The forecast for this week looks “kinda, sorta, somewhat” better than in the past week, with warmer temperatures, but still some rain and snow chances. We should also see some sunshine and high temperatures into the mid-60s with this trend (i.e., spring weather!) that will continue into next week. Enjoy the sunshine, warmth, and maybe seeing spots of green grass here and there!
Travelers can check current road conditions at 511wi.gov for Wisconsin and 511mn.org for Minnesota.
“It was an absolutely nasty weather holiday weekend in the Quiet Lakes’ area,” says Greg at Happy Hooker, “with snow, sleet and ice accumulations making for very unpleasant travel conditions. We should start seeing this mess going away, as overnight temperatures creep to above freezing, which should help knock down some ice. Few, if any, anglers are fishing, since the ice is questionable, and no fish is worth risking going through that ice.
“Anglers should use this time to clean and put away any and all ice stuff, make a list of new stuff they need for next ice season, and start getting open water rods, reels, and tackle boxes ready. In only a few short weeks, cabins and resorts will start filling up and boat ramps becoming busy.
“Hooks are probably one of the more overlooked pieces of terminal tackle to check in the off season. Most anglers just put baits back into the tackle box and then grab them when they are ready to fish.
“Now is a great time of year to touch up your hooks on baits for walleye, bass, panfish, and others. Musky anglers might be an exception to the rule, as they are generally over the top about hooks!
“Hooks can get brittle over time, and treble hooks can lose points after catching many fish or hitting structure. Jigs also take a beating when bounced off rocks, timber, and the bottom, and sticky-sharp hooks can be the difference between catching the fish of a lifetime ‑ or the one that got away!”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses Sawyer County’s new fishing regulations for this year.
“The new angling regulation season officially began April 1. Here is a rundown of local angling regulation changes.
“A new pike regulation on Nelson Lake allows anglers to harvest northern pike less than 25 inches or greater than 35 inches, and requires the release of all pike 25-35 inches. The daily pike bag limit increased to 5 on Nelson Lake.
“Sand Lake is returning to an 18-inch minimum length limit for walleye, with a 3-fish daily bag limit.
“On lakes throughout the area, many changes to panfish bag limits relate to the end of a panfish regulations experiment. Lakes such as Winter, Black Dan, Island, Osprey, Lost Land, Teal, Durphee, and Round now have slightly different panfish bag limits than in the past, with all still lower than the statewide limit.
“Spring Lake is reverting to the statewide bag limit of 25 panfish per day, after experiencing minimal success under the experimental reduced daily bag limits in use over the last few years.
“Trout harvest season now opens a month earlier, allowing anglers to start keeping trout beginning the first weekend in April. The season previously opened the first weekend in May.
“Lastly, anglers can now target muskellunge at the start of the general gamefish season in May. This change generated considerable conversation among anglers who are uncomfortable that they might cast at muskellunge that have not finished spawning. I will provide updates here on where the muskellunge are with their spawning activities.
“We have updated all regulation signs at boat ramps and the full angling regulation booklet is available online and at license vendors. This year’s regulation booklet features a young Sawyer County resident on the cover!”
Sales of bonus harvest authorizations for the 2026 spring turkey season continue through Go Wild and license sales agents on a first come, first served basis, at one per day, until the zone and period sell out or the season closes. Check the zone map and available bonus authorizations. A good number of authorizations are currently available in zones 1-4 for the final two periods, May 13-19 and May 20-26. The cost is $10/resident and $15/nonresident, and purchases do not affect preference point status for future spring drawings.
The 2026 Youth Spring Hunt runs April 11-12.
For more information, visit turkey hunting on the DNR website.
Hunters/Trappers
The 2025-26 hunting licenses expired March 31; the 2026-27 licenses are available and valid upon purchase. If you plan to turkey hunt this spring, you will need a 2026-27 hunting license.
The Wisconsin Spring Turkey Youth Hunt is this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, April 11-12.
The application period for the 2026 elk season drawing is open through May 31.
Mink and muskrat trapping seasons closeApril 15 in the North Zone.
Anglers
Early inland catch-and-release, artificials only trout season closed April 3. The general inland trout season on inland streams, springs, and spring ponds opened April 4. In addition, Wisconsin’s musky fishing season will now open with the regular gamefish season, this year, May 2.
The 2025-26 fishing licenses expired March 31; 2026-27 licenses are available and valid upon purchase.
