October 27, 2025
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Forecasts indicate good weather again this week, with highs in the 50s, lows in the 30s, and low chances for rain. This time of year, these nice days are all freebies, so get out and enjoy fall in the North Woods!
Keep in mind that Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. Saturday, November 2, when we turn back clocks one hour.
“The North Woods and Quiet Lakes’ area is in for a pleasant week,” says Greg at Happy Hooker, “and with overnight lows above freezing, the water probably will not cool too much. Lakes are way down due to drawdowns and/or no significant rain, with water temperatures around 50 degrees. Most lakes are at some point in or just past turnover. Fishing is good and should only get better as we continue into late fall.
“Musky fishing is improving, with fish off deeper weed edges and rocks in 8-15 feet, and most anglers seeing fish on live bait. Casting Suicks, Warlocks, and big rubber baits such as tubes, Bull Dawgs, and Medussas will produce as well.
“Walleye anglers are doing well trolling crankbaits. We caught three fish Friday night trolling #5 Flicker Shads at about 15 feet, and other anglers report doing well trolling. Work deeper rocky points and reefs with baits at 12-18 feet.
“Northern pike are hitting smaller musky suckers and musky baits in and around green weeds. Last Wednesday, we caught a nice pike off a rocky point in about 10 feet when it hit the bait in the first turn of the figure 8!
“No reports on largemouth bass in the past week, but smallmouth should be on deep rocks in 12-20 feet. Walleye suckers and minnows on jigs are good choices.
“Panfish are schooling and pushing deeper into 8-15 feet. Minnows on slip bobbers or jigged over the side of the boat are the best choices.”
Jarrett at Hayward Bait says musky fishing should continue to get better and better as the water cools.
“Most musky anglers are dragging suckers and/or switching to twitch baits and big plastics. Fish will become more reluctant to chase baits and be more susceptible to slow moving suckers and jigging tactics. Good bait options include tubes, Medussas, Bull Dawgs, and jigging baits for cold conditions.
“Walleye fishing is tough, though should improve as the water cools and fish emerge from the depths. Search green weeds or areas holding baitfish. Stickbaits with heavy pauses, live bait rigs, and slip bobbers with walleye and northern suckers start to shine. For large waterbodies, trolling is a good option for scattered fish.
“Northern pike are shallow and put on the feedbag at this time. Spinnerbaits, spoons, and swimbaits will pull pike from weed and rock cover. Live bait is a strong option for bright, sunny days.
“Largemouth and smallmouth bass are shallow soaking up sunlight and warmth, to deeper haunts chasing crawfish and baitfish. Crankbaits, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, and live bait work well. Fish feed aggressively through fall, so go big!
“Crappie anglers on lakes shallow or with structure such as cribs should target structure with slip bobbers and vertical jigging plastics and live bait on jigs. For anglers on deep basins, vertical jigging is the key. Fish jigged from 20 feet and deeper do not release well, even though they might swim off, and are often unable to regain control of their air bladder.”
Mike at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage pool is down 3 inches and the water temperature 53 degrees.
“Musky action is solid, with anglers catching many nice fish on a varied assortment of baits. Suckers are the bait of choice, with rubber baits, gliders, and jerkbaits also producing. Anglers are finding fish in various depths, so there is no one cookie-cutter pattern. Sitting off deeper edges, floating a sucker while casting to bars and weed beds, is a good tactic.
“Walleye fishing remains slow, though some anglers report success with suckers and large fatheads. The water seems too warm for walleyes to start their usual heavy feeding at this time of year.
“Crappies are schooling in Moores Bay and the Blueberry Flats, but are not really hitting lately. Anglers report they are catching some fish, but many fish they mark seem disinterested in the baits and presentations thrown at them. Crappie minnows are the go-to, but have some plastics and hair jigs ready if fish are not keen on live bait that day.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses rock bass hunting in packs.
“The lowly rock bass is an often-overlooked fish among anglers who tend to focus on more glamorous species such as walleye and musky. One thing about an overlooked species is that when you start paying attention, they might show you something interesting.
“A new study documented some behaviors among rock bass that are rarely observed among any fish species: rock bass can hunt in packs. We often associate pack hunting with highly intelligent animals such as wolves and lions because it requires social coordination and strategy.
“Researchers diving in Wisconsin’s Star Lake actually found two different types of pack hunting by rock bass. In one type, a rock bass draws the attention of a crayfish, eliciting a defensive posture in which the crayfish’s claws point up at the threat. A second rock bass then comes from behind and attacks the crayfish where it is most vulnerable. This is reminiscent of a famous velociraptor scene in Jurassic Park!
“Another type of pack hunting rock bass employ is for one fish to grab a crayfish’s claws while another comes in to attack the body. In both cases, one rock bass is making a sacrifice so another can hunt more effectively.
