This weeks Hayward area fishing report

Hi everyone,
Here is the HLVCB weekly report

July 26, 2010
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman

North woods weather conditions continue to be comfortable for outdoor activities, especially when compared with weather patterns "endured" by other areas of the country this summer. Enjoy it - we are already almost into August!
"The sun is high and hot, water temperatures are on the rise, and life is good," says Pat at Happy Hooker. "Trouble is, during the mythical 'dog days,' fishing is generally pretty slow. But the fish are still there, and they still have to feed."
DNR fisheries biologist Frank Pratt says channel catfish are providing new angling opportunities in this area.
"I'm hearing reports of excellent channel cat fishing on the Chippewa, Flambeau, St. Croix, and lower Namekagon rivers. Use live, cut, or stink bait and fish it on the bottom. This is an excellent opportunity to take a kid fishing.
"When I first started here, we sampled a channel cat below Arpin Dam on the mainstream Chippewa River, and it was worth a ride around town in a fire truck!"
According to DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt, emergent vegetation, such as wild rice, bulrush, and water lilies, are at typical densities. However, he says submergent growth, such as pondweed, musky cabbage, coontail, and milfoil continues to be relatively light on many lakes and flowages for this time of year.
There is still time to register for Sunday's (Aug. 1) free Kid's Fishing Day hosted by Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. Youth (10-16 years of age) will spend the morning fishing Upper Twin Lake with knowledgeable musky anglers, and then enjoy a noon shore lunch prepared by club members and volunteers. Pre-registration is required, and a parent or guardian must be present to sign the form. Call Hayward Bait (715) 634-2921 for more information.

Fishing Reports
Muskies:
Musky action is fair to good and continues to improve. You will find them near weeds/weed beds, bars, points, and other structure, in shallow water to mid-depths. Best success is in early morning hours with larger bucktails, Bull Dawgs, crank and surface baits. Don't be afraid to try a variety of baits and presentations - what worked yesterday might not work today ... and vice-versa.

Walleye:
Walleye action is slow, though anglers are catching fish. The best (albeit short) bite windows are early morning and late evening into after dark. Fish are scattered, from shallower weeds to deep bars, humps, rock, sand, and weeds. Leeches under slip bobbers and crawlers on harnesses are the top live bait choices, with some catches on jigs/fatheads. Trolled/cast stick, spinner, and crank baits are also effective.

Northern:
Northern fishing is providing fairly consistent action. Look for fish in weed beds, lines, edges, and flats, both shallow and deep. If you see panfish, northerns lurk nearby. For trophies, go deeper with bigger baits. Lure choices include spoons, spinners/spinnerbaits, stick, buzz, chatter, crank, bucktails, and topwater baits. If all else fails, it's hard to beat a northern sucker under a bobber, on a jig, or on a Lindy Rig.

Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth fishing is somewhat slow, though evening hours can offer excellent action. Look for largemouth around weeds, docks, lily pads, brush, bogs, slop, and wood in shallow water out to about 15 feet. Plastics, bucktails, crankbaits, spinner/spinnerbaits, topwaters, jig/pig, plastic/scented worms, weedless spoons, frogs, crawlers and leeches will all catch bass. If what and where you are fishing does not produce, try different lures, locations, and presentations. The bass are there (yes, they are there) - it's up to you to figure out that day's desired combination.

Smallmouth Bass:
Many Hayward area lakes contain excellent smallmouth bass populations and good numbers of trophies, but currently smallies are not in a cooperative mood. They are difficult to locate and then very particular about baits and presentations. Look for fish on hard bottoms, rock, sand, gravel bars, and near weeds and wood in depths to 15 feet or deeper. Try tubes, plastics, and crankbaits in crawdad colors and/or actions with slow retrieves. When fish prefer live bait, try leeches, crawlers, or medium minnows.

Crappie:
Crappie fishing is fair to good, with best success in early morning and after dark. Fish are scattered and suspended near weeds/weed edges, bogs, cribs, and brush. Depths vary with the water and time of day. Use crappie minnows, fatheads, waxies, leeches, plastics, and Gulp! baits, on plain hooks or small jigs, with/without bobbers.

Bluegill:
Bluegill action is excellent, but you will have to do some sorting for a meal. Waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawlers, leeches, minnows, plastics, poppers, and Gulp! baits are all working at this time. Fish them under a bobber/slip bobber, on plain hooks, or on small jigs/ice jigs. Bigger 'gills will be in deeper weeds and cover. Using minnows in deeper water can avoid small fish and reward you with larger 'gills, though expect slower action.

Upcoming Events
Through July 31: Illegal to run dogs on WPA lands. (See regs.)
Aug. 1: Hayward Lakes Chapter Muskies, Inc. Kid's Fishing Day (715-634-2921.)
Aug. 2: Application Deadline: Fall turkey; Sharp-tailed grouse; Bobcat; Otter; Fisher; Horicon and Collins goose zones.
Aug. 2-5: Public hearings on proposed 2010 migratory game bird season. (Check with DNR for times and locations.)
Aug. 19-22: 103rd annual Sawyer County Fair (715-934-2721.)
Aug. 24: Deadline to transfer Class A bear harvest permit to a person under age 18.
Aug. 27-29: Mega Bass Shootout at Musky Tale Resort (715-462-3838.)
Aug. 28: Remaining fall turkey permits go on sale at noon.
Aug. 31: Bear dog training by pursuing bear closes. (See regs.)
Sept. 18-Nov 18: Fall turkey season.

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.

Thanks for reading!

Sherry Beckman
Hayward Lakes Visitors and Convention Bureau