Outdoor Report October 6, 2014

October 6, 2014
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman

The season’s first snowfall this past weekend did not surprise anyone in any way familiar with the annual Hayward Lakes Chapter-Muskies, Inc. Fall Muskie Tournament – it is almost tradition! Almost as traditional is the weather then backing off a bit, as is forecast for this week.

“The Quiet Lakes can give up some nice muskies,” says Pat at Happy Hooker.
“Concentrate on weeds, rock, and drop-offs with crankbaits, jerkbaits, and topwaters. Bright orange, chartreuse, and green work best. Fish walleyes on deep weeds and rock bars with jigs and live bait, moving shallower in the evening. For northerns, work weeds with chartreuse or orange spinnerbaits and small muskie plugs.
“Catch largemouth in weeds and reeds; catch smallmouth along rock breaks with tubes and crankbaits. Crappie fishing is good on deeper weeds and rock bars with crappie minnows and small plastics.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says Chippewa Flowage muskies are in transition.
“Some muskies are holding in shallow weeds (2-6 feet) and anglers are doing well with topwaters. For fish that moved to 10-16 feet, use jerkbaits, plastics, or suckers. Catch walleyes on brush and sunken bogs in 12-22 feet with fluorescent jigs and fatheads. Jig/minnow combos work for walleyes in the weeds. The west side holds more northerns and some nice pike are falling for muskie baits.
“Crappies in 16-24 feet in Moore’s Bay and Blueberry Flats are hitting crappie minnows, tube jigs, and Gulp! baits on small jigs.”
Jim at Hayward Bait says muskie anglers should fish weed beds in 5-15 feet with bucktails, tubes, and topwaters.
“Walleyes are deep, taking crawlers, walleye suckers, fatheads, and crankbaits. Fish northerns on points and weedlines in 5-15 feet with northern suckers, crankbaits, and spinners. For largemouth, use plastic worms and topwaters. For smallmouth, fish weeds, wood, and rock humps with walleye suckers, crawlers, and topwaters.
“For crappies suspending over deeper water, use crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, and spinners. Catch bluegills on rock bars and weedlines in 5-15 feet with waxies, leaf worms, and small plastics.”
Mike at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage water temperature is in the 50s.
“Muskies are hitting bucktails and twitch, crank, jerk, and surface baits, and suckers are now more readily available. The later we get in the year, the deeper you should go for big muskies. Fish walleyes around weeds and brush in 18-25 feet with medium to large walleye minnows.
“Anglers fishing the three most popular crappie places – Moore’s Bay, Crane Lake, and Blueberry Flats – are using crappie minnows, Mini-Mites, and Gulp! baits.”

Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says Chequamegon Bay fishing is good on the days Mother Nature cooperates!
“Smallmouth bite best on days with a little chop, and the best bite is on sucker minnows on the rock pile, breakwall, and tip of Long Island. Walleye anglers report success on weeds, the rock pile, and channel edges.
“With falling water temperatures, trout and salmon fishing is improving off the Sioux and Onion rivers. Early in the morning, work the first drop or mud line with stickbaits. Lately, shad bodies seem to work better than minnow bodies.”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses muskie populations in Lost Land/Teal lakes.
“Over the last few years, researchers, biologists, and local anglers teamed up to gather data on Hayward area muskie populations by implanting fish with PIT tags. The tag number registers on a scanner, allowing us to track a fish throughout its life. With hundreds of tagged muskies in Lost Land/Teal, we are learning some useful things about their muskie populations.
“The muskie population in these lakes is relatively dense at about one adult per two acres of water. Both male and female adult muskies maintain a relatively consistent half-inch to one-inch average growth rate per year, though the rates vary. This leads to high angler catch rates – three times faster than the state average! – and likely contributes to the somewhat slow growth.
“While we stock occasionally, there is a fair amount of natural reproduction in these two lakes, a sign of a healthy muskie fishery.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says most fishing pressure is now coming from muskie anglers.
“Bucktails, Bull Dawgs, and stickbaits are producing consistent action, with quite a few anglers dragging suckers. Work deep weed edges and look for fish suspending 12-15 feet down over deeper water.
“Cooler water should improve walleye fishing, with minnows the preferred bait as we progress into fall. Crappie and perch action is good in late afternoon with small minnows along mid-depth weed edges and cover.”

In the past week, reporting Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) registered no bears and one buck whitetail deer.

The DNR’s “Fall in Love with Wisconsin State Parks” Facebook photo contest runs through October 26. To enter, visit the DNR’s Facebook page, click “Like,” then “Photo Contest” on the left side. You can enter one photo per day and DNR Facebook fans can vote once a day for their favorite photos. The contest ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday October 26. The winning photographer receives a 2015 Wisconsin State Park sticker, 2015 Wisconsin trails pass, and a two-year subscription to Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine.

FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
Muskie action is good and improving with cooling temperatures. Concentrate on weed beds and edges, rocks, and drop-offs to about 17 feet, with some fish in shallower water and some suspending over deeper water. Fish are hitting many different types of baits, including bucktails, Bull Dawgs, jerkbaits, gliders, stickbaits, crankbaits, twitch baits, tubes, and topwaters.

Walleye:
Walleyes are moving/have moved to deeper water (to 30 feet) on rock, weeds, brush, and bogs, but come shallower in the evening hours. Try walleye suckers, fatheads, and crawlers on bright color jigs, under slip bobbers, and live bait rigs, as well as trolled and cast crankbaits, stickbaits, and Rapalas.

Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good on points, weedlines, and any location holding panfish in depths from 4-18 feet. Northern suckers are the first choice, but crankbaits, spinners, bucktails, and small muskie baits will all catch fish. Fish deeper water with larger baits for trophy pike.

Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth are holding near mid-depth weeds, weedlines, rocks, brush, and cribs, with some still in shallower water. Baits of choice include topwaters, plastics in various forms (worms, tubes, frogs, crawdads, etc.), spinners, and crankbaits.

Smallmouth Bass:
Look for smallmouth on and near deeper weeds, wood, and rock. Best baits include walleye suckers, crawlers, crankbaits, tubes, and even some topwaters.

Crappie:
Crappie fishing is fair to very good. Look for crappies in/on weeds, weedlines, rock bars, and other cover in 12-25 feet, as well as suspending over deeper water. Top baits include crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, tube jigs, and Gulp! baits on small jigs fished with/without slip bobbers. Small spinners, Beetle Spins, and Jigging Rapalas are also productive.

Bluegill:
You can catch bluegills on weedlines, cribs, and rock bars in 5-18 feet with waxes, leaf worms, plastics, and Gulp! baits.

Perch:
Perch anglers fishing fatheads and small minnows on the bottom along weed edges and other cover are picking up fish in mid-depth and deeper water.

Upcoming Events
Oct. 4-12: Special deer hunt for people with disabilities.
Oct. 7: Bear season closes.
Oct. 11: Fishing Has No Boundaries (FHNB) fall fundraiser at Flat Creek Inn & Suites (715-634-3185).
Oct. 11-12: Youth deer hunt.
Oct. 18: Seasons open: Raccoon hunting/trapping (resident); Red and gray fox hunting/trapping; Coyote trapping; Fisher trapping; Bobcat hunting/trapping Period 1.
Oct. 21: CDAC meeting at Hayward Veterans Community Center; 7 p.m. (715-945-2771).
Oct. 25: Seasons open: Muskrat; Mink.

Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau and Sawyer County Record co-sponsor this report. For more information on area events and activities, visit the HLVCB’s Calendar of Events or call 800-724-2992.