Hayward Lakes Outdoor Report 9-10-24

Steve Suman

This could be the best week of summer so far! Sunshine, highs in the low to mid-80s, lows in the mid-50s, and not a chance of rain showing until Saturday. Do not let this week pass you by ‑ the first official day of fall is September 21!

“The Quiet Lakes’ area had some short lived frost Saturday morning,” says Greg at Happy Hooker. “This week should be in the 80s, and the low-70s water temperatures should not change much. We are in the early summer to fall transition and fishing is not great, but decent.

“Muskies are shallow on weed beds, points, and islands. Anglers report hits on many types of baits, from bass size to bigger rubber baits to suckers.

“Walleye anglers are using minnows and plastics on jigs, Lindy rigs, deep crankbaits, and crawler harnesses. Deep weed edges, rocky ledges, and points in 15-20 feet are good places to start.

“Northern pike are active and around weed beds and shallow structure. Fish are hitting blade baits, and walleye and northern suckers are excellent live bait choices.

“Largemouth bass anglers are using soft plastics for suspending fish. Topwaters should remain good, though live bait, plastics, and spinnerbaits are excellent choices with fish transitioning to fall patterns.

“Smallmouth bass are on deep weed edges, hard to soft bottom transitions, and points that extend into basins. Anglers are using minnows and plastics on jigs and similar presentations.

“Panfish are in 4-10 feet around weed beds on flats on big lakes and in bays on smaller lakes. Target them with minnows, crawlers, and artificials.”

Jarrett at Hayward Bait says musky anglers are seeing fish on bucktails, medium plastics, and topwaters.

“Target 5-20 feet and work baits back to the boat slowly. Anglers report moving fish that drop off at the boat.

“Walleye fishing is inconsistent, with most anglers trolling crawler harnesses and crankbaits. Some walleyes remain in the weeds all summer, and minnows on slip bobbers or jigs are options.

“Northern pike action is solid on live bait, spinnerbaits, jigs, and topwaters.

“Largemouth bass fishing is steady around shallow weeds, wood, and structure such as docks. Use Texas rigs, wacky worms, spinnerbaits, and topwaters.

“Smallmouth bass fishing is good in 15-30 feet, though in late summer, many smallmouth surface feed on insects and minnows. Drop shots, Ned rigs, wacky rigs, and topwaters work well at this time.

“Crappie anglers are seeing fish on deeper cribs, suspending over basins, or hovering just above the weeds. Minnows on jigs and/or under slip floats work well. Anglers are catching some quality fish, though numbers are not high.

“Bluegills are in most depths, from shallow to deep. Use crawlers and red worms on plain hooks under slip bobbers.”

Mike at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage is down 1.5 feet, with the water temperature high 60s/low70s.

“Musky action is solid, with fish hitting bucktails and surface baits on shallower weeds and structure, and suckers also producing. With this warm-up, switch to trolling Mattlocks, Jakes, and Grandmas in river channels and deeper basins during daylight.

“Walleye fishing is slow and the warm-up will likely push fish deeper. For live bait, use crawlers and minnows in that order. Anglers using Livescope find Kalin’s search baits especially good for deep, hard to find fish. Other anglers should deep troll Flicker Shads, Jointed Flicker Shads, and Reef Runners at 12-18 feet over deep basins with good cover.

“Northern pike action is good on Tinsel Tails and chatterbaits in and around weeds, though many fish are smaller hammer-handles.

“Largemouth bass are in the weeds and lily pads in west side bays. Revolvers, spinners, chatterbaits, and frogs are all solid choices.

“Smallmouth bass are in and around stumps and rocks on the far east and southeast ends of the lake. Ned rigs and wacky worms work great.

“Crappie fishing is very good on cribs and deeper weed beds during the day and under the bogs at night. Crappie minnows, imitation mayflies, and one-inch Gulp! Minnows are the baits of choice.”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses the DNR Hayward fisheries team’s fall plans.

“It is difficult to believe that fall is here already!

“Labor Day typically marks a shift of our fisheries work, moving away from rivers and streams and back to the lakes. Fall electrofishing surveys on area lakes tell us a lot about fish reproduction and stocking success, and in many ways, these surveys are a look at the future of these lake fisheries.

