Hayward Lakes Outdoor Report 3-4-25

Steve Suman

This week could require nearly full use of the wardrobe! Highs range from 50 to 31 degrees, lows from 11 to 36 degrees, and a few chances for rain, snow, wind, and sunshine. Whatever weather you prefer, this week could offer it. Thursday thru Sunday should be sunny and mild… following the Tuesday night/Wednesday “inches” of snowfall.

Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 9 ‑ turn your clocks ahead one hour!

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

“The Quiet Lakes’ area had blustery conditions Friday,” says Greg at Happy Hooker. “We fished for a few hours, but mostly had to hold down the shelter! We did pick up a few small perch, plus a 22-inch pike on a tip-up.

“Walleyes to close out the season were still in very similar spots, on rocky bottom transitions such as reefs, points, or major contour changes, and they generally move shallow at night to feed. Suckers and shiners on tip-ups, jigging baits such as jigging minnows or Jigging Raps, and spoons worked well.

“Northern pike were on shallow edges of reefs, points, and weed beds. Suckers and shiners on tip-ups worked best.

“Crappies are still in basins in 15-30 feet. Minnows and waxies on small jigs and spoons work well.

“Bluegills are in or near weed beds and in bays in 5-15 feet. Waxies on small jigs will get bluegills for the frying pan!

“Perch are a foot off bottom on sand and rock in 15 feet. Waxies on small spoons and jigging minnows do the trick.”

Jarrett at Hayward Bait says gamefish season is in the books, with an ice season to remember!

“Fishing opportunities remain, with plenty of ice for late season panfish. However, shorelines are the first to go with warm weather, making access difficult. In addition, conditions can change from the time you step on the ice to the time you leave. Treat late ice as seriously early ice, use caution, and go prepared for ‘unexpected’ events.

“Crappies are in basins in 25-40 feet, but by this time of year, oxygen levels near the bottom of basins are depleting, pushing fish higher in the water column. Jigs and live bait, jigging spoons, and rattlebaits all work well, with the bite increasing as the warmth moves down to the fish.

“Bluegills will be on weedlines and structure until ice-out. Find deep, live weeds and wait for fish to move through. Use waxies and spikes on small jigs, upsizing to small jigging spoons for bigger fish in the school.

“Perch anglers should look for fish on mud flats as they prepare to spawn in 10-15 feet. Use larger jigging spoons to pound the bottom and create ‘sediment balls’ to draw in fish. Perch hit baits from spoons to small jigs, but with so many small perch, the bigger the bait, the better!”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter rates fishing opportunities on Big Chetac Lake.

“In this series I rate local fishing opportunities by individual species, on a 0-10 scale, to reflect catchability, size, and other elements of fishing quality, including some notes about why it received that score.

“This week, we look at Big Chetac, a true ‘fishing lake’ nestled in the southwest corner of Sawyer County. Chetac and Birch lakes are connected, but often surveyed separately. Here we will only discuss Chetac.

“Walleye in Chetac scores a 7 by virtue of being one of our most successful locally stocked lakes. Walleyes are moderately abundant in Chetac, but grow quickly. The current 18-inch minimum length limit allows fish to add more size and weight before becoming legal to harvest.

“Northern pike also scores a 7, as they are very catchable and above average in size, which we see in some local waters, such as Chetac, that have pike and no muskellunge. Anglers regularly catch pike in the mid 30-inch range, and fish greater than 40 inches are not out of the question.

“Largemouth bass rate a 9 and smallmouth a 4. These two species function very differently in Big Chetac’s weedy and often green water. Largemouth bass thrive in this environment, are abundant, and have high-quality size, and Chetac is a popular waterbody for bass tournaments. The habitat is less suitable for smallmouth bass, but we commonly find them on the few rocky points. Most fish are small to medium size, but the biggest smallmouth bass I might have ever seen appeared in an electrofishing survey here. Sadly, we were unable to get it into the boat for a measurement.

