-depth mud flats in 8-18 feet. Pop big jigs and spoons to disrupt the bottom to bring in fish, following up with smaller baits.
Upcoming Events
Feb. 15: Seasons closed: Coyote trapping; Fox hunting/trapping; Raccoon hunting/trapping (888-936-7463).
Feb. 26: DNR virtual meeting on status and management of walleye in northwest Wisconsin, 6-8 p.m. (715-418-0897).
Feb. 26-March 1: Lakewoods Resort – World’s Longest Weenie Roast (715-794-2561).
Feb. 28: Fat Bike Birkie (715-634-5025).
Feb. 28: Seasons close: Cottontail rabbit; Squirrel (gray, fox) (888-936-7463).
March 1: Inland gamefish season closes (see regs).
March 3: Full Worm Moon and total lunar eclipse.
March 8: Daylight Saving Time begins – turn clocks ahead one hour.
March 20: Spring equinox – first day of spring.
March 25: Crow season closes.
March 31: Current 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 (715) 634-4801.