“Fall surveys typically focus on walleye and muskellunge, but we often collect data on bass and pike as well. We wait until the water temperature is less than 70F, but ideally, it is closer to 60F for these surveys to take place. We also try to complete fall surveys before a lake receives a fish stocking to avoid confusion about which fish are stocked or natural, and to reduce stress on stocked fish.

“This year, partly by coincidence, our list of fall lakes is almost exclusively the biggest waterbodies. Ghost Lake is the smallest lake we will survey, with all other lakes 500 or more acres. The full list includes the Chippewa Flowage, Lac Courte Oreilles, Round, Teal, Lost Land, Tiger Cat Flowage, Windigo, Nelson, Sand, and Sissabagama.

“We will do a combination of netting and electrofishing on Spider Lake as a part of a new research project happening there. You will hear more about that project in the future. Other DNR teams will survey Whitefish and Grindstone lakes, and the U.S. Forest Service will survey Lower Clam and Black lakes.

“As always, if you see an electrofishing boat approaching, please stay on the shoreline. If you come out on your dock, we turn off the electricity and you will not see any fish.

“Survey results are typically available a few weeks after we conduct the survey and we will report general results in this space.”

This weekend, hunting season openers include deer, turkey, ruffed grouse, cottontail rabbit, squirrel, and the Youth Waterfowl Hunt. In addition, early Canada goose season closes, and September 15 is the application deadline for the Hunters with Disabilities fall gun deer hunt.

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.

The DNR reminds ATV/UTV riders to ride safely and responsibly. So far this year, 27 people, from 4-79 years old, have died in fatal ATV/UTV accidents. At least 18 victims were not wearing a helmet and more than half not wearing a seatbelt. Wisconsin law requires every operator involved in a crash incident to report the incident without delay to law enforcement officials and submit a written report to the DNR within 10 days.

Fishing Report

.Fishing is generally good, with most species active, and the forecast indicates a fantastic week to be on the water ‑ and these types of days are getting in short supply. As always, check with the baits shops, as the fish are starting to transition.

Musky:

Musky fishing is good, with anglers hooking fish and seeing follows disappear at the boat. Focus on shallow weeds, points, islands, and other structure out to 20 feet and slightly deeper during the day. Suckers, small to medium bucktails, rubber baits, plastics, topwaters, and trolled Mattlocks, Jakes, and Grandmas are all musky attractants at any given time.

Walleye:

Walleye fishing is slow, with fish on deep weed edges, rocky points, and drop-offs in 12-22 feet, and suspending at 12-20 feet over deep basins. Minnows, crawlers, and plastics on jigs, slip bobbers, and Lindy rigs, and trolled crawler harnesses and crankbaits such as Flicker Shads, Jointed Flicker Shads, and Reef Runners, should put fish in the boat.

Northern Pike:

Northern pike action is good to very good in most waters. The fish are in and around shallow weeds, weed beds, weed edges, and wherever there are concentrations of panfish and baitfish. Northern and walleye suckers, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, swimbaits, chatterbaits, and even topwaters do the trick. Fish bigger baits deeper for trophy pike.

Largemouth Bass:

Largemouth bass fishing is good and consistent. They are around shallow wood, weeds, weed edges, lily pads, docks, and breaklines, with some fish suspending. Use live bait, spinnerbaits, plastics, Texas rigs, wacky worms, Revolvers, spinners, chatterbaits, frogs, and other topwaters.

Smallmouth Bass:

Smallmouth bass anglers are doing well fishing in 10-25 feet on deep weed edges, hard to soft bottom transitions, points, rock, stumps, and on the surface. Sucker minnows, crawlers, crankbaits, spinners, and plastics on jigs, drop shot, Ned, and wacky rigs, and topwaters are producing action.

Crappie:

Crappie fishing is very good and anglers are catching some nice fish, though not in number. Find fish around weed beds on flats, cribs, brush, and bogs, as well as suspending over deep basins and/or just over weeds. Crappie minnows, crawlers, plastics, and Gulp! Minnows on jigs and/or under slip bobbers, and Beetle Spins are all effective.

Bluegill:

Bluegill fishing is good to very good, with fish spread from shallow to deep, on weeds, flats, brush, and in bays. Crawler chunks, red worms, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs and plain hooks, with or without slip bobbers, all produce. Try small minnows for bigger fish and to avoid bait robbers.