Steve Suman
Memorial Day weekend enjoyed near-perfect weather. This week starts with highs in the low 70s, moving to the 80s by the week’s end, but with some chances for rain. Make your plans, watch the sky, and enjoy all of the recreational opportunities the North Woods offers!
“Memorial Day weekend was beautiful in the Quiet Lakes’ area,” says Greg at Happy Hooker. “Fishing was not great last week, but should improve with warmer temperatures.
“Musky season opened this past Saturday and fish are active in and around weed beds in 6-15 feet, chasing perch, bluegill, and crappie. Baits mimicking those species should be in every tackle box! Some lakes hold cisco, and baits in silver/white patterns work well. Bucktails, crankbaits, twitch baits, and topwaters at dusk are great options.
“Walleyes are on deep rocky points or reefs, deep weed edges, and hard to soft bottom transitions. Walleye suckers and minnows on jigs are producing, and leeches will soon start to work.
“Northern pike action is slow, with fish in 6-15 feet around weed beds. Cast smaller bucktails, spinnerbaits, Rapalas, and similar baits.
“Largemouth bass pushed to slightly deeper cover. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and live bait such as crawlers and large minnows are great choices.
“Smallmouth bass are on deep rocks and rocky shorelines near deeper water, hitting minnows and plastics on jigs, and crankbaits. Smallmouth are catch and release only until June 21.
“Panfish fishing slowed with last week’s cold weather and fish pushed into weeds and cover in 8-10 feet. Minnows on small jigs or under floats, waxies, small leeches, and crawlers work well.”
Jarrett at Hayward Bait says water temperatures in the 50s pushed fish deeper, but fish will move shallow with warmer water.
“Musky anglers should slow-roll small bucktails and plastics such as Bull Dawgs and Medussas. Most fish come on natural patterns such as perch, crappie, and walleye. Gold, gold/purple combos, and Flowage green usually produce fish.
“Walleyes are moving from shallow to spring’s first weed growth. Last week, cold halted that growth and walleye roamed shallow. The sun will help weeds develop, and fish will move into weedlines where the leech bite will shine.
“Northern pike anglers report excellent fishing in 10-13 feet with live bait, spinnerbaits, spoons, and plastics. Increased pike limits on some systems allow more harvest and helps increase panfish size.
“Largemouth and smallmouth bass pushed to cover near shallow water. Anglers should use slow moving jerkbaits, plastics, and live bait. Fishing should remain slow until warmth returns and fish move shallow to feed and spawn.
“Crappies pushed deeper, adjacent to spawning areas, but move shallow on warm, sunny afternoons. Fatheads, small plastics on jigs, and hard bait applications should work.
“Bluegills moved deeper and sit adjacent to spawning areas. Smaller presentations such as waxies or crawlers on small jigs work well.”
Mike at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage is a half-foot down and the water temperature is 58 degrees.
“Walleye fishing improved since the heat wave, as the cold front and cooler temperatures cooled the water into the mid- to high-50s. As a result, walleyes are active in 4-7 feet, particularly on the edges and in wood. Minnows and leeches are the preferred live baits, however, shallow to mid-depth crankbaits, jerkbaits, and slash baits are productive as well.
“Northern pike action is mediocre. Some anglers catch fish, others not so much, and live bait produces the most action. Northern suckers and chubs on west side bays are the best bet, with James Slough the most productive spot.
“Smallmouth bass have limited reports, other than walleye anglers catching many smallmouth in and around stumps by accident! To target smallmouth specifically, use Ned Rigs, one of the most effective smallmouth baits.
“Crappies are in transition between spawning and summer patterns. Post-spawn, crappies typically move to adjacent flats or deeper areas with cover. Fish brush piles, cribs, and deadfalls outside spawning habitat. Fish are hitting, but you have to find them! Anglers report action on minnows in 6-9 feet, though Garland plastics and one-inch Gulp! Minnows are popular choices.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses the meaning of Spider Chain pike numbers.
“Muskellunge are a beloved and native species to many lakes in the Hayward area. Northern pike are native to some, but not all lakes in the area, yet they have spread into many of the historic ‘musky only’ waters.
“The Spider Chain is one example where northern pike first appeared in a 2002 DNR fisheries survey and have increased in abundance since then. Anglers now catch pike regularly, while musky catch rates appear to decline at the same time.
“We have taken actions to better understand the relationship between the two species. An important step towards that understanding was generating an estimate of how many pike are currently in the Spider Chain.
“In spring of 2024, we estimated there were 3,656 adult pike greater than 12 inches, or 2.28 pike per acre. This is still a relatively low abundance compared to pike densities in other lakes. Still, that may be enough pike to interfere with successful muskellunge reproduction and feeding.
“Our team removed 423 of pike handled in spring of 2024, creating a slight reduction in total abundance. Anglers self-reported harvesting an additional 1,363 pike, which is a great effort, even if we cannot fully validate those numbers. These numbers get us in the ballpark of what we believe needs to happen to keep pike abundance in check in a lake such as this.
