June 29, 2009
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman

Summer is a busy time in Hayward. This past weekend, Musky Festival drew large crowds to the area, and the Lumberjack World Championships are only a few weeks away.
DNR fisheries biologist Frank Pratt reports a great turnout for Family Fishing Fun days at Shue’s Pond during Musky Festival.
“We welcomed 292 youth and mentoring adults to the event,” says Pratt. “Most all of them fished – and caught nearly every sunfish we stocked. In my 35 years with the DNR, I’ve never seen so many smiles in one place at any DNR event.”
The “Golden Spike” hidden on Tuscobia State Trail as part of a promotion was found by a Couderay couple June 12 at the base of an historic marker. The “Trailside Camping” prize package they won included a four-person tent, fishing poles, and other camping items. The 74-mile Tuscobia State Trail is a former railroad grade running from Park Falls Rice Lake, and 65 miles of the trail – from Park Falls to Birchwood – is open to ATV use. A number of spur trails allow a seamless ride across northern Wisconsin.
The DNR advises people to avoid wild parsnip as they would poison ivy, oak, and sumac. The plant is about four feet tall, with yellow clusters of flowering stems, and the plant’s juice causes severe burns to skin when exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet light. Blisters can last several weeks, and brown scarring can last months or years. ID cards are available at DNR service centers.

Muskies:
Musky action is improving each week, with early morning and evening hours still the most productive. Target weed beds, rock points, shallow bars, main lake bars and points, and shallow weed lines, and look for suspending fish. Bucktails, jerkbaits, and topwaters are best, but Bull Dawgs, crank and stickbaits are also getting good attention. Vary the size of the baits you throw. Muskies in some waters currently seem to prefer smaller baits.

Walleye:
Mayfly hatches negatively affected walleye fishing in the past week or two, but the hatches are now diminishing and action is improving. However, fish are scattered and you can find them in six feet of water down to 30 feet or deeper. Concentrate on weed beds, the edges of weed lines, drop-offs, and transition areas of soft and hard bottoms meet. Leeches and crawlers are the best choices for live bait at this time. Fish them under sip bobbers, on floating jig heads, Lindy Rigs, and live bait harnesses. Trolling Rapalas, crank and stick baits, or live bait can also be quite productive.

Northern:
Northern pike action continues to be good, but the pike have moved to somewhat deeper water. Fish the edges of weeds and weed beds, bars and flats with spoons, spinners, spinner and crank baits, bucktails, and northern suckers. Pike are excellent on the table and the DNR encourages harvest in some lakes. Once you learn how to remove the y-bones for boneless filets you will become a big fan.

Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass action is very good to excellent – and excellent in this area is outstanding. Fish shallow weeds, weed beds, wood, slop, and lily pads. Your lure and bait options are wide and varied, from spinner, stick, and buzz baits, soft plastics, and scented worms, to weedless spoons, rubber frogs and other topwaters, to crawlers, leeches, and minnows.

Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth anglers are having success fishing on deep main lake bars, cribs, and wood, but rocks can be key at this time. Not all fish are deep, so start from shallow to mid-depths and work toward deeper water. Spinnerbaits, plastics, tube jigs, X-Raps, and topwaters are all producing catches, and live bait – minnows, crawlers, and leeches – are always a good bet for smallies.

Crappie:
Crappie action is good to very good. They are scattering to deeper water, but you can still find some holding not far from their spawning areas. Otherwise, look to weeds and weed beds, cribs, and structure. Depths will vary from shallow to deep, and some fish are suspending. Best live baits are crappie minnows, waxies on small jigs, plain hooks fished under a bobber. Artificials include Mini-Mites, Tattle Tails, tube jigs and other plastics, and don’t overlook topwaters.

Bluegill:
Bluegill spawning appears to be winding down on most lakes, but fishing action continues to be very goo. If you don’t find fish on shallow spawning beds, look to deeper water – especially for larger bluegills. Best live baits include leaf worms, waxies, crawler chunks, and leeches on plain hooks or small jigs. If you’re using artificials, try Mini-Mites, Tattle Tails, tube jigs and other plastics, and poppers.

Upcoming Events
July 1: Training dogs by pursuing bear allowed through August 31. (See regs.)
July 15: Turtle season opens statewide. (See regs.)
July 24-26: 50th Annual Lumberjack World Championships (715-644-2484.)
Through July 31: Illegal to run dogs on WPA lands. (See regs.)
Aug. 1: Fall turkey permit application deadline.

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.