Steve Suman
The forecast indicates a beautiful, sunny week ahead until some possible Thursday night thunderstorms, with highs in the mid to upper 70s and lows in the mid to upper 50s. Take advantage of this wonderful weather while you can!
“Recent rains in the Quiet Lakes’ area have kept water temperatures in check,” says Greg at Happy Hooker. “Most lakes are now in the low 70s. Fishing is decent, but slowed, and we are somewhat in the ‘Dog Days of Summer.’
“Musky anglers do best working bass size and pull/pause baits in weed beds and shallower water.
“Walleye anglers find fish in both shallow weeds and deep water ‑ on the same lake systems! Jigging minnows in shallow weeds produces fish, as does trolling deep crankbaits and bottom bouncers. For shallow fish, find weeds and humps that top out at 8-10 feet. For deep fish, get baits into 18-25 feet.
“Northern pike fishing slowed, with fish in weed beds and shallower water. Spinnerbaits and small bucktails work and should continue to do so.
“Largemouth bass anglers should focus on weeds, reeds, and lily pads. Casting frogs, buzzbaits, and other topwaters will entice strikes. For fish in deeper weeds, Texas and wacky rigged plastic worms are a good choice.
“Smallmouth bass anglers are doing okay jigging slightly deeper water and trolling bottom bouncing baits. Look for fish in 15-20 feet and deeper weed and rock transitions.
“Crappie, bluegill, and perch anglers are having success tossing Beetle Spins in shallow weed beds. Black and black/chartreuse baits work best. Anglers can tip with a minnow or worm piece, but it is not necessary.”
Jarrett at Hayward Bait says cooling water temperatures improved musky action as fish moved shallower.
“Water temperatures cooled to the high 60s/low 70s and most anglers see fish on bucktails, medium Medussas and Bull Dawgs, and topwaters. Target 5-20 feet and work baits back to the boat slowly. With many reports of follows, be sure to figure 8!
“Walleye fishing is slow and inconsistent. Most anglers troll crawler harnesses and crankbaits. Shallow water trollers find planer boards helpful to get lines away from the boat. Some walleyes remain in weeds throughout the summer, so try minnows on slip bobbers and jigs.
“Northern pike fishing is solid, with live bait, jigs, spinnerbaits, and topwaters a few options to tempt fish.
“Largemouth bass fishing is steady around shallow weeds, wood, docks, and boat lifts. Texas rigs, wacky worms, spinnerbaits, and topwaters work great.
“Smallmouth bass fishing is solid in 15-30 feet. Towards late summer, many school to eat on the surface. Target fish with drop shots, Ned rigs, wacky rigs, and topwaters.
“Crappie anglers are working hard for their bites. Fish rise early and late to feed; during the day, they roam basins or sink into cover. Minnows or small plastics on jigs and slip bobbers work well.
“Bluegills are scattered from shallow to deep. Crawlers and red worms on plain Aberdeen hooks under slip floats or plain bobbers are working great.”
Mike at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage water level is down about one foot, with mid-70s water temperatures.
“Musky action is hit or miss, with surface baits producing during twilight hours. Creepers, flaptails, Hawg Wobblers, and Ghosttails are producing some action. Anglers report success trolling Mattlocks and Jakes during midday.
“Walleye fishing is better since water temperatures dropped slightly. Deeper basins and brush are solid spots to troll crankbaits during the day. At night and very early morning, jig drop-offs around weed beds in 6-12 feet. Crawlers and minnows, in that order, are the best live bait. Artificials include Flicker Shads, Reef Runners, and Gulp! Leeches. Crawlers on Google Eye Tungsten Search baits work well for anglers using LiveScope.
“Northern pike are still a bit quiet, with the active ones on the smaller side, and hitting spinnerbaits and spoons.
“Largemouth bass are active on Jack Hammer chatterbaits and Big Foot Scum Frogs are producing. Work in and over the top of shallow to mid-depth weed beds. Crane Lake bays are great places to start.
“Crappie fishing during the day is still a bit off. Successful anglers are finding them in river channels and deeper basins and suspending over deep wood and brush in 12-18 feet. Crappie Minnows, artificial mayflies, and Gulp! Minnows are the ticket. Bog fishing at night is still producing fish, primarily for anglers jigging minnows on jigs.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses a Namekagon River musky mystery!
“When surveying a lake or stream, we typically handle hundreds or thousands of fish. As a result, we are usually talking about all the fish regarding their average size, percentage of legal-size fish, etc., but in some instances, a single fish becomes very interesting.
“This August, our team captured a single young muskellunge in the Namekagon River near Tag Alder Road. This was a very unexpected catch.
“Muskellunge are of course present in this system, with great populations upstream in Lake Namakagon and downstream in Lake Hayward. In the river between those two lakes, muskellunge are not at all common, though pike are quite abundant in some spots such as Pacwawong and Phipps Flowage.
