Hayward Lakes Sherry
07-26-2011, 11:15 AM
July 25, 2011
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
The heat wave broke and the forecast for this week looks good. Highs in the 80s, most lows in the 50s to 60s, and a few chances for showers – great summer weather for outdoor recreation!
“Last week’s heat certainly limited fishing activity in this area,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “That changed with the temperature and humidity drop, and it is more pleasant to be outside and in a boat.”
At Pastika’s, guide Steve Genson says muskie anglers are catching some nice fish in deeper water.
“With the very warm water, anglers should handle fish carefully, make quick releases in the water, and avoid unnecessary photos.”
Dennis at Hayward Bait says there is exceptional largemouth action on most waters with topwaters, plastic worms, and creature baits. He suggests crankbaits for smallmouth waters.
Randy at Jenk’s says Chippewa Flowage crappie and bluegill fishing is good on waxies, leaf worms, Mini-Mites, and Gulp! baits. Fish deep brush and cribs during the day and bogs in the evening.
“Nelson Lake’s largemouth bass loved last week’s hot weather,” says Cathy at Minnow Jim’s. “Fish shoreline weed beds and shaded areas with spinnerbaits, frogs, and rigged worms. At sunset, cast floating stickbaits and surface baits.”
“Lake weed densities are variable,” says DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt. “Some waters show thicker densities than normal, while other lakes show densities much lower than in past years. Sue to heavy runoff during the 2010 summer, many stained-water lakes are darker than normal, keeping down weed growth.”
Anglers 10-16 years of age have time to register for Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. free Kid’s Fishing Day Sunday Aug. 7. Call Hayward Bait (715) 634-2921 for more information. Call Mike Persson (715- 634-4543) to volunteer as a guide or assist with the shore lunch.
Application deadline:
The application deadline for fall turkey, sharp-tailed grouse, bobcat, fisher, and otter permits is August 1. Visit the DNR website for specific details.
FISHING REPORT
Muskies:
Muskie action slowed with the heat, and early morning, late afternoon, and after dark offer the best chances for success. Hot, humid, cloudy days can be good, too, but keep an eye out for storms. Cast large bucktails, gliders, surface baits, Bull Dawgs, crank and swim baits for fish suspending near deeper water weed lines, break lines, and bars.
Walleye:
Walleye action remains spotty and inconsistent. The best fishing is during low light conditions, such as early morning, late evening, and after dark, and yet anglers are catching fish throughout the day in a variety of locations. Depths range from 8-25 feet and deeper. Concentrate on mid-depth to deeper weeds, structure, sand/gravel transition areas, break lines, humps, and drops offs. Crawlers and leeches on jigs, harnesses, Lindy rigs, and under slip bobbers are the top producers, with some good catches on walleye suckers, crankbaits, and stickbaits.
Northern:
As with muskies, the heat slowed northern action. Work the deep edge of weeds and bars and near deeper structure with spoons, spinners, spinnerbaits, topwaters, stick and buzz baits, and northern suckers on jigs and Lindy rigs. Fish shallower weeds for great small fish action or deep weed lines with large northern suckers for trophy pike.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth fishing is excellent and the best species choice for action at this time. Target weeds, weed edges, lily pads, wood, docks, stumps, and bog edges in depths from shallow slop to 18 feet of water. Surface baits and plastics, spinnerbaits and Beetle Spins, stick and crank baits, and rigged plastic worms are all catching largemouth. Live bait, such as crawlers, leeches, and minnows, will also catch fish.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is good on deep weed and bar edges, rock, points, stumps, and brush in 8-25 feet of water. Best choices for artificials include tubes, spinner, crank, and swim baits, wacky worms, and jigs with Gulp! baits or plastics. Crawdad colors can be particularly effective. Live bait such as crawlers and minnows also work well for smallmouth.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing can be very good when you locate them. Look for concentrations suspending along deeper weed lines, weed edges, cribs, brush, bogs, and other mid-depth cover. Bigger fish are in deeper water. Most productive baits include crappie minnows, panfish leeches, worms, Mini-Mites, and Gulp! baits on jigs or plain hooks, with or without a bobber.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action is good to very good, from shallow water out to 18 feet and deeper water. Look for fish in and along weeds, weed lines, and weed edges, cribs, and bogs. As with crappies, bigger fish are suspending in deeper water. Baits of choice include waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawler chunks, panfish leeches, Gulp! baits, and plastics on jigs or plain hooks, fished with or without a bobber.
Upcoming Events
Through July 31: Illegal to run dogs on DNR and WPA lands (see regs).
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear allowed (see regs for exceptions).
July 29-31: Lumberjack World Championships (715) 634-2484).
Aug. 1: Application deadline: Fall turkey; Sharptail grouse; Bobcat; Fisher; Otter.
Aug. 7: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. Annual Kids Fishing Day (715-634-2921; 634-4543).
Aug. 18-21: Sawyer County Fair (715-934-2721).
Aug. 26-28: Musky Tale Resort’s Mega Bass Shootout (715-462-3838).
Sept. 2-4: Exeland Trout Festival (715-266-4181).
Sept. 4: Cable Rod & Gun Club Pig Roast & Turkey Shoot (715-798-4459).
Sept. 7-10: Chippewa Flowage Musky Hunt (715-462-3276).
Sept. 11: Kids Fish O Rama at Fishing Hall of Fame (715-634-4440).
Sept. 24: Hayward Fall Festival (715) 634-8662).
Sept. 30-Oct. 2: 34th Annual Hayward Lakes Chapter of Muskies, Inc. Fall Fishing Tournament (715-634-2161).
