walleyemaxx
05-25-2010, 12:20 PM
Here is this weeks fishing report provided by the Hayward Lakes Visitor and convention bureau.
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Temperatures are hot in the northwoods, but so is the fishing, so let's
get right to it!
"What a difference a week makes!" says Pat at Happy Hooker. "All reports
are very good, except for walleyes. Perch are larger than normal,
crappies are 'jumping in the boat,' and panfish and walleye anglers who
avoid 'bite-offs' are landing quite a few muskies, including 48, 45, and
42 inches, and a few northerns to 32 inches."
Randy at Jenk's says Chippewa Flowage northern fishing is good with
large minnows on the weed edges, especially on the west side. At Minnow
Jim's, Cathy recommends fishing shallow, sandy areas with dressed jigs
tipped with waxies or worms for Nelson Lake's spawning bluegills and
crappies.
John at Stone Lake Bait says anglers are catching good numbers of small
bluegills, though he occasionally sees some to 12 inches. Brian at
Outdoor Creations says bass are preparing to spawn, fish are on beds,
and spinnerbaits are working well.
Bob at Hayward Bait reminds anglers that bass fishing in the Northern
Zone is catch and release until June 19.
"Anglers are catching fish with jigs, plastics, tubes, spinner and crank
baits near shallow weeds and wood, and fishing is outstanding around
docks."
Steve Genson at Pastika's reminds anglers that Northern Zone musky
season opens May 29, this coming weekend.
"It looks to be a good opener," Genson says. "Muskies will be
concentrated in areas where panfish are spawning, and action should be
good on small bucktails, twitch and glide baits."
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says prospects are excellent
for the Northern Zone musky opener.
"Anglers looking for action in Sawyer County should try Ghost, Lower
Clam, and Black lakes. Look for fish holding on the deep edges of new
weed beds. Large forage is generally scarce on these smaller lakes, and
small bucktails and jerkbaits should provide good action."
Well-known local guide Bill Shumway, with more than 27 years of guiding
experience in the Hayward area, will be the featured speaker at the
Hayward Lakes Chapter - Muskies, Inc. meeting Tuesday June 1. Shumway's
"Back to the Basics for Muskies" presentation begins at 7 p.m. at
Dick-Sy Roadhouse, ten miles east of Hayward on Highway 77. The public
is invited, and there is no charge. For more information, contact Mike
Persson 634-4543.
The DNR increased daily walleye bag limits on 369 lakes in the Wisconsin
Ceded Territory, effective May 21 through March 6, 2011. Revisions are
posted on the DNR website and in the revised walleye bag limits
pamphlet.
Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman's Store,
Hayward Bait) recorded 13 turkeys for Period F (May 19-23), the final
period of spring turkey season. In total, the stations registered 66
birds for the spring season.
Fishing Reports
Walleye:
Walleye action is good overall, with early morning and evening the best
times for success. Concentrate new weeds, shallow cribs, rocky points
and bars, drop-offs, and deeper weeds and structure. Fish fatheads,
walleye suckers, leeches, and crawlers on jigs, Lindy Rigs, bait
harnesses, and under slip bobbers. At dusk, cast Rapalas, stick, and
crank baits along shallow shorelines - Skip Sommerfeldt says this will
usually produce larger fish than live bait rigs.
Northern:
Northern action is fair to excellent, depending on the day and water.
Fish shallow weeds - edges and tops - in water to ten feet or so, and in
any bay areas where you find spawning panfish. For live bait, it's hard
to beat large northern suckers under bobbers. Effective artificials
include crank, stick, and spinner baits, spoons, Husky Jerks, and
X-Raps.
Crappie:
Crappies are shallow, spawning, and providing good action. You will find
them in weeds, wood, cribs, brush, and on sandy bottom areas, as well as
holding under bogs. Crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, and tubes are all
catching fish. Fish small jigs bare, or tip them (or plain hooks) with
live bait, plastics, or Gulp! bait, and fish with or without a bobber. A
slip bobber can really add to your success and enjoyment - and it's not
rocket surgery.
