Outdoor Report September 28, 2015

September 28, 2015
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman

This week’s high temperatures are still in the 60-degree range, but frost is in the forecast. Anglers fishing the annual Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. Muskie Tournament (this weekend) usually experience an abrupt change in weather patterns, but the weather often then moderates for much of October. Whatever the case, it is fall, what many consider the best season in the North Woods. Whatever your chosen activity, get out of the house and enjoy it!

“Gradually declining water temperatures are just what we need to spark excellent fall fishing and hunting conditions,” says Pat at Happy Hooker.
“Fish muskies along weedlines and breaks in 12-25 feet with bucktails, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, swim baits, and large suckers on quick strike rigs, and try topwaters at night. Catch walleyes on structure in 16-30 feet with fatheads, crawlers, and small suckers on jigs or slip bobber and live bait rigs. For northern, fish mid-depth weed beds or structure in 15-25 feet with crankbaits, spinnerbaits, buzz baits, swim jigs, and suckers.
“Largemouth are around piers, slop, and weed flats in 4-8 feet. Use plastic worms, frogs, and tubes, swim jigs, crankbaits, topwaters, crawlers, and small suckers. Catch smallmouth on the edges of drop-offs near rock and gravel with tubes, swim baits, spinners, crankbaits, wacky worms, topwaters, fatheads, small suckers, and drop shot rigs in 20-30 feet.
“Crappies are suspending around weed beds in 12-20 feet in early morning and evening and along deep weedlines during the day. Cast or vertical jig crappie minnows while drifting. Bluegills are in weeds in 8-25 feet, with larger fish toward the bottom. Use small jigs with waxies, leaf worms, crawler pieces, and plastics.”
Jim at Hayward Bait says muskie fishing is terrific on some days.
“Fish 5-15 feet with topwaters, gliders, bucktails, large plastics, and suckers. Walleye fishing is soft, with some success in 15-25 feet and deeper with walleye suckers, fatheads, and trolled stickbaits. Northern action is good on northern suckers, spinnerbaits, spoons, and crankbaits fished along weedlines in 5-15 feet.
“Largemouth are very active in weeds in 3-8 feet. Use walleye suckers, crawlers, plastic worms and frogs, Silver Minnow spoons tipped with pork, and topwaters. Smallmouth fishing is inconsistent. Fish 12-25 feet with crawlers, walleye suckers, jigs/plastics, crankbaits, plastic worms, and on calm days, topwaters.
“Crappies are suspending over deep water and crappie minnows, fatheads, and plastics all produce. Bluegills in 10-15 feet are taking waxies, leaf worms, crawlers, and small plastics. Bluegill action is fair in 10-15 feet. Use waxies, leaf worms, crawlers, and plastics on small jigs.
“Waterfowlers, bear hunters, and a few archery deer hunters report success.”

Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says the big push on Chequamegon Bay is for salmon and trout.
“Recent rains have brought waves of fish into Fish Creek and the Sioux River. Anglers are having success on spawn, yarn, spinners, flies, and crawlers, and trollers are flatlining stickbaits at stream mouths and following mud lines off the mouths. The most productive colors last week were perch, gold/orange, and firetiger.
“Currents are very strong and smallmouth anglers have to work for fish. Most are dragging sucker minnows along the bottom or fishing shallow structure with plastics and crankbaits. In the same areas they are catching walleye and northern.
“Lake trout closes September 30, as do regular season portions of the streams.”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses catch and release fishing.
“Angler attitudes toward ‘catch and release’ fishing have shifted dramatically during the last several decades. A recent mail survey study of anglers in northern Wisconsin cements this fact.
“Anglers reported both their catch and harvest of different popular species. Release rates for muskellunge were more than 99 percent, with voluntary choice to release a bigger driver of muskellunge release rates than fishing regulations protecting the fish. On the other hand, the walleye harvest rate was 67 percent, with regulations (season, length limit, bag limit, etc.) a bigger reason for release of walleye than voluntary choice.
“Anglers harvested northern pike 86 percent of the time, despite liberal regulations allowing harvest most of the time. This is a bit problematic in our part of the state, where we would like to see more pike harvest for the betterment of musky populations.”

