Outdoor Report November 10, 2014

November 10, 2014
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman

According to the forecast (or a look out the window), our beautiful fall is coming to an ugly end, with considerable snow accumulation the first part of the week followed by COLD temperatures. Like it or not, ready for it or not, winter season is arriving in grand style. So be it – let the winter fun begin!

“Fishing is good as fish bulk up before winter,” says Pat at Happy Hooker.
“Catch muskies on break and weed edges to 20 feet with jerkbaits, gliders, Bull Dawgs, and suckers on quick-strike rigs. Walleyes are off break edges or on mud flats in 15-35 feet during the day and around weeds in 4-8 feet during low light conditions. Use minnows on jigs or live bait rigs. Fish northerns around weeds to 15 feet with northern suckers and crankbaits.
“Fish largemouth with minnows, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs and plastics near weed beds in 6-12 feet. For smallmouth, fish breaks and mid-lake humps in 15-35 feet with minnows and plastics.
“Crappie fishing is good on weed edges to 15 feet and mid-lake mud flats 15 feet and deeper with crappie minnows, and plastics on slip bobbers.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says cold weather and hunting seasons mean fewer anglers, but there are still a few hardcore muskie hunters on the Chippewa Flowage.
“The productive pattern is fishing live suckers in 12-25 feet while casting Bull Dawgs on channel edges and steep drops, concentrating on rock, wood, and cribs. Fish walleyes in 25-30 feet with jigs and fatheads; try 5- to 8-inch sucker minnows for larger fish.
“Crappie anglers are still doing well in Moore’s Bay and around Pine Point with crappie minnow or jig/tube skirt combinations. Catch larger crappies with #3 Jigging Rapalas in hot colors.”
Jim at Hayward Bait says water temperatures are dropping and it is trophy muskie time!
“Anglers should work weed beds in 10-20 feet with muskie suckers, Bondy Baits, and Fuzzy Duzzits. For walleyes, concentrate on deep water with walleye suckers and fatheads. Northern pike action is good on northern suckers and spoons fished on points and weedlines in 10-20 feet.
“Bass anglers are still catching fish on crankbaits and plastics. Smallmouth fishing is improving on weeds, wood, and rock humps in 20-40 feet of water with walleye suckers, crawlers, and drop-shot tubes.
“Crappie fishing is good on crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, and spinners for fish suspending over deeper water. Fish bluegills on rock bars and weedlines in 10-20 feet with waxies, leaf worms, plastics, and Gulp! Maggots.”

Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says a few brave souls continue to troll, with fishing productive from the inside islands to the river mouths.
“Water temperatures are finally dropping and fish are starting to move in greater numbers. Most trollers are flat-lining stickbaits, with some activity on spoons. Shore anglers report the greatest success by the mouth of the Montreal casting spoons and spinners.”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses a decreased number of adult brown trout in the Namekagon River.
“Every summer, the DNR and National Park Service, in a joint effort, use electrofishing gear to survey the brown trout population of the Namekagon River. The annual nature of these surveys allows us to track trends in the brown trout population through time.
“The 2014 survey showed disappointing numbers of adult brown trout, the continuation of a trend that began in 2013. The likely cause for the reduction in numbers of adult brown trout is the severe winters of 2013 and 2014. In streams such as the Namekagon, trout have limited access to winter habitat and extremely cold, deep winters can lead to shifting ice that traps or crushes fish.
“The good news from the 2014 survey is that young fish fared much better over winter and adult abundance should increase within a few years.”

In the past week, Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) registered 26 whitetail bucks for archery season – 19 taken by vertical bows and seven by crossbows. Shooting Star reported a nice eight-pointer with “lots of trash, including drop tine, palmated, and stickers that green scored 158 gross.”

There are a few rule changes for the 2014 deer season, with the primary change in the north the buck-only hunts in 19 counties (see map). The DNR has a summary of the 2014 rule changes (people without computer access can call 1-888-936-7463 to request a mailed copy), as well as other information on the season.

Anglers should note trout and salmon fishing closes November 15 on Lake Superior tributaries. Check the trout fishing regulations for waters that remain open after this time.

FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
Late fall is prime time for big muskies and you have until November 30 to catch this year’s trophy! Work weedlines, weed beds, weed edges, wood, rock, cribs, channels, and drop-offs in depths to about 25 feet. Muskie suckers on quick-strike rigs are producing the most catches, though anglers are also catching fish with jerkbaits, gliders, Bull Dawgs, and other plastics.

Walleye:
Walleye fishing is fair to good, depending on the day, with best action (as always) during low light conditions. During the day, fish structure, breaks, and mud flats in depths to more than 30 feet. In the evening, fish weeds in depths to 10 feet. Walleye suckers and fatheads on jigs or live bait rigs are the prime producers. Use bigger baits for bigger fish.

Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good on weedlines, weed edges, points, and near baitfish in 8-22 feet of water. Northern suckers are the go-to bait, but anglers are also catching fish on crankbaits, minnow baits, spinnerbaits, and spoons.

Largemouth Bass:
The few anglers fishing largemouth are catching fish on weed beds in 4-14 feet of water with crankbaits, plastics, spinnerbaits, and minnows under bobbers.

Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing continues to improve on most waters in depths from 12-35 feet and deeper. Look for weeds, wood, mid-lake and rock humps, hard bottoms, breaks, and cribs. Best baits include walleye suckers, jigs/minnows, crawlers, drop-shot tubes, and plastics (crawfish, tubes, etc.)

Crappie:
Crappie action continues to be good in the traditional fall hotspots. Look for fish suspending over deeper water in depths out to more than 20 feet, as well as along somewhat shallower weed edges and weedlines. Use your electronics and check the entire water column, particularly the lower end of it. Top bait choices include crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs or plains hooks, as well as jigging spoons and small spinners and crankbaits.

Bluegill:
Bluegill anglers are taking some nice fish on weedlines, rock bars, and mud flats in depths out to 22 feet and more. Use waxies, leaf worms, crawler chunks, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs or plain hooks under slip bobbers.

Perch:
Perch action is decent in deeper water on the deep, clear lakes and on weed edges on other waters. Fish for them on the bottom with crappie minnows, fatheads, and jigging spoons.

Upcoming Events
Nov. 9: Mourning dove season closed.
Nov.15: Trout and salmon fishing closes on downstream Lake Superior tributaries (see regs).
Nov.20: Seasons close: Turkey; 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.