Steve Suman
This week’s cooling trend started Monday with rain and a high in the upper 60s. More rain is possible on a few days, and high temperatures will run from the low to upper 70s ‑ and Tuesdays night’s low in the 40s! Sunny days are in the mix, too, so think positive!
“Look for a cool-down in the Quiet Lakes’ area this week,” says Greg at Happy Hooker, “with highs not making it out of the 70s. This will be good news for water temperatures, but might dampen fishing just a bit.
“Muskies are around shallow weed beds or points adjacent to weeds. We spent a lot of time on the water last week, and while we did not boat a musky, we saw plenty of them. They were following both fast and slow moving baits, and seemed to prefer bass size spinnerbaits, Suicks, and topwaters.
“Walleyes are around rocks and deep weed edges in about 12 feet. Leeches on jigs brought success, though a nephew caught a 22-inch fish on a bass spinnerbait.
“Northern pike are in shallow weed beds and on shallow bars with weeds. Fishing action is very good and we caught a very good number of fish. Bucktails and spinnerbaits were the hot baits.
“Largemouth bass fishing is good in and along shallow weeds and weed edges, same as pike and musky. Bucktails and spinnerbaits worked well.
“Smallmouth bass fishing is good for numbers of fish as well as some bigger ones. Look for them on deep rocks and off rocky points. Leeches on jigs and Whopper Ploppers will do the trick.
“Crappie anglers are catching some nice size fish on weedy shorelines in shallow bays. Plastics on small jigs, Mini-Mites, and Tattle-Tails are the most productive baits.
“Bluegills and perch are around docks, weed beds, timber, and cribs, with a few mixed in with crappies. Leaf worms and crawlers are the favorites.”
Jarrett at Hayward Bait says fishing is stable and cooler temperatures arrive this week.
“Musky anglers took a break due to water temperatures in the high 70s/low 80s. Such conditions place considerable stress on the fish, making their recuperation more difficult and risky. Small bucktails, swimbaits, and topwaters remain the key, and nighttime fishing can be exceptional.
“Walleye fishing slowed with fish scattered in various depths, but electronics help find them. Aggressively snap jig Jigging Raps, Hyper Rattles/Hammers, and similar baits off the bottom for reaction bites from active fish. On the slower side, drag drop shots, bladed crawler harnesses, and Lindy Rigs with live bait across the bottom.
“Northern pike fishing is solid over big weed flats. Live bait, spinnerbaits, spoons, and others are working well. Bigger fish are near bottom in deep water.
“Largemouth and smallmouth bass moved to deeper weedlines, rock, and structure. Some fish remain shallow around piers, downed trees, and similar structure along shorelines, with deep water nearby. Live bait, Texas rigs, wacky rigs, drop shots, and topwaters are working well. Any place that fish can escape the heat and be near food will prove effective.
“Crappies moved into the basins, feeding on insect hatches, or are on deeper weedlines, rising in low light to feed near the surface. Live bait on slip bobbers, small plastics on jigs, and small Beetle Spins quickly locate fish.
“Bluegills are around shallow structure such as piers, mid-level structure such as cribs and weed flats, and roaming the basins feeding on small insects. Crawler pieces and Gulp! Minnows on small jigs work well.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses another healthy year for Cap Creek brook trout.
“Since 2003, the Hayward DNR Fish Team has conducted an annual electrofishing survey on the lower reaches of Cap Creek. This is an interesting area to monitor for several reasons.
“First, this area was subject to a significant habitat restoration effort in a partnership between the DNR and National Park Service. This restoration returned the stream to its historic channel and the banks re-vegetated.
“Second, this area is one of the strongholds for brook trout in the Upper Namekagon River system. The cold water flowing through and out of Cap Creek allows brook trout to spend the entire summer in the cold ‘thermal plume’ of this portion of the Namekagon River. Brown trout are also present, as they are throughout much of the Namekagon River, but in Cap Creek, brook trout rule the roost.
“Brook trout have always been more abundant than brown trout in our Cap Creek surveys, with brookies appearing at a 4:1 ratio to browns, and sometimes much higher. The 2024 survey reaffirmed this status, with 175 brook trout captured to just 12 brown trout.
