If you have longed for warm/hot weather, long no more! The forecast for this week shows highs in the mid- to upper-80s, with near 90 degrees Tuesday, and no rain at least through next Monday. Did summer leapfrog over spring? Enjoy it now, but expect somewhat cooler temperatures following this warm trend!
A Full Blue Moon, the second full moon in May ‑ a “once in a blue moon” occurrence ‑ will light the night sky May 31 (and no, the moon will not be blue).
“Fishing is decent in the Quiet Lakes’ area,” says Greg at Happy Hooker, “with water temperatures hovering around 60 degrees on most lakes. A warm-up will certainly help, and temperatures climb into the mid-80s this week.
“Musky anglers held out, but Memorial Day weekend is the typical kickoff to musky season. Anglers should target shallow emerging weeds holding crappie, bluegill, and perch. Smaller bucktails, minnowbaits, and jerkbaits such as 7-inch Suicks are great early season options.
“Walleyes are on deep weed edges and rock transitions. Anglers report luck on all live bait, including leeches, minnows, and crawlers, as well as on cast and trolled jerkbaits and crankbaits.
“Northern pike are on emerging weed bed edges that hold baitfish. Most action is by walleye anglers fishing jigs and fatheads, with walleye and bass size jerkbaits and crankbaits excellent.
“Largemouth bass anglers report success on shallow fish making spawning beds. Look for sandy shallow shorelines inside weed and rock edges and work baits through them. Live bait, Ned rigs with plastics, and spinnerbaits work well.
“Smallmouth bass anglers are catching fish with live bait and plastics on jigs on rocky points and reefs in 12-20 feet.
“Crappies will spawn very soon and anglers are finding fish now around weeds in 6-8 feet. A few warm days raising water temperatures 3-5 degrees should get them going. Minnows on jigs are best, but plastics on jigs, small Beetle Spins, and Mimic Minnows also work well. This week, anglers should see crappies moving in shallower and the bite getting hot!
“Bluegills are near weeds and hanging on inside edges as they stage to spawn on shallow sand bottoms. Leaf worms and crawler chunks on small jigs and hooks under floats are excellent now.
“Perch are very close to spawning in and around shallow weeds. Minnows on jigs are great for perch, and up-size to fatheads for the biggest perch in the schools.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter ranks local trout fishing opportunities.
“Trout season is officially here and anglers are contacting me about both catch-and-release and harvest-oriented trout opportunities. Sawyer County has many classified trout waters, but not all are equal in terms of fishability. To help anglers find the best opportunities, I placed many of our local trout waters into three tiers.
“The top tier of course includes the Namekagon River. The Namekagon is our largest trout stream in length and width, and it holds the biggest trout. Most Namekagon fishing opportunities are for brown trout. Anglers can find brook trout in certain spots as well, and Venison Creek, Swan Creek, and Maple Creek are in the top tier. Each has very healthy populations of brook trout that can provide anglers good catch rates while offering very exciting size, with each capable of producing brook trout greater than 15 inches.
“The next tier has some great populations, but unique considerations for anglers. Porcupine Springs is a neat trout fishery, but to fish it requires some planning and work. Cap Creek has a nice brook trout fishery managed as a catch-and-release-only fishery, so anglers looking for harvest might not find it appealing. Mosquito Brook and Casey Creek are very solid trout streams with good access, though trout size is not spectacular. Beaver and Buckhorn have lots of trout, but access is trickier and requires a lot of walking.
“In the third tier, we have many streams with trout present, but populations low enough that anglers would likely struggle to catch more than one or two. Beaver heavily impacted many of the streams or they have dense tag alder, adding another layer of fishing difficulty. This tier includes streams such as Eddy Creek, McDermott, Sucker, and Rock.
“Water temperature plays the most important role in determining where different streams fall within these tiers, particularly for brook trout. We expect streams with suitable brook trout habitat to continue to decline as the climate warms, meaning they might look different in the future.”
Hunters/Trappers
May 31 is the deadline to apply for the 2026 elk season drawing!
Bonus turkey authorizations remain available in zones 1 and 3 for Period F, May 20-26, at one per day for $10/resident and $15/nonresident through Go Wild or license sales agent. For more information, visit turkey hunting on the DNR website.
Hayward Rod & Gun Club on County Road B will host a WI/MN concealed carry class June 13, from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., presented by On Target Northwoods Defense. This includes 4 hours of class time and 1 hour of range time. Cost of the class is $109. Wisconsin does not require a live-fire shooting qualification. Obtaining a Minnesota carry permit does require the successful completion of a live-fire shooting qualification.
The course is a complete guide to basic firearms ownership, safety, nomenclature, and its application to home- or self-defense. This includes developing a personal and home protection plan; self-defense firearms basics; legal use of force; shooting fundamentals; gear and gadgets; violent encounters and the aftermath; basic and advanced skills, and more.
For more information, and to register, visit On Target Northwoods Defense or call (715) 558-8312.
Anglers
Anglers 16 years and older must possess a 2026-27 fishing license and necessary trout and/or salmon stamp to fish.
