Outdoor Report - October 29, 2018

October 29, 2018
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman

This week’s forecast shows highs in the low to mid-40s and lows in mid-20s to lower 30s, and calls for mostly sunny days and mostly cloudy nights, which is much better than vice-versa! Remember to turn back your clocks for the end of Daylight Saving time that “officially” ends at 2 a.m. this Sunday, November 4.

“We are rapidly moving towards first ice,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “It would be nice to get a few more open water outings before winterizing the boat, but it is time to get out the winter clothing.
“Last week saw the Quiet Lakes clear after the previous week’s wind and rain, water temperatures remain in 40s, and the fall bite is in full swing.
“Musky anglers report some good success dragging large suckers on quick-strike rigs. Most anglers use heavy rods, heavy braided line, steel leaders with some weight, and big quick-strike hooks. Some anglers use this great fall set-up under softball size bobbers to float the sucker. Of course, casting larger baits toward shorelines and on mid-lake reefs and humps is also producing some fish.
“Walleye and smallmouth bass fishing are very good in 5-15 feet. Look for rock-to-sand or similar transitions and jigs with minnows or plastics are ideal combinations.
“Crappies are still congregating over deeper waters off weeds and weedlines and anglers are catching fish with crappie minnows under slip bobbers and vertical jigging small minnows and artificials.”

Erik at Hayward Bait says water temperatures are in the low- to mid-40 degree range and North Woods anglers continue to find success.
“Musky fishing is still solid, with suckers working best, though sometimes the bite is tough. On those tough sucker bite days, casting artificials has been very productive – if you can keep your hands warm casting Bull Dawgs, Medusas, Dying Dawgs, Swimming Dawgs, and various other plastic swim baits.
“Walleye anglers are catching fish primarily on jigs and minnows, with walleye suckers the most productive live bait. Look for steep breaks off banks, points, and mid-lake humps in 14-17 feet. Jig from shallow to deep to find active shallow fish while also covering deeper water.
“Bass fishing is strong, with anglers catching some nice fish by working deep running plastics and crankbaits on mid-lake structure.
“Panfish fishing is good, with anglers finding panfish consolidated in deeper holes. Look for 15-20 feet and use your graph to find schools of panfish. For crappies, use crappie minnows and panfish plastics under slip bobbers. Bluegills are still hitting waxies and cut crawlers.”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses Hayward fisheries fall fieldwork.
“The Hayward Fish Team recently completed its fall fieldwork that included electrofishing 18 area lakes. The primary objective of these surveys is to assess juvenile walleye and muskellunge and the results for both species were generally positive.
“Walleyes produced large year classes in several lakes including the Chippewa Flowage, Round, Blaisdell, and Windigo. Many stocked lakes continue to demonstrate good stocking survival, including Teal and Chetac, though some lakes continue to struggle to support even stocked walleye.
“Muskellunge appear to have had a good spawning year. The Fish Team observed natural born muskellunge in the Chippewa Flowage, Ghost, Lower Clam, Teal, Blaisdell, Black Dan, and Spider, and even captured a natural muskellunge in Sissabagama, something not observed for some time. In addition to natural born fish, the team captured many stocked muskellunge containing PIT tags in lakes such as the Chippewa Flowage, Whitefish, and Lost Land. Other notable catches included a 41-inch northern pike, a 22-inch largemouth bass, and many 20-inch smallmouth bass.
“The DNR uses results from these surveys for a variety of purposes, including setting future stocking plans.”

Wisconsin’s regular nine-day gun deer season is now only about two weeks away – November 17-25 – so if you plan to hunt, it might be a very good idea to start making plans (if you have not already done so!), organizing equipment, and buying licenses (again, if you have not already done so!)

Woodcock hunters should note woodcock season ends November 5 at the close of shooting hours.

Daylight Saving Time officially ends this Sunday, November 4, at 2 a.m., according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, (around since Benjamin Franklin’s day). Be sure to turn back your clock and reclaim that “lost” hour from last spring! This is especially important for hunters who must adhere to season opening and closing hours for some species.

