Steve Suman
High temperatures in the upper 70s return to the North Woods this week, though the forecast includes chances for rain and thunderstorms every day through the weekend. Chances vary significantly, so keep watch ‑ and plan accordingly!
The Summer Solstice is Friday, June 20 ‑ the first day of summer and longest day of the year! On the other hand, we then see days of diminishing daylight…
“It looks like the Quiet Lakes’ area will warm into the mid-70s,” says Greg at Happy Hooker, “which should warm the water and get fish active.
“Musky action is not hot, but anglers see fish and get some in the net. Smaller baits work best overall, but a few anglers move fish on big rubber baits. The cold front might push fish from typical summer spots to just off main areas of focus. As the water warms, fish should move back to summer spots in 5-15 feet on rocks, weeds, and mid-lake reefs.
“Walleye fishing is hit or miss. Fish are where they should be ‑ look for them on deep rocks, bottom transitions, and weedlines. Minnows on jigs work better than leeches, but fish are neutral or negative toward baits.
“Northern pike are active and reports indicate pike are eating anything hitting the water. Look in and around weeds in 3-15 feet, shallow bays, and anywhere with structure.
“Largemouth bass have not yet moved into shallow weeds, are suspending, and active on artificials. Live bait such as crawlers and minnows might catch fish in and around weed beds.
“Smallmouth bass are on deep rocks off points and reefs, with some shallow. Crawlers and leeches are the most effective baits.
“Crappies are mostly relating to weeds rather than the basins. Crappie minnows, plastics under floats, Beetle Spins, and Mimic Minnows work best.
“Bluegill and perch are in and around shallow weeds and shoreline vegetation. Waxies, plastics, crawlers, and minnows on small jigs or hooks are working great.”
Jarrett at Hayward Bait says nice weather this past week did not move water temperatures much and fishing is solid. Rain in the forecast should provide lakes, particularly flowages, much needed water.
“Musky action remains fairly shallow and consistent. Many anglers have success with smaller bucktails and swimbaits out to 10 feet. The fish are following the food, so shallow bays, or structure where panfish, bass, and walleye move from spawning areas, are good contact points.
“Walleye anglers are camping on weedlines; others split between minnows and leeches, both producing success. Other presentations are swimbaits or slow cranking stickbaits over weeds. Target weed growth in 10-15 feet, or find structure such as cribs and wood that fish can use as cover.
“Northern pike action is good to excellent. Fish are in shallow areas with abundant panfish, hitting spinnerbaits, spoons, and swimbaits. Bigger pike head deeper as the water warms; smaller fish remain shallow, chasing baitfish.
“Largemouth and smallmouth bass are spawning, guarding nests, and fussy. When spawning ends, fish school on shallower flats, and wacky rigs, swimbaits, chatterbaits, and jerkbaits work well. Be responsible and return fish quickly.
“Crappies should finish spawn quickly and move to mid-depth weeds. Use minnows under slip bobbers on large flats where fish roam slowly; for active fish try plastics on jigs, small crankbaits, and jerkbaits. Think bigger ‑ some anglers catch big crappies on walleye jerkbaits!
“Bluegills are on beds and the big, 8.5- 10-inch males guarding them are important for maintaining a healthy size population. Return them to their beds so we can continue to see big fish.”
Mike at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage is down one foot, with the water temperature 68 degrees.
“Musky anglers are catching a few fish here and there, but overall not much activity. It is early enough for smaller baits to be effective. Reports indicate crappies are heading toward the bogs at night, so casting those edges in the evening might be effective. If you feel a bit adventurous, pull up to a bog and drop a sucker next to it.
“Walleye fishing was tough due to a mayfly hatch, but reports indicate fish are again down to 18-22 feet. Leeches are the bait of choice, but minnows can still be effective. During daylight, fish nice cover in 18-22 feet. Near dusk, hit breaklines and weed edges in 6-12 feet.
“Northern pike, particularly smaller fish, are active on Tinsel Tails, Mepps #5 spinners, and Chatter Flashes around shallow to mid-depth weeds. Check the Pike Improvement Project (PIP) and enter your pike catches for raffle prizes!
“Largemouth bass are hitting spinnerbaits and chatterbaits around weed beds.
“Smallmouth bass remain active on shallow wood and rock. Ned rigs outperform other baits, followed by Mepps spinners and chatterbaits. Try the widening of the West Fork north of County Road B, Knuckle Buster down south, and the rocky shoreline south of Cletcher’s Bar.
“Crappies are on cribs, brush piles, and mid-depth weed beds during the day. At night, try bogs. The bog at the bridge is a favorite, but bogs by Chipmunk and east of Dun Rovin are good. Crappie minnows work best, but artificial mayflies are also great choices.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter announces Shues Pond is ready for new anglers.