“Panfish is another standout group of species in Chetac, and the focus of most anglers. Crappie scores a 7 by virtue of being very catchable and above average size, though not exceptional. Bluegill scores an 8, with high quality size and nice catch rates. Yellow perch scores a 6 because Chetac turns out big perch more often than most other lakes in the area, but fishing is inconsistent and size might fluctuate.

“Lastly, I will include a bonus rating of 7 for bowfin, aka dogfish. There are few places in Sawyer County to catch this unique and hard-fighting species. Chetac has a sizable population, with fish reaching near-state record size. Bowfins are typically accidental catches, but can provide a lot of fun.

“The entire Chetac fishery is impressive, as illustrated by the majority of species pulling in above average scores.”

This year will experience two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses. A total lunar eclipse (also known as a Blood Moon), will occur March 13-14; a partial solar eclipse occurs March 29. The other eclipses occur in September. The Full Worm Moon is March 14. The first day of spring ‑ the Spring Equinox ‑ is March 20. Do not forget DST begins March 9!

The WI Women Fish Club Crappie Weekend at Deerfoot Lodge is this weekend, Friday through Sunday, March 7-9. Club members can show off their fishing skills, teach and learn, and enter friendly contests to win prizes. You must book your own lodging. For more information, visit deerfootlodge.com or call (715) 462-3328.

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.

Each year, forest entities close their trails and related forest roads for spring thaw. Closure dates vary depending on conditions. Trails typically close between mid to late March and May. Watch for announcements in March. Flambeau Forest trails annually close to ATV/ UTV use from November 15 until May 15.

Unless otherwise posted, all county roads outside the LCO Reservation in Sawyer County are legal for ATV/UTV use. The Trail Treker app shows any changes. Contact numbers are as follows for ATV/UTV trails: Sawyer County Forest (715-634-4846), Chequamegon National Forest (715-634-4821), and Flambeau State Forest (715-332-5271).

Check for trail and road updates and closures atHLVCB ATV/UTV trail conditions report and Sawyer County Snowmobile & ATV Alliance.

The Sawyer County Snowmobile & ATV Trail Map is available from the Hayward Lakes Visitor & Convention Bureau, or download the Trail Treker app ($2) on your smartphone to get the complete Sawyer County Trail Map ($2). Once loaded, you never need mobile coverage. Place the phone in Airplane Mode to conserve battery power and the 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 27 HLVCB snowmobile trail report says that due to warmer temperatures, crews are no longer grooming Sawyer County trails and area clubs are removing stakes from lakes. In addition, private land gates on Trails 29, 30, and 31 are closed. Technically, Sawyer County trails never close, however, they eventually become unrideable. If you choose to ride, please use caution.

Fishing Report

Though Wisconsin’s inland gamefish season closed March 2, anglers can fish for panfish and early season catch and release trout (check the regulations!)

There is no shortage of good ice, but conditions can change rather quickly. If you go, go cautiously and with common sense, and prepared with the proper safety tools.

State law requires removal of ice shacks from WI-MI waters by March 15, and from Lake Superior and waters north of Hwy 64 by March 16.

Crappie:

Crappie action is improving as temperatures warm. Find fish in basins in 15-35 feet, depending on the lake. Deep fish will start moving higher and suspending due to diminishing oxygen levels, so check the entire water column. Use crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs and jigging spoons, and rattlebaits.

Bluegill:

Bluegill fishing is good around weeds, weedlines ‑ green weeds if you can find them ‑structure, and in bays, in 5 feet and deeper. Set up and wait for fish to come to you. Waxies, spikes, and plastics on small jigs and teardrops work well.

Perch:

Perch fishing is good for anglers working sand, mud, and rock flats in 8-12 feet. Best baits include waxies, spikes, and minnow heads on jigs, spoons, and jigging minnows. Bounce baits on the bottom to stir it up and draw perch.