walleyemaxx
10-12-2010, 09:24 AM
Hi everyone,
Here is this weeks HLVCB report.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 11, 2010
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
If you were not in the Hayward area in the past 10 days, you missed some of the most extraordinary October weather the north woods could offer. Cloudless blue skies, low humidity, and temperatures in the upper 60s - even to 80 degrees! The only down side is the bugs find this weather quite favorable, too. Leaf colors continue to be pleasing to the eye, though most leaves are now on the ground.
Steadily dropping water temperatures due to the cool nights are just great for musky and walleye fishing, says Pat at Happy Hooker.
"It is just perfect for triggering a good fall bite, our water levels are much better than during the summer, and all this bodes well for the remainder of the fall period."
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says cool and breezy weather, combined with the numerous hunting opportunities, have lowered fishing pressure on most lakes.
"Most lake levels continue to be a few inches high - though seepage lakes remain quite low due to the longer-term effects of 2004-09 drought."
This time of year, fish patterns - locations and bait preferences - can change quickly. Before hitting the water, check with your favorite bait shop personnel for the most current information on the "where and what" for various fish species.
Fishing Report
Muskie:
Muskie action continues to be very good and should only get better for trophy fish with decreasing water temperatures as fall progresses. Depths vary, but concentrate on shallow weed beds out to mid-depth weeds, structure, and drop-offs. For now, there seems to be no "wrong" baits, including topwaters. Jerkbaits, bucktails, crankbaits, twitch baits, glide baits, Bull Dawgs, Curly Sues, and just about anything you wish to throw could hook a muskie. Suckers are working quite well, but as in recent years, they are in short supply.
Walleye:
Walleye action is inconsistent but improving daily. Depth-wise, walleyes are all over the place, from very deep to mid-depth brush, to weed lines in less than 10 feet of water. (If you fish deep, retrieve slowly so the fish can decompress. Otherwise, you will end up killing the fish.) Minnows, leeches (if available), and crawlers are the baits of choice, but jigs and fatheads are producing the most success. Trolling shallower water weed lines and rock bars with crank and stick baits in the evening is also a very effective presentation.
Northern:
Northern pike fishing is good. Look for fish near green weeds and on the weed edges at varied depths. Spinners and spinnerbaits, spoons, twitch baits, bucktails, and northern suckers are the baits of choice. For trophy pike, fish deeper water with larger baits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth are spread from remaining shallow weeds to deep water weeds, weed lines, and structure, and all areas in between. Soft plastics, small bucktails, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and live bait are all currently catching largemouth.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is quite a challenge right now. Some fish are in shallow weeds and some are holding on deeper water rocks, hard bottom areas, and structure, and the majority seem to have closed mouths. Still, those who persist are catching fish. Crankbaits, plastics, spinnerbaits, and walleye suckers will all catch smallmouth.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good, however the fish remain scattered at a variety of depths, suspending over deeper water, near green weeds, along weed lines, and on cribs. Late afternoon into evening appears to be the best fishing times. Crappie minnows, waxies, worms, plastics, tubes, and the Gulp! baits are all producing catches.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action is fair to good, though few anglers are pursuing them at this time. Fish are in the weeds (both shallow and deep), along weed edges, near cribs, in brush, and on deeper water structure. Deeper water is where you will find the bigger 'gills. The standard bluegill baits continue to work, including waxies, worms, minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 12: Bear season closes.
Oct. 14: Wisconsin Waterfowl Association banquet (715-634-8880.)
Oct. 14-17: Antlerless-only gun deer hunt in herd control and CWD DMUs.
Oct. 16: Seasons Open: Pheasant; Sharp-tailed grouse; Raccoon gun and trapping; Fisher trapping. In north zone: Red and gray fox hunting and trapping; Coyote trapping; Bobcat hunting and trapping; Muskrat; Mink.
Oct. 23: Hunters Expo at Mission Covenant Church in Poplar 11 am to 5 pm
Oct. 30: Raccoon season (non-resident) opens.
Oct. 30-31: Hayward Rod and Gun Club sight-in days. ($5/gun; 9 am-4 pm)
Nov. 2: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting/lure swap at Dow's Corner (715-634-4543,)
Nov. 6: Trapping seasons open in northern zone: Otter; Beaver.
Nov. 6,7, 13-19: Hayward Rod and Gun Club sight-in days. ($5/gun; 9 am-4 p.m.)
Nov. 8: Woodcock season closes.
Nov. 12: Hayward Chapter Whitetails Unlimited Fundraising banquet (715-766-3246.)
Nov. 18: Seasons close: Archery deer; Turkey; Crow.
Nov. 18-19: Cable Rod & Gun Club sight-in days.
Nov. 20-28: Gun deer season.
Nov. 29-Dec. 8: Muzzleloader deer season.
Nov. 29: Archery deer season re-opens.
Enjoy the outdoors everyone.
