There are slight chances of rain and thunderstorms early in the week, then sunshine leading into the weekend, with more chances for rain. Look for high 70s to low 80s daytime temperatures and mostly mid-50s for nighttime lows. In a week, we will welcome the first days of September, so get to those summer activities while they are available!
Friday night (and Thursday night, too), if the skies are clear, try to get a view of the Full Sturgeon Moon!
“The Quiet Lakes’ area is really showing the drought,” says Greg at Happy Hooker, “with Spider and Ghost lakes down 1.5-2 feet. Cooling water temperature is a great sign, and most lakes show low to mid-70s. Fishing is okay overall, and that should continue.
“Musky fishing is good, and we just filled our second chart for this year. Bucktails, spinnerbaits, and anything with blades work best. Cranking fast-moving blades over weeds and edges in 3-12 feet should find fish.
“Walleye information is limited, with most anglers targeting other species. During high sun and bright daytime conditions, fish basins and near deep structure in more than 15 feet. Some lakes can hold fish in shallower weeds, but they are tough to catch in slop. When fish push shallower at dusk and dark, try crawlers and plastics on jigs with slip bobbers.
“Northern pike anglers see fish, though not as active as in years past. Small inline and hairpin spinners, and smaller crankbaits, work well at this time. Run baits through weed beds and around structure making contact with weeds, and then ripping baits to clear those weeds triggers bites. Find fish anywhere from shorelines to deep weed edges.
“Largemouth bass are active, mainly on plastic worms, with wacky-rigged Senkos working great. Cast into weed beds in 6-8 feet, let them sink, and wait. Most fish will pick them off the bottom.
“Smallmouth bass can be in 12-20 feet off deep edges in some lakes, and as shallow as 3-6 feet in others. Fish anything and everything! Jigs and plastics, tube jigs, crankbaits, and live bait are all good.
“Crappie anglers are doing well in 6-10 feet in/around weeds. Crappie minnows, plastics, and waxies on small jigs work well.
“Bluegills in weeds and cover are taking crawlers and leaf worms on jigs and bare hooks under bobbers.
“Perch are on deep weed edges and rock transitions heading into basins. Fathead minnows (tuffies) catch bigger perch and keep small ones from harassing baits.”
Mike at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage water temperature is 72 degrees.
“Musky action picked up in the past week, particularly on blade baits! Many anglers report increased musky activity on a variety of bucktails, with Musky Frenzy IC7s and Hunsytails leading the pack as the best baits to use. In evening and early morning low light hours, switch to surface baits such as Hawg Wobblers and creepers on weed edges and drop-offs. “Walleye fishing is a little slow, but most anglers are daytime fishing. Anglers reporting good results are fishing at night around weed edges in 6-15 feet. Leeches (in stock!) and crawlers are both good bait choices.
“Northern pike are aggressive, though with smaller fish the majority. Many people report increased action, with Chatterflash baits really getting it done over spinners and spoons. Focus on areas with weeds and good cover.
“Largemouth bass are very active, with frogs and Chatterbaits effectively drawing hits in weed beds and lily pads.
“Smallmouth bass are active, primarily on Ned rigs fished on stumps and rocks on the far eastern/southeast sides.
“Crappie fishing is decent. It dropped off slightly on bogs, but more in terms of size than numbers. Fish suspend over deeper cover during the day, but still under bogs in the evening. Crappie minnows and Garland Mayflies are the ticket!
“Bluegill fishing is solid, with red worms and waxies on Voodoo jigs the baits of choice. Target brush piles and shallow to mid-depth weed cover.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter talks about surprises in the 2026 summer trout survey.
“The Hayward Fish Team uses a portion of each summer to complete surveys of trout streams throughout Sawyer County. These surveys cover popular and obscure trout waters on a rotation. Some streams we survey often enough to have a good sense of what we will find, while some remote streams are a mystery until we arrive to complete the work.
“We had a few notable surprises while surveying three sites on Venison Creek north of the Chippewa Flowage. The uppermost site had almost no water this year, and the lowermost site was a little too warm for trout.
“The middle site was our Goldilocks zone, with decent flow and cold water, and in previous surveys we found some big brook trout. In 2026, however, we found much higher abundance, almost double, corresponding to smaller size and not a pattern we predicted for this stream. Lower water in the upper reach might have pushed some trout to the middle.
“Our next big surprise was on the Brunet River, upstream from Winter. We took a few steps into the stream and saw something totally unexpected: a honeycombed colony of bluegill beds!