Bluegill:
Bluegills are moving in for spawning. Target shallow water sand and bay
areas, weeds, brush, and wood. Fish a bit deeper for larger fish. When
'gills are on the beds just about anything will work, but here are some
suggestions: Waxies, crawlers, leaf worms, leeches, minnows,
tubes/plastics, spinners, topwaters/poppers, and Gulp! bait. Fish them
on plain hooks or small plain or dressed jigs, with or without bobbers.
If you aren't catching fish, you're in the wrong area.
Upcoming Events
May 29: Northern Zone musky season opens north of Hwy 10. (See regs.)
June 1: Muskies, Inc. meeting. Bill Shumway presentation at 7 p.m.
June 5-6: Free Fishing Weekend. No license or stamps required. All other
regulations apply.
June 6: State Parks Open House Day. Free admission to all state parks,
forests and trails.
June 19: Northern Zone bass season changes from catch-and-release to
daily bag limits. (See regs.)
June 24-27: 61st annual Musky Festival (715-634-8662.)
June 25-27: Hayward Lions "Dr. John Ryan" Musky Fest fishing contest.
July 16-18: 36th annual Honor the Earth Powwow ((715-634-8924.)
July 16-18: Birchwood Bluegill Festival (800-236-2252.)
July 23-25: Lumberjack World Championships (715-634-2484.)
Through July 31: Illegal to run dogs on WPA lands. (See regs.)
Aug. 1: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. Kid's Fishing Day
(634-2921.)
Aug. 2: Application Deadlines: Fall turkey; Sharp-tailed grouse; Bobcat;
Otter; Fisher; Horicon and Collins goose zones.
Aug. 19-22: 103rd annual Sawyer County Fair (934-2721.)
Aug. 27-29: Mega Bass Shootout at Musky Tale Resort (462-3838.)
Sounds like the fish are biting. Lets get out and enjoy the action.
Walleyemaxx
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Temperatures are hot in the northwoods, but so is the fishing, so let's
get right to it!
"What a difference a week makes!" says Pat at Happy Hooker. "All reports
are very good, except for walleyes. Perch are larger than normal,
crappies are 'jumping in the boat,' and panfish and walleye anglers who
avoid 'bite-offs' are landing quite a few muskies, including 48, 45, and
42 inches, and a few northerns to 32 inches."
Randy at Jenk's says Chippewa Flowage northern fishing is good with
large minnows on the weed edges, especially on the west side. At Minnow
Jim's, Cathy recommends fishing shallow, sandy areas with dressed jigs
tipped with waxies or worms for Nelson Lake's spawning bluegills and
crappies.
John at Stone Lake Bait says anglers are catching good numbers of small
bluegills, though he occasionally sees some to 12 inches. Brian at
Outdoor Creations says bass are preparing to spawn, fish are on beds,
and spinnerbaits are working well.
Bob at Hayward Bait reminds anglers that bass fishing in the Northern
Zone is catch and release until June 19.
"Anglers are catching fish with jigs, plastics, tubes, spinner and crank
baits near shallow weeds and wood, and fishing is outstanding around
docks."
Steve Genson at Pastika's reminds anglers that Northern Zone musky
season opens May 29, this coming weekend.
"It looks to be a good opener," Genson says. "Muskies will be
concentrated in areas where panfish are spawning, and action should be
good on small bucktails, twitch and glide baits."
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says prospects are excellent
for the Northern Zone musky opener.
"Anglers looking for action in Sawyer County should try Ghost, Lower
Clam, and Black lakes. Look for fish holding on the deep edges of new
weed beds. Large forage is generally scarce on these smaller lakes, and
small bucktails and jerkbaits should provide good action."