Walleyemaxx
Here is this weeks HLVCB report.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 11, 2010
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
If you were not in the Hayward area in the past 10 days, you missed some of the most extraordinary October weather the north woods could offer. Cloudless blue skies, low humidity, and temperatures in the upper 60s - even to 80 degrees! The only down side is the bugs find this weather quite favorable, too. Leaf colors continue to be pleasing to the eye, though most leaves are now on the ground.
Steadily dropping water temperatures due to the cool nights are just great for musky and walleye fishing, says Pat at Happy Hooker.
"It is just perfect for triggering a good fall bite, our water levels are much better than during the summer, and all this bodes well for the remainder of the fall period."
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says cool and breezy weather, combined with the numerous hunting opportunities, have lowered fishing pressure on most lakes.
"Most lake levels continue to be a few inches high - though seepage lakes remain quite low due to the longer-term effects of 2004-09 drought."
This time of year, fish patterns - locations and bait preferences - can change quickly. Before hitting the water, check with your favorite bait shop personnel for the most current information on the "where and what" for various fish species.
Fishing Report
Muskie:
Muskie action continues to be very good and should only get better for trophy fish with decreasing water temperatures as fall progresses. Depths vary, but concentrate on shallow weed beds out to mid-depth weeds, structure, and drop-offs. For now, there seems to be no "wrong" baits, including topwaters. Jerkbaits, bucktails, crankbaits, twitch baits, glide baits, Bull Dawgs, Curly Sues, and just about anything you wish to throw could hook a muskie. Suckers are working quite well, but as in recent years, they are in short supply.
Walleye:
Walleye action is inconsistent but improving daily. Depth-wise, walleyes are all over the place, from very deep to mid-depth brush, to weed lines in less than 10 feet of water. (If you fish deep, retrieve slowly so the fish can decompress. Otherwise, you will end up killing the fish.) Minnows, leeches (if available), and crawlers are the baits of choice, but jigs and fatheads are producing the most success. Trolling shallower water weed lines and rock bars with crank and stick baits in the evening is also a very effective presentation.
Northern:
Northern pike fishing is good. Look for fish near green weeds and on the weed edges at varied depths. Spinners and spinnerbaits, spoons, twitch baits, bucktails, and northern suckers are the baits of choice. For trophy pike, fish deeper water with larger baits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth are spread from remaining shallow weeds to deep water weeds, weed lines, and structure, and all areas in between. Soft plastics, small bucktails, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and live bait are all currently catching largemouth.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is quite a challenge right now. Some fish are in shallow weeds and some are holding on deeper water rocks, hard bottom areas, and structure, and the majority seem to have closed mouths. Still, those who persist are catching fish. Crankbaits, plastics, spinnerbaits, and walleye suckers will all catch smallmouth.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good, however the fish remain scattered at a variety of depths, suspending over deeper water, near green weeds, along weed lines, and on cribs. Late afternoon into evening appears to be the best fishing times. Crappie minnows, waxies, worms, plastics, tubes, and the Gulp! baits are all producing catches.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action is fair to good, though few anglers are pursuing them at this time. Fish are in the weeds (both shallow and deep), along weed edges, near cribs, in brush, and on deeper water structure. Deeper water is where you will find the bigger 'gills. The standard bluegill baits continue to work, including waxies, worms, minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 12: Bear season closes.
Oct. 14: Wisconsin Waterfowl Association banquet (715-634-8880.)
Oct. 14-17: Antlerless-only gun deer hunt in herd control and CWD DMUs.
Oct. 16: Seasons Open: Pheasant; Sharp-tailed grouse; Raccoon gun and trapping; Fisher trapping. In north zone: Red and gray fox hunting and trapping; Coyote trapping; Bobcat hunting and trapping; Muskrat; Mink.
Oct. 23: Hunters Expo at Mission Covenant Church in Poplar 11 am to 5 pm
Oct. 30: Raccoon season (non-resident) opens.
Oct. 30-31: Hayward Rod and Gun Club sight-in days. ($5/gun; 9 am-4 pm)
Nov. 2: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. meeting/lure swap at Dow's Corner (715-634-4543,)
Nov. 6: Trapping seasons open in northern zone: Otter; Beaver.
Nov. 6,7, 13-19: Hayward Rod and Gun Club sight-in days. ($5/gun; 9 am-4 p.m.)
Nov. 8: Woodcock season closes.
Nov. 12: Hayward Chapter Whitetails Unlimited Fundraising banquet (715-766-3246.)
Nov. 18: Seasons close: Archery deer; Turkey; Crow.
Nov. 18-19: Cable Rod & Gun Club sight-in days.
Nov. 20-28: Gun deer season.
Nov. 29-Dec. 8: Muzzleloader deer season.
Nov. 29: Archery deer season re-opens.
Enjoy the outdoors everyone.
Walleyemaxx