September 15, 2025
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Warm temperatures in the mid-80s continue through Wednesday, then dropping to the low 70s through the weekend. The forecast shows a few days of sunshine through Wednesday, with some chances for rain and thunderstorms into the weekend. Stay alert for storms, but do enjoy your outdoor activities!
“It is starting to look like fall in the Quiet Lakes’ area,” says Greg at Happy Hooker, “but did not feel like fall with 80-degree temperatures over the weekend! Water temperatures are around 60 degrees.
“Musky anglers are catching fish casting and on suckers. Work weeds and rock edges with fast and slow moving baits. Keep suckers close, as follows usually take the easy meal.
“Walleyes are a tough bite. Cooling water will push fish towards fall patterns and spots, on most lakes deep rocks. In some lakes, fish hold to shallow weeds all year. Edges and bottom transitions are the key. Sucker minnows and fatheads will replace crawlers, and jigging all bait styles works as well.
“Northern pike action improved with suckers and fast moving baits in weeds and weed edges in 3-15 feet.
“Largemouth bass anglers did well this season, and warm weather is extending the bite. Fish favor minnows under floats around weed beds in 3-10 feet.
“Smallmouth bass are on the same spots as walleye, such as deep rocks and deep weed transitions, with minnows and plastics on jigs good choices.
“Crappies are all over, from deep basins to tight in cover, with minnows and small plastics the hot bite. If fish are not on ‘historical’ spots, try new locations.
“Panfish hold to green weeds with good oxygen. For perch, work basins and deep edges. Crawlers and leaf worms work, but minnows and plastics are better, even for big bluegills.
“Hunters are chasing bear and deer, with some in lake or field blinds trying for early goose.”
Jarrett at Hayward Bait says muskies are more active in the cooler water.
“Anglers are seeing a good number of fish on bucktails, swimbaits, and musky suckers fished over shallow weed flats and drop-offs near shallow water. Cast baits to pull muskies from cover to hit baits or suckers off the back of the boat.
“Walleye fishing will improve with cooler water. For deep fish, anglers troll crankbaits and crawler harnesses. Fish transition from deep to shallow quickly, and slip bobbers and jerkbaits will work again. Fishing peaks during low light periods, such as sunrise and sunset.
“Northern pike are in 5-20 feet following baitfish shallow for fall into early winter. Spinnerbaits, spoons, swimbaits, and jigs and minnows are working well.
“Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing is good on various presentations. Largemouth will grab any wacky and Texas rig near them, smallmouth will hit topwaters and drop-shots on rocky structure, and both species hit Ned rigs. There are plenty of options both shallow and deep.
“Crappies are on deep structure or roaming basins, but some will move onto shallow cribs and weedlines. Vertical jigging for suspending fish is a go-to with minnows and plastics on jigs, and small rattlebaits. When fishing cribs, keep your distance and float baits tight to the crib.
“Bluegills are moving to shallower structure, mid-depth weed patches, and cribs, and hitting live bait and plastics on small jigs. On sunny days, they will rise to pick bugs off the surface, making for an excellent topwater bite.”
Mike at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage water level is down -2.5 feet, with the water temperature 62 degrees.
“Musky fishing is decent overall in and around weed beds in 3-8 feet. Offset blades and topwaters are the go-to for most anglers, but with many fish following to the boat without hits. Action on suckers is increasing, and anglers floating suckers report success getting the tougher fish to hit.
“Walleye fishing is very slow, perhaps in part due to a current lack of walleye anglers, and those who are walleye fishing report very little success.
“Northern pike action is good and solid in the weeds, primarily on the west side. The east side is quiet. Tinsel Tails and chatterbaits are still producing strong results.
“Bass action is very quiet. A few anglers report some catches, but not much success either shallow or deep.
“Crappies are active over deep structure such as cribs and brush piles. The bite is mostly on Gulp! Minnows, Mini-Mites, and Garland panfish plastics. Always have crappie minnows available in case the bite gets tough.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses fishing opportunities on Smith Lake.
“In this series, I rate local fishing opportunities by individual species, on a 0-10 scale, reflecting catchability, size, and other fishing qualities, and note why each species received its score.
“This week, we look at 323-acre Smith Lake, one of the lakes closest to the City of Hayward. Smith Lake has a public landing and park on the southeast end of the lake. There are a few different habitat ‘zones’ in the lake, with a large, shallow, weedy bay in the northwest and a deeper basin in the narrower main lake.
“Walleye rates a 5 in Smith Lake. They are not particularly abundant, but are catchable for anglers, and size can be exceptional. Smith has produced some of the largest walleyes appearing in DNR surveys over the last 20 years.
“Northern pike rate an 8, with moderate abundance, but very solid size, including a fair percentage of 30-inch and larger pike. The story is similar for largemouth bass, also scoring an 8, with fish size very good. Anglers can have a lot of success targeting them.
“Panfish in Smith score a 6. Abundance is rarely an issue, and anglers can usually find some, but size is not spectacular for crappie, bluegill, or perch.
“Smith Lake has a simple fishery, but is very solid for all featured species.”
Hunters should note that the regular goose season in the Northern Zone opens September 16; Woodcock season opens September 20; and the Youth duck hunt is the weekend of September 20-21.
The Hayward Fall Festival on Main Street is September 20 and runs from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Visit here for event details and the schedule, or call (715-634-8662).
The first day of fall ‑ the Autumnal Equinox (aka) Fall Equinox ‑ is Monday, September 22.