Well-known local guide Bill Shumway, with more than 27 years of guiding
experience in the Hayward area, will be the featured speaker at the
Hayward Lakes Chapter - Muskies, Inc. meeting Tuesday June 1. Shumway's
"Back to the Basics for Muskies" presentation begins at 7 p.m. at
Dick-Sy Roadhouse, ten miles east of Hayward on Highway 77. The public
is invited, and there is no charge. For more information, contact Mike
Persson 634-4543.
The DNR increased daily walleye bag limits on 369 lakes in the Wisconsin
Ceded Territory, effective May 21 through March 6, 2011. Revisions are
posted on the DNR website and in the revised walleye bag limits
pamphlet.
Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman's Store,
Hayward Bait) recorded 13 turkeys for Period F (May 19-23), the final
period of spring turkey season. In total, the stations registered 66
birds for the spring season.
Fishing Reports
Walleye:
Walleye action is good overall, with early morning and evening the best
times for success. Concentrate new weeds, shallow cribs, rocky points
and bars, drop-offs, and deeper weeds and structure. Fish fatheads,
walleye suckers, leeches, and crawlers on jigs, Lindy Rigs, bait
harnesses, and under slip bobbers. At dusk, cast Rapalas, stick, and
crank baits along shallow shorelines - Skip Sommerfeldt says this will
usually produce larger fish than live bait rigs.
Northern:
Northern action is fair to excellent, depending on the day and water.
Fish shallow weeds - edges and tops - in water to ten feet or so, and in
any bay areas where you find spawning panfish. For live bait, it's hard
to beat large northern suckers under bobbers. Effective artificials
include crank, stick, and spinner baits, spoons, Husky Jerks, and
X-Raps.
Crappie:
Crappies are shallow, spawning, and providing good action. You will find
them in weeds, wood, cribs, brush, and on sandy bottom areas, as well as
holding under bogs. Crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, and tubes are all
catching fish. Fish small jigs bare, or tip them (or plain hooks) with
live bait, plastics, or Gulp! bait, and fish with or without a bobber. A
slip bobber can really add to your success and enjoyment - and it's not
rocket surgery.
Bluegill:
Bluegills are moving in for spawning. Target shallow water sand and bay
areas, weeds, brush, and wood. Fish a bit deeper for larger fish. When
'gills are on the beds just about anything will work, but here are some
suggestions: Waxies, crawlers, leaf worms, leeches, minnows,
tubes/plastics, spinners, topwaters/poppers, and Gulp! bait. Fish them
on plain hooks or small plain or dressed jigs, with or without bobbers.
If you aren't catching fish, you're in the wrong area.
Upcoming Events
May 29: Northern Zone musky season opens north of Hwy 10. (See regs.)
June 1: Muskies, Inc. meeting. Bill Shumway presentation at 7 p.m.
June 5-6: Free Fishing Weekend. No license or stamps required. All other
regulations apply.
June 6: State Parks Open House Day. Free admission to all state parks,
forests and trails.
June 19: Northern Zone bass season changes from catch-and-release to
daily bag limits. (See regs.)
June 24-27: 61st annual Musky Festival (715-634-8662.)
June 25-27: Hayward Lions "Dr. John Ryan" Musky Fest fishing contest.
July 16-18: 36th annual Honor the Earth Powwow ((715-634-8924.)
July 16-18: Birchwood Bluegill Festival (800-236-2252.)
July 23-25: Lumberjack World Championships (715-634-2484.)
Through July 31: Illegal to run dogs on WPA lands. (See regs.)
Aug. 1: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. Kid's Fishing Day
(634-2921.)
Aug. 2: Application Deadlines: Fall turkey; Sharp-tailed grouse; Bobcat;
Otter; Fisher; Horicon and Collins goose zones.
Aug. 19-22: 103rd annual Sawyer County Fair (934-2721.)
Aug. 27-29: Mega Bass Shootout at Musky Tale Resort (462-3838.)
Sounds like the fish are biting. Lets get out and enjoy the action.
Walleyemaxx