“In fact, it might be because of early and aggressive angling harvest that pike abundance has remained relatively low compared to other lakes, and still in a manageable range. The challenge is to sustain this effort going forward and help muskellunge regain their dominance in the system. Even a reduced number of adult northern pike can still do a lot of reproducing, leading to lots of juvenile pike.
“This is an important distinction between fish and other types of animals. A small female pike might have 8,000 eggs, enough to populate the entire lake with good survival, while large female pike might have 100,000 eggs! This is totally different from mammals and birds, which have very limited reproductive potential for any one female. This is part of what makes a species such as northern pike so hard to control when they get into a new system.”
Hayward Lakes Chapter-Muskies Inc. invites the public to attend its club meeting Tuesday, June 3, at Flat Creek Lodge in Hayward. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Admission is free and attendees interested in becoming a new member of Muskies, Inc. can purchase a half-price membership. For more information, call Mike Persson (715) 634-4543.
Wisconsin residents have until May 31 to apply for a chance at a 2025 elk hunting license. The application fee is $10. Apply online through Go Wild or at license agents across the state. The DNR will notify winners in early June. Elk hunting season opens Saturday, October 18.
For more information, visit elk hunting on the DNR website.
ATV/UTV Trail Report
All ATV/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.
Check for trail openings, closures, and more atHLVCB ATV/UTV trail conditions report. Contacts for forest ATV/UTV trails are as follows: Sawyer County Forest (715-634-4846), Chequamegon National Forest (715-634-4821), and Flambeau State Forest (715-332-5271).
Sawyer County snowmobile and ATV trail maps are available from the Hayward Lakes Visitor & Convention Bureau, or download the Trail Treker app ($2) on your smartphone and get the complete Sawyer County Trail Map ($2).
Fishing Report
Fishing slowed for most species last week, as fish moved deeper with the cool temperatures. Species attempting to spawn are transitioning between shallow to mid-depths and deeper. Visit with bait shop personnel to learn the current information on fish locations, movements, and favored baits and presentations. The fish ARE there… somewhere!
Musky:
Musky season just opened this past Saturday, so short on information so far. Work weed beds and panfish concentrations in 5-15 feet with bucktails, twitch baits, crankbaits, and rubber baits. Natural colors work best.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is fair to good on new weeds, weed edges, rocky points, and transition areas. Top baits include walleye suckers, minnows, and leeches on jigs or under slip bobbers, and crankbaits, jerkbaits, and slash baits.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is fair to excellent around weed beds and panfish concentrations in 5-15 feet. Sucker minnows, chubs, bucktails, spinnerbaits, spoons, Rapalas, and plastics all work well. For trophy pike, fish deeper with bigger baits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is fair, with the fish holding in deeper cover waiting for shallow water to warm. With warmer water, target sandy shorelines, stumps, wood, weedlines, and lily pads. Large minnows, crawlers, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and various plastics, all worked slowly, should produce action.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing (catch and release only until June 21) is fair to good and will certainly improve with warming water. Fish are holding around deep rocks, rocky shorelines, cover near shallow water, stumps, and wood. Sucker minnows, Ned rigs, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and plastics can all get the attention of smallmouth.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing wavered with the cold, but they have to eat, though it will take some searching. Find them in weeds, brush piles, fallen trees, and cribs in 5-12 feet near their spawning areas, as well as in shallow water on sunny, warm days. Crappie minnows, fatheads, waxies, leeches, plastics, and Gulp! minnows on small jigs are all good offerings.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing was slower with the recent cooler temperatures, but will pick up as the water warms. Look for fish in somewhat deeper cover, 6-12 feet, but not far from their spawning areas. Waxies, worms, crawler chunks, small leeches, and small minnows, and plastics on jigs, fished under slip bobbers, will pull fish from their cover.
Upcoming Events
May 24: Musky season opened in Northern Zone.
May 27: Spring turkey season Period F ends, finishing the 2025 spring season.
May 31: Deadline to apply for elk tag ($10 fee).
June 3: Hayward Lakes Chapter-Muskies Inc. general meeting, 7 p.m., Flat Creek Lodge (715-634-4543).
June 11: Full Strawberry Moon.
June 7-8: Free Fishing Weekend. Fish without a fishing license, trout stamp or salmon stamp!
June 7: Free Kids Fishing Derby, 8am-Noon, Lake Hayward Park, youth 1-15 yrs., fish from shore. (715-699-1015).
June 19-21: Hayward Bass Club/Hayward Lakes Chapter-Muskies Inc. – Musky Fest fishing contest (715-558-2835).
June 19-22: 75th Annual Musky Fest (715-634-8662).
June 20: Summer Solstice ‑ first day of summer!
June 21: Smallmouth bass harvest season opens in the Northern Bass Zone.
June 21: Sawyer County Dairy Breakfast at Sawyer County Fairgrounds,·6:30-11 a.m. (715-699-2022).
June 29: Hayward Bass Club – Round Lake Open, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., (405-227-1789).
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.