Outdoor Report October 20, 2014

October 20, 2014
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman

IF the forecast holds true, we should see a mild and comfortable week in the North Woods, with few chances of rain and sunshine on and off through next weekend!

“Chippewa Flowage muskies are moving into their fall locations,” says guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations.
“There are still some fish shallow and you can catch them on minnow baits, jerkbaits, and suckers. Most muskies moved deeper –10-20 feet – on channel edges, brush, and cribs. Try Bull Dawgs/big plastics and large suckers on Fuzzy’s Clip-N-Go quick set rigs.
“Walleyes are scattered in 15-30 feet. Jigs and fatheads work well, but try larger sucker minnows for larger walleyes.
“Crappies are stacked in the traditional fall areas of Moore’s Bay, Blueberry Flats, and Pine Point. Drift with crappie minnows until you find the crappies. The, anchor and try jigs with tube skirts or Gulp! Alive.”
Bob at Hayward Bait says dropping water temperatures have improved muskie fishing.
“Work the weeds in 5-15 feet of water with bucktails, tubes, crankbaits, gliders, and muskie suckers. Walleyes are deep and the bite is fair on walleye suckers and fatheads. Northern action is good on points and weedlines in 5-12 feet with northern suckers, spinners, and crankbaits.
“For largemouth, use topwaters and plastics/pre-rigged worms. For smallmouth, fish weeds, wood, and rock humps with walleye suckers and crawlers.
“For crappies suspending over deeper water, try crappie minnows, waxies, and small plastics. For bluegills, use waxies, leaf worms, and plastics on rock bars and weedlines in 5-20 feet.”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses PIT-tagged muskies in Sawyer County.
“Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags are small radio transmitters implanted into fish to track their growth and survival. These tags, the same as used on pets, are ideal for muskie research.
“Through DNR and Muskies Inc. funding, and with considerable volunteer help, we implanted PIT tags into 4,500 muskies stocked into Lac Courte Oreilles and Round lakes and an additional 270 tags in adult muskies in other area lakes. As a result, there are now more than 12,000 PIT-tagged muskies swimming in Sawyer County lakes!
“The next phase is to recapture these tagged fish and collect data that will help us manage these muskie populations to their full potential.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says muskie fishing continue to be the main highlight for anglers.
“Fishing is generally good to excellent, with suckers providing most of the action, though artificials are catching a few smaller, 30- to 38-inch fish. The nicest fish are coming on large, 15-inch and bigger suckers. This trend will continue, with the trophy potential getting better as the season winds down toward its November 30 closing.
“Walleye action is erratic. There is decent catches some days, little action other days, and often good action during daytime hours on cloudy days. Use minnows on slip bobbers and jig/minnow combinations.
“Anglers are catching nice crappies that are suspending over deep cover and perch on mid-depth mud flats.”

The DNR is revising two key conservation plans and you can offer your input through an online survey that is open through November 14. The DNR will use the Wildlife Action Plan and the Fish, Wildlife, and Habitat Management Plan to manage and protect fish and wildlife resources over the next ten years. The plans are necessary for the DNR to receive federal funding that helps support healthy, sustainable fish and wildlife populations and their habitats, and maintain outdoor recreation opportunities.

State forestry officials say updated rules limit how far and what kids of firewood people can transport within Wisconsin and people harvesting firewood must have permission to harvest wood off property they do not own. This could be federal, state, county, township, a private landowner, or a timber company. State and federal quarantines prohibit moving firewood out of areas quarantined for emerald ash borer or gypsy moth. Wisconsin certified firewood, processed to kill potential pests and diseases hiding inside, is legal to move around the state regardless of quarantines. For more information, search “firewood” on the DNR website.

In the past week, Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) registered 11 antlerless deer and 21 bucks, including 11 antlerless deer and 16 bucks for the Oct. 11-12 Youth Deer Hunt.

As of 6:30 p.m. October 20, the DNR has closed four of the six wolf harvest zones – zone 1, 2, 4, and 5. Zones 3 and 6 remain open to wolf hunting and trapping. Hunters and trappers should check the DNR website and call-in number daily. For more information on wolves and wolf hunting, search “wolf” on the DNR website.

FISHING REPORT
Muskie:
Muskie fishing is good to excellent around weeds, weedlines, channel edges, brush, and cribs in depths to 22 feet, though some fish are still holding near shallow cover. Top baits include large suckers on quick-set rigs, bucktails, Bull Dawgs/plastics, and crank, glide, minnow, and jerk baits.

Walleye:
Walleye action is fair to good, depending on the day – anglers are catching fish during daytime on overcast days. Look for fish in deeper water (to 30 feet) with walleye suckers and fatheads on jigs and under slip bobbers.

Northern Pike:
Northern pike are active on points and weedlines out to about 17 feet of water, with northern suckers, crankbaits, spinners, and spoons the baits of choice. Fish deeper water with bigger baits for trophy pike.

Bass:
Bass fishing interest seems to wane with dropping water temperatures and the decrease in shallow weed cover. The fish are still there and eating, however! For largemouth, try plastics such as plastic worms and tubes, crank and stick baits, and live bait. For smallmouth, work mid-depth wood, rock, and cribs with walleyes suckers and crawlers on jigs, drop-shot, and live bait rigs.

Crappie:
Crappie anglers continue to have very good success once they locate the fish that are primarily suspending over deeper water cover. Moore’s Bay, Blueberry Flats, and Pine Point are all prime fall destinations. Use crappie minnows, waxies, and Gulp! baits on small jigs or plain hooks fished under slip bobbers.

Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is not a top draw this time of year, but anglers who target ‘gills are catching some good fish. Work rock bars and weedlines in depths to 22 feet with waxies, leaf worms, crawler chunks, and plastics on small jigs or plain hooks, with or without bobbers.

Perch:
Perch anglers are catching some nice perch on the deep, clear lakes (Round, Grindstone, LCO), though action is inconsistent. Fish jigs and fatheads in deeper water areas as well as mid-depth mud flats

Upcoming Events
Oct. 18: Seasons opened (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. 25: Seasons open: Muskrat; Mink.
Nov. 20: Fall turkey season closes.
Nov. 22-30: Regular gun deer season.
Nov. 1: Wild ginseng season closes
Nov. 2: Seasons open (see regs): Beaver trapping; Otter trapping; Non-resident raccoon season.
Nov. 3: Woodcock season closes.
Nov. 9: Mourning dove season closes.
Nov.15: Trout and salmon fishing closes on downstream Lake Superior tributaries (see regs).
Nov.20: Seasons close: Fall turkey; Fall crow.
Nov.22: Regular gun deer season opens.
Nov.25: Duck season closes in north zone.
Nov.30: Seasons close: Regular gun deer; Muskie; Turtle.
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.