Brule River fishing opened March 28 for fishing downstream of Highway 2. It is illegal to fish the river from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise from March 28-May 1 and from October 1-November 15, and to fish 500 feet upstream and downstream from the sea lamprey barrier. See page 6 of the trout fishing regulations.
The Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame opens for the season April 15 ‑ barring snow- or ice-covered sidewalks.
The daily hours through May and in September and October are 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., with no admittance after 3:30 p.m. The hours during June, July, and August are 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., with no admittance after 4 p.m. The Hall is open every day of the week from mid-April through October 31, including Sundays and holidays. The Hall closes the museum and grounds from November 1 through mid-April.
For more information, visit www.freshwater-fishing.org or call (715) 634-4440.
The 2026 Spring Hearing is April 13 for in-person input and April 13-15 for online input. Click here for the 2026 Spring Hearing questionnaire. The DNR will hold the 2026 Spring Hearing from 6-9 p.m. in each county in person on April 13, and online from April 13-15.
The Sawyer in-person hearing is at Hayward High School auditorium, 10320 Greenwood Lane, in Hayward.
The annual Spring Hearing is an opportunity for the public to provide input on a wide array of natural resources-related proposed rule change questions presented by the DNR and advisory questions presented by the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. New in 2026, the WCC will also consider resolutions submitted during the in-person county spring hearings. Day-of submissions must follow the same criteria as resolutions submitted via the Citizen Resolution Submittal Form. Guidance for submitting a resolution is available under the “For Your Information” on that page.
The public also has the opportunity to provide input on resolutions that members of the public previously submitted online between Jan. 5 and Feb. 9, 2026.
Public input received through this process is advisory to Natural Resources Board members, DNR staff, and anyone working on these issues.
The Wisconsin Conservation Congress is the only statutory body in the state where the public elects delegates to advise the Natural Resources Board and the DNR on responsibly managing natural resources for present and future generations. The WCC accomplishes this through open, impartial, broad-ranged actions.
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 ATV/UTV trails in Sawyer County Forest (715-634-4846); Chequamegon National Forest (715-634-4821); and Flambeau State Forest (715-332-5271).
Visit the HLVCB ATV/UTV trail conditions report and Sawyer County Alliance.com for trail updates and closures.
Sawyer County ATV & 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).
Fishing Report
Ice is now disappearing quickly and the open water gamefish season is Saturday, May 2, less than one month away. This is the perfect time and opportunity to look at tackle and equipment for open water season (and to stay off the iffy ice!) Check the boat to make sure the license is current, the motor starts, and the drain plug is in place or on hand. Inspect the trailer tires, coupler, safety straps, and have required PFDs onboard. Few things are more irritating to an angler than a boat and trailer that is not ready for the season ‑ unless it is being behind such a person at the boat ramp! Clean and replace borderline baits, floats, and terminal tackle, clean reels, replace line, and inspect line guides. Be prepared to get to and get on the water on opening day!
Upcoming Events
The DNR is accepting applications for the 2026 elk season through May 31.
March 25: Crow season closed.
March 28: Brule River fishing opened downstream of Highway 2 (see page 10 of regs for legal fishing hours).
March 31: Some boat registrations expired – is your registration current?
March 31: 2025-26 fishing and hunting licenses expired. New 2026-27 licenses are available and valid upon purchase.
April 4: General inland trout season opened.
April 11-12: Spring Turkey Youth Hunt.
April 13-15: Spring Hearing and public input, in person April 13; online April 13-15 (888-936-7463).
April 15: Trapping seasons close: Mink and muskrat in North Zone.
April 15: Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame opens (unless snow or ice cover sidewalks), 9:30 a.m.-4p.m. (715-634-4440).
April 22-23: Peak Lyrids Meteor Shower; 2-4 a.m. best, 10-20 hr., east and overhead, swift streaks, luminous dust trains.
April 30: Trapping seasons close: Beaver in northwest zones; Otter in North Zone.
May 1: Full Flower Moon.
May 4: Hayward Chapter-Muskies, Inc., meeting, speaker TBA, 7 p.m., Hayward Rod and Gun Club (715-634-4543).
Spring turkey season is six, seven-day periods running Wednesday through the following Tuesday, in seven zones.
Spring Turkey Youth Hunt: April 11-12
Period A: April 15-21
Period B: April 22-28
Period C: April 29-May 5
Period D: May 6-12
Period E: May 13-19
Period F: May 20-26
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.