Hayward Lakes Sherry
08-15-2011, 08:58 AM
August 15, 2011
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
The past week offered a break from the summer heat, and the coming week appears to offer more of the same. These cooler nights will help lower water temperatures and should improve fishing success.
“The nice weather this week is giving us a taste of fall,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “It’s great to get out in the cooler conditions.”
“Muskie action is up and down.” says Randy at Jenk’s. “When they are interested, they prefer noisy surface baits.”
At Pastika’s, Al says the bite windows are fairly short for most species, but particularly for muskies and walleye. Best fishing is one to two hours before dark and one to two hours after dark, and very early mornings can be good, too.
At Anglers All in Ashland, Carolyn says anglers continue to catch a wide variety of trout and salmon in 30-100 feet and deeper water on spoons, squids, and bait flies.
Skip Sommerfeldt, DNR fisheries biologist says the cooler weather dropped water temperatures into the low 70s on some waters and this seems to have caused a spurt in fish activity.
Sawyer County Outdoor Projects & Education (SCOPE) is holding its Family Fun Day Sunday August 28 at Summit Lake Game Farm. During Family Fun Day, visitors have an opportunity for hands-on participation in numerous outdoor activities. At 2 p.m., Extreme Sport shooter Patrick Flanigan will perform an amazing show that is fun all ages. The day’s events run 9 a.m. through 3 p.m., rain or shine. For more information, visit www.sawyercountyoutdoors.com.
Hayward Bass Club’s free youth tournament is this Sunday, August 21, and there is still time to register. Young anglers 10-17 fish with club members and local guides from noon until 3 p.m. and then enjoy an outdoor feast. For more information, call Hayward Bait (715-634-2921) or Wayne Balsavich (715-699-1015.)
FISHING REPORT
Muskies:
Muskie fishing continues to be relatively slow, with most action after dark or in early morning. You might find muskies shallow or deep. Concentrate on deep drop-offs, weeds, and weed edges. Topwaters, bucktails, and plastics are the most productive baits at this time, with a few fish caught on jerkbaits.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing remains a challenge. Best times are during early morning and late evening. Deeper water is first choice, though some anglers are catching fish shallower, too. Look for weeds from shallow to deep, and weed edges, rock drop-offs, flats, and brush from 10-35 feet and deeper. Leeches under slip bobbers, crawlers on harnesses, and trolled stick baits are the top three choices, with a few caught on minnows.
Northern:
Northern action is fair to good, but you will have to work deeper water until it starts to cool. For now, fish deeper weeds – beds, lines, and edges, including bar edges. Baits of choice include spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and noisy/splashy baits, as well as northern suckers under bobbers or on Lindy Rigs.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action continues to be very good. If other species are not receptive, largemouth can save the day. Fish various depths, from shallow slop to deeper weed lines out to the second break, hitting wood, bogs, weeds, and other structure. Favorite baits include topwaters, spinners, spinnerbaits, plastics soft plastics, plastic worms. Did you note topwaters?
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass are scattered, holding near deep weed edges, rock bars, weed, wood, and other structure in 15-25 feet of water. Use crawdad imitations, plastics, topwaters, Gulp! baits, tubes, wacky worms, topwaters, and crawlers.
Crappie:
Crappie action is good when you find them. Look for fish suspending at various depths in deeper water – and they might not be near anything. Otherwise, try near downed trees, deeper weed lines, and cribs. Crappie minnows, panfish leeches, plastics, topwaters, Mini-Mites, and tube jigs will catch crappies ... again, once you find them.
Bluegill:
Bluegill anglers have the choice of fun fishing for small fish just about everywhere, or fishing larger fish in deeper water. For the bigger fish for a meal, work deeper weed lines, wood structure, and cribs out to more than 20 feet of water. Waxies, worms, crawlers, leaf worms, panfish leeches, and topwaters are all good choices for bluegills. Small minnows are an option for bigger fish to avoid the hassles of smaller ‘gills.
Upcoming Events
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear allowed (see regs for exceptions).
Aug. 18-21: Sawyer County Fair (715-934-2721).
Aug. 20: Bonus antlerless deer tags on sale at noon.
Aug. 21: Hayward Bass Club Youth Day (715-634-2921; 699-1015).
Aug. 23: Deadline to transfer Class A Bear license to youth hunter.
Aug. 26-28: Musky Tale Resort’s Mega Bass Shootout (715-462-3838).
Aug. 27: Remaining fall turkey permits on sale at noon.
Aug. 28: SCOPE Family Fun Days (715-354-7241.)
Sept. 1: Seasons open: Early Canada goose; Mourning dove.
Sept. 3: Hook-and-line lake sturgeon season opens on designated waters. (See regs.)
Sept. 2-4: Exeland Trout Festival (715-266-4181).
Sept. 4: Cable Rod & Gun Club Pig Roast & Turkey Shoot (715-798-4459).
Sept. 7: Bear season opens.
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. 15: Early Canada goose hunting season closes.
Sept. 17: Seasons open: Archery deer; Turkey; Ruffed grouse (Zone A); Cottontail rabbit; Gray and fox squirrel; Crow.
Sept. 24: Woodcock season opens.
Sept. 24: Hayward Fall Festival (715-634-8662).
Sept. 30: Seasons close: Trout on inland waters (see regs.), Lake trout on Lake Superior; Hook and line sturgeon.
Sept. 30-Oct. 2: Hayward Lakes Chapter of Muskies, Inc. 34th Annual Fall Fishing Tournament (715-634-4543.)
For more information on area events and activities, visit the Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau website, view its Calendar of Events, or call 1-800-724-2992.
