Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report

December 8, 2025

Steve Suman

The forecast predicts a week of snow and cold, no other way to say it ‑ and “official” winter is still two weeks distant! Look for highs from 2-29 degrees, lows from -14 to 16 degrees, and snow accumulation for the week around one foot. Travelers can check current road conditions at 511wi.gov for Wisconsin and 511mn.org for Minnesota.

December 10 is the application deadline for 2026 spring turkey and fall bear season permits.

Look for the Geminids Meteor Shower December 13-14, from 1-3 a.m., with 60-120/hour at medium speed.

“The Quiet Lakes’ area received just enough snow following the big snowstorm to slow ice making,” says Greg at Happy Hooker. “The forecast indicates lakes should have great ice by this weekend, and we are getting there, but it will take a week or two before we have good ice.

“There are consistent reports of 3-4 inches of ice close to shorelines, but anglers should not venture out past shorelines right now. Some lakes, such as Round, LCO, and Grindstone, still have open water, and others have only skim ice over deep basins.

“Anglers hoping for some early ice walleye and northern pike are fishing walleye suckers and shiners under tip-ups over shallow sandy and rocky shorelines.

“It is too early to get out for basin crappie or perch, but shallow weeds might hold some panfish, and waxies and minnows on small jigs, or small jigging spoon, can be great choices for early ice panfish.

“Anglers should ALWAYS check ice as they venture out, as no ice is safe ice, especially this time of year.”

Jarrett at Hayward Bait says many smaller lakes have a thin layer of ice of 2-4 inches.

“It will be a few days before some lakes are fishable, though it will happen fast with the cold temperatures. First ice safety is extremely important. Anglers should tell someone else where they are going, wear ice picks, take a throwable PFD/life jacket and spud bar, and fish with a buddy.

“Walleyes are shallow early in winter, with low light and dark periods the most favorable times. Use walleye suckers and shiners on tip-ups. Shallow water amplifies sound, so to not spook fish, set tip-ups and retreat to shore.

“Northern pike are around shallow weeds chasing small fry. During daylight hours, fish with large suckers and shiners under tip-ups. Pike are sensitive to noise, but less so than walleye.

“Anglers can catch fish as shallow as 2 feet. Take advantage of the safer ice available and line the shorelines with shallow sets. Once the ice is thick and set, anglers can reach the panfish sitting in deep basins.”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses the wintertime activities of fish biologists.

“One of the more frequent questions people ask about my job is ‘What do you guys do in winter?’ People who ask that question correctly identify that our work changes quite a bit once ice locks fish under its cover until spring.

“So what does a fish biologist do in the winter?

“The answer is many different things! Spring, summer, and fall are our busy period for fisheries surveys and many types of habitat projects. Winter, which can feel longer than the other three seasons combined, creates a natural time to focus on a variety of other projects.

“Winter is when much of our planning happens, including submitting fish stocking requests and analyzing data to determine if fishing regulations need changes or updating. We complete a lot of training in winter, so we do not have to worry about that during busier parts of the year.

“This is also a time when I write many fish management plans for lakes and rivers, survey reports, grants, and enough items for this column so I do not have to generate as many during the hectic spring and summer months!

“Scott Braden, our fisheries technician, squirrels himself away in our lab during winter to work on any scales, spines, and otiliths (aka ear bones) we collected from fish during the summer. At the end of that process, he can estimate the age of hundreds of fish from local waterbodies, yielding important information on fish growth and survival.

“While most of our winter work is indoors ‑ and we are often okay with that ‑ we have a few projects that get us back on the water. It is best to execute some habitat projects in winter, when we can move trees around on the ice effectively. Occasionally, we need to monitor dissolved oxygen or investigate fish kills, as well.

“One of our favorite winter activities is taking out school groups and teaching them about fishing and fish biology. We have a recurring fishing outing with Northern Waters School in Hayward, and might work with Birchwood Schools this winter.

“Winter is a good time to meet with groups, answer questions, share reports, and get folks excited about the upcoming spring fishing season ‑ and it will be here before you know it!”

Hunters:

Application deadline: Dec. 10 is the application deadline for 2026 spring turkey and fall bear season permits

Muzzleloader deer season is open Dec. 1-10

Antlerless-only deer season open statewide Dec. 11-14 (see regs)

Fall turkey season in zones 1-5 only is open through Jan. 5, with many bonus tags still available in zones 1-4

Elk season – second period is open Dec. 11-19 (see regs)

Goose season in the Northern Zone closes Dec. 16.