“Water temperature is undoubtedly the key factor in the relationship between the two species. Cap Creek runs at an icy 45-55F, even in the warmest summer months. That is a very comfortable temperature for brook trout, but a little colder than browns prefer.
“Groundwater inputs are the key to keeping the stream cold, and if protected, we expect this watershed to be a refuge for brook trout for many decades.”
The peak of the Perseids meteor shower, considered one of the best meteor showers of the year, will occur August 11-13, from 1-3 a.m., with as many as 45-90 meteors per hour. Some are visible as early as 9-10 p.m., but the numbers increase after midnight. For one or two nights before and after, rates are about one-quarter to one-half the peak. Each meteor enters the upper atmosphere at 37 miles per second and we see its incandescent trail, not the meteor itself.
Musky Tale Resort is hosting a Pig Roast Fundraiser for the Hayward Veterans Cemetery Fund Saturday, August 10, from 3-7 p.m. In addition to the pig roast, the event will have minnow and duck races, games, and live music by Big Fish.
For more information, visit www.muskytale.com or call (715) 462-3838.
Trail’s End Resort is hosting a Cops and Bobbers event Saturday, August 10, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Join Sawyer County law enforcement for free fishing, fun, food, prizes for kids ages 6-14, and learn handy tips from law enforcement officers. Sign up on the Sawyer County website or at the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office to secure your spot.
For more information, visit www.trails-end-resort.net or call (715) 699-2606.
The Wannigan is hosting its annual Ojibwa Canoe & Kayak Race Saturday, August 10, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The race starts at 11 a.m. and ends at 12:45 p.m., and follows a 5-mile course on the Chippewa River from the Wannigan to the Ojibwa Bridge on County Road G. There will be food, refreshments, games for kids, and many raffles.
For more information, call (715) 266-5141.
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 to 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 good for most species, and with daily highs in the 70s this week, anglers should be more comfortable on the water. Check with your favorite bait shop for the most current information on fish locations, favored baits, presentations, and best bite windows. Temperature fluctuations could affect one or all of those factors.
Musky:
Musky fishing was “off” with the warm water temperatures, but should pick up with cooler temperatures ahead this week. Some anglers report success with after dark fishing. Look for fish on shallow weed beds and/or near points with weeds. Smaller bucktails, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, and topwaters work well, and trolling is a good daytime option.
Walleye:
Walleyes are scattered and fishing is a bit slower, but still fair to good. Find them with your electronics on rocks, breaklines, and deep weed edges. Leeches and crawlers on slip bobbers, spinner harnesses, drop shot, and Lindy rigs, work well, or try snap-jigging Jigging Raps and similar baits off the bottom.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is very good to excellent for most anglers. Fish are in and around shallow weeds, weed flats, weedy bars, and panfish and baitfish concentrations, with large pike deep and near the bottom. Nearly any bait will catch pike at this time, but sucker minnows, bucktails, spinners, spinnerbaits, and spoons are most productive.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is good to very good, with fish around shallow weeds, slop, lily pads, docks, downed trees, and similar structure along shorelines adjacent to deeper water. Anglers also find fish on deep weedlines, rock, and other structure. Live bait, spinnerbaits, bucktails, plastics, Texas, wacky, and drop shots rigs, and topwaters all do the job.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is good for size and numbers, with anglers finding fish on deep weedlines, rocks, and rocky points, as well as around shallow docks, downed trees, and other structure along shorelines with deeper water escape areas. Sucker minnows, leeches, Texas, wacky, and drop shot rigs, and topwaters are all catching fish.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good, with anglers catching some larger fish. Search deep basins, along weedy shorelines in shallow bays and over deep weedlines in the evening. The most effective baits include crappie minnows, leaf worms, plastics, Mini-Mites, and Tattle-Tails on small jigs under slip bobbers, and small Beetle Spins.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is good to very good. While some are swimming with the crappies, others are around shallow weeds, weed flats, wood, docks, cribs, and feeding in deep basins. Baits of choice include waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawler chunks, plastics, and Gulp! Minnows on small jigs and/or under slip bobbers.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 10: Musky Tale Resort – Pig 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. (715-266-5141).
Aug. 11-13: Perseid meteor shower, peaking at 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.