Outdoor Report October 13, 2014

October 13, 2014
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman

Relatively mild temperatures continue through this week, though they come with a few chances for precipitation. If nothing else, at least this week, for the time being, none of the precipitation in the forecast starts with an “s”!

“With the below normal temperatures and couple inches of snow,” says guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations, “the water temperature on the Chippewa Flowage is dropping steadily and surface temperatures are now in the low 50-degree range.
“Some muskies are still using shallow weeds, so work jerkbaits or minnow baits over and along these weeds. For the many fish that moved deeper, work breaks in 10-16 feet with deep divers or big plastics. Be sure to trail a live sucker – muskies cannot resist a lively sucker.
“Walleye action is decent in 15-25 feet with fluorescent jigs tipped with 3-inch fatheads. For larger walleyes, try 5- to 6-inch sucker minnows.
“Crappies are stacked in Moore’s Bay and Blueberry Flats. Drift with crappie minnows until you find a concentration and use tube jigs or jigs tipped with Gulp! Alive, or try #3 Jigging Rapalas for larger fish. Check your electronics – the fish could be tight to bottom or high in the water column.”
Bob at Hayward Bait says dropping temperatures have improved the muskie fishing.
“Smaller bucktails, Monster Tubes, Warlocks, TopRaiders, and live suckers are catching fish on shallower weed beds in 5-15 feet. Walleye action is also improving, though fish are deep. Use walleye suckers, fatheads, crawlers, and crankbaits. For northern pike in 5-15 feet, use northern suckers, spinners, spoons, and #5 Mepps on points and weedlines.
“Bass fishing is slow. For largemouth, try topwaters and plastics. For smallmouth, fish walleye suckers, crawlers, and topwaters on weeds, wood, and rock humps. You will find crappies suspending over deeper water, with fish providing good action on crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, Gulp! baits, and Chicken Jigs. Fish bluegills with waxies, leaf worms, and plastics on bars, weedlines, and rock in 5-15 feet. Catch perch in deeper water with fatheads.”
Mike at Jenk’s says Chippewa Flowage muskie fishing continues to be decent.
“Suckers are more readily available than they were in past weeks. Make sure you cover the prime areas – the deep edges off bars and in river and creek channels. For artificials, throw jerkbaits, twitch baits, Bull Dawgs, and Suicks.
“Walleye fishing is hit or miss – avoid the bars and shallows and concentrate on deeper water. We are approaching the time when walleyes typically go deep, so look for weeds and brush in 18-25 feet. Some anglers are using larger fatheads, while some others are using crawlers, but many are now using walleye suckers.
“Crappies remain schooled in Moore’s Bay, Blueberry Flats, and Crane Lake. Anglers should use small to medium fatheads, Gulp! baits, and Mini-Mites.”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses northern pike and Spider Lake muskies.
“A fall electrofishing survey we did to assess the walleye population on Spider Lake produced some useful things about muskies as well.
“There has been considerable concern over Spider Lake’s muskie population since northern pike established themselves in the lake following illegal introduction. Our survey showed positive signs for muskies, with muskies outnumbering pike 12 to 2 in our survey.
“Muskies are still successfully reproducing at a healthy rate and we captured three muskies less than 20 inches that were born in the last few years. We know pike are reproducing in the lake, but the number of young pike does not appear to be high.
“In conclusion, it appears that the pike situation is not out of control. Spider Lake will continue to be a muskie dominated fishery for the time being and we still encourage anglers to harvest northern pike they catch there.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says variable fall weather last week made for some challenging fishing conditions and kept fishing pressure at a relatively low level.
“Muskie anglers continue to provide most of the fishing pressure. Some are enjoying good success on bucktails and large stickbaits, although the most productive method is using a 12- to 14-inch sucker on a quick-set rig. Anglers are finding many muskies suspending near mid-depth cover such as fish cribs and rock bars.
“Walleye action is erratic. An increasing number of them are starting to show up in shallow water, but they have not yet settled into a solid fall pattern. Bass fishing is slow and many bass anglers have put away their gear for this year. Panfish anglers fishing small minnows below bobbers near shallow weedlines are catching some nice crappies and perch.”

In the past week, Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) registered nine bears and 11 whitetail buck deer.

FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
Muskie action is improving as we move into late fall and cooler water. Look for fish in 2-18 feet of water, near weeds, breaklines, drop-offs/edges, cribs, rock bars, and channels. Live suckers on quick-strike rigs are working well, but bucktails, tubes, twitch baits, jerkbaits, minnow baits, stickbaits, Bull Dawgs, and topwaters are also all catching fish.

Walleye:
Walleye anglers report improved success with the cooling water temperatures. Look for fish in 15-30 feet of water on weeds, weed edges, brush, and breaklines. Look for some fish shallower in the evening hours. Best producing baits include walleye suckers, fatheads, and crawlers on jigs, split shot rigs, and live bait rigs fished under slip bobbers, or try crank and stick baits. It is hard to beat jigs and minnows. For bigger fish, go with bigger bait.

Northern Pike:
Northern pike are active and this is a good time to catch big fish. Work weedlines, points, and areas holding panfish in 8-15 feet of water with sucker minnows, Mepps/spinners, spoons, and bucktails.

Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth action slowed with the dropping temperatures, but you can still catch fish on deeper weedlines, wood, brush, and cribs with tubes, live bait, plastic worms, and crankbaits.

Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth fishing is improving for those who chase them, with fish holding on deeper weedlines, wood, rock, and humps. Try walleye suckers, crawlers, tubes, and crankbaits.

Crappie:
Crappie anglers continue to do well on schooling fish, especially in Moore’s Bay, Crane Lake, and Blueberry Flats. Fish are along shallow weedlines and suspending over deeper water – and can be anywhere in the water column. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, fatheads, waxies, plastics, Mini-Mites, Tattle-Tales, tube jigs, and Gulp! baits on plain hooks or small jigs, fished under slip bobbers. Best success is later in the evening.

Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is decent, though few anglers are pursuing them at this time. Fish weedlines, bars, brush rock, and cribs out to 15 feet or more with waxies, leaf worms, plastics, and Gulp! baits.

Perch:
Perch fishing is good and improving on the deep, clear lakes – Round, Grindstone, and Lac Courte Oreilles. Work both deeper water and shallow weedlines with fatheads or crappie minnows below slip bobbers.

Upcoming Events
Oct. 18: Seasons open (see regs): Raccoon hunting/trapping (resident); Red and gray fox hunting/trapping; Coyote trapping; Fisher trapping; Bobcat hunting/trapping Period 1; Pheasant; Quail; Ruffed grouse (Zone B); Hungarian partridge.
Oct. 21: CDAC meeting at Hayward Veterans Community Center; 7 p.m. (715-945-2771).
Oct. 25: Seasons open: Muskrat; Mink.
Nov. 20: Fall turkey season closes.
Nov. 22-30: Regular gun deer season.
Dec. 1-31: Extended fall turkey season in zones 1-5.

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.