Hayward Lakes Sherry
11-27-2012, 05:27 PM
November 26, 2012
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Outstanding Thanksgiving Day weather changed quickly, with falling snow and the unseasonably mild 60-degree temperatures dropping into the mid-teens. Deer hunters rejoiced while others searched for their choppers and long johns.
Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) registered 1,062 deer during the regular gun deer season – 454 antlerless deer and 608 bucks. This includes some nice eight- and 10-pointers, one big 16-pointer, and a 170-class 14-point with 7.5-inch circumference at the bases.
Lonnie at Hillman’s Store says buck registrations increased by 15 percent compared to last year, but the overall registration decreased nine percent. Dennis at Shooting Star saw total registrations decrease 10 percent compared to last year.
Deer seasons continue, with muzzleloader season November 26 through December 5; antlerless-only gun season December 6-9; and late archery season through January 6.
Spring wild turkey and bear hunters: The application deadline for 2013 harvest permits is December 10.
The Wisconsin wolf harvest now totals 98 animals as of November 26. The harvest quota for Zone 1 (covering a large portion of Sawyer County) is 32 wolves and hunters and trappers have harvested 30 wolves. The DNR closed zones 2 and 4 as of November 16.
“We did not see many anglers last week,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “I think everyone was sitting in tree stands looking for deer! Most hunters in this area saw only small bucks and many does, but all said they ‘have a big one on the trail cam.’ Wonder if it is the same buck and he just wanders from cam to cam at night?”
If the cold continues, says guide Steve Genson at Hayward Bait, it appears we could soon have early ice.
“Prior to this cold weather, some muskie anglers trolled big baits on the big lakes, walleye anglers jigged fatheads and walleye suckers on deep water humps and breaks, and Chippewa Flowage crappie anglers caught fish in deep holes with crappie minnows and plastics.
“Deer were not too active with the warmer temperatures, but registrations improved at the end of the season. The cold weather should get them moving for muzzleloader season.”
“Most anglers are waiting for safe ice so they can put out tip-ups for walleyes,” says guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations. “With this major weather change, we could have ice in the next week. Always be very cautious on first ice – a few fish are not worth going through the ice!”
We had a good start to the ice last week, says Randy at Jenk’s, but four days in the 50s ended it. We will see if these single-digit lows provide good ice before the Chippewa Flowage walleye season ends November 30.
Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says the few Chequamegon Bay anglers on the water last week reported good success.
“Bass anglers caught smallmouth on the rock pile and off the ore dock, while trollers had good luck catching brown trout and salmon.
“The deer kill was up during opening weekend, but then registration slowed, perhaps because bucks turned nocturnal.
“Winter weather hit hard, with a 40-degree temperature drop and 25 mph winds, and I am guessing quite a few boats moved to storage!”
Warm temperatures and light south winds provided anglers a great opportunity to get on the water one last time before freeze up, says DNR LTE fisheries technician Scott Braden.
“Crappies were biting on the Chippewa Flowage and walleye anglers picked up a few nice fish in the area where one would expect to find them if there was ice. Smallmouth action tailed off, but a few anglers caught some big fish on rocky humps and points.
“Lake Superior was the place to be, with coho everywhere, riding high in the water column or tight to shore lines, in Chequamegon Bay, from Washburn to Bayfield, and around any of the Apostle Islands. Most anglers trolled stickbaits on planer boards and some picked up an occasional brown trout or splake.
“Ice does not usually slow this bite, so if you did not make it before ice-up, make it a point to fish the hard water season!”
The advent of gun deer seasons made fishing activity almost non-existent across the north woods, according to DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt.
“Many of the smaller, shallower lakes developed thin layers of ice in mid-November, but mild weather caused most of it to disappear. It will take several nights of single-digit temperatures with no wind for the lakes to produce significant ice.
“A few die-hard muskie anglers continue to try their luck, most dragging large suckers, but very few report any success.
While this recent snowfall might tempt snowmobilers, the November 23 HLVCB Snowmobile Trail Report says the area received about three inches of snow and the trails are not yet ready for travel.
