This hot week continues through Friday, as high temperatures hold in the low to mid-90s. A “break” arrives Saturday at only 86 degrees (ha!), with chances for rain Thursday and through the weekend. Stay safe out there!
“The warm trend continues in the Quiet Lakes’ area, with near-record highs topping at 96 degrees Tuesday,” says Greg at Happy Hooker. “The only rain a 34-percent chance Sunday.
“Fishing has been quiet since July 4th. Water temperatures shot into the 80s, with fish pushing deep or hunkering down in cover.
“Musky fishing mostly shut down last week, with only three additions to the board, those caught around weeds on small baits. With these high water temperatures, anglers should limit targeting musky. Those continuing to fish should go prepared with tools for a quick photo and release. The longer the fish stays in the water, the better for a successful release.
“Walleyes are tight lipped as well. Depending on the lake, look in 12-25 feet and deeper. Leeches on jigs off deeper transitions, bottom bouncers and crankbaits trolled mid water column, and crawler harnesses slow-rolled through basins are all effective.
“Northern pike action slowed a bit, so you know fishing is tough! Find them in/around weeds in 3-12 feet chasing spinnerbaits, swimbaits, live bait, and topwaters.
“Largemouth bass favor hot temperatures, so the bite should really pick up. Find them in the thickest lily pads, bulrushes, cabbage, and grass. Topwaters, surely the most exciting way to catch fish, are the first choice! Scum Frogs, Whopper Ploppers, Zara spooks, buzzbaits, and similar lures are great choices. For suspending fish, use plastic worms, and spinnerbaits.
“Smallmouth bass anglers are finding fish throughout the water column on deep rocks, mid-lake reefs, and anywhere in between. Live bait and plastics on jigs, and topwaters worked around the structure, all catch fish.
“Panfish are in and around weeds and shoreline structure. Anglers finding crappies in 6-10 feet around weed beds are doing well on crappie minnows and plastics. Bluegills are shallow around shoreline weeds, structure, and docks, with fish hitting leaf worms and crawlers. Perch are mixed in with crappies, but might be on deep weed edges adjacent to basins.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter provides an update on the Spider Lake Musky Project.
“We have many native muskellunge populations in our local area that are now dealing with the impacts of introduced northern pike. To understand better how the two species interact and behave, we initiated a research project on Spider Lake about two years ago with the goal of developing more strategies to help musky.
“Since October 2024, we have tracked musky and pike in Spider Lake and this project is yielding fascinating results.
“For starters, we were surprised to find that Spider Lake muskies moved around quite a bit more than pike, even in winter, when we had previously assumed musky were not very active. Muskellunge moved the most in early morning hours, 5-6 a.m., and then had another active period around dusk.
“Researcher Jonathan Fogarty analyzed muskellunge and pike movements related to different weather patterns as well. Barometric pressure and wind direction were both important predictors of when muskellunge moved.
“Musky anglers tend to put considerable stock in moon phases, yet this tracking project found no relationship between moon phase and musky movement. However, anglers looking at these results need to understand that movement rates might ‑ or might not ‑ correspond to when muskellunge actually eat.
“Another result that became clear is that individual fish have big differences in how much they move. In other words, not all muskies do the same thing. Some move around the lake a lot, while others are less active.
“A developing analysis by master’s student Virginia Gulotta is investigating whether groundwater inputs might influence where muskies and pike try to spawn.
“This summer, the research team is taking advantage of tagged muskies as an opportunity to study how fish react to anglers targeting them, including if forward facing sonar affects fish behavior.
“This project has already advanced our understanding of these two species in ways that will be useful across the whole region ‑ and in many ways, the project is just getting started!”
Hunters/Trappers
Hayward Rod & Gun Club’s seasonal trap shooting is open to the public Tuesday evenings from 6 p.m. until all have had enough. The price per round (25 shots) is $5/members and $10/non-members. The club supplies the clay targets. Bring your shotgun, target load shotshells, and eye and ear protection.
For more information, visit Hayward Rod & Gun Club or call (715) 634-4912 and leave a message.
The DNR says the Natural Resources Board (NRB) has approved the deer harvest quotas and framework for the 2026 deer hunting season. Beginning Aug. 17, the DNR will make 272,720 bonus antlerless harvest authorizations available for purchase across the state. This total does not reflect the free antlerless harvest authorizations issued in farmland zones.
These recommendations came from the partnership of the Citizen Deer Advisory Councils (CDACs) and based on public feedback and deer population objectives.
Antlerless opportunities vary between deer management units (DMUs) based on local deer population levels and management goals. Bonus authorizations will be available for purchase in all deer management units except DMU 116, as recommended by that DMU’s CDAC.
Hunters may purchase additional bonus antlerless harvest authorizations online through Go Wild and at license sales locations starting at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 17. The first three bonus sales days are zone-specific, with all remaining permits available Thursday, Aug. 20.
For more information, visit “deer hunting” on the DNR website.
