Hayward Lakes Outdoor Report 9-21-2026

The forecast predicts a moderate and stable week with a mix of sunshine and highs in the mid-60s and most lows in the 40s. The only rain chances are Saturday/Saturday night and then again Monday. If the forecast holds, it looks like a very nice week of fall weather. Take advantage and enjoy it while you can!

The autumnal equinox and first day of fall is Tuesday, September 22.

The Full Harvest Moon is this Saturday night, September 26.

“Water temperatures in the Quiet Lakes’ area rose a bit over the past week,” says Greg at Happy Hooker, “but light rain and cooler days and nights brought them down. Most area lakes are now in the mid-60s. Water levels are way down ‑ as much as 3.5 feet on some lakes.

“Musky fishing started off hot last week, but Wednesday we had high sun and flat, calm conditions and the fish shut down. Cooling water temperatures should help now, even if we have some high sun days. Fish are moving on big rubber baits, glide baits, and bucktails. Suckers have not taken off yet, but they will start being effective. Fish are still relating to weeds, reefs, and shorelines, though anglers should push to deeper edges of those structures.

“Walleye fishing is still quite slow, according to many anglers. Walleye suckers and fatheads will start taking the place of crawlers, and anglers should find walleyes off deeper breaks during the day and shallow, sandy flats at dusk. Jerkbaits shallow at dusk and trolling crankbaits on those breaklines can be effective.

“Northern pike action is good in/around green weeds. Bucktails work best, but Swimmin’ Dawgs and tubes work as well, and anglers see fish on musky baits.

“Largemouth bass are active, but slowing a bit. With the cooling water, they push to deeper weed edges and suspend in deeper weed pockets. Spinnerbaits and live bait will start to out-produce lures such as topwaters, and minnows and crawlers will still work.

“Smallmouth bass are pushing to deeper mid-lake rocky points and reefs. Jigging plastics and sucker minnows on jigs are good tactics right now. Look for fish in 12-20 feet, depending on the lake and structure.

“Crappie, bluegill, and perch spread out this time of year. Crappie and perch push towards basins or deeper weeds. Bluegills stay mostly shallower and in the thickest weeds. For crappie and perch, minnows work best, though jigs and plastics work well, too. For bluegills, crawlers, leaf worms, and plastics are effective.”

TJ at Hayward Bait says muskies are feeding aggressively on baitfish in weeds in 5-10 feet. Float or free-line suckers to trigger finicky bites.

“Walleyes are on shallow weeds and rock transitions. Crankbaits, jerkbaits, and soft plastic swimbaits work best.

“Northern pike fishing is very good on shallow to mid-depth weeds and weed edges. Spinnerbaits, swimbaits, bucktails, and spoons should get their attention.

“Largemouth bass fishing is fair to good, with fish suspending around structure in 4-18 feet, depending on the lake. Plastics, swim jigs, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits are worth throwing.

“Smallmouth bass are on rock, gravel, wood, weeds, and shorelines, and fishing is good on Ned rigs, plastics, and lipless and crayfish-colored crankbaits.

“Crappie and bluegill are on green grass and weed edges and hitting minnows, waxies, worms, and soft plastics.”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses trout ‘taking off’ on the Little Weirgor River.

“Over the last decade, the Hayward DNR Fish Team has spent additional time and attention on the trout streams around Exeland. One of the main reasons for that focus is that we expect these streams to be some of the most resilient trout waters in the state, with potential to support trout even as the climate warms.

“The smaller spring-fed streams run at 50-60F, even in mid-summer, with many draining directly into the Little Weirgor River, which is bigger water with the potential to produce larger trout.

“Beavers heavily dammed the Little Weirgor until the 2017 removal of most dams and our crew was able to get in and do surveys. In 2018, we saw a stream loaded with suckers and minnows, remnants of when it was dammed and warm, but the potential was there for trout.

“The channel was healing and the water temperature looked right for trout, but it was just not there yet. In 2019, we surveyed again, and returned in 2021, 2022, and every year since. We now have an almost annual record of how trout are recolonizing this stream.

“From a single trout in 2018, we saw our catch increase to 24 trout in 2019, then 47 trout in 2021, 100 in 2023, and 168 in 2024. We started to see signs of trout reproducing successfully in that reach, and things are now really accelerating. In 2016, we captured 682 brook trout, including many more young ones than in any previous year.