Northwest Relic Riders Vintage Snowmobile Club will have its antique snowmobile display at Northern Lakes IGA Foods in Hayward from November 30 through December 10.
FISHING REPORT
It appears the arrival of snow and single-digit temperatures has ended open water fishing season for this year. Fishing reports will resume once area lake ice conditions reach a point considered reasonably ‘safe’ (such as ice can be) for travel and fishing ... OR we return to the mild, open water fishing conditions. (Hint: Smart money is on preparing and organizing your ice fishing gear.)
Muskie:
Some “dedicated” muskie anglers are still searching for the big ones and will probably continue to do so (wherever possible) right up to the November 30 close of northern zone muskie season. Success is limited, but this is the time for big fish, not big numbers. Most anglers are using big suckers when/where they can find them, trolling large baits on the bigger lakes, and working steep shorelines and river channels.
Walleye:
Prior to the dramatic weather change, walleye anglers continued to have success jigging fatheads and walleye suckers on deep water humps and breaks.
Crappie:
Up until the big freeze arrived, crappie anglers were enjoying good success on the Chippewa Flowage and other area lakes working deep water holes with crappie minnows and plastics.
Upcoming Events
Nov. 25: Seasons Closed: Northern Zone duck; Gun deer.
Nov. 26-Dec. 5: Muzzleloader deer season.
Nov. 30: Seasons Close: Muskie; Turtle.
Dec. 1: Lake Superior lake trout season opens.
Dec. 5: Muzzleloader deer season closes.
Dec. 6-9: Antlerless-only gun deer season.
Dec. 10: Application deadline: Spring turkey; Bear.
Dec. 21: Canada goose season closes.
Dec. 25: Period 1 bobcat season closes.
Dec. 26: Period 2 bobcat season opens north of Hwy. 64.
Dec. 31: Seasons Close: Pheasant; Hungarian partridge; Fisher; Frog.
Jan. 6: Late archery deer season closes.
Jan. 19: Winter crow season opens.
Jan. 31: Seasons Close: Squirrel; Ruffed grouse in Zone A; Bobcat, Period 2.
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
Outstanding Thanksgiving Day weather changed quickly, with falling snow and the unseasonably mild 60-degree temperatures dropping into the mid-teens. Deer hunters rejoiced while others searched for their choppers and long johns.
Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) registered 1,062 deer during the regular gun deer season – 454 antlerless deer and 608 bucks. This includes some nice eight- and 10-pointers, one big 16-pointer, and a 170-class 14-point with 7.5-inch circumference at the bases.
Lonnie at Hillman’s Store says buck registrations increased by 15 percent compared to last year, but the overall registration decreased nine percent. Dennis at Shooting Star saw total registrations decrease 10 percent compared to last year.
Deer seasons continue, with muzzleloader season November 26 through December 5; antlerless-only gun season December 6-9; and late archery season through January 6.
Spring wild turkey and bear hunters: The application deadline for 2013 harvest permits is December 10.
The Wisconsin wolf harvest now totals 98 animals as of November 26. The harvest quota for Zone 1 (covering a large portion of Sawyer County) is 32 wolves and hunters and trappers have harvested 30 wolves. The DNR closed zones 2 and 4 as of November 16.
“We did not see many anglers last week,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “I think everyone was sitting in tree stands looking for deer! Most hunters in this area saw only small bucks and many does, but all said they ‘have a big one on the trail cam.’ Wonder if it is the same buck and he just wanders from cam to cam at night?”
If the cold continues, says guide Steve Genson at Hayward Bait, it appears we could soon have early ice.
“Prior to this cold weather, some muskie anglers trolled big baits on the big lakes, walleye anglers jigged fatheads and walleye suckers on deep water humps and breaks, and Chippewa Flowage crappie anglers caught fish in deep holes with crappie minnows and plastics.
“Deer were not too active with the warmer temperatures, but registrations improved at the end of the season. The cold weather should get them moving for muzzleloader season.”
“Most anglers are waiting for safe ice so they can put out tip-ups for walleyes,” says guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations. “With this major weather change, we could have ice in the next week. Always be very cautious on first ice – a few fish are not worth going through the ice!”