The DNR thanks all of this year’s elk license applicants. It has awarded 16 Wisconsin residents the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hunt elk. These 16 harvest permits (10 bull, 6 antlerless) are for the 2026 elk season opening Saturday, Oct. 17. Ceded territory Ojibwe tribes declared four additional bull elk licenses. The DNR notified winners via email.
The DNR randomly selected the winners from 34,708 applicants (23,610 bull and 11,098 antlerless).
Applications contribute directly to the future of the state’s elk population. From each $10 application fee, $7 goes directly toward elk management, habitat restoration, and research.
For more information, visit “elk hunting” on the DNR website.
Anglers
Enter and win the 2026 Summer Fishing Getaway and pro angler Chad Grigsby will take you and a friend fishing on a Hayward area lake! The trip takes place Saturday, August 29, and Chad will provide everything needed for the day.
The prize package includes overnight accommodations for two Friday and Saturday nights, August 28-29, at Northwoods Motel. The winner receives two rod and reel combos from St. Croix Rods; 1919 Root Beer; and a voucher for a free set of four B.F. Goodrich tires!
Chad is a two-time FLW Tour Champion and FLW Forest Wood Cup runner-up. He fished tournaments full time for 22 years and recorded more than $1.4 million in career earnings.
The contest will accept entries through July 31.
For details, and to enter, visit “Summer Fishing Getaway” or call (715) 634-4801.
Pre-purchase a Wisconsin State Park Pass, required for all motor vehicles at most state parks, forests, and recreation areas, and save time when entering those properties. Passes are available online, at individual properties, DNR service centers, and when renewing vehicle registrations.
When purchasing online, visitors can use the email confirmation as proof of purchase immediately and receive a physical pass by mail. Print the email receipt or write the details on a piece of paper and place on the driver’s side dashboard, readable through the windshield.
Customers purchasing a 12-month pass during DMV registration receive a physical pass by mail with their vehicle registration stickers and Certificate of Registration. For those looking to bike, ride horseback, or inline skate, daily and annual state trail passes are also available online.
Local events this week include:
- Lumberjack World Championships July 15-18. For information, visit the events schedule or call (715) 634-2484.
- LCO Honor the Earth Pow Wow July 17-19. For information, visit the website or call (715) 634-8934.
- Birchwood’s 63rd Annual Bluegill Festival July 17-19. For information, visit the website or email.
ATV/UTV Trail Report
The DNR urges ATV/UTV riders to review recent law changes that went into effect June 1. The 2026 ATV/UTV regulations detail numerous law changes and updates pertaining to ATV/UTV operation. Updates include new ATV/UTV seatbelt requirements, liability, towing, and window tint restrictions. For questions, contact your local DNR warden or DNR Customer Service at (888) 936-7463.
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; 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
Hot temperatures slowed fishing for most species, with largemouth bass perhaps the exception. Water temperatures in the 80s will warm even more with air temperatures in the low to mid-90s this week. Choose your fishing hours wisely!
Musky:
Muskies are a bit quiet, with many anglers taking a break from them with the high temperatures. IF you go, go prepared to make quick releases for their safety. Fish are in weeds and likely in deeper water. Small baits work best.
Walleye:
Walleyes are in 12-25 feet on transitions, in basins, and suspending, depending on the lake. Leeches and crawlers on jigs, bottom bouncers, and trolled spinner rigs all productive, with dawn and dusk are best.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action slowed somewhat, but remains good around weeds and concentrations of baitfish and panfish in 4-15 feet. Sucker minnows, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, swimbaits, and topwaters are all effective.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is good to very good. Target thick weeds, lily pads, bulrushes, brush, stumps, cabbage, and slop where Whopper Ploppers, buzzbaits, Zara spooks, Scum Frogs, and similar topwaters shine. Use plastic worms, spinners, and spinnerbaits for suspending fish.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass anglers are on mid-depth to deeper rocks, reefs, weeds, points, and other structure. Top baits include sucker minnows, crawlers, and leeches on jigs; plastics, swimbaits, and crankbaits in crawdad colors; and topwaters.
Crappie
Crappie fishing is fair to good around mid-depth to deeper weeds, brush, and basins. Crappie minnows, worms, and plastics on small jigs and plain hooks under slip bobbers, and small Beetle Spins, spinners, and spoons all work well.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is good around shallow shorelines to mid-depth weeds, brush, docks, and other structure. Use crawler chunks, leaf worms, waxies, and plastics on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks under slip bobbers.
Upcoming Events
July 15-18: Lumberjack World Championships (715-634-2484).
July 17-19: LCO Honor the Earth Pow Wow (715-634-8934).
July 17-19: Birchwood 63rd Annual Bluegill Festival (email).
July 25: Barnes Area Historical Association Summer Festival (414-254-3060).
July 29-30: Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower peak, best after midnight, long-lasting, steady.
July 29: Full Buck Moon.
July 31: Deadline to enter the 2026 Summer Fishing Getaway to fish with Chad Grigsby.
Aug. 1: Application deadline for Bobcat, Fisher, and Sharp-tailed grouse permits.
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.