Smallmouth bass season in the Northern Bass Zone is catch-and-release-only until June 20.
Hayward Chapter-Muskies, Inc. welcomes the public to its meeting June 1; business 6:30 p.m.; general 7 p.m., with speaker TBA. For more information, call (715) 558-2835.
Free Fishing Weekend is June 6-7, when state waters are open for fishing to residents and nonresidents who can cast a line without a fishing license, trout stamp, or salmon stamp. This is a great opportunity for family and friends to give fishing a try! All other fishing regulations including bag limits, size limits, and species restrictions remain in effect. Consult the regulations, trout regulations, or local fisheries biologists for exceptions. If you are new to fishing or have not purchased a license in 10 years, a First-time buyer resident license cost you only $5!
Wisconsin has nearly 60 tackle loaner sites, many at state parks. Office hours vary by site, so contact the loaner site on when you plan to pick up the gear. For loaner equipment in the Hayward area, contact DNR fisheries technician Scott Braden at (715) 634-7428, ext. 3508.
The annual Free Kid’s Fishing Derby for youth 1-15 years at Lake Hayward Park is Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m.-Noon. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. Youth fish around the park and from the large fishing dock, with prizes awarded to youth for the largest fish in each age category. Casting contests, and a lure-making booth, are available for youth to design their own lures. This event provides bait, with loaner fishing gear available if needed. After fishing, all participants earn prizes and receive fishing gear gifts. For more information, contact Wayne at (715) 699-1015.
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 & 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
Fishing is generally fair to good, but it should explode this week with warming air and water temperatures! This is especially true for panfish anglers, but for other species, too. Get a license, go fishing, and enjoy a fish fry!
Musky:
Musky action is fair, but they have not yet faced much fishing pressure. Target shallow to mid-depth weeds holding concentrations of pre-spawn and spawning panfish. Small bucktails, minnowbaits, swimbaits, jerkbaits, crankbaits, gliders, and rubber baits can do the trick.
Walleye:
Walleyes are anywhere from shallow to deep weeds, wood, rocks, and bars, moving shallow during low-light and evening hours. Leeches, minnows, and crawlers on jigs and slip bobbers, Lindy rigs, cast and trolled jerkbaits and crankbaits, and stickbaits will produce.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action varies from fair to very good, though walleye anglers connect with the most pike on incidental catches. Focus on the edges of weed beds holding concentrations of panfish and baitfish. Sucker minnows and fatheads on jigs, spinners, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and minnowbaits will all catch pike.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass are on shallow sandy shorelines preparing for spawn, or in nearby weed and rock cover. Crawlers, minnows, leeches, various plastics, spinners, spinnerbaits, and Rapalas/minnowbaits are all great offerings.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is relatively good, with fish on shallow to mid-depth rocky bottom reefs and points in 6-20 feet. Sucker minnows, crawlers, leeches, and crayfish color plastics on jigs, and swimbaits and crankbaits in similar colors, are all producing action.
Crappie:
Crappies are in shallow to mid-depths in 4-10 feet and will move shallower to spawn this week if the water warms a few degrees (which it should). Baits of choice include crappie minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and plain hooks under floats, Bimbo Skunks, Mimic Minnows, and Beetle Spins.
Bluegill/Perch:
Bluegills are around and on the edges of shallow weeds and preparing for spawn. Best baits include crawler chunks and leaf worms on small jigs and plain hooks under slip bobbers. Perch are shallow and ready to spawn if they have not already done so, which depends on a lake’s water temperature. Use minnows on jigs, or try fatheads to catch larger perch.
Upcoming Events
May 31: Full Blue Moon (should still be outstanding!)
May 31: Deadline to apply for a 2026 elk hunting license.
June 1: Hayward Chapter-Muskies, Inc. meeting 6:30 p.m., Hayward Rod and Gun Club, speaker TBA (715-558-2835).
June 6-7: Free Fishing Weekend. For DNR loaner equipment in Hayward, call Scott Braden (715-634-7428 ext. 3508).
June 6: Kid’s Fishing Derby – Lake Hayward Park, Hayward MI, HBC, Hayward R&G, 8:30 a.m.-noon (715-699-1015).
June 13: WI/MN concealed carry class at Hayward Rod & Gun Club, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (715-558-8312).
June 20: Smallmouth bass harvest season opens in Northern Bass Zone.
June 21: Summer Solstice (first day of summer).
June 21: Father’s Day.
June 22-26: Musky Fest Medallion Hunt (715-634-4871).
June 25-27: Musky Fest Fishing Contest (715-558-2835).
June 26-28: Hayward Musky Festival (715-634-8662).
June 27: Sawyer County Dairy Breakfast, 6:30-11 a.m. (715-558-2562).
June 28: Hayward Bass Club Round Lakes Open bass tournament (715-699-1015).
June 29: Full Strawberry Moon.
Spring turkey season is six, seven-day periods running Wednesday through the following Tuesday, in seven zones.
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.