The forecast this week calls for a few highs in the 70s, lows in the 50s, and chances of showers (promises, promises…) with thunderstorms possible. We will likely see a very nice week for outdoor recreation, and keep in mind we are already one-third of the way thru August! Enjoy these summer days!
If skies are clear, watch for the peak Perseids Meteor Shower from 2-4 a.m. August 11-13, with the chance to see up to 100 meteors per hour!
The Sawyer County Fair at the Sawyer County Fairgrounds is August 13-16. For more information and schedule of events, visit the website or call (715) 934-2721.
“The Quiet Lakes are very low, and Spider Lake chain is down about 1.5 feet,” says Greg at Happy Hooker. “The water temperatures are in the mid-70s, and a short Friday ‘downpour’ made the boat bilge pump run, but did little to help the grass and lakes. Fishing is good and that should continue with stable weather and cool nights.
“Musky action is not hot, but fish are moving. We found muskies off shallow, weedy points, reefs, and weed beds, raising two fish on bucktails ‑ and a small fish followed a crawler on a jig!
“Walleye fishing is tough lately. They should be off deeper rocks and taking live bait and plastics on jigs. We tried trolling basins as we saw many balls of baitfish, but had no good luck.
“Northern pike action is good in and around weeds in 3-10 feet. Various lures work, including jigs, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, and chatterbaits.
“Largemouth bass are in weeds and on weed edges in 6-10 feet. Anglers are doing well with jigs and swimbaits, wacky-rigged worms, spinners, spinnerbaits, and chatterbaits.
“Smallmouth bass are in 5 feet out to deep weed edges. Beetle Spins, and leeches on Mini-Mite jigs, work well.
“Crappies are in 8-12 feet on deeper weed edges adjacent to deep basins. Waxies on jigs, Mini-Mites under slip bobbers, and Beetle Spins are all effective.
“Bluegills are around weeds in about 5 feet. We caught fewer than expected, and most were small and released back into the lake. Crawlers on small jigs work best.”
Mike at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage water level remains down about 2 feet.
“Musky action has definitely improved. During the day, there is a decent amount of action on blades, with offset double-bladed bucktails the popular choice. During early morning and later evening hours, consider surface baits such as Hawg Wobblers and Creepers. Slower surface baits in the early and later hours are producing good results.
“Walleye fishing is much better than in previous weeks, with the best bite in evenings starting around 7:30 p.m. Target shallow weed bars adjacent to deeper water, river channels, and weed edges around drop-offs in 6-15 feet. Use leeches (getting scarce, but still in stock) and crawlers for live bait and Flicker Shads for artificials.
“Northern pike action is very good, especially for smaller fish, with Tinsel Tails the hot bait. Fish thick weeds with Tinsel Tail spinners and you should catch some pike.
“Largemouth bass are active in weed beds and lily pads, with frogs very productive.
“Smallmouth bass are also active, holding around rocks and stumps, with Ned rigs and other plastics the ticket.
“Crappie fishing is very good! During the day, fish the cribs, but do not ignore deeper timber and brush. Deeper cover off the northeast corner of Birch Island is a great spot for crappies recently. In the evenings, anglers continue to target floating bogs. Crappie minnows, Garland mayflies, and one-inch Gulp! Minnows are the ticket.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter scores fishing opportunities on Lake Winter.
“In this series, I rate local fishing opportunities by individual species, on a 0-10 scale, to reflect catchability, size, and other fishing qualities, with notes on why each species received its score.
“This week, we look at Lake Winter, created by the damming of a section of the Brunet River. One of the most interesting things about Lake Winter is it is so young, existing for little more than 50 years. Today, Lake Winter’s fishery is a mix of lake dwelling and riverine species.
“Walleye in Lake Winter rate a 4. Though not highly abundant, they can achieve both harvestable and memorable sizes. Winter Lakes Alliance stocks the walleye.
“Muskellunge in Lake Winter rate a 4 as well, with okay size. Some fish reach into the mid-40s, but managing a higher abundance of muskellunge has been a challenge. One reason is the presumed loss of muskies over the dam, which is very common in reservoirs of this size.
“Largemouth bass rate a 7, though not highly abundant, but anglers should find some, and size is very respectable.
“Northern pike were the breakout species in our last survey, and rate an 8 based on those results. Pike size was very good in 2026.
“Panfish are abundant in Lake Winter and rate a 5, but tend to run a little smaller than most anglers prefer. Crappies of 7-9 inches are abundant, but fish greater than 10 inches are rare. Similarly, bluegills tend to run 6-7 inches, with anything greater than 8 inches rare.
“Lake Winter is also home to a robust population of redhorse suckers, though few anglers target or even notice them.
