Hayward Lakes Sherry
10-15-2013, 10:43 AM
FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
This is the time for big muskies and anglers reports good fishing on the edges of green weeds, weedlines, and on points. Most anglers are using bucktails, Bull Dawgs, topwaters, gliders, plastics, jerk and twitch baits, and suckers on quick-strike rigs.
Walleye:
Walleyes are scattered and not in their fall pattern. Depending on the weather, lake, and time of day, look for them in 8-30 feet of water on humps, holes, brush, bogs, break lines, rock bars, and weed edges. It is primarily a minnow bite (fatheads, walleye suckers), with crawlers still catching fish, and stickbaits and crankbaits working well in evening hours.
Northern:
Northern pike action is very good for smaller fish on shallow weed beds and for bigger fish on deep weed edges and structure, with spinnerbaits, spoons, and suckers.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth anglers report fickle fishing and many have moved on to other fall activities. Fish weeds in shallow to mid-depths with plastics, spinnerbaits, swim jigs, tubes, and live bait.
Smallmouth Bass:
As with largemouth, smallmouth action is inconsistent and drawing little interest – too bad, as this is a great time to catch trophy smallmouth. Smallies are on shallow rock bars, points, breaks, and weed flats. Best producing baits include spinnerbaits, spoons, plastics, tubes, swim jigs, and live bait.
Crappie:
Crappie action is improving as fish move toward their fall areas. If you do not know those areas, check with your favorite bait shop. Look for fish in 4-20 feet of water, near weedlines, wood, and brush. Top baits include crappie minnows, fatheads, plastics, tube jigs, and Gulp! baits.
Bluegill:
Anglers targeting bluegills are still catching fish, and some nice ones! Depths vary, but you will find the larger ‘gills in deeper water, taking larger baits, such as minnows. Otherwise, fish weeds and wood in mid-depths with waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawler pieces, and plastics.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 8: Bear season closed.
Oct. 15: Wolf hunting and trapping season opened.
Oct. 15: DNR Walleye Initiative meeting; Hayward High School.
Oct. 19: Seasons open: Pheasant; Ruffed grouse (Zone B); Bobwhite quail; Hungarian partridge; Raccoon gun and trapping (residents); Red and gray fox hunting and trapping; Coyote trapping (hunting continuous); Muskrat; Mink (Northern Zone); Fisher trapping; Bobcat hunting and trapping Period 1.
Oct. 19: Fishing Has No Boundaries spaghetti dinner fundraiser (715-634-3185).
Oct. 28: Hayward Chapter-Whitetails Unlimited banquet (715-634-6013).
Nov. 1: Ginseng season closes.
Nov. 2: Seasons open: Beaver trapping; Otter trapping; Non-resident raccoon.
Nov. 4: Woodcock season closes.
Nov. 9: Mourning dove season closes.
Nov. 15: Trout and salmon season closes on sections of Lake Superior tributaries (see regs).
Nov. 19: Duck season closes in North Zone.
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.
Muskie:
This is the time for big muskies and anglers reports good fishing on the edges of green weeds, weedlines, and on points. Most anglers are using bucktails, Bull Dawgs, topwaters, gliders, plastics, jerk and twitch baits, and suckers on quick-strike rigs.
Walleye:
Walleyes are scattered and not in their fall pattern. Depending on the weather, lake, and time of day, look for them in 8-30 feet of water on humps, holes, brush, bogs, break lines, rock bars, and weed edges. It is primarily a minnow bite (fatheads, walleye suckers), with crawlers still catching fish, and stickbaits and crankbaits working well in evening hours.
Northern:
Northern pike action is very good for smaller fish on shallow weed beds and for bigger fish on deep weed edges and structure, with spinnerbaits, spoons, and suckers.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth anglers report fickle fishing and many have moved on to other fall activities. Fish weeds in shallow to mid-depths with plastics, spinnerbaits, swim jigs, tubes, and live bait.
Smallmouth Bass:
As with largemouth, smallmouth action is inconsistent and drawing little interest – too bad, as this is a great time to catch trophy smallmouth. Smallies are on shallow rock bars, points, breaks, and weed flats. Best producing baits include spinnerbaits, spoons, plastics, tubes, swim jigs, and live bait.
Crappie:
Crappie action is improving as fish move toward their fall areas. If you do not know those areas, check with your favorite bait shop. Look for fish in 4-20 feet of water, near weedlines, wood, and brush. Top baits include crappie minnows, fatheads, plastics, tube jigs, and Gulp! baits.
Bluegill:
Anglers targeting bluegills are still catching fish, and some nice ones! Depths vary, but you will find the larger ‘gills in deeper water, taking larger baits, such as minnows. Otherwise, fish weeds and wood in mid-depths with waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawler pieces, and plastics.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 8: Bear season closed.
Oct. 15: Wolf hunting and trapping season opened.
Oct. 15: DNR Walleye Initiative meeting; Hayward High School.
Oct. 19: Seasons open: Pheasant; Ruffed grouse (Zone B); Bobwhite quail; Hungarian partridge; Raccoon gun and trapping (residents); Red and gray fox hunting and trapping; Coyote trapping (hunting continuous); Muskrat; Mink (Northern Zone); Fisher trapping; Bobcat hunting and trapping Period 1.
Oct. 19: Fishing Has No Boundaries spaghetti dinner fundraiser (715-634-3185).
Oct. 28: Hayward Chapter-Whitetails Unlimited banquet (715-634-6013).
Nov. 1: Ginseng season closes.
Nov. 2: Seasons open: Beaver trapping; Otter trapping; Non-resident raccoon.
Nov. 4: Woodcock season closes.
Nov. 9: Mourning dove season closes.
Nov. 15: Trout and salmon season closes on sections of Lake Superior tributaries (see regs).
Nov. 19: Duck season closes in North Zone.
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.