“We will continue to monitor this exciting recovery and rare instance of trout expanding their range. We also want to do more to get anglers into this area to experience and enjoy this stream and population. Look for more on that in this space in the future.”

Pre-purchasing a Wisconsin State Park Pass (required for all motor vehicles at most state parks, forests, and recreation areas), saves time when entering those properties. Passes are available online, at individual properties, DNR service centers, and when renewing vehicle registrations.

Online purchasers can use the email confirmation immediately and receive a physical pass by mail. Print the email receipt or write details on paper and place on the driver’s side, readable through the windshield.

Customers purchasing a 12-month pass during DMV registration receive a pass mailed with their vehicle registration and stickers. Annual and daily state trail passes for bike riding, horseback riding, and inline skating are available online.

Anglers

Lake Sturgeon hook-and-line season opened September 5 and runs thru September 30 (check regs).

The 48th Annual Hayward Chapter-Muskies Inc. Musky Tournament is this weekend, September 25-27 ‑ a new time one week earlier than previous tournaments ‑ and a new headquarters location, the Hayward Sports Center. There is still time to enter and be in the boat drawing, with the entry fee $130 for adults and $25 for anglers 16 years and younger. The official entry/release stations are Hayward Bait, Jenk’s Bait, Angler’s Haven, Mogasheen’s, and Bobber Down Bait. All contest winners must be present for the awards ceremony at Hayward Sports Center at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, September 27 ‑ with NO exceptions.

For more information, visit www.muskiesinc-hayward.org or call (715) 634-2921 or (715) 558-2835.

Hunters/Trappers

Bear season opened September 9 and runs thru October 13. See regulations for details.

September 12 was the season opener for Archery/crossbow deer, Turkey, Ruffed grouse (Zone A), Cottontail rabbit, and Squirrel (gray, fox).

Northern Zone goose season opened Sept. 16, and Woodcock season opened Sept.19.

Many Bonus antlerless deer harvest authorizations remain available in the Sawyer County/Northern Forest management zones thru license sales locations and Go Wild ($12/resident; $20/nonresident; and $5/under age 12). For more information, visit “deer hunting” on the DNR website

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 remains fair to good and some species more agreeable than others, with weather and low water levels ‑ down as much as 3.5 feet on some lakes ‑ a big factor. Water temperatures are in the mid-60s. Fish are now starting their fall transitions and your favorite bait shop folks can advise you on current fish locations, movements, bite windows, and the preferred baits and presentations.

Musky:

Musky fishing rebounded from a slow spot last week and fish are again moving. Target shorelines, and deeper weeds, weed edges, reefs, and other structure in 4-14 feet. Bucktails, big rubber baits, and gliders work well, and try suckers to tempt fussy fish.

Walleye:

Walleye fishing is somewhat slow, though anglers continue to catch fish. During daylight hours, focus on deep breaklines. In the evening, focus on shallow weeds, rock, and sandy flats. Walleye suckers, fatheads, crawlers, jerkbaits, crankbaits, soft swimbaits, and trolled crankbaits on the breaklines all work at the right time.

Northern Pike:

Northern pike action is good to very good on shallow to mid-depth green weeds, weed edges, and near baitfish and panfish concentrations. Sucker minnows, fatheads, bucktails, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, swimbaits, and Swimmin’ Dawgs are all productive options.

Largemouth Bass:

Largemouth bass fishing is fair to good. Look for fish on deep weeds, weed edges, and weed pockets, and suspending near structure in 10-18 feet, depending on the lake. Baits of choice include minnows, crawlers, plastics, swim jigs, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits.

Smallmouth Bass:

Smallmouth bass are along shorelines out to mid-depth and deeper rock, reefs, gravel, points, weeds, and wood, and fishing is good. Use sucker minnows, crawlers, Ned rigs, plastics, and crayfish colored lipless and other crankbaits.

Crappie:

Crappies are scattered on deeper green weeds, weed edges, and grasses, and in basins. Fishing is good once you can locate them. Crappie minnows, fatheads, waxies, worms, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs fished under slip bobbers, and small Beetle Spins, are all catching fish.

Bluegill/Perch:

Bluegills have spread out in/on shallow thick green weeds, weed edges, and grass. Preferred baits include waxies, leaf worms, crawlers, and plastics on small jigs under slip bobbers. Perch are in mid-depth to deep weeds and basins, and hitting minnows and plastics on small jigs.