“Anglers interested in Lake Winter should also take note of the Brunet River, both upstream and downstream of the lake. Upstream, you can find muskies and even brook trout in some areas. The reach downstream of the lake runs to the Chippewa River and holds smallmouth, muskies, and even walleye.”
Anglers
The HBC FREE Youth Bass Tournament for youth ages 10-17, is Sunday August 16 atThe Landing, from 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. To register (pre-registration. required) and to volunteer to assist, contact Wayne at (405) 227-1789.
Hunters/Trappers
Bonus antlerless deer harvest authorizations sales begin at 10 a.m. Monday, August 17, thru Go Wild and license sales locations. The DNR is making 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.
Antlerless opportunities vary between deer management units (DMUs) based on population levels and management goals. Bonus authorizations are available in all DMUs 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.
September 15 is the deadline for eligible hunters to apply for the hunters with disabilities gun deer hunt.
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 pass by mail with their registration stickers and registration certificate. Trail passes to bike, ride horseback, or inline skate are also available online.
ATV/UTV Trail Report
All ATV/UTV riders should review recent law changes effective June 1. Visit 2026 ATV/UTV regulations for details. Updates include new ATV/UTV seatbelt requirements, liability, towing, and window tint restrictions. For questions, contact DNR Customer Service at (888) 936-7463.
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; 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 posted otherwise, all county roads outside LCO Reservation in Sawyer County are legal for ATV/UTV use. Contact numbers for ATV/UTV trails: Sawyer County Forest (715-634-4846); Chequamegon National Forest (715-634-4821); and Flambeau State Forest (715-332-5271).
For 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 good for most species overall, but better for some than for others! Some lakes are nearly 2 feet low, including the Chippewa Flowage down 2.5 feet. Highs in the low to mid-80s, cooler nights, and water temperatures in the 70s have fish more active. As always, check with your favorite bait shop for the most current fish locations and bait preferences.
Musky:
Musky fishing is fair to good and improving. Target shallow weeds, weed beds, and weedy bars, points, and reefs. In daylight hours, use bucktails with various blade configurations. In evening hours, cast slower topwaters such as Hawg Wobblers and Creepers.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing improved in the past week, though still challenging anglers, with best success in the evening hours into dark. During the day, find fish on deep rock bars, weed edges, points, and drop-offs. In evening into dark, fish shallower flats and weed edges. Leeches, crawlers, and plastics on jigs, spinner rigs, and Flicker Shads are all effective.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is very good to excellent, especially for numbers of smaller fish, in and around shallow to mid-depth thick weeds and panfish and baitfish concentrations. Minnows on jigs, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, chatterbaits, and Tinsel Tail spinners and spinnerbaits are producing.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is good in shallow weeds, weed edges, lily pads, slop, brush, and stumps out to 12 feet. Minnows, leeches, and crawlers, swimbaits, rigged worms, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, frogs and other topwaters work well.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is good on mid-depth weeds, rocks, and stumps out to deep weed edges. Best baits are sucker minnows, leeches, crawlers, Ned rigs, crankbaits, Beetle Spins, and plastics, particularly in crayfish colors.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good to very good. During the day, work cribs, brush, timber, and deep weed edges near basins, and other deep structure. In the evening, fish bogs and shallower cover. Top offerings include crappie minnows, waxies, and one-inch Gulp! Minnows on jigs, Mini-Mites on slip bobbers, Garland Mayflies, and Beetle Spins.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is good in around weeds, cribs out to 2-15 feet, and with larger fish deeper. Waxies, red worms, crawler chunks, and plastics on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks fished under slip bobbers all catch panfish.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 11-13: Perseids Meteor Shower, 2-4 a.m. peak, one of year’s best, 50-100/per hr., waning moon/dark sky.
Aug. 13-16: Sawyer County Fair (715-934-2721).
Aug. 16: HBC free Youth Bass Tourney, ages 10-17, pre-reg. required, The Landing, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (405-227-1789).
Aug. 17: Bonus antlerless deer harvest authorizations sales begin at 10 a.m. thru Go Wild and license sales locations.
Aug. 21-22: Seeley Lions PreFat Bike Race.
Aug. 23: HBC-NBA Tom Turner Benefit Open, Twin/Tiger Cat, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. $120 entry (405-227-1789).
Aug. 26-27: DNR service centers, statewide call center, and email unavailable due to staff training.
Aug. 28: Full Sturgeon Moon.
Sept. 1: Seasons open: Early teal; Early goose; Mourning dove (see closing dates).
Sept. 5-30: Lake Sturgeon season (hook-and-line) open.
Sept. 15: Deadline to apply for hunters with disabilities gun deer hunt.
Sept. 16-17: Disabled Veterans Fishing Outing on Nelson Lake, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., email or call (715-651-0482).
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.