“What makes this catch more unique is the size. This muskellunge was slightly less than 6 inches long, meaning it was born just a few months ago as the result of successful natural reproduction, not stocking.
“This led to a lot of wondering about this fish. Where did it hatch? Did it travel all the way downstream from Lake Namakagon at such a young age? Moving upstream from Lake Hayward seems even more improbable. Is there a small spawning population somewhere along this stretch of the Namekagon River or in one of its flowages?
“It is unlikely we will be able to answer these questions unless more little muskies start to turn up and provide more clues. Based on the river’s size, flow, and water temperatures, there is no reason to expect that this stretch of river will become a spot where anglers could expect to catch muskies.
“We do love a good fish mystery to keep our work interesting!”
The DNR has released the 2024 fall forecasts for hunting and trapping seasons, outlining what hunters and trappers can expect for their favorite species. The forecasts include reminders about public land access opportunities, registration requirements, and seasons. See the forecasts for individual species at these links: Deer; Bear: Upland game bird; Migratory bird; Furbearer hunting and trapping.
For more information, visit “Hunting” on the DNR website.
Hayward Bass Club and Hayward Area High School Bass Team will host the Tom Turner High School Benefit Tourney on the Tiger Cat Chain, August 25, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., headquartering at Blackiron Grill on Hwy 77. The entry fee is $110/boat, with participation open to anglers as two-person teams. An individual may compete alone as a team.
For more information, visit the Hayward Bass Club website or text Wayne at (405) 227-1789.
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 no longer 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 improving with water temperatures dropping to the low 70s and less fishing pressure. Bait shop personnel are happy to advise you on current fish locations, best baits, preferred presentations, and bite windows. Visit with them and get informed!
Musky:
Musky action is inconsistent, but improving with cooler water temperatures. Find fish on weed beds and weedlines in 6-18 feet. Productive baits include small gliders, bucktails, Medussas, Bull Dawgs, and topwaters, making sure to “figure 8!” Trolling Mattlocks, Jakes, and similar bait during midday is also working.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is slow, but cooling temperatures are helping. During the daytime hours, focus on weeds and structure out to 25 feet. In early morning and evening hours, work weeds, weedlines, and humps inside 12 feet. Crawlers and minnows on jigs, slip bobbers, and trolling crawler harnesses, bottom bouncers, and crankbaits, all produce interest.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good, though a bit slower than in past weeks. Target shallow to mid-depth weeds, weed beds, weedlines, and panfish and baitfish concentrations. Top baits include northern and walleye suckers, bucktails, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and topwaters.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is good. Look for them from in shallow to deep reeds, weeds, wood, brush, docks, downed trees, lily pads, and other cover. Texas and wacky rigged plastics, spinnerbaits, and Whopper Ploppers, buzzbaits, chatterbaits, frogs, and other topwaters are all producing action.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is good and consistent on weeds, rocks, and transition areas in 8-30 feet. Sucker minnows, crawlers, leeches, Ned rigs, wacky rigs, drop shots, trolled bottom bouncers, plastics in assorted riggings, and topwaters are all catching smallmouth.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is challenging, but anglers are finding fish in shallow weed beds, deep basins, river channels, bogs, and brush out to 18 feet, and suspending over deep water. Crappie minnows, plastics, mayfly imitations, Gulp! Minnows, and Beetle Spins all work well.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is good to very good. Fish are plentiful and dispersed in various depths and locations, including weeds, weedlines, brush, bogs, cribs, and basins. Effective baits include crawler chunks, red worms, small minnows, and plastics on small jigs and/or slip bobbers, and Beetle Spins.
Upcoming Events
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).
Aug. 30- Sept 1: 32nd Annual Exeland Trout Festival (715-943-2242; 492-1073).
Sept. 1: Early Canada goose, early teal, and mourning dove hunting seasons open.
Sept. 2: Labor Day.
Sept. 3: Hayward Chapter-Muskies Inc. meeting, 6:30 p.m., guest speaker TBA, Flat Creek Lodge (715-634-4543).
Sept. 4: Bear season opens (see regs).
Sept. 4-7: 25th Annual Lake Chippewa Flowage Musky Hunt.
Sept. 7: Hook and line season for lake sturgeon opens on certain waters.
Sept. 7: Hayward Bass Club and Northwoods Bass Anglers hosting Big Chip Open bass tournament (405-227-1789).
Sept. 14: Seasons open: Deer (archery/crossbow); Wild turkey; Ruffed grouse (Zone A); Cottontail rabbit (Northern Zone); Squirrel (gray/fox).
Sept. 14: 41st Chequamegon MTB Festival.
Sept. 14-15: Youth Waterfowl Hunt.
Sept. 15: Hunters With Disabilities fall gun deer hunt application deadline (608-354-3492).
Sept. 16: Regular goose season opens.
Sept. 17: Full Harvest Moon.
Sept. 21: Seasons open: Woodcock; Duck in Northern Zone.
Sept. 21: Hayward Fall Festival (715-634-8662).
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.