“The coolest part of this research is not the fish, but the researchers themselves. Two of the study’s authors are Sean Sass, age 12, and Vincent Sass, age 11. The brothers were assisting researchers with the DNR and the UW-Trout Lake Station, making observations of rock bass behavior.
“Sean said, ‘I was expecting to see some kind of fish behavior while scuba diving that day, but not this brand-new kind of fish behavior.’ Vincent added that ‘It was really cool to discover something new in nature that no one had ever observed.’
“The Sass brothers have some great ideas for future research related to bass fishing, so expect to hear more from them in the future!”
Fall season turkey hunters continue to enjoy success statewide. The current harvest total for all seven zones is 1,342 birds as of October 22. Locally, Zone 6 has registered 164 birds and Zone 7 registered 86 birds. Bonus tags remain available for zones 1-4. The season closes November 21 statewide in all zones, but reopens in zones 1-5 November 22 and runs through January 4. Check “turkey hunting” on the DNR website for shooting hours and other information.
The Northern Forest Zone consists of a number of DMUs, with some in Sawyer County and extending into other counties. The 2025 weekly deer harvest numbers are available by referencing the 2025 deer management units map (or DMU map) and deer harvest summary.
Hunting and fishing season updates include the Oct. 18 season opener for pheasant, bobwhite quail, Hungarian partridge, and sharp-tailed grouse; trapping season for coyote, muskrat, mink, and fisher; and trapping/hunting season for bobcat, fox, and resident raccoon.
Trapping seasons open Nov. 1 for Beaver (Northwest Zone); Otter (North Zone); and Raccoon hunt/trap (non-resident). Woodcock season closes Nov. 3.
Hunters of all game species that stipulate legal hunting hours should note that Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, November 2. Check the legal hunting hours online.
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
This is a good week for fishing AND catching, with highs in the 50s, cool nights in the 30s, and minimal chances for rain showers ‑ a great late season opportunity to wet a line! Fish are transitioning and bait shop personnel can provide current locations, bite windows, and bait and presentation preferences.
Musky:
Musky action is good off deep weed edges, rock, points, humps, and panfish concentrations to about 15 feet. Suckers on quick-strike rigs, Bull Dawgs, Medussas, bucktails, Suicks, gliders, tubes, twitchbaits, jerkbaits, big plastics, and trolling are all effective.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is improving with cooler water. During daylight, find fish in/around mid-depth to deeper green weeds, rocks, points, humps and panfish concentrations. Early mornings and late evenings into dark offer best success. Walleye suckers, fatheads, crankbaits, stickbaits, and minnowbaits work well.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is very good as fish fatten up for winter. Target shallow to mid-depth green weeds, weedlines, rocky points, and around baitfish and panfish concentrations. Northern and walleye suckers, minnows, spoons, spinners, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, stickbaits, and jerkbaits all produce.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is fair to good for anglers targeting them. Find them on shallow to mid-depth weeds, bays, cribs, and along shorelines feeding on frogs and panfish. Good choices include minnows, plastics, jerkbaits, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, stickbaits, and swimbaits.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is good, with fish actively feeding on shallow to mid-depth and deeper rocks, points, humps, and transition areas. Use sucker minnows and plastics on jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, stickbaits, and Ned and drop-shot rigs.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is fair to good. Look for schooling fish in 6-20 feet on weeds, weedlines, cribs, and in basins. Crappie minnows, fatheads, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and/or slip bobbers, jigging spoons, and Beetle Spins all work.
Bluegill
Bluegill fishing is fair to good as fish school and move to weeds, weed edges, cribs, and basins in 6-18 feet. Waxies, worms, crawler chunks, small minnows, and plastics on jigs and teardrops, with without slip bobbers, work well.
Nov. 1: Trapping seasons open: Beaver (Northwest Zone); Otter (North Zone); Raccoon hunt/trap (non-resident).
Nov. 2: Daylight Saving Time ends ‑ turn back clocks one hour.
Nov. 3: Woodcock season closes.
Nov. 4-5: South Taurids Meteor Shower, south, 1-3 a.m., 10-20/hr., bright and very slow.
Nov. 5: Full Beaver Moon.
Nov. 11: Hayward Chapter-Muskies, Inc. meeting, 7 p.m., review tournament, elect officers, Flat Creek (715-634-4543).
Nov. 12-14: North Taurids Meteor Shower, south, 12-2 a.m., 10-20 per hour, slow fireballs.
Nov. 16: Elk season, first period, closes.
Nov. 16-17: Leonids Meteor Shower, southeast, 4-5 a.m., 10-15 per hour, very swift.
Nov. 21: Fall turkey season closes statewide.
Nov. 22-30: Wisconsin’s traditional nine-day gun deer season.
Nov. 22-Jan. 4: Fall turkey season open in zones 1-5.
Nov. 25: Duck season closes in Northern Zone.
Nov. 29: Mourning dove season closes.
Nov. 30: Walleye season closes on Chippewa Flowage.
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.
