February 17, 2025
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
The Hayward area received additional snow over the weekend, along with cold temperatures. Monday night’s low is forecast for -28 degrees (with -30- to -40 wind chill), and Tuesday night -26 degrees. Great to see some sunshine ‑ if ice does not coat your eyelashes!
Snowmobile and ski trails are in good condition, and travel on the lake ice is decent, but drifts and heaves require extreme caution. Dress appropriately and enjoy ‑ Sunday should see 36 degrees above zero!
Current road condition reports are available at 511wi.gov for Wisconsin and 511mn.org for Minnesota.
“Following the weekend’s snowfall in the Quiet Lakes’ area, all snowmobile and ski trails should be in great shape,” says Greg at Happy Hooker, “and this week should see very cold temperatures.
“Fishing is okay, though there were not many anglers out in the subzero temperatures last week. Ice thickness varies, but we are hearing most area lakes have 23-30 inches.
“Walleye fishing is decent, with fish showing up around dusk, very short bite windows, and fish on edges in 12-20 feet. Suckers and shiners on tip-ups are the most consistent for icing fish.
“Northern pike action slowed a bit, and anglers should focus on shallow weeds or set tip-ups higher in the water column, as pike are feeding on panfish released from anglers above. They set up on weed edges, both shallow and deep, and suckers and shiners on tip-ups work fine.
“Crappie anglers report fish in deep basins, in 15-30 feet, depending on the lake. Crappie minnows on jigs and spoons are working right now.
“Bluegills are in with other panfish in shallow water. This is not common on every lake, but certain lakes have a more year-round shallow weed bite. Look for fish in/around weeds in 6-15 feet, with waxies and plastics on small jigs best.”
Jarrett at Hayward Bait says most lakes have 22-26 inches of ice.
“Snow depths increased over the past week, and anglers taking out vehicles should watch for drifts and snow piles. Many lakes have pressure heaves, creating mounds of unstable ice and potential weak spots.
“Walleyes will begin gathering on main lake flats outside of bays near spawning areas, staging for ice-out and spawn. During this time, early morning and dusk are peak periods. Spoons and rattlebaits, and aggressive jigging, should tempt walleyes cruising by setlines.
“Northern pike fishing is great as they begin scouring the lake bottom for dead and dying winterkill fish, and dead bait shines! Smelt and ciscoes on/near bottom work great for big fish; suckers and shiners are effective for smaller eaters
“Crappies are in basins in 15-50 feet, depending on the lake. Deep oxygen levels will start depleting, and bottom dwelling fish will rise and suspend. Locating these ever-moving fish can be difficult, but once you find them, it is game on! Small rattlebaits, spoons, jigs and plastics, and live bait on setlines and deadsticks all produce.
“Bluegill fishing is solid, with healthy weed flats the key to larger fish. They hold to any cover protecting them from predators. Waxies and spikes on small jigs work well. For bigger fish, live bait on small spoons deters the smaller fish.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter scores Blaisdell Lake fishing opportunities.
“In this series I rate local fishing opportunities, by species, on a 0-10 scale. It reflects catchability, size, and other elements of fishing quality, with notes about the score.
“This week, we look at Blaisdell Lake, which is not really a lake as much as a wider portion of the East Fork of the Chippewa River.
“Blaisdell is heavily influenced by the dark flowing water of the East Fork passing through it. For anglers, the lake is more accessible and popular than other portions of the river system, as it is more navigable by motorboat.
“Muskellunge are a major draw for anglers, and that population scores a 5. The catch rate is decent, though some angler reports say it was higher in the past. Muskellunge like flowing water, so it is no surprise that quite a few call Blaisdell home. Size can be good, but trophy fish are not the expectation.
“Northern pike are a more recent introduction into Blaisdell, not necessarily a welcome one, and pike fishing opportunities gets a 2 rating. Size is not spectacular, but we encourage anglers to harvest the legal limit of 5 pike.
“Walleye are present and catchable in Blaisdell. Assessments of the walleye fishery are difficult to make, considering the ‘open’ nature of the system that allows walleye to come and go as they please. Walleye receive a 4 rating, but with a lower degree of confidence in the accuracy of the rating.
“Panfish get a 5 rating. Crappie size is quite good, but other panfish are rare. Crappies do not mind a little flowing water, so they are the dominant panfish species and the only one worth targeting, limiting panfish opportunities.
“Blaisdell is also home to many riverine species such as redhorse and suckers, but lake sturgeon is the only other species worth rating, and the lake gets a 6 for fishing opportunities, with some big qualifiers.