The 37th Annual Stone Lake Cranberry Festival is October 1-3, an event hosting more than 300 vendors, including artisans, crafters, food, and hospitality areas, as well as cranberry marsh tours – and more than 30,000 people for the festival and parade. For more information, visit www.stonelakecranberryfestival.com.

There is still time to register for the 38th annual Hayward Lakes Chapter-Muskies, Inc. Fall Muskie Tournament October 2-4. Until 11 p.m. October 1, you can enter in person at Jenk’s (715-462-3055) or in person and by phone at Hayward Bait (715-634-2921). Entry fees are $90 for adults and $25 for youth 16 years of age and younger. Every entrant (whether or not you wet a line!) is eligible for the Grand Door Prize – a 2015 Lund 1725 Pro Guide tiller boat, ShoreLand’r trailer, and 60 hp Mercury motor. There is more than $30,000 in prizes and the angler catching the largest fish wins a graphite replica. For more information, call the shops or visit www.muskiesinc-hayward.org.

FISHING REPORT
Musky:
Muskie action is inconsistent, but very good at certain times. Just have to be there then! Work weedlines and breaks in 4-25 feet with bucktails, Bull Dawgs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, swim baits, topwaters, gliders, large plastics, and suckers on quick strike rigs.

Walleye:
Walleye fishing is slow and inconsistent, though anglers continue to connect during the short bite windows. Concentrate on structure – weeds, wood, cribs, brush, rock, gravel – in 12-30 feet. Currently favored baits and presentations include walleye suckers, fatheads, crawlers, and leech imitations on slip bobber, live bait, and split shot rigs, and trolled crank and stick baits.

Northern Pike:
Northern action is good to very good in 5-25 feet around weed beds, weedlines, structure, and anywhere you find concentrations of panfish. Fish are hitting northern suckers, spinnerbaits, spoons, crankbaits, buzz baits, chatter baits, and swim jigs. Go deeper with larger baits for trophy pike.

Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth fishing continues, so far, to be very good on most waters. Fish are holding near docks, slop, weedlines, and shallow structure in 3-10 feet. Baits producing action include plastics (various worm configurations, frogs, tubes), swim jigs, crankbaits, topwaters, spoons, walleye suckers, and crawlers.

Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is erratic, but very good if you hit it at the right time. Look for fish in 10-30 feet on rock, gravel, structure, and the edges of drop-offs. Top producing baits include tubes, spinners, swim baits, crankbaits, plastics, topwaters, fatheads, and walleye suckers fished on jigs, slip bobbers, and drop shot, live bait, and split shot rigs.

Crappie:
Crappie action is fair to very good if you can find them. Fish are suspending around weeds and weedlines in 10-25 feet and over deeper water. Try shallower weeds in early morning and evening. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, fatheads, and plastics on jigs.

Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is fair to good around weeds in 7-25 feet. Best baits include waxies, leaf worms, crawlers/pieces, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs. Slip bobbers will keep baits at the “proper” depth. Try small minnows for the bigger ‘gills.

Upcoming Events
Sept. 30: Seasons close: Trout on inland waters and rivers flowing into Lake Superior (see regs for exceptions); Lake trout on Lake Superior; Hook-and-line sturgeon on inland waters.
Oct. 1-3: 37th Annual Stone Lake Cranberry Festival (715-865-3378).
Oct. 3-11: Deer hunt for people disabilities (see regs).
Oct. 2-4: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. 38th Annual Muskie Tournament (715-634-4543).
Oct. 10-11: Youth Deer Hunt (see regs).
Oct. 13: Bear season closes.
Oct. 17: FHNB Fall Fundraiser at Flat Creek Inn & Suites; (715-634-3185).
Oct. 17: Seasons open: Raccoon gun and trapping (residents); Red and gray fox; Coyote trapping; Bobcat Period 1 (north of Hwy 64); Pheasant (noon opener).
Oct. 24: Seasons open in north: 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