Hayward Lakes Sherry
09-23-2014, 08:20 AM
September 22, 2014
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Beautiful fall weather is on tap this week, with highs in the 70s, lows in the 50s – and amazing colors to surround all outdoor activities!
“Cool days and chilly nights announced fall season’s arrival,” says Pat at Happy Hooker.
“Catch muskies on breaks and weedlines in 8-12 feet with bucktails, topwaters, jerkbaits, and gliders. Walleyes are tight to bottom in 20 feet, taking jigs and minnows or crawlers.
“Fish weeds in 10 feet with bucktails, spinnerbaits, and northern suckers for northerns; use jigs/minnows, plastics, and spinnerbaits for largemouth. Fish smallmouth on hard bottoms in 12-20 feet with jigs/minnows, tubes, and crankbaits.
“For crappies and bluegills, fish weed edges in 12-18 feet with crawlers, minnows, and plastics.”
Bob at Hayward Bait says Ghost Tails, gliders, and topwaters work for muskies on weed beds and humps in 5-15 feet.
“For walleyes, fish gravel bars and weeds in 10-30 feet with walleye suckers and fatheads. For northerns, use spoons, spinners, and northern suckers on weedlines in 5-15 feet.
“Fish topwaters and plastics on weed beds for largemouth; for smallmouth, fish weeds, wood, and rock humps.
“Catch crappies suspending over deeper water with crappie minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits. Use waxies, leaf worms, and plastics for bluegills on deep weedlines.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says Chippewa Flowage muskie action is excellent.
“Anglers reported at least two fish more than 50 inches last week. Work weeds and weed edges in 2-7 feet with topwaters, bucktails, jerkbaits, and twitch baits.
“Fish walleyes in 14-24 feet with jigs and fatheads or crawlers. For northerns, try bright bucktails and twitch baits. Largemouth action is good in the slop on the west side.
“Crappies are schooled on cribs and brush in 15-24 feet. Use crappie minnows, or jig/plastic combos.”
Mike at Jenk’s says Chippewa Flowage muskies are active, with some hitting topwaters, but the majority are moving on subsurface baits such as Bull Dawgs and Vexers. Muskie suckers remain in short supply.
“Walleyes are on weeds and brush in 10-15 feet. Northerns are active – try the back bays on the west side with spoons, spinners, and northern suckers. “Crappies are very active on deeper brush and cribs, hitting crappie minnows, Mini-Mites, and one-inch Gulp! Minnows.”
Cathy at Minnow Jim’s says Nelson Lake walleye fishing is good early and (mostly) late on rocky points with crawlers, fatheads, and walleye suckers.
“Northern action is good northern suckers, bucktails, and spoons on weed bed edges. Fish largemouth around weeds with spinners and weedless plastics.
“Crappies are scattered all over the lake and fishing is very good with jigs and minnows or waxies.”
Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says Chequamegon Bay fishing is improving with the weather.
“Ashland’s shoreline remains brown, but deeper water (10-30 feet) offers good smallmouth action on sucker minnows and artificials.
“Walleye anglers are trolling and casting the weed beds, channel, and shoreline with stickbaits, spinners, and spoons during low light hours.
“Coho are in and off the Sioux and Onion rivers. Anglers are catching coho, steelhead, and brown trout flat-lining stickbaits, with shad style baits shining this time of year.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses the significance of big perch.
“Perch are like the Swiss Army Knife of forage species. At some point in their life, nearly all area sportfish rely on perch as an important part of their diet. Perch are a driving force in the quality of walleye, muskie, and pike fisheries. Perch can produce large year classes, but unlike many other species, the number of young perch each year relates very closely to the number of adults in the lake.
“Since perch are so important to these other species, perhaps there should be more emphasis on keeping a high number of adult perch in the lakes. We could do this through regulations or through anglers educating themselves and choosing to eat fish other than large perch.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says muskie anglers are enjoying good success on bucktails, topwaters, and plastic swim baits such as Bull Dawgs worked along deeper weed edges.
“Walleye success is improving. Try jigs and minnows on deep edges and crankbaits near dark. For bass, try soft plastics in late afternoon hours.