An antlerless-only holiday hunt is open only in select farmland zone Dec. 24- Jan. 1 (see regs)

Anglers:

Walleye season on the Chippewa Flowage closed Nov. 30

Musky season closes statewide Dec. 31

The DNR will hold a public informational meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at Northwood Technical College in Ashland, to discuss progress on the Lake Superior Fisheries Management Plan.

The meeting will begin with a brief presentation on the progress made, followed by questions and comments related to priorities for the remainder of the 10-year plan period (2026-29) or any other Lake Superior fisheries topic.

For more information on Lake Superior fisheries management, visit “fish Lake Superior.”

The DMUs in the Northern Forest Management zones were converted to habitat-based units, now by number, rather than county-based units. Review the map of the new DMUs so you know in which DMU you are hunting, and view a breakdown of the season structure by county and DMU. Units in Sawyer County extend into other counties. The 2025 weekly DMU deer harvest numbers for these units, as of December 2, are available by referencing the DMU map and the deer harvest summary. In a number of units, bonus antlerless licenses remain available.

Wisconsin’s Deer Donation Program that began in 2000 helps stock food pantries and supports residents in need. Since 2000, hunters have donated more than 4 million pounds of ground venison, providing nutritious, hearty meals.

Donating is both free and easy. Hunters donate the entire deer free of charge, processors ask them to complete a sheet indicating their intent to donate, and charitable organizations then distribute the processed venison.

Hunters and non-hunters can support the Deer Donation Program through monetary donations at  license sales locations or online through  Go Wild. For more information, visit “Deer Donation Program.”

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 ATV and snowmobile trail maps are available from Hayward Lakes Visitor & Convention Bureau.

SNOWMOBILE/SKI TRAIL REPORT

Snowmobiles must have a current registration and display a valid snowmobile trail pass to operate on public snowmobile trails. You can renew registrations and order trail passes online or purchase trail passes from sales agents. Members of the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs (AWSC) can purchase trail passes at a discounted rate directly from www.awsc.org. You do not need to be a Wisconsin resident to be an AWSC member.

Sawyer County snowmobile and ATV trail maps are available from Hayward Lakes Visitor & Convention Bureau.

For trail updates, visit the HLVCB snowmobile trail report.

FISHING REPORT

Lakes are making ice, but it is still very early and access can be dicey. Conditions are moving in the right direction, so be patient. Fish are mostly shallow, so stay near shorelines and check the ice As. You. Go. Safety is of primary concern and anglers should have a desire to enjoy the entire season. Should you choose to go, go safely and well prepared should you or another break through the ice. Fish with a friend and tell others where you are going and when you will return. Take flotation devices, rope, spud bar, ice picks, and a cell phone in a waterproof case. For more information, visit “ice fishing safety” on the DNR website.

Walleye anglers should note that walleye season closed Nov. 30 on the Chippewa Flowage.

Walleye:

Walleye fishing is good on shallow sandy and rocky shorelines. Best success is during low light and after dark. Set tip-ups with walleye suckers and shiners and return to shore ‑ being quiet is the key.

Walleye season closed Nov. 30 on Chippewa Flowage.

Northern Pike:

Northern pike fishing is good during daylight around shallow to very shallow weeds where pike feed on panfish and baitfish. Use northern suckers and shiners on tip-ups. Again, quiet is the key.

Crappie and Panfish:

Panfish anglers can find crappie, bluegill, and perch around shallow weeds and brush where early ice is more accessible. Use waxies, minnows, and plastics on small jigs and teardrops, and small jigging spoons.

Upcoming Events

Nov. 30: Walleye season closed on Chippewa Flowage.

Dec. 1-10: Muzzleloader deer season.

Dec. 10: Application deadline for spring turkey, fall bear permits.

Dec. 10: Bobwhite Quail season closes statewide.

Dec. 11: DNR Lake Superior fisheries management meeting – Ashland, 6 p.m. (608-910-1341).

Dec. 11-14: Antlerless-only deer season open statewide (see regs).

Dec. 11-19: Elk season – second period open (see regs).

Dec. 13-14: Geminids Meteor Shower peak; 60-120/hr., medium speed, overhead, 1-3 a.m.

Dec. 16: Goose season closes in Northern Zone.

Thru Dec. 20: Christmas in Hayward 2025 (715-699-2706).

Dec. 21: Winter Solstice – first day of winter.