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.
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
The heat wave broke and the forecast for this week looks good. Highs in the 80s, most lows in the 50s to 60s, and a few chances for showers – great summer weather for outdoor recreation!
“Last week’s heat certainly limited fishing activity in this area,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “That changed with the temperature and humidity drop, and it is more pleasant to be outside and in a boat.”
At Pastika’s, guide Steve Genson says muskie anglers are catching some nice fish in deeper water.
“With the very warm water, anglers should handle fish carefully, make quick releases in the water, and avoid unnecessary photos.”
Dennis at Hayward Bait says there is exceptional largemouth action on most waters with topwaters, plastic worms, and creature baits. He suggests crankbaits for smallmouth waters.
Randy at Jenk’s says Chippewa Flowage crappie and bluegill fishing is good on waxies, leaf worms, Mini-Mites, and Gulp! baits. Fish deep brush and cribs during the day and bogs in the evening.
“Nelson Lake’s largemouth bass loved last week’s hot weather,” says Cathy at Minnow Jim’s. “Fish shoreline weed beds and shaded areas with spinnerbaits, frogs, and rigged worms. At sunset, cast floating stickbaits and surface baits.”
“Lake weed densities are variable,” says DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt. “Some waters show thicker densities than normal, while other lakes show densities much lower than in past years. Sue to heavy runoff during the 2010 summer, many stained-water lakes are darker than normal, keeping down weed growth.”
Anglers 10-16 years of age have time to register for Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. free Kid’s Fishing Day Sunday Aug. 7. Call Hayward Bait (715) 634-2921 for more information. Call Mike Persson (715- 634-4543) to volunteer as a guide or assist with the shore lunch.
Application deadline:
The application deadline for fall turkey, sharp-tailed grouse, bobcat, fisher, and otter permits is August 1. Visit the DNR website for specific details.
FISHING REPORT
Muskies:
Muskie action slowed with the heat, and early morning, late afternoon, and after dark offer the best chances for success. Hot, humid, cloudy days can be good, too, but keep an eye out for storms. Cast large bucktails, gliders, surface baits, Bull Dawgs, crank and swim baits for fish suspending near deeper water weed lines, break lines, and bars.
Walleye:
Walleye action remains spotty and inconsistent. The best fishing is during low light conditions, such as early morning, late evening, and after dark, and yet anglers are catching fish throughout the day in a variety of locations. Depths range from 8-25 feet and deeper. Concentrate on mid-depth to deeper weeds, structure, sand/gravel transition areas, break lines, humps, and drops offs. Crawlers and leeches on jigs, harnesses, Lindy rigs, and under slip bobbers are the top producers, with some good catches on walleye suckers, crankbaits, and stickbaits.
Northern:
As with muskies, the heat slowed northern action. Work the deep edge of weeds and bars and near deeper structure with spoons, spinners, spinnerbaits, topwaters, stick and buzz baits, and northern suckers on jigs and Lindy rigs. Fish shallower weeds for great small fish action or deep weed lines with large northern suckers for trophy pike.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth fishing is excellent and the best species choice for action at this time. Target weeds, weed edges, lily pads, wood, docks, stumps, and bog edges in depths from shallow slop to 18 feet of water. Surface baits and plastics, spinnerbaits and Beetle Spins, stick and crank baits, and rigged plastic worms are all catching largemouth. Live bait, such as crawlers, leeches, and minnows, will also catch fish.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is good on deep weed and bar edges, rock, points, stumps, and brush in 8-25 feet of water. Best choices for artificials include tubes, spinner, crank, and swim baits, wacky worms, and jigs with Gulp! baits or plastics. Crawdad colors can be particularly effective. Live bait such as crawlers and minnows also work well for smallmouth.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing can be very good when you locate them. Look for concentrations suspending along deeper weed lines, weed edges, cribs, brush, bogs, and other mid-depth cover. Bigger fish are in deeper water. Most productive baits include crappie minnows, panfish leeches, worms, Mini-Mites, and Gulp! baits on jigs or plain hooks, with or without a bobber.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action is good to very good, from shallow water out to 18 feet and deeper water. Look for fish in and along weeds, weed lines, and weed edges, cribs, and bogs. As with crappies, bigger fish are suspending in deeper water. Baits of choice include waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawler chunks, panfish leeches, Gulp! baits, and plastics on jigs or plain hooks, fished with or without a bobber.
Upcoming Events
Through July 31: Illegal to run dogs on DNR and WPA lands (see regs).
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear allowed (see regs for exceptions).
July 29-31: Lumberjack World Championships (715) 634-2484).
Aug. 1: Application deadline: Fall turkey; Sharptail grouse; Bobcat; Fisher; Otter.
Aug. 7: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. Annual Kids Fishing Day (715-634-2921; 634-4543).
Aug. 18-21: Sawyer County Fair (715-934-2721).
Aug. 26-28: Musky Tale Resort’s Mega Bass Shootout (715-462-3838).
Sept. 2-4: Exeland Trout Festival (715-266-4181).
Sept. 4: Cable Rod & Gun Club Pig Roast & Turkey Shoot (715-798-4459).
Sept. 7-10: Chippewa Flowage Musky Hunt (715-462-3276).
Sept. 11: Kids Fish O Rama at Fishing Hall of Fame (715-634-4440).
Sept. 24: Hayward Fall Festival (715) 634-8662).
Sept. 30-Oct. 2: 34th Annual Hayward Lakes Chapter of Muskies, Inc. Fall Fishing Tournament (715-634-2161).
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.