Hayward Lakes Outdoor Report 7-30-24

Steve Suman

The forecast predicts temperatures in the mid- to upper-80s, with nearly daily (low) “chances” for showers. Stay cool and have fun, but watch for changing weather conditions. July ends and August begins in only three days!

“The Quiet Lakes’ area finally has summer,” says Greg at Happy Hooker. “Anyone who likes hot weather should enjoy this week, with mid-80s temperatures nearly every day!

“Musky action picked up, and if anglers put in the time, most will see multi-fish days. Smaller baits fished in and around weeds in 6-12 feet work best.

“Walleyes pushed into 15-20 feet and anglers are doing well with leeches, fatheads, and walleye suckers on jigs. Trolling crankbaits or Lindy Rigs and bottom bouncers work as well. Find fish on deep hard to soft bottom transitions.

“Northern pike are around shallow weeds in 4-12 feet. Anglers are doing well, catching pike mostly on small bucktails, spinnerbaits, and Rapalas.

“Largemouth bass fishing is consistent, with fish in and around shallow lily pads and other weeds. Poppers, buzzers, and frogs catch these fish, and for suspended fish, live bait, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and crankbaits will work.

“Smallmouth bass are mixed in the water column. A few anglers find them deep, while others find them in 8-12 feet. Crawlers work, as do jigs and plastics such as Ned rigs.

“Crappies are in weeds in 6-10 feet, and anglers are doing well with minnows, small Beetle Spins, and similar baits.

“Bluegills, perch, and other panfish are hiding in shallow cover, be it weeds, timber, or cribs. Leaf worms and crawlers are the ticket to get fish in the livewell.”

Jarrett at Hayward Bait says high water temperatures have many musky anglers holding off on fishing.

“To avoid additional stress, anglers are limiting a fish’s time out of water, returning it immediately. Try small bucktails, swimbaits, and topwaters, and fishing past sundown can be incredible.

“Walleyes scattered to different depths and fishing slowed. Find them with electronics; then use varied tactics. Aggressively snap jigging baits such as Jigging Raps and Hyper Rattle/Hammers off bottom selects active fish. Drag live bait on drop shots, crawler harnesses, and Lindy Rigs slowly across bottom for less active fish.

“Northern pike are on big weed flats, and live bait, spoons, and spinnerbaits work well. Bigger pike are near bottom in deep, cool water.

“Largemouth bass are on deep weedlines, rock, and structure, though some roam shallow piers, downed trees, and other structure along shorelines. Live bait, Texas rigs, wacky rigs, drop shots, and topwaters work well.

“Smallmouth bass are also on deeper weedlines, rock, and structure, with some around shallow piers, trees, and structure along shorelines, and taking the same baits.

“Crappies moved to basins or deep weedlines. Live bait on slip bobbers, small plastics on jigs, and Beetle Spins can locate fish quickly.

“Bluegills are all over. Some are around shallow cover, some around mid-depth structure, and some bigger fish are roaming basins. Gulp! Minnows and crawler pieces on small jigs work well.”

Mike at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage is down one foot, with the water temperature in the high 70s to low 80s.

“Musky action is mostly on bucktails and surface baits. Warm surface temperatures means fish will dive deeper in river channels and basins. Trolling is the way to go, with Mattlocks, 14-inch Jakes, 13-inch Grandmas, and Crane 1010s solid choices. If surface temperatures reach the low 80s, take a break and target other species until cooler water.

“Walleye fishing is slow. Expect to fish deeper water, especially during the day, with trolling probably most effective. Fish will likely be in deep, brushy areas such as between the Banana Islands and in front of Sisko’s. Leeches are the way to go. For trolling, Flicker Shads, jointed Flicker Shads, Reef Runners, and Shimano World Cranks should be the ticket.

“Northern pike are around weeds and weed edges, and maybe deeper with the warm temperatures, and hitting smaller Tinsel Tails and chatterbaits.

“Largemouth bass fishing is good on Jack Hammer chatterbaits and Revolvers, especially in Crane Lake’s third bay.

“Smallmouth bass are less active, though anglers catch fish on stickbaits such as World Minnows, Husky Jerks, and X-Raps.

“Crappie fishing is great on the bogs at night with crappie minnows, imitation mayflies, Mini-Mites, and Gulp! Minnows. Daytime fishing is challenging, though several anglers report success on the Chipmunk and Big Timber bogs.”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses a redhorse grand slam.

“Serious saltwater anglers often pursue a ‘grand slam’ that involves catching four prized sportfish in the same day. Technically, the IGFA says a Grand Slam is three species, but apparently they fish more than play baseball, and here we will consider a ‘grand slam’ as four species.

“It is a fun idea, challenging anglers to diversify their approach and understand how to target more than just a single species.

“In the Hayward area, anglers have the opportunity for a ‘redhorse grand slam.’ Yes, redhorse are not the first thing most anglers look for, but hear me out ‑ redhorse are abundant in several area rivers, are usually willing to bite, and pull hard once hooked.

“Most area rivers have four species of redhorse, and a few even have five, making the grand slam possible without needing to jump around to different waterbodies.

“The Namekagon River is a great place to start. The reach from Hayward to Trego holds golden, shorthead, silver, and greater redhorse. Once you get below Trego, river redhorse enter the mix, theoretically creating the chance for a ‘super grand slam.’ The Couderay and Chippewa rivers hold four species of redhorse and are great sites to complete a ‘slam.’

“Learning to identify the different redhorse species can be a challenge. An easy way to start differentiating them is the phrase ‘if there’s color in the tail, there’s no color in the name.’ Greater, river, and shorthead redhorse all have bright red tails and no color in their name. Golden and silver redhorse have more drab colored tails, but have a color in their names.