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
The past week offered a break from the summer heat, and the coming week appears to offer more of the same. These cooler nights will help lower water temperatures and should improve fishing success.
“The nice weather this week is giving us a taste of fall,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “It’s great to get out in the cooler conditions.”
“Muskie action is up and down.” says Randy at Jenk’s. “When they are interested, they prefer noisy surface baits.”
At Pastika’s, Al says the bite windows are fairly short for most species, but particularly for muskies and walleye. Best fishing is one to two hours before dark and one to two hours after dark, and very early mornings can be good, too.
At Anglers All in Ashland, Carolyn says anglers continue to catch a wide variety of trout and salmon in 30-100 feet and deeper water on spoons, squids, and bait flies.
Skip Sommerfeldt, DNR fisheries biologist says the cooler weather dropped water temperatures into the low 70s on some waters and this seems to have caused a spurt in fish activity.
Sawyer County Outdoor Projects & Education (SCOPE) is holding its Family Fun Day Sunday August 28 at Summit Lake Game Farm. During Family Fun Day, visitors have an opportunity for hands-on participation in numerous outdoor activities. At 2 p.m., Extreme Sport shooter Patrick Flanigan will perform an amazing show that is fun all ages. The day’s events run 9 a.m. through 3 p.m., rain or shine. For more information, visit www.sawyercountyoutdoors.com.
Hayward Bass Club’s free youth tournament is this Sunday, August 21, and there is still time to register. Young anglers 10-17 fish with club members and local guides from noon until 3 p.m. and then enjoy an outdoor feast. For more information, call Hayward Bait (715-634-2921) or Wayne Balsavich (715-699-1015.)
FISHING REPORT
Muskies:
Muskie fishing continues to be relatively slow, with most action after dark or in early morning. You might find muskies shallow or deep. Concentrate on deep drop-offs, weeds, and weed edges. Topwaters, bucktails, and plastics are the most productive baits at this time, with a few fish caught on jerkbaits.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing remains a challenge. Best times are during early morning and late evening. Deeper water is first choice, though some anglers are catching fish shallower, too. Look for weeds from shallow to deep, and weed edges, rock drop-offs, flats, and brush from 10-35 feet and deeper. Leeches under slip bobbers, crawlers on harnesses, and trolled stick baits are the top three choices, with a few caught on minnows.
Northern:
Northern action is fair to good, but you will have to work deeper water until it starts to cool. For now, fish deeper weeds – beds, lines, and edges, including bar edges. Baits of choice include spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and noisy/splashy baits, as well as northern suckers under bobbers or on Lindy Rigs.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action continues to be very good. If other species are not receptive, largemouth can save the day. Fish various depths, from shallow slop to deeper weed lines out to the second break, hitting wood, bogs, weeds, and other structure. Favorite baits include topwaters, spinners, spinnerbaits, plastics soft plastics, plastic worms. Did you note topwaters?
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass are scattered, holding near deep weed edges, rock bars, weed, wood, and other structure in 15-25 feet of water. Use crawdad imitations, plastics, topwaters, Gulp! baits, tubes, wacky worms, topwaters, and crawlers.
Crappie:
Crappie action is good when you find them. Look for fish suspending at various depths in deeper water – and they might not be near anything. Otherwise, try near downed trees, deeper weed lines, and cribs. Crappie minnows, panfish leeches, plastics, topwaters, Mini-Mites, and tube jigs will catch crappies ... again, once you find them.
Bluegill:
Bluegill anglers have the choice of fun fishing for small fish just about everywhere, or fishing larger fish in deeper water. For the bigger fish for a meal, work deeper weed lines, wood structure, and cribs out to more than 20 feet of water. Waxies, worms, crawlers, leaf worms, panfish leeches, and topwaters are all good choices for bluegills. Small minnows are an option for bigger fish to avoid the hassles of smaller ‘gills.
Upcoming Events
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear allowed (see regs for exceptions).
Aug. 18-21: Sawyer County Fair (715-934-2721).
Aug. 20: Bonus antlerless deer tags on sale at noon.
Aug. 21: Hayward Bass Club Youth Day (715-634-2921; 699-1015).
Aug. 23: Deadline to transfer Class A Bear license to youth hunter.
Aug. 26-28: Musky Tale Resort’s Mega Bass Shootout (715-462-3838).
Aug. 27: Remaining fall turkey permits on sale at noon.
Aug. 28: SCOPE Family Fun Days (715-354-7241.)
Sept. 1: Seasons open: Early Canada goose; Mourning dove.
Sept. 3: Hook-and-line lake sturgeon season opens on designated waters. (See regs.)
Sept. 2-4: Exeland Trout Festival (715-266-4181).
Sept. 4: Cable Rod & Gun Club Pig Roast & Turkey Shoot (715-798-4459).
Sept. 7: Bear season opens.
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. 15: Early Canada goose hunting season closes.
Sept. 17: Seasons open: Archery deer; Turkey; Ruffed grouse (Zone A); Cottontail rabbit; Gray and fox squirrel; Crow.
Sept. 24: Woodcock season opens.
Sept. 24: Hayward Fall Festival (715-634-8662).
Sept. 30: Seasons close: Trout on inland waters (see regs.), Lake trout on Lake Superior; Hook and line sturgeon.
Sept. 30-Oct. 2: Hayward Lakes Chapter of Muskies, Inc. 34th Annual Fall Fishing Tournament (715-634-4543.)
For more information on area events and activities, visit the Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau website, view its Calendar of Events, or call 1-800-724-2992.