Outdoor Report

May 04, 2009
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman

Game fish season opened Saturday with cool temps, strong winds, and plenty of sunshine, conditions about as good as – and probably better than – a reasonable person can expect in early May.
Friday’s fishing opener kick-off at the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame was definitely a “shoulda been there” event, and the Governor’s Fishing Opener was also an outstanding success. There is no question participants departed with positive thoughts of this area and all it has to offer.
Opening weekend fishing ranged from fair to very good, and DNR fisheries biologist Frank Pratt says he expects action to really pick up toward the end of this week as the water warms. Check with your favorite bait shop the day you go fishing for the most current fish locations and most effective baits and presentations.
North woods turkey hunters continue to fill their tags, but both registration stations report hunters are finding the birds are now “closed beaked” and hunting is more difficult. Shooting Star registered eight toms in the past week, while Hillman’s Store registered just one tom.
The Hayward Chapter of Muskies, Inc. invites the public to attend a special meeting Tuesday May 5 at Dick-Sy Roadhouse, 10 miles east of Hayward on Highway 77. Starting at 7:30 p.m., local fishing guide Dan Seibert will discuss a variety of musky fishing topics. Seibert has more than 20 years of guiding experience on the Chippewa Flowage and other area lakes.
Fishing Has No Boundaries (FHNB), a fishing event for persons with disabilities, is May 15-17 on the Chippewa Flowage. Volunteers are needed to work the docks, clean fish, operate boats, and assist participants on and off the boats. Call the Hayward FHNB office 634-3185.
A FHNB Rib Fest benefit is Saturday May 9 at DJ’s Dock. The Fest includes a $5 lunch of ribs, baked beans, and cole slaw, raffles, silent auctions, pie auction, and minnow races. All proceeds go to FHNB. Call DJ’s Dock 634-8100.
Openings remain for Treeland Resort’s Walleye Challenge May 8-10, a catch-and-release, family-friendly event offering thousands of dollars in prizes. Call (715) 462-3874.

Fishing Report
Reminders for Hayward area anglers: In the Northern Bass Zone, bass fishing is catch and release only until June 20. In the Northern Musky Zone, musky season opens May 23, and it is illegal to actively fish for muskies prior to that date. Bass and muskie zone boundaries are not the same – know where you are fishing.

Walleye:
Walleye spawning is finished or winding down, and opening weekend action was fair to good. Some anglers did well, while others struggled. Though some male walleye will loiter in shallower areas for awhile, most females moved to deeper water. As always, the tough part is finding the fish. Depths range from 5-25 feet, and locations vary from around weeds, structure, and rocks – to bare flats and mud bottoms. Bait choices could be the easiest choice: walleye suckers and fatheads, leeches, crawlers on jigs, plain hooks, or harnesses, and crank and minnow baits.

Northern:
Northern spawning has also finished, and good numbers of pike were caught during opening weekend, many by walleye anglers. Target shallow bays and around weeds and old weed beds in 4-12 feet of water with spoons, spinner and minnow baits, and northern suckers on plain hooks and under bobbers.

Crappie:
Crappie action started to heat up during the weekend on many waters, though in the deeper, colder lakes the fish remain a bit sluggish. Some anglers reported exception success. Fish are moving to or holding near spawning areas, and spawning should begin within a couple weeks. Look for crappies in shallower water near wood and weeds, in depths from four to 10 feet, and suspending at various locations in the water column. Crappie minnows on plain hooks, jigs, and fished under bobbers, waxies, leeches, tube jigs, Mini-Mites, and other plastics all produced crappie catches over the weekend.

Bluegill:
Bluegill action remains a bit slow with water temps on many lakes in the 40s to mid-50s, and bluegill spawning is nearly a month away. The ‘gills can be found in shallow, warm-water bays or on the first break in 4-12 feet of water. They are hitting waxies, worms, crawler pieces, plastics, minnows, and small leeches.

Upcoming Events
May 2: Seasons Opened: General game fish (check regs for exceptions); Northern Zone bass (catch and release only through June 20); Musky south of Hwy 10; Frog.
May 8-10: Treeland Resort Walleye Challenge (715-462-3874.)
May 9: DJ’s Dock Rib Fest fundraiser for FHNB (715-634-8100.)
May 15: Whitetails Unlimited banquet at Lumberjack Steakhouse. Ticket ordering deadline May 8 (715-558-1395.)
May 15-17: Musky Tale Resort Northern Encounter pike fishing tournament (715-462-3838.)
May 15-17: Fishing Has No Boundaries (715-634-3185.)
May 23: Musky season opens north of Hwy 10.
June 6-7: Free Fishing Weekend.
Through May 24: Spring turkey season (six, five-day periods.)
Through July 31: Illegal to run dogs on WPA lands. (See regs.)

For more information on area events and activities, see the Calendar of Events, visit Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau, or call 1-800-724-2992.