“Trout season closes September 30 on most inland waters, but many stocked lakes stay open – check the trout fishing regulations.”
In the past week, Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) registered 10 bears, the largest 360 pounds; two antlerless deer; and 13 bucks, including one big 10-pointer and two smaller bucks still in velvet.
The Cable Fall Festival September 26-27 offers fish boils, pancake breakfasts, wine tasting, crafts, and music. For more information, visit www.cable4fun.com or call (715) 798-3833.
The 36th Annual Stone Lake Cranberry Festival and Parade October 2-4 offers more than 300 vendors, artisans, crafters, food, and hospitality areas, as well as observations of cranberry marsh operations. For more information, visit www.stonelakecranberryfestival.com.
The 37th annual Hayward Lakes Chapter-Muskies, Inc. Fall Muskie Tournament October 3-5 offers participants more than $30,000 in prizes. Every tournament entrant is eligible for the Grand Door Prize drawing, a 2014 Lund 1725 Pro Guide tiller boat, ShoreLand’r trailer, and 60 hp Mercury motor. Entry fees are $80 for adults ($90 after September 22) and $25 for youth 16 and younger. After September 22, enter in person or by phone at Hayward Bait (715-634-2921) or Jenk’s (715-462-3055) until 11 p.m. October 2. For more information, visit www.muskiesinc-hayward.org.
FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
Muskie fishing slowed a bit, with brief bite windows. Target weed beds, breaks, and humps to 18 feet. Bucktails, gliders, topwaters, jerkbaits, and Bull Dawgs/plastic swim baits are all effective. Note: Muskie suckers are in very short supply.
Walleye:
Walleye action is fair to good and improving, with low hours best, as per usual. Concentrate on weeds, weedlines, gravel, rock, points, and breaklines out to 30 feet. Crawlers, walleyes suckers, and fatheads are best, but trolling and casting crankbaits near dark work well, too.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike fishing is good to very good in/on weedlines and points out to 17 feet. Baits producing the most success include bucktails, crankbaits, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and northern suckers.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action is fair to good, but they can be difficult to find. Check weeds and weedline edges from shallow to deeper water. Best bait options include weedless plastics, spinners, spinnerbaits, topwaters, and jigs and minnows.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is improving, though as with largemouth, fish can be difficult to locate. Look for them in depths to 20 feet on weeds, breaks, wood, rock and other hard bottom areas. Plastics, tubes, crankbaits, and minnows will all tempt smallies.
Crappie:
Crappie action is good to very good, with fish suspending at various depths over deeper water, breaks, and weed edges. Use crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs or plain hooks, with or without slip bobbers.
Bluegill:
Bluegills are suspending at various depths on deeper water weedlines and weed edges. The most productive baits include waxies, leaf worms, crawlers, plastics, and crappie minnows on jigs and/or under slip bobbers.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 23: CDAC meeting at Hayward Veterans Community Center; 7 p.m. (715-945-2771).
Sep 26-27: Cable Area Fall Festival (800-533-7454).
Sept. 27: Duck season opens in Northern Zone.
Sept. 30: Woodcock season opens.
Sept. 30: Seasons close: Inland trout; Lake Superior lake trout; Sturgeon on inland waters.
Oct. 3-5: Hayward Lakes Chapter-Muskies, Inc. Fall Muskie Tournament (715-634-2921; 462-3055).
Oct. 4: 36th Annual Stone Lake Cranberry Festival and Parade.
Oct. 4-12: Special deer hunt for people with disabilities.
Oct. 7: Bear season closes.
Oct. 11-12: Youth deer hunt.
Oct. 11: Fishing Has No Boundaries (FHNB) fall fundraiser at Flat Creek Inn & Suites (715-634-3185).
Oct. 18: Seasons open: Raccoon hunting/trapping (resident); Red and gray fox hunting/trapping; Coyote trapping; Fisher trapping; Bobcat hunting/trapping Period 1.
Oct. 21: CDAC meeting at Hayward Veterans Community Center; 7 p.m. (715-945-2771).
Oct. 25: Seasons open: Muskrat; Mink.
Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau and Sawyer County Record co-sponsor this report. For more information on area events and activities, visit the HLVCB’s Calendar of Events or call 800-724-2992.
