According to the forecast for this week, the Hayward area should/could see highs in the upper 70s to low 80s, lows in the 40s/50s, and with chances (even likely!) of rain and thunderstorms some days! The “Dog Days of Summer” are (technically) history and there are changes in the air. It looks a bit like fall, though that might be due to the dryness. Still, you have time to continue enjoying summer activities, so have at it!
Hayward Lakes Visitors & Convention Bureau is encouraging people to enter its 2027 Vacation Guide Photo Contest. The winning photo pays $500 and appears on a publication distributed statewide that reaches tens of thousands of visitors. The photo will appear on the vacation guide cover, as well as featured prominently in other Hayward Lakes marketing efforts throughout the year.
The HLVCB is looking for photos of families (and pets!) experiencing the Hayward area while boating, fishing, riding bikes, ATVs/UTVs, and snowmobiles, attending community events, skiing, ice fishing, and other activities.
HLVCB staff and the Executive Committee will review and evaluate photos.
The contest will accept submissions through August 31, so submit your photos now!
“In the Quiet Lakes’ area, water levels are very low,” says Greg at Happy Hooker, “with most lakes down about 1-1.5 feet, and some even lower, and water temperatures have crept into the upper 70s. We need a big weather event to shake up things and get fish moving. Unfortunately, it does not appear this will happen anytime soon.
“Musky fishing is okay, with our musky board anglers catching nearly all of their fish on blade baits. Bucktails, spinnerbaits, and chatterbaits are all moving fish. Ripping rubber baits through the weeds and over structure is working as well. Look for fish in/on top of the structure or just off the edges.
“Walleyes have lockjaw, which is not a total surprise in the summer heat. They are likely in deeper water or roaming basins, and trolled crankbaits, crawlers and minnows on bottom bouncers with spinner rigs, and jigging plastics off deeper structure all work. Start looking for fish in 12-20 feet.
“Northern pike are active, though most anglers find them while musky fishing bucktails and spinnerbaits. Paddletail swimbaits on jigs are great for pike this year. Look in/around weeds including cabbage, coontail, milfoil, and lily pads.
“Largemouth bass are active, with wacky-rigged plastic worms best, but live bait and topwaters are going strong. Work shallow weeds such as cabbage, lily pads, shoreline bulrushes, and in/around fallen timber.
“Smallmouth bass anglers are finding fish near bottom or suspending off edges, with jigs/plastic working best. Some do well with prop-style topwaters. Work steep rocky shorelines, mid-lake reefs, or weed beds depending on the lake.
“Crappie anglers are doing okay, picking off a few here there when fishing above the weeds. The panfish bite slowed over the past week, with fish lethargic and pushing down into the weeds.
“Bluegills are in and around weeds and taking waxies and small crawler pieces on jigs.
“Perch are on hitting crappie minnows and fatheads on deep weed bed edges and reefs adjacent to basins.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses Namekagon River brown trout coming back down to Earth.
“The Hayward Fish Team has surveyed the same stretch of the Namekagon River every year since 2006, with the exception of 2020. This gives us a great look at how brown trout in this very popular river is faring over time.
“We completed the 2026 survey on July 30, with help from the National Park Service, Wild Rivers Conservancy, and the DNR Brule Fish Team staff. Results from other recent years of this survey have been record breaking, with 2024 recording the best brown trout reproduction and 2025 the highest total catch of brown trout.
“We had hoped the strong results from those past years would translate to more large trout in 2026, but survey results did not bear out our hopes. The survey found some successful reproduction, but lower than other recent years and behind the long-term average. Total numbers of trout were lower than 2025, but above the long-term average.
“Large trout were most noticeably missing from the survey. We captured no trout greater than 20 inches this year, a particularly uncommon result. However, the average of the 10 largest trout captured was just 16.9 inches, the lowest observed since 2016 when the population was still recovering after the 2013-14 polar vortex.
“We know trout populations are sensitive to a number of environmental factors, with several in sharp display this summer with low water and heat. It appears these conditions are bringing the population down towards the long-term average for abundance after several years of exceptional results.
“Make no mistake, the Namekagon still offers excellent trout fishing opportunities, and we will continue to monitor this important population.”
