March 2, 2026
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Spring is making an early appearance this week, with highs forecast for 46-54 degrees, and nighttime lows from 27-33 degrees. Enjoy your snow sports now, if you can!
On the night of March 3, look for a Full Worm “Blood” Moon and total lunar eclipse (see video representation).
Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. this Sunday, March 8, when we turn clocks ahead one hour. (Turn them ahead Saturday night and no one will report you.)
The 2026 Hayward Lakes Vacation Guide, in both digital and printed form, is now available. The guide contains business listings, maps, itineraries, and ideas for getting the most from your North Woods’ stay. For ATV, snowmobiling, and additional maps, click here.
“The Quiet Lakes’ area will be back in the 30s and 40s this week,” says Greg at Happy Hooker, “and that will likely knock down any remaining snow on the ice. Ice conditions on the main lakes are still great, but be cautious on lakes with springs or river inlets where ice could be thin. Fish should be where anglers expect to find them.
“Remember that gamefish season closed this past Sunday, March 1,
“Walleyes are definitely starting to stage near spawning areas, and the last few northern pike I caught were full of eggs, so they, too, are near spawning areas.
“Crappie anglers are finding schools in lake basins in 15-25 feet, depending on the basin depth. Use tungsten jigs and spoons to get down to fish quickly. On lakes without a defined basin, find fish on or just off deep weed edges. Minnows, waxies, and plastics on jigs and spoons work well for these fish.
“Bluegills are on deeper edges and on any vegetation that still holds some oxygen. Bluegills prefer waxies and plastics on jigs and jigging spoons. Find the bigger bluegills in 8-15 feet on structure where they can hide from predators.
“Perch are on deep edges in shallow lakes and on deeper rocky transitions in lakes with deep basins. Fishing small jigging spoons aggressively triggers bigger perch. Try crappie minnows on spoons and waxies and plastics on small jigs.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses the biology behind when to stock fish.
“A comment we often hear when people are dissatisfied with fishing is ‘Just stock more fish!’ However, within that statement is a fundamental misunderstanding of where the vast majority of our fish come from and where stocking is actually most effective.
“If you fish in the Hayward area for bass, panfish, pike, trout, suckers, whitefish, bullheads, or catfish, you are, with very few exceptions, fishing for naturally-born fish. Those species reproduce very successfully in our area, and no stocking is necessary.
“In fact, when it comes to panfish, pike, and bass, a more common problem is too much reproduction and an overabundance of fish, which can limit their size and growth! The species stocked most commonly in this area are walleye, muskellunge, sturgeon, and some trout, but many of these species also naturally reproduce.
“There are a few scenarios where stocking is most effective.
“The first is when a species is in need of recovery efforts, including reintroduction to areas where they once existed, but were driven out, often by habitat degradation or past overharvest. A good example is stocking sturgeon in the Namekagon River as part of recovering that population.
“Another successful stocking type is when we can create a temporary fishery in a waterbody where conditions do not allow fish to survive and reproduce over the long-term. A good example is the very popular stocked trout ponds in Washburn County Forest.
“We also stock fish to ‘supplement’ populations and try to maintain a higher density than would occur naturally under current conditions. A good example is stocking musky in lakes such as the Chippewa Flowage and Lac Courte Oreilles with introduced northern pike.
“Walleye stocking in our area is often done to supplement or try to recover a population. However, habitat limitations play a huge role in where we expect stocking to be successful and where it does not work as well.
“We are fortunate to have great hatcheries and hatchery staff in our area to rear fish for our area lakes and rivers, but successful fish management more often relies on natural fish reproduction. Decisions on when and where to stock must take into account the full picture, and is rarely as simple as ‘just stock some more fish!’”
Hunters
Cottontail rabbit and squirrel (gray, fox) seasons closed February 28.
The application period for the 2026 elk season opened March 1 and remains open through May 31.
Anglers
Wisconsin’s inland gamefish season closed March 1 (regs).
Current fishing and hunting licenses expire March 31.
Trout anglers have a significant change in season dates for 2026-27. Early inland catch and release only season closes April 3. The General Inland Trout season on inland streams, springs, and spring ponds opens April 4, rather than on opening day of inland