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Beautiful fall weather is on tap this week, with highs in the 70s, lows in the 50s – and amazing colors to surround all outdoor activities!
“Cool days and chilly nights announced fall season’s arrival,” says Pat at Happy Hooker.
“Catch muskies on breaks and weedlines in 8-12 feet with bucktails, topwaters, jerkbaits, and gliders. Walleyes are tight to bottom in 20 feet, taking jigs and minnows or crawlers.
“Fish weeds in 10 feet with bucktails, spinnerbaits, and northern suckers for northerns; use jigs/minnows, plastics, and spinnerbaits for largemouth. Fish smallmouth on hard bottoms in 12-20 feet with jigs/minnows, tubes, and crankbaits.
“For crappies and bluegills, fish weed edges in 12-18 feet with crawlers, minnows, and plastics.”
Bob at Hayward Bait says Ghost Tails, gliders, and topwaters work for muskies on weed beds and humps in 5-15 feet.
“For walleyes, fish gravel bars and weeds in 10-30 feet with walleye suckers and fatheads. For northerns, use spoons, spinners, and northern suckers on weedlines in 5-15 feet.
“Fish topwaters and plastics on weed beds for largemouth; for smallmouth, fish weeds, wood, and rock humps.
“Catch crappies suspending over deeper water with crappie minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits. Use waxies, leaf worms, and plastics for bluegills on deep weedlines.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says Chippewa Flowage muskie action is excellent.
“Anglers reported at least two fish more than 50 inches last week. Work weeds and weed edges in 2-7 feet with topwaters, bucktails, jerkbaits, and twitch baits.
“Fish walleyes in 14-24 feet with jigs and fatheads or crawlers. For northerns, try bright bucktails and twitch baits. Largemouth action is good in the slop on the west side.
“Crappies are schooled on cribs and brush in 15-24 feet. Use crappie minnows, or jig/plastic combos.”
Mike at Jenk’s says Chippewa Flowage muskies are active, with some hitting topwaters, but the majority are moving on subsurface baits such as Bull Dawgs and Vexers. Muskie suckers remain in short supply.
“Walleyes are on weeds and brush in 10-15 feet. Northerns are active – try the back bays on the west side with spoons, spinners, and northern suckers. “Crappies are very active on deeper brush and cribs, hitting crappie minnows, Mini-Mites, and one-inch Gulp! Minnows.”
Cathy at Minnow Jim’s says Nelson Lake walleye fishing is good early and (mostly) late on rocky points with crawlers, fatheads, and walleye suckers.
“Northern action is good northern suckers, bucktails, and spoons on weed bed edges. Fish largemouth around weeds with spinners and weedless plastics.
“Crappies are scattered all over the lake and fishing is very good with jigs and minnows or waxies.”
Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says Chequamegon Bay fishing is improving with the weather.
“Ashland’s shoreline remains brown, but deeper water (10-30 feet) offers good smallmouth action on sucker minnows and artificials.
“Walleye anglers are trolling and casting the weed beds, channel, and shoreline with stickbaits, spinners, and spoons during low light hours.
“Coho are in and off the Sioux and Onion rivers. Anglers are catching coho, steelhead, and brown trout flat-lining stickbaits, with shad style baits shining this time of year.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses the significance of big perch.
“Perch are like the Swiss Army Knife of forage species. At some point in their life, nearly all area sportfish rely on perch as an important part of their diet. Perch are a driving force in the quality of walleye, muskie, and pike fisheries. Perch can produce large year classes, but unlike many other species, the number of young perch each year relates very closely to the number of adults in the lake.
“Since perch are so important to these other species, perhaps there should be more emphasis on keeping a high number of adult perch in the lakes. We could do this through regulations or through anglers educating themselves and choosing to eat fish other than large perch.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says muskie anglers are enjoying good success on bucktails, topwaters, and plastic swim baits such as Bull Dawgs worked along deeper weed edges.
“Walleye success is improving. Try jigs and minnows on deep edges and crankbaits near dark. For bass, try soft plastics in late afternoon hours.
“Trout season closes September 30 on most inland waters, but many stocked lakes stay open – check the trout fishing regulations.”