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. Daily and annual state trail passes are also available online for those looking to bike, ride horseback, or inline skate.
Anglers
The HBC-NBA Tom Turner Benefit Open on Twin/Tiger Cat is August 23, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The entry fee is $120 per boat (two-angler teams or an individual). Tournament headquarters is Weber’s Northwoods Tavern.
For more information, and to register, email Wayne at Hayward Bass Club or call (405) 227-1789.
Sept. 5-30: Lake Sturgeon hook-and-line season open.
Sept. 16-17: Disabled Veterans Fishing Outing on Nelson Lake, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., email or call (715-651-0482).
Sept. 25-27: Hayward Chapter-Muskies Inc. Annual Musky Tournament, NEW DATES (715-634-2921 or 558-2835).
Hunters/Trappers
Monday, August 17, bonus antlerless deer harvest authorizations sales begin at 10 a.m., thru license sales locations and Go Wild. The DNR has 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 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, starting with the Northern and Central Forest zones, with all remaining permits available Thursday, Aug. 20.
For more information, visit “deer hunting” on the DNR website.
Early teal, Early goose, and Mourning dove seasons open September 1(check closing dates).
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 generally fair to good, but warm water and low water levels are affecting the activity of most species. As always, check with your favorite bait shop for the current information on fish locations, movement, bite windows, and preferred baits and presentations.
Musky:
Musky fishing is fair to decent. Look for fish on/over/around weeds, weed beds, and on the edges of weeds and structure. Bucktails, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, rubber baits, and topwaters all produce action.
Walleye:
Walleyes are obstinate and fishing is a challenge. Find them in 10-20 feet and deeper on structure and in basins. Work shallower areas in evening into after dark. Leeches, crawlers, and minnows on jigs, bottom bouncers, and spinner rigs, jigged plastics, and trolled crankbaits and stickbaits are all effective.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike are around weeds, lily pads, cabbage, coontail, and baitfish/panfish concentrations. Action is good on bucktails, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, paddletail swimbaits, stickbaits, and chatterbaits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is good in and around shallow to mid-depth weeds, lily pads, bulrushes, cabbage, timber, stumps, and slop. Minnows, leeches, crawlers, wacky- and Texas-rigged plastics, and topwaters are all working well.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is good for fish on steep, rocky shorelines, weed beds, mid-lake reefs, and/or suspending near deep weed edges. Sucker minnows, leeches, crawlers, plastics on jigs, crayfish-colored plastics, Ned rigs, crankbaits, Beetle Spins, and prop-style topwaters all produce.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is slower, but still respectable. Work deep weed edges and structure near basins, cribs, brush, and timber. In evening hours, fish bogs and shallower cover. Best baits include crappie minnows, waxies, and one-inch Gulp! Minnows on jigs, Mini-Mites on slip bobbers, and Beetle Spins.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is good in/on/around weeds, weed edges, brush, and cribs. Baits of choice include waxies, red worms, crawler chunks, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and teardrops, all fished under slip bobbers.
Perch: Perch fishing is fair to good, though slowed somewhat in the past week. Look for fish in/on deep, thick weeds, weed edges, and reefs near basins. Crappie minnows, fatheads, and crawler pieces on small jigs under slip bobbers work well
Upcoming Events
Aug. 17: Bonus antlerless deer harvest authorizations sales 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. 7: Labor Day.
Sept. 9-12: Lake Chippewa Flowage Resort Association Musky Hunt.
Sept. 9: Bear season opens (see regulations).
Sept. 12: Seasons open: Archery/crossbow deer; Turkey; Cottontail rabbit; Squirrel (gray, fox); Ruffed grouse (Zone A).
Sept. 16: Northern Zone goose season opens.
Sept. 19: Woodcock season opens.
Sept. 19-20: Youth waterfowl hunt.
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).
Sept. 24-26: Annual Treeland Premiere Musky Fly Fishing Championship (715-462-3874).
Sept. 25-27: Hayward Chapter-Muskies Inc. Annual Musky Tournament ‑ NEW DATES (715-634-2921 or 558-2835).
Sept. 25-26: Cable Fall Festival (715-798-3833).
Sept. 26: Hayward Fall Festival – event schedule, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (715-634-8662).
Sept. 26: Northern Zone duck season opens.
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.