“This is not a lake where one should expect to catch a bunch of sturgeon. In fact, you might work very hard and never catch one. However, if you connect with one of these ancient beasts, it is likely to be very large. Surveys of this system produce some of the biggest sturgeon in the state, making it a ‘swing for the fences’ kind of fishing opportunity!”
DNR notes:
Coyote trapping, fox hunting/trapping, and raccoon hunting/trapping seasons closed February 15.
Cottontail rabbit and squirrel (both gray and fox) seasons close February 28.
The general inland fishing season closes March 2.
ATV/UTV TRAIL REPORT
All ATV and 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.
Unless otherwise posted, all county roads outside the LCO Reservation in Sawyer County are legal for ATV/UTV use. The Trail Treker app shows any changes. The ATV/UTV trail contacts include Sawyer County Forest (715-634-4846), Chequamegon National Forest (715-634-4821), and Flambeau State Forest (715-332-5271).
Check for trail and road closures and updates at HLVCB ATV/UTV trail conditions report and Sawyer County Snowmobile & ATV Alliance.
Order a Sawyer County Snowmobile & ATV Trail Map from the Hayward Lakes Visitor & Convention Bureau or download the Trail Treker app ($2) on your smartphone and get the complete Sawyer County Trail Map ($2). Once loaded, you never need mobile coverage. Put the phone in Airplane Mode to conserve the battery and your GPS still shows your location and all map business sponsors in “Points of Interest.”
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.
The February 14 HLVCB snowmobile trail report says Sawyer County trails are open, in good condition, and groomed, with a base of 2-5 inches. Be aware of ice heaves, drive with caution, and please stay on marked trails. Check the HLVCB snowmobile trail report website for more details and updates.
The February 17 Travel Wisconsin snowmobile trail report for the Clam Lake/Ashland County area says trails are open, in good condition, and groomed, with a base of 5-6 inches.
The February 17 Travel Wisconsin snowmobile trail report for the Cable area says trails are open, in good condition, and groomed, with a base of 5-6 inches.
The American Birkebeiner is this week, February 19-23. Birkie Trail reports are available at www.birkie.com/trail-maps-conditions. Skiing any part of the Birkie Trail System December through March requires a Birkie Trail Ski Pass; skiing on the snowmaking loop requires an All-Access Snow Pass. For more information, call (715) 634-5025.
FISHING REPORT
Fishing is generally good, but subzero conditions this week might be brutal! Ice is thick, with depths to 30 inches on some lakes, though fresh snow and strong winds made travel conditions more challenging. As always, check with your favorite bait shop for current fish locations, bite windows, and bait and presentation preferences.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is fair to good, with low light early morning and late evening into dark hours offering the best bite windows. Look for fish on flats and in bays near spawning areas, and on edges in 10-22 feet. Walleye suckers and shiners on tip-ups, as well as aggressively jigged spoons and rattlebaits, should produce some action.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good to very good, with anglers catching some nice fish. Find pike on weed edges at various depths, and on the bottom scavenging for dead fish. Northern suckers and shiners on tip-ups work well, and baits such as smelt and ciscoes fished near the bottom are great for big pike.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is very good once you locate the schools, which can be a challenge. Depending on the lake, look for fish in deep basins, in 15 to more than 30 feet, and check the entire water column, as they can be suspending and/or on the move. Crappie minnows and plastics on jigs, spoons, and tip-ups and deadsticks, and small rattlebaits, are all effective.
Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is good to very good. Find fish in and near weeds in 5-18 feet, any cover protecting from predators, and on flats with healthy weeds for larger bluegills. Waxies, spikes, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks work well. Small spoons with live bait, and small minnows, work for bigger fish and help avoid bait robbers.
Feb. 15: Seasons closed: Coyote trapping; Fox hunting/trapping; Raccoon hunting/trapping.
Feb. 19-23: American Birkebeiner Week (715-634-5025).
Feb. 28-March 2: World’s Longest Weenie Roast at Lakewood’s Resort (715-794-2561).
Feb. 28: Seasons close: Cottontail; Squirrel (gray and fox).
March 2: General inland fishing season closes.
March 9: Daylight Saving Time begins ‑ turn clocks ahead one hour!
March 13-4: Total lunar eclipse.
March 14: Full Worm Moon.
March 15: Shamrock Shuffle in Downtown Hayward, The Lot, 11:45am-2pm, (715-634-0437).
March 20: Spring Equinox – First day of spring.
March 26: Crow season closes.
March 31: Some boat registrations expire – is your registration current?
March 31: The 2024-2025 fishing and hunting licenses expire.
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.
