Outdoor Report November 3, 2014

November 3, 2014
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman

This week’s weather seems to slip and slide into a new season, with the “s” word used once or twice, and Saturday’s low in the teens. It was a great fall run!

“Muskie anglers are on the water and the bigger fish are starting to feed,” says Pat at Happy Hooker.
“Best action is with suckers and quick-set rigs, but big crankbaits, gliders, and plastics are still getting hits. Retrieve lures close to the sucker to attract following fish. Action will pick up some as the weather cools.
“Crappies are scattered and you need to keep moving to stay on fish. Use plastics or minnows on jigs, with pink/white and black/chartreuse tails the top colors.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says the Chippewa Flowage drawdown has started and the water level is about three feet below normal.
“Most muskies moved to 10-24 feet on channel edges and steep shorelines. Fish rocks, wood, and cribs with Bull Dawgs, the larger the better, and drag at least one sucker.
“Walleye anglers are doing well in 20-30 feet with jigs and fatheads and 5- to 7-inch sucker minnows for larger fish. Crappie fishing is good in Moore’s Bay, Blueberry Flats, and Pine Point on minnows, jigs with tubes or Gulp! baits, and #3 Jigging Rapalas.”
Jim at Hayward Bait says dropping temperatures improved muskie fishing.
“Work weed beds in 5-15 feet with suckers, tubes, bucktails, and Bull Dawgs. Fish walleyes in deeper water with walleye suckers and fatheads. Catch northerns on points and weedlines in 5-15 feet with northern suckers, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits.
“Smallmouth action is picking up on weeds, wood, and rock humps with walleye suckers, crawlers, and drop-shot tubes. For crappies suspending over deeper water, use crappie minnows, waxies, and small plastics. Bluegills are taking waxies, leaf worms, and plastics on rock bars and weedlines in 5-15 feet.”
Mike at Jenk’s says muskie action is on and off, depending on the day.
“The trend is the less wind, the more action, with west or southwest winds best. Live bait is preferred, fished deep on steep drop-offs near shorelines and bars, channels, and narrows. If you use artificials, throw something you can count down, such as Bull Dawgs.
“For walleyes, fish 30 feet or deeper with large walleye suckers. Crappie action is consistent in Blueberry Flats and Crane Lake. Use your locator to find bait balls and set your bait one foot or so above them.”

Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says trout and salmon fishing is hit-and-miss due to weather conditions.
“Anglers are flat-lining shad style stickbaits, trolling from Bono Creek, along the Washburn shoreline out to the Sioux and Onion rivers, and over to Long Island.
“Smallmouth are active on the rock pile, back of the breakwall, tip of Long Island, and west of the ore dock. Sucker minnows are best, with some fish caught by ripping blade baits and jigging spoons. Walleye anglers are catching fish near shore during low light hours and on the rock pile and over weed beds during the day.”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses controlling rusty crayfish.
“Invasive rusty crayfish can have disastrous effects on native crayfish, aquatic vegetation, and the overall health of the food web.
“Researchers from UW-Madison, looking at whether fish predation on rusty crayfish might limit their abundance in lakes, found bluegill and other sunfish are only capable of eating rusty crayfish less than one year old. Pound for pound, rock bass were the rusty crayfish eating champions and able to eat bigger crayfish.
“The researchers conclude that predation by fish may be a feasible control. Bluegill and sunfish are key factors in the strategy because of their abundance and tendency to eat newly hatched crayfish that many other species avoid.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says fewer anglers are on the water with the cooler weather.
“Most are muskie anglers who are finding excellent action, with nearly all using large suckers. The colder water has made fish reluctant to hit fast-moving baits. There was one report of a 50-inch fish last week, so trophy potential is getting better.
“Walleye success is slow, with only a few catch reports. Panfish anglers are catching decent perch and crappie on weedlines and brush in 8-15 feet.”

In the past week, Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) registered 10 whitetail bucks for archery season – two taken by crossbows and eight by compounds – including two nice eight-pointers.

Deer Hunt Wisconsin 2014 will soon run on TV stations across the state. This is the 23rd year for the hour-long special designed to help hunters prepare for the firearms deer season.

Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. will hold a meeting Tuesday night, starting at 7 p.m., at Coop’s Pizza in Hayward. Discussions will include fall tournament results, project funding, election of officers, and a fishing tackle/equipment sale/swap/trade. The Chapter welcomes the public and first-timers can purchase a one-year membership for half price! For information, call Mike at (715-634-4543).

FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
Decreasing temperatures are increasing muskie activity, with good to excellent action until the season closes November 30. Target weeds, wood, drop-offs, rocks, bars, cribs, and channels in 6-25 feet. Big suckers on quick-set rigs work best, but anglers are also catching fish on Bull Dawgs, bucktails, gliders, tubes, and crankbaits.

Walleye:
Walleye fishing is fair to good. Concentrate on deeper water (to 30 feet and deeper) with big walleye suckers and fatheads on jigs or live bait rigs. Late afternoon into dark is the most productive time, but overcast days can also be good.

Northern Pike:
This is a great time to catch big northerns! Work points and weedlines out to 16 feet with northern suckers, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and spoons. Fish deeper water with bigger baits for trophy pike.

Largemouth Bass:
In general, loss of weed cover ends most interest in largemouth fishing. However, you can have outstanding action if you can find them. Look for fish around deeper brush, bogs, rock, wood, and cribs. Live baits works well, as do crankbaits and plastics worked slowly around the cover.

Smallmouth Bass:
Fall is a great time to catch big smallmouth and action is improving with fall’s progression. Fish deeper water weeds, wood, rock, and humps with walleye suckers, crawlers, tubes, and drop-shot rigs.

Crappie:
Crappie action is good to excellent on most crappie waters. Look for brush, cribs, and weedlines in depths to 18 feet, as well as for fish suspending over deep water. Schools move and you will need to do so, too. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, tube jigs, Gulp! baits, and Jigging Rapalas. Use slip bobbers with live bait and plastics.

Bluegill:
Bluegills are on rocks, cribs, brush, and weedlines out to about 18 feet. Use waxies, leaf worms, and small plastics, or try small minnows for the bigger ‘gills.

Perch:
Fish perch around brush, cribs, and weedlines out to 18 feet and deeper with fatheads and crappie minnows on jigs or plain hooks.

Upcoming Events
Nov. 1: Wild ginseng season closed.
Nov. 2: Seasons opened (see regs): Beaver trapping; Otter trapping; Non-resident raccoon season.
Nov. 3: Woodcock season closed.
Nov. 4: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting at Coop’s Pizza, 7 p.m. (715-634-4543).
Nov. 9: Mourning dove season closes.
Nov.15: Trout and salmon fishing closes on downstream Lake Superior tributaries (see regs).
Nov.20: Seasons close: Fall turkey; Fall crow.
Nov.22: Regular gun deer season opens.
Nov.25: Duck season closes in north zone.
Nov.30: Seasons close: Regular gun deer; Muskie; Turtle.
Dec. 1-31: Extended fall turkey season in zones 1-5.

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.