July 7, 2014
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman

Hayward area visitors enjoyed near-perfect weather during the July 4th weekend, with warm, dry days and cooler nights. This week looks to be more of the same, with a few thunderstorms tossed into the mix.

Pat at Happy Hooker says erratic weather conditions made for variable fishing success last week.
“Muskie anglers are seeing many fish, but catching only a few. When the mayfly hatch does happen, it will change the walleye bite, but anglers are reporting some nice catches of 14-to 17-inch walleyes. Action is good for bass, both largemouth and smallmouth, and northern pike. Panfish are providing excellent action, though if you are planning on a panfish dinner you will do some sorting.
“Deer and horse flies have joined the mosquitoes and black fly hordes, so be prepared when heading outdoors.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says muskie action is improving on the Chippewa Flowage.
“Muskies are in weed beds and on weed edges 2-10 feet, with bucktails and topwaters producing fish. Walleye action is excellent with leeches on humps and sunken bogs, some catches on crawlers, and on Rapalas cast over the shallows in the evening.
“Both northerns and largemouth are in thick weeds. Use spinnerbaits for pike and jig/plastic combos for bass. Crappies are on brush and cribs in 14-22 feet. Crappie minnows work, but tube jigs and jigs tipped with plastics work better.”
Jim at Hayward Bait says muskie fishing is good on points and shallower weedlines.
“Walleye fishing is steady on leeches and crawlers, but jigs and fatheads still work. Fish 15-20 feet of water on rock bars, sand bars, and weed edges.
“Largemouth action is good on weedless worms and topwaters in lily pads. Crappies are on deep weedlines and suspending over deeper water, with fishing fair on crappie minnows, waxies, and plastics. Fish for bluegills on weedlines, gravel, and rock bars in 5-15 feet of water with waxies, worms, crawlers, plastics, Tattle-Tails, and Gulp! baits.”
Mike at Jenk’s says muskie anglers report seeing fish on various baits, including bucktails, spinner and surface baits in the evening.
“Anglers are having success on suckers, but keep the suckers away from the surface and deeper than 10 feet where it is a bit cooler. Walleye fishing is good on leeches, crawlers, Beetle Spins, and smaller Rapalas fished in and near sunken brush. Northern pike are hitting on nearly everything, from live bait to spoons to spinners.
“Largemouth action is very good in structure with plastic worms, and other plastics. Crappie fishing is best in the evening on cribs, brush, and bogs with crappie minnows, Mini-Mites, and tubes.”
Jim at Minnow Jim’s says Nelson Lake walleye anglers should jig minnows and leeches and cast or troll Shad Raps near shorelines and rock bars in the evening.
“Bass are feeding on crawfish. Fish near weed beds or rock bars with scented plastic worms/critters, surface frogs, and poppers.
“For crappies, drift small, dressed jigs tipped with leeches, small minnows, or Gulp! one-inch minnows. For bluegills, use worms or waxies near docks, cribs, and brush.”

Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says trout and salmon fishing is very productive from Houghton Point to Outer Island and south to the flats.
“Troll spoons off downriggers, fishing the first drops in early morning and moving deeper as the sun rises.
“Smallmouth are moving to their summer haunts in the Bay and the shallows. Use slow moving plastics, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and sucker minnows. Fly anglers are using minnow and leech imitations and topwaters.
“Walleye fishing is fair trolling over humps and in the channel, with good action at Kakagon Slough mouth.”

DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter says when beavers dam a stream, it quickly becomes too warm for trout to live.
“The DNR partners with USDA-Wildlife Services to manage beavers on high-quality trout streams and this program has been very successful on Namekagon River tributaries, Venison Creek, Benson Creek, and others.
“Recently, Wildlife Services brought on Exeland area resident Rick Villiard to control beaver on streams in the Exeland area, focusing on Maple, Swan, Beaver, and Badger creeks. By removing beaver and dams from these systems, we expect to see improvements in both water quality and trout fishing.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says fishing is erratic with the changing weather and rain showers and fish are slow to transition to typical summer patterns.
“Muskie fishing is best with bucktails and surface baits. Walleye fishing is steady on deep weed edges and rock humps with leeches and crawlers.
“Soft plastics and surface baits are good for largemouth in weed and lily pad beds. Crappies are along weed edges, over brush, and in mid-depth weeds.”

The annual Flambeau River State Forest wolf howl-trek presentation is July 12, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Laine and Diane Stowell will lead participants on a car trek, stopping at several locations to call wolves and wait for an answer call. (Cancelled if rain.) Meet at Flambeau River State Forest Headquarters at 9:45 p.m. For information, call (715) 332-5271.

FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
Muskie action is improving. Fish in/on/along weedline edges, points, and bars out to 12 feet with bucktails, gliders, crankbaits, topwaters, spinnerbaits, and suckers. Check with your favorite bait shop for preferred color combinations on specific waters.

Walleye:
Walleye action is good to excellent. Fish weedlines, rock, sand, humps, bars, bogs, and brush out to 25 feet. Work shallower water during evening. Leeches and crawlers work best, though fatheads, Beetle Spins, crankbaits, and Shad Raps also produce fish.

Northern Pike:
Northern action is fair to good in thick weeds, deep weedlines, and near panfish concentrations. Catch them on northern suckers, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, stickbaits, and crankbaits. Go deeper with bigger baits for trophy pike.

Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass action is very good to excellent in lily pads, weeds, weedlines, and slop. Best baits include topwaters, weedless worms/plastics on jigs, crankbaits, and spinners, especially in crawdad colors.

Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass moved deeper, with anglers catching fish on mid-depth structure and rock/gravel bottoms and bars. Leeches and crawlers work well, but tubes/plastics, spinners, and crankbaits can be just as effective.

Crappie:
Crappie fishing is fair to good in 10-24 feet on/over weedlines, brush, bogs, cribs, and simply suspending over deeper water. Bait choices include crappie minnows, waxies, leeches, plastics, tube and dressed jigs, and Gulp! baits.

Bluegill:
Bluegill action is very good to excellent. Fish deeper water (to 15 feet) on weedlines, gravel, rock, docks, brush, and cribs. Use waxies, worms, crawlers, and small plastics on small jigs/teardrops and plain hooks, with or without bobbers.

Upcoming Events
July 12: Flambeau River State Forest annual wolf howl-trek presentation (715-332-5271).
July 15: Turtle season open statewide (see regs. for exceptions).
July 15-20: LCO Honor the Earth Pow Wow (715) 634-8934).
July 18-20: Birchwood Bluegill Festival (800-236-2252).
July 24-26: 55th Annual Lumberjack World Championships (715-634-2484).
Through July 31: Illegal to allow dogs to run on DNR lands and Federal WPA (see regs for exceptions).
Aug. 1: Application deadline: Fall turkey; Horicon goose; Wolf; Bobcat; Fisher; Otter; Sharp-tailed grouse; Upriver Winnebago system sturgeon spearing.
Aug. 2: Flambeau River State Forest Outdoor Camp Cooking (715-332-5271).
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear (see regs. for exceptions).
Aug. 9-10: Project Appleseed event at Hayward Rod & Gun Club (715-466-5145).
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear (see regs. for exceptions).

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.