“A little homework ahead of your attempted redhorse slam will help you find the remaining characteristics necessary to identify each species.”

August 1 is the deadline to apply for bobcat or fisher permits, with application fees $6 for bobcat and $3 for fisher. Apply through Go Wild or license sales locations. Appropriate licenses are necessary before going afield.

For more information, visit the DNR hunting and trapping webpages.

Jack Pine Savage Days in Spooner is Friday and Saturday, August 2-3, and includes a scavenger hunt, fireman’s pancake breakfast, car, truck and bike show, food booths, music, and much more.

For more information, visit www.jackpinesavagedays.com or call (715) 635-2168.

The 2024 Lumberjack World Championships are July 31-August 3 at the Lumberjack Bowl in Hayward. Talented amateur, semi-pro, and professional athletes saw, chop, speed climb, log roll, boom-run, and more in this international competition. For more information and tickets, visit Lumberjack World Championships or call (715) 634-2484.

Hayward Chapter-Muskies Inc. is hosting its annual FREE Kids Fishing Day Sunday, August 4, from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at Blackiron Grill on Tiger Cat Flowage. Club members guide anglers 8-16 years of age on Tiger Cat and nearby lakes, followed by a noon shore lunch. All youth receive a bag of fishing goodies plus an opportunity to win larger raffle prizes. All anglers, with an adult present, must pre-register at Hayward Bait.

For more information, call Hayward Bait (715) 634-2921 or Mike Persson (715) 634-4543.

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. The Trail Treker app shows the changes. Trails 174 and 176 in Spider Lake Township are not open to ATV/UTV use. The ATV/UTV trails in Sawyer County Forest (715-634-4846), Chequamegon National Forest (715-634-4821), and Flambeau State Forest (715-332-5271) are open.

Check the HLVCB ATV/UTV trail conditions report and Sawyer County Snowmobile & ATV Alliance for trail and road updates.

Fishing Report

Fishing is fair to good for most species, but temperatures in the mid- to upper-80s will move fish deeper. Focusing on shallower weedlines in the evening might be best for predator fish. Check with your favorite bait shop daily for details.

Musky:

Musky action improved, but use extreme caution when handing fish in these warm water conditions ‑ and evening fishing can be exceptionally good. Fish weeds in 5-18 feet and in basins. Bucktails and topwaters are productive, or troll stickbaits and minnowbaits.

Walleye:

Walleye fishing slowed, but anglers still catch fish. Work weeds, brush, and hard to soft bottom transitions in 12-25 feet during the day. Move shallower in evening hours. Leeches, crawlers, walleye suckers, and fatheads on jigs, spinner rigs, and bottom bouncers work well, as does trolling Flicker Shads and similar baits.

Northern Pike:

Northern pike fishing is good to very good on weeds, weed edges, and big weed flats out to 15 feet. Bigger pike are deep and on the bottom. Productive baits include northern and walleye suckers, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, bucktails, Tinsel Tails, and chatterbaits.

Largemouth Bass:

Largemouth bass fishing is good around shallow weeds, lily pads, docks, downed trees, shoreline structure, and on deeper weedlines, rock, and other structure. Use live bait, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, drop shots, Texas, and wacky rigs, and chatterbaits, buzzbaits, and frogs.

Smallmouth Bass:

Smallmouth bass fishing is good. Fish are on shallow docks, downed trees, and similar structure along shorelines, with some in 6-18 feet on weedlines and rock. Sucker minnows, crawlers, and plastics; Ned, Texas, wacky, and drop shot rigs; and stickbaits, jerkbaits, and topwaters, work well.

Crappie:

Crappies are in weeds in 6-12 feet, on deep weedlines and cribs, and suspending in deep basins. Fishing is good, with evening into dark best. Crappie minnows, live bait and plastics on jigs and/or slip bobbers, imitation mayflies, Mini-Mites, Gulp! Minnows, and Beetle Spins work best.

Bluegill:

Bluegill fishing is good in shallow weeds, wood, docks, and brush, mid-depth weed flats and cribs, and deep basins. Use waxies, leaf worms, crawler chunks, small minnows, plastics, and Gulp! Minnows on small jigs and/or under slip bobbers.

Upcoming Events

July 28-30: Delta Aquarids meteor shower, 15-25/hr., 1-3 a.m. (look south).

July 31-Aug. 3: Lumberjack World Championships, tickets (715-634-2484).

Aug. 1: Bobcat and Fisher permit application deadline.

Aug. 2-3: Jack Pine Savage Days in Spooner (715-635-2168).

Aug. 4: Hayward Chapter-Muskies Inc. Kids Day, Tiger Cat Flowage, Blackiron Grill (715-634-4543).

Aug. 10: Musky Tale ResortPig Roast Fundraiser for Hayward Veterans Cemetery Fund, 3-7 p.m. (715-462-3838).

Aug. 10: Ojibwa Canoe & Kayak Race at The Wannigan, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (715-415-6539).

Aug. 11-13: Perseid meteor shower, 45-90/hr., 1-3 a.m. (look northeast).

Aug. 15-18: Sawyer County Fair (715-699-2022).

Aug. 17: Seeley Lions PreFat Bike Race, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Aug. 18: HBC free youth bass tournament on Chippewa Flowage, noon-4 p.m., The Landing Resort (405-227-1789).

Aug. 19: Full Sturgeon Moon.

Aug. 25: HBC Tom Turner Memorial Open/HS Team Benefit Tourney, Tiger Cat, 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 800-724-2992.