“Each year, the Wisconsin DNR makes sure Shues Pond in downtown Hayward is ready for beginning anglers. In 2025, DNR crews have transferred approximately 1,400 catchable size panfish, along with a few other species, into the pond from connected waterbodies. This provides good fishing action for the summer months.
“Fishing a worm about two feet below a small or medium size bobber is a great method for fishing success. Make sure your hook is not too big, and target the outside edge of the ring of aquatic plants.
“During Musky Fest weekend, the DNR and Fishing Has No Boundaries will hold youth fishing events both Friday and Saturday, from noon-4 p.m. The events are free for all kids, and we provide loaner poles and bait. Any kids younger than 16 years do not need a fishing license to fish any Wisconsin waters; anyone older than 16 years needs a valid license.
“While adults are allowed to fish Shues Pond throughout the summer, we emphasize that we make specific efforts to make this a great place for young anglers and those with limited mobility. The intention of the piers installed around the pond, supported by Terry Peterson Fishing Foundation and Nelson Lumber, are to make it easy for anyone to get right to the water’s edge to fish.
“We are lucky to have so many great lakes and rivers in our area for fishing. We are even luckier that we can offer great fishing right in town for anyone who wants to give fishing a try!”
The 75th Annual Musky Fest is this Thursday through Sunday, June 19-22. Visit the Musky Fest website for the schedule of events, or call (715) 634-8662 for more information.
The Musky Fest fishing contest, hosted by the Hayward Bass Club and Hayward Lakes Chapter-Muskies Inc. begins at sunrise Thursday morning and ends at 3 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call (715) 558-2835.
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 Hayward Lakes Visitor & Convention Bureau.
Fishing Report
Fishing is fair to very good, depending on species, but fluctuating weather is moving fish in and out and off and on spawning areas. You can save time and effort by talking with bait shop personnel for the most current information such as fish locations, bite windows, best baits, and most effective presentations. Go fishing ‑ can’t catch ‘em from the couch!
Musky:
Musky fishing is fair, but improving. Find fish in/on weeds, rocks, reefs, bays, and around concentrations of panfish and larger fish in depths to 15 feet. The one constant with suggested offerings is to continue with smaller baits such as bucktails and swimbaits; however… an angler never knows when a big rubber bait might be the special of the day!
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is fair to good. Fish along shallow weedlines and weed edges in 4-12 feet in late evening into dark. Work weeds, wood, rock, cribs, and other cover in 14-25 feet during the day. Walleye suckers, minnows, leeches, and crawlers on jigs and/or slip bobbers, and swimbaits, crankbaits, minnowbaits, and stickbaits all work at different times.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike fishing is good to very good around shallow to mid-depth weeds, bays, structure, and concentrations of panfish and baitfish. Sucker minnows, minnows, bucktails, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, swimbaits, and chatterbaits all work well. Check out the Pike Improvement Project and enter your catches for raffle prizes!
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is fair to good, with many of them on nests. Anglers will also find fish suspending in and around weeds and weed beds, and on flats. Top offerings include minnows, crawlers, leeches, wacky rigs, Ned rigs, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, chatterbaits, and jerkbaits.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is fair to good with fish also on nests. Find them on deep rocks, points, and reefs, as well as on shallow flats, wood, rock, and around docks. Baits of choice include sucker minnows, leeches, crawlers, Ned rigs, spinners, swimbaits, jerkbaits, chatterbaits, wacky rigs, and plastics in various configurations. Still catch and release!
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good, but slowed with cool temperatures, rain, and a mayfly hatch. Look for fish around weeds, cribs, brush, flats, and bogs in the evening hours. Crappie minnows, fatheads, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs and under bobbers, Beetle Spins, Mimic Minnows, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and artificial mayflies are all productive.
Bluegill/Perch:
Bluegills are around shallow weeds and cover and on beds spawning. Look for “elephant tracks” on shallow sandy bottoms. Waxies, worms, crawler chunks, plastics, and small minnows on jigs and teardrops are all it takes. Practice restraint, keep only what you need for a meal, and please release the bigger fish to build populations for the future.
Upcoming Events
June 16: Moms and Kids Fishing Night at Shues Pond (715-492-1309).
June 19-22: 75th Annual Musky Fest, schedule of events (715-634-8662).
June 19-21: Hayward Bass Club/Hayward Lakes Chapter-Muskies Inc. – Musky Fest fishing contest (715-558-2835).
June 20: Summer Solstice ‑ first day of summer ‑ and longest day of the year!
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.