In the past week, Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) registered 10 bears, the largest 360 pounds; two antlerless deer; and 13 bucks, including one big 10-pointer and two smaller bucks still in velvet.
The Cable Fall Festival September 26-27 offers fish boils, pancake breakfasts, wine tasting, crafts, and music. For more information, visit www.cable4fun.com or call (715) 798-3833.
The 36th Annual Stone Lake Cranberry Festival and Parade October 2-4 offers more than 300 vendors, artisans, crafters, food, and hospitality areas, as well as observations of cranberry marsh operations. For more information, visit www.stonelakecranberryfestival.com.
The 37th annual Hayward Lakes Chapter-Muskies, Inc. Fall Muskie Tournament October 3-5 offers participants more than $30,000 in prizes. Every tournament entrant is eligible for the Grand Door Prize drawing, a 2014 Lund 1725 Pro Guide tiller boat, ShoreLand’r trailer, and 60 hp Mercury motor. Entry fees are $80 for adults ($90 after September 22) and $25 for youth 16 and younger. After September 22, enter in person or by phone at Hayward Bait (715-634-2921) or Jenk’s (715-462-3055) until 11 p.m. October 2. For more information, visit www.muskiesinc-hayward.org.
FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
Muskie fishing slowed a bit, with brief bite windows. Target weed beds, breaks, and humps to 18 feet. Bucktails, gliders, topwaters, jerkbaits, and Bull Dawgs/plastic swim baits are all effective. Note: Muskie suckers are in very short supply.
Walleye:
Walleye action is fair to good and improving, with low hours best, as per usual. Concentrate on weeds, weedlines, gravel, rock, points, and breaklines out to 30 feet. Crawlers, walleyes suckers, and fatheads are best, but trolling and casting crankbaits near dark work well, too.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike fishing is good to very good in/on weedlines and points out to 17 feet. Baits producing the most success include bucktails, crankbaits, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and northern suckers.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action is fair to good, but they can be difficult to find. Check weeds and weedline edges from shallow to deeper water. Best bait options include weedless plastics, spinners, spinnerbaits, topwaters, and jigs and minnows.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is improving, though as with largemouth, fish can be difficult to locate. Look for them in depths to 20 feet on weeds, breaks, wood, rock and other hard bottom areas. Plastics, tubes, crankbaits, and minnows will all tempt smallies.
Crappie:
Crappie action is good to very good, with fish suspending at various depths over deeper water, breaks, and weed edges. Use crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs or plain hooks, with or without slip bobbers.
Bluegill:
Bluegills are suspending at various depths on deeper water weedlines and weed edges. The most productive baits include waxies, leaf worms, crawlers, plastics, and crappie minnows on jigs and/or under slip bobbers.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 23: CDAC meeting at Hayward Veterans Community Center; 7 p.m. (715-945-2771).
Sep 26-27: Cable Area Fall Festival (800-533-7454).
Sept. 27: Duck season opens in Northern Zone.
Sept. 30: Woodcock season opens.
Sept. 30: Seasons close: Inland trout; Lake Superior lake trout; Sturgeon on inland waters.
Oct. 3-5: Hayward Lakes Chapter-Muskies, Inc. Fall Muskie Tournament (715-634-2921; 462-3055).
Oct. 4: 36th Annual Stone Lake Cranberry Festival and Parade.
Oct. 4-12: Special deer hunt for people with disabilities.
Oct. 7: Bear season closes.
Oct. 11-12: Youth deer hunt.
Oct. 11: Fishing Has No Boundaries (FHNB) fall fundraiser at Flat Creek Inn & Suites (715-634-3185).
Oct. 18: Seasons open: Raccoon hunting/trapping (resident); Red and gray fox hunting/trapping; Coyote trapping; Fisher trapping; Bobcat hunting/trapping Period 1.
Oct. 21: CDAC meeting at Hayward Veterans Community Center; 7 p.m. (715-945-2771).
Oct. 25: Seasons open: Muskrat; Mink.
Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau and Sawyer County Record co-sponsor this report. For more information on area events and activities, visit the HLVCB’s Calendar of Events or call 800-724-2992.