Hunters eligible for the fall Gun Deer Hunt for Hunters with Disabilities have until September 15 to sign up with a sponsor. For more information, visit Hunters with Disabilities deer hunt.
ATV/UTV TRAIL REPORT
All ATV/UTV operators born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, who are at least 12 years old for ATV and at least 16 years old for UTV, must complete an ATV/UTV safety certification course to operate legally on public ATV/UTV trails and areas in Wisconsin. The DNR requires trail passes for non-residents and Wisconsin residents must display a registration sticker. Riders must run headlights at all times when operating. Visit the DNR ATV website for rules and regulations.
Check for trail openings, closures, and more at HLVCB ATV/UTV trail conditions report. Contacts for forest ATV/UTV trails are as follows: Sawyer County Forest (715-634-4846), Chequamegon National Forest (715-634-4821), and Flambeau State Forest (715-332-5271).
Sawyer County snowmobile and ATV trail maps are available from Hayward Lakes Visitor & Convention Bureau.
FISHING REPORT
Fall is arriving somewhat slowly, but can turn quickly, so fish now while you can! Water temperatures are still in the low 60s and fish are showing signs of transitioning. With that in mind ‑yep, check with your local bait shop folks for the most current information on fish locations, movements, feeding windows, and favored baits and presentation at this time.
Musky:
Musky fishing is improving and anglers are seeing good numbers of fish ‑ with some even connecting! Suckers off the side of the boat are the undoing of many fish reluctant to hit cast baits. Find fish on rock and weed edges, shallow weed flats, drop-offs, and weed beds in 3-10 feet. Suckers, bucktails, swimbaits, and topwaters are all doing the job.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is tough, but cooler water should move fish to fall patterns. Sunrise and sunset are the prime times. Check deep rocks, edges, and transition areas, but also shallow weeds and weed edges. Walleye suckers, fatheads, crawlers, jigging baits, jerkbaits, slip bobber rigs, and trolled crankbaits and crawler harnesses can all produce fish.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action improved recently and is good to very good. Fish are still in weeds, weedlines, and on weed edges in 3-18 feet, following baitfish, and near panfish concentrations. Northern and walleye suckers, jigs and minnows, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, swimbaits, minnowbaits, and chatterbaits all tempt pike.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass anglers who have not stored their boats are scoring some bonus fishing time with this warmer weather. Fish are still on weeds, weed beds, weedlines, brush, and stumps in 3-12 feet. Texas, Ned, and wacky rigs, minnows under bobbers, swimbaits, spinners, stickbaits, and topwaters are all catching bass.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is good for fish on deep rocks and rocky structure, rock to weed transitions, but also at varied depths and on other structure. Top baits include sucker minnows, swimbaits, drop-shots, wacky, Texas, and Ned rigs, plastics, and even topwaters in certain conditions and locations.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good to very good, though fish are scattered from deep basins, cribs, brush, and structure, to weeds and other cover, to shallow weedlines and cribs. Not finding fish in the usual places? Try new places! Crappie minnows and plastics, Gulp! Minnows, Mini-Mites, and Garland panfish plastics on jigs, and small rattlebaits, are all producing.
Bluegill/Perch:
Bluegill fishing is good on most waters. Look for fish around shallow to mid-depth green weeds, weedlines, and cribs, with perch in deep basins and on deep edges. Waxies, leaf worms, crawler chunks, minnows, and plastics on small jigs work well, as do poppers when fish are feeding on the surface.
Sept. 13: Seasons opened: Deer (archery/crossbow); Grouse (Zone A); Turkey; Cottontail rabbit (North Zone); Squirrel.
Sept. 15: Gun Deer Hunt for Hunters with Disabilities deadline to sign with a sponsor.
Sept. 16: Regular goose season opens in Northern Zone.
Sept. 20: Woodcock season opens.
Sept. 20-21: Youth duck hunt.
Sept. 20: Hayward Fall Festival on Main Street, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (715-634-8662).
Sept. 22: Fall Equinox.
Sept. 25-27: Annual Treeland Premiere Musky Fly Fishing Championship. Full. (715-462-3874).
Sept. 26-27: 23rd Annual Cable Area Fall Fest (715-798-3833).
Sept. 27: Duck season opens in Northern Zone.
Oct. 3-5: Hayward Chapter-Muskies, Inc. ‑ Fall Tournament (715-634-2921; 558-2835).
Oct. 4-12: Gun Deer Hunt for Hunters with Disabilities, still time to register with a sponsor (see regs).
Oct. 4: Stone Lake Cranberry Festival.
Oct. 6: Full Harvest Moon.
Oct. 7: Bear season ends.
Oct. 11-12: Youth Deer Hunt (see regs).
Oct. 18-Nov. 16: Elk season, first period (by drawing).
Oct. 18: Seasons open: Pheasant; Bobwhite Quail; Hungarian Partridge (see regs); Sharp-tailed grouse (by drawing).
Oct. 18: Trapping seasons open: Coyote; Muskrat; Mink; Fisher.
Oct. 18: Trapping/hunting seasons open: Bobcat; Fox; Raccoon (resident).
Oct. 21-22: Orionids Meteor Shower, south 2-4 a.m., 15-25/hr., Swift streaks.
Nov. 2: Daylight Saving Time ends ‑ turn back clocks one hour.
For more information on area events and activities, visit the Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau and Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce websites, view the Calendar of Events, or call (715) 634-8662 or (715) 634-4801.
