August 24, 2009
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman

The Hayward area last week, finally, received two straight days of much-needed rain, followed by sunshine, mild temps, and cool nights. Beautiful. Though it is still only August, there is a slight hint of fall in the air.
DNR fisheries biologist Frank Pratt says the water is cooling quickly and fall surveys will start as soon as surface temperatures reach 70 degrees. The schedule includes electro-fishing on Lac Courte Oreilles, Little LCO, Chippewa Flowage, and Lost Land/Teal, and crappie netting on the Flowage, Smith, Lost Land/Teal, and Sissabagama.
He has good news for trout anglers.
“A Namekagon River survey at Larsen Road revealed more than 2,500 baby brown trout per mile, the largest year class on record, and a good population of fish 15-22 inches long.”
Pratt says when compared to similar river types, the Namekagon River is one of the best, if not the best, wild brown trout water east Montana’s Big Horn River.

Muskies:
Musky fishing is very good on most lakes right now ... perhaps starting their fall bite a bit early? Concentrate on points, rock bars, weed beds and weed edges down to about 18 feet. Some muskies are suspending in deeper water, and don’t overlook the edges of drop-offs. The fish now want mid-size to large bucktails, crank, spinner, stick, jerk, glider, rubber and topwater baits, and suckers.

Walleye:
Walleye fishing, fair at best in recent weeks, is starting to show signs of recovery. Locating the walleyes (as always) is the challenge. They are scattered from fairly shallow to quite deep, so you can find them just about everywhere. Or won’t find them anywhere. Target deeper water weeds, rocks, humps, and transition areas of sand/gravel and weeds. While leeches and crawlers have been effective, cooling water temps might encourage a minnow bite. Take a mix – you might need it – and vary presentations until you find one that works. Harnesses, spinner rigs, slip bobbers ... it’s up to the walleye. Casting crankbaits along shorelines in the evening can also be good.

Northern:
Northern action is fair to good, with most success around weed cover in about any depth of water. Look for panfish and northern pike will not be far from them. Best choices for artificials include spoons, spinner, stick, surface, and buzz baits, and bucktails. Still, sometimes for pike it’s just hard to beat a big northern sucker suspended below a bobber.

Largemouth Bass:
Although weed growth is as good as it’s been all summer, largemouth are slowly moving to deeper water. You can still get good action on smaller bass in the shallows, but if you’re looking for bucket-mouths, work deep weedlines and weed edges. Otherwise, you can find largemouth from shallow slop to deep weed beds, and near wood, docks, and bogs. When you find the bass, they will hit weedless topwaters, scented worms, soft plastics, spinner and stick baits, jig/pig, leeches, crawlers, and minnows.

Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth action is consistently inconsistent, with some days better than others, but it’s showing improvement. One fairly consistent factor is location – look for deeper water rocks, rocky points, rocky structure, rocky bars ... and wood. But the wood should probably be near rocks. Jigs, plastics, spinner and stick baits, leeches, crawlers, and minnows will all catch fish. And it probably wouldn’t hurt to try deep-diving, crawdad-colored crankbaits.

Crappie:
Crappie action is fair to good and it should only get better as we approach fall (some might say we are already there!) During the day, fish cribs, deeper wood, weeds, and structure, and look for fish suspending over deep water. In the evening, fish bogs and weedlines. The most productive baits include crappie minnows, waxies, leeches, plastics/tubes, jigs, and even very small crankbaits.

Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is reasonably good, but the larger ‘gills are deeper and can difficult to locate. Reports on depths vary, so starting with shallow weeds and gradually moving to deeper water weeds and structure might be the best approach. Waxies, worms, leaf worms, leeches, minnows, plastics, and artificial grubs are all catching bluegills.

Upcoming Events
Aug. 28-30: Musky Tale Resort Mega Bass Shootout (462-3838.)
Aug. 29: Remaining fall turkey permits on sale.
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear allowed. (See regs.)
Sept. 1: Seasons open Mourning dove; Early Canada goose.
Sept. 1: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting. Dick-Sy Roadhouse. 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 5-6: Exeland Trout Festival.
Sept. 6: Cable Rod & Gun Club annual Pig Roast & Turkey Shoot (715-798-4459.)
Sept. 9: Bear season opens.
Sept. 12: Seasons open: Ruffed grouse; Turkey; Crow; Archery deer; Cottontail rabbit; Squirrel.
Sept. 13: Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame Kids Fish O’Rama (715-634-4440.)
Sept. 19: Woodcock season opens.
Sept. 25-26: Cable Area Fall Festival (800-533-7454.)
Sept. 26: 25th Annual Hayward Fall Festival (715-634-8662.)
Sept: 30: Trout season closes on most inland streams. (See regs for exceptions.)
Oct. 2-4: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. 32nd Annual Fall Muskie Tournament (715 634 2921.)

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.