“When we started the survey, we were quickly overwhelmed with bluegill, largemouth bass, and even crappie living in this small stream. None were large, but seemed to be making themselves quite at home in this portion of the river. As the survey went on, we accepted the idea that this portion of Brunet had changed drastically.
“Then, right before we concluded, we rolled up a single beautiful brook trout. The combination of abundant panfish and one trout is one of our stranger results in recent memory, and one we might struggle to make sense. This is why we do these surveys ‑ even when we think we know what to expect from our local streams, they can still surprise us!”
Anglers
September 5 is the opening day of hook-and-line Lake Sturgeon season (see regs).
Hunters/Trappers
Bonus antlerless deer harvest authorizations remain available thru license sales locations and Go Wild. Antlerless opportunities vary between deer management units (DMUs) based on local deer population levels and management goals. Bonus authorizations are available for purchase in all deer management units (except DMU 116). 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 on 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 and the Trail Treker smartphone app ($2) for the complete map ($2).
Fishing Report
Fishing is generally good for most species, and water temperatures in the low to mid-70s and cooling should only improve it. Lakes are low and we need rain. Some fish are already starting to transition, so check with the bait shops for the most current information on fish locations, movements, bite windows, and favored baits and presentations.
Musky:
Musky action is good and improving. Target weeds, weeds, weed edges, and drop-offs out to 12 feet. Blade baits are working best, so toss bucktails, spinnerbaits, and other baits with blades, and vary retrieval speeds. In early morning and evening hours go with Hawg Wobblers, creepers, and similar topwaters.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is slow and anglers are looking to other species. During bright daylight, work deep basins and structure deeper than 18 feet, though some fish are shallower on some lakes. Best success is during sunrise and sunset into dark when fish move shallow to feed. Crawlers, leeches, and plastics on jigs and slip bobbers work well.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good to very good, but mostly for smaller fish. Focus on weeds and weed bed edges, shorelines, structure, and other good cover. Sucker minnows, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, crankbaits, and chatterbaits will all catch pike.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is very good to excellent in and around weed beds, lily pads, brush, and slop in depths to 10 feet. Crawlers, leeches, minnows, plastics, and wacky-rigged Senkos (bass will pick up off bottom), and chatterbaits, frogs, and other topwaters are all productive.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is good in various locations, depending on the lake, from 10-22 feet off deep edges to 3-8 feet and on rocks and stumps. Baits of choice include sucker minnows, crawlers, and leeches, plastics on jigs, tube jigs, Ned rigs, and crankbaits.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing slowed, but is still good, and anglers are catching fish in decent numbers. Find them around weeds in 4-12 feet, suspending over deep cover during the day, and under bogs in the evening. Crappie minnows, waxies, and plastics such as Garland Mayflies on small jigs under slip bobbers work well.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is good to very good. Look for fish around shallow to mid-depth weeds and weed edges, wood, brush, and other cover. Best baits include waxies, leaf worms, red worms, crawler chunks, and plastics on jigs and plain hooks fished under slip bobbers.
Perch:
Perch fishing is fair to good for fish on deep weed edges and on rocky areas that transition into basins. Fathead minnows (aka tuffies) catch larger perch while also discouraging bait bandits.
Upcoming Events
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: Hook and Line Lake Sturgeon season opens.
Sept. 7: Labor Day.
Sept. 9: Bear season opens (see regulations).
Sept. 9-12: Lake Chippewa Flowage Resort Association Musky Hunt (roster full).
Sept. 12: Seasons open: Archery/crossbow deer; Turkey; Cottontail rabbit; Squirrel (gray, fox); Ruffed grouse (Zone A).
Sept. 15: Deadline to apply for hunters with disabilities gun deer hunt.
Sept. 16: Northern Zone goose season opens.
Sept. 16-17: Disabled Veterans Fishing Outing on Nelson Lake, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., email or call (715-651-0482).
Sept. 19-20: Youth Waterfowl Hunt.
Sept. 19: Woodcock season opens.
Sept. 19: Hayward Lions Oktoberfest at Sawyer County Fairgrounds, 12-7 p.m.
Sept. 19: Chequamegon MTB Festival in Cable, 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (for info, email cheqmtb@ltevents.zendesk.com).
Sept. 19: WI/MN Concealed Carry Class at Hayward Rod & Gun Club, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (715-558-8312).
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; 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.