We had a good start to the ice last week, says Randy at Jenk’s, but four days in the 50s ended it. We will see if these single-digit lows provide good ice before the Chippewa Flowage walleye season ends November 30.
Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says the few Chequamegon Bay anglers on the water last week reported good success.
“Bass anglers caught smallmouth on the rock pile and off the ore dock, while trollers had good luck catching brown trout and salmon.
“The deer kill was up during opening weekend, but then registration slowed, perhaps because bucks turned nocturnal.
“Winter weather hit hard, with a 40-degree temperature drop and 25 mph winds, and I am guessing quite a few boats moved to storage!”
Warm temperatures and light south winds provided anglers a great opportunity to get on the water one last time before freeze up, says DNR LTE fisheries technician Scott Braden.
“Crappies were biting on the Chippewa Flowage and walleye anglers picked up a few nice fish in the area where one would expect to find them if there was ice. Smallmouth action tailed off, but a few anglers caught some big fish on rocky humps and points.
“Lake Superior was the place to be, with coho everywhere, riding high in the water column or tight to shore lines, in Chequamegon Bay, from Washburn to Bayfield, and around any of the Apostle Islands. Most anglers trolled stickbaits on planer boards and some picked up an occasional brown trout or splake.
“Ice does not usually slow this bite, so if you did not make it before ice-up, make it a point to fish the hard water season!”
The advent of gun deer seasons made fishing activity almost non-existent across the north woods, according to DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt.
“Many of the smaller, shallower lakes developed thin layers of ice in mid-November, but mild weather caused most of it to disappear. It will take several nights of single-digit temperatures with no wind for the lakes to produce significant ice.
“A few die-hard muskie anglers continue to try their luck, most dragging large suckers, but very few report any success.
While this recent snowfall might tempt snowmobilers, the November 23 HLVCB Snowmobile Trail Report says the area received about three inches of snow and the trails are not yet ready for travel.
Northwest Relic Riders Vintage Snowmobile Club will have its antique snowmobile display at Northern Lakes IGA Foods in Hayward from November 30 through December 10.
FISHING REPORT
It appears the arrival of snow and single-digit temperatures has ended open water fishing season for this year. Fishing reports will resume once area lake ice conditions reach a point considered reasonably ‘safe’ (such as ice can be) for travel and fishing ... OR we return to the mild, open water fishing conditions. (Hint: Smart money is on preparing and organizing your ice fishing gear.)
Muskie:
Some “dedicated” muskie anglers are still searching for the big ones and will probably continue to do so (wherever possible) right up to the November 30 close of northern zone muskie season. Success is limited, but this is the time for big fish, not big numbers. Most anglers are using big suckers when/where they can find them, trolling large baits on the bigger lakes, and working steep shorelines and river channels.
Walleye:
Prior to the dramatic weather change, walleye anglers continued to have success jigging fatheads and walleye suckers on deep water humps and breaks.
Crappie:
Up until the big freeze arrived, crappie anglers were enjoying good success on the Chippewa Flowage and other area lakes working deep water holes with crappie minnows and plastics.
Upcoming Events
Nov. 25: Seasons Closed: Northern Zone duck; Gun deer.
Nov. 26-Dec. 5: Muzzleloader deer season.
Nov. 30: Seasons Close: Muskie; Turtle.
Dec. 1: Lake Superior lake trout season opens.
Dec. 5: Muzzleloader deer season closes.
Dec. 6-9: Antlerless-only gun deer season.
Dec. 10: Application deadline: Spring turkey; Bear.
Dec. 21: Canada goose season closes.
Dec. 25: Period 1 bobcat season closes.
Dec. 26: Period 2 bobcat season opens north of Hwy. 64.
Dec. 31: Seasons Close: Pheasant; Hungarian partridge; Fisher; Frog.
Jan. 6: Late archery deer season closes.
Jan. 19: Winter crow season opens.
Jan. 31: Seasons Close: Squirrel; Ruffed grouse in Zone A; Bobcat, Period 2.
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.