There are only a couple days remaining to purchase a sturgeon spearing license for the 2019 Lake Winnebago sturgeon spearing season – the deadline is October 31. According to DNR Lake Winnebago sturgeon biologist Ryan Koenigs, the fish population has more fish than in decades and plenty of big fish. Spearing season opens Feb. 9 and runs 16 days or until harvest reaches the harvest caps of 430 juvenile females, 950 adult females, and 1,200 males. Licenses cost $20 for residents and $65 for nonresidents. For more information, search “Lake Winnebago sturgeon spearing” on the DNR website.

Deer hunters interested in setting up “traditional” deer camps in designated areas throughout Flambeau River State Forest for the nine-day gun deer season have until October 31 to contact the Forest Office (715-332-5271). Lake of the Pines Campground is open through Dec. 15 and the Forest manages 14 river sites, with up to three camping units at each site, that include a picnic table, fire ring, and toilet facilities.

FISHING REPORT
Musky:
Fall musky season started slowly and took some time to develop, but anglers are now reporting good success on most musky waters. Target shorelines and mid-lake humps and reefs. This is live bait, musky sucker time and as such most fish are coming on large suckers on quick-strike rigs fished just off the boat or under bobbers some distance behind it. However, some anglers continue to cast – and to catch fish – on artificials such as rubber baits and swim baits. Go now, before freeze-up – and before the season closes November 30.

Walleye:
The fall walleye bite is very good for anglers willing to get on the water and test their luck. Concentrate on depths to about 20 feet, but shallower during the low light feeding periods. Sharp breaks, points, mid-lake humps, and transition areas can all hold fish. If you do not find fish, move! It is mostly a live bait bite on minnows and walleye suckers, but some anglers report success with plastics.

Northern Pike:
Northern pike fishing is good to very good, but it appears few anglers are targeting them at this time. Look for them around any weeds and concentrations of panfish. Northern suckers or minnows under bobbers are the first choice, but spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and plastics are all effective. Go bigger and deeper for trophy pike.

Largemouth Bass:
A few die-hard largemouth bass anglers continue to chase the fish, primarily working deeper weeds, weedlines, and drop-offs with plastics, spinners, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and some live bait.

Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass action is very good. Look for mid-lake structure and transition areas in depths to 18 feet. The best baits include plastics, swim baits, crankbaits, and live bait (minnows, walleye suckers) on jigs and drop-shot rigs.

Crappie:
Crappie fishing is very good when you locate the schools – and electronics go a long way to help in the search. Fish are schooling in 12-25 feet in deep holes, off weedlines, and suspending over deeper water. Crappie minnows, Mini-Mites, and other plastics fished on small jigs and plain hooks under slip bobbers work well, or try jigging the same baits.

Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is very good for anglers choosing to chase them and willing to take the time to find them! Look for fish in deep holes in depths to 20 feet and deeper. The most productive offerings include waxies, worm, crawlers, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, tear drops, and plain hooks, fished with or without slip bobbers.

Upcoming Events
Oct. 28: Seasons opened: Muskrat; Mink (see regs).
Nov. 1: Wild ginseng season closes.
Nov. 3: Seasons open: Beaver trapping; Otter trapping.
Nov. 4: Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. – turn back clocks one hour.
Nov. 5: Woodcock season closes (see regs).
Nov. 15: Seasons close: Fall crow; Trout, salmon fishing downstream Lake Superior tributaries (see regs).
Nov. 16: Fall turkey season closes in zones 6, 7.
Nov. 17-25: Regular gun deer season.
Nov. 27: Duck season closes in north zone.
Nov. 26: Muzzleloader deer season opens.
Nov. 29: Mourning dove season closes.
Nov. 30: Seasons close: Muskellunge; Turtle.

For more information on area events and activities, visit the Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau website, view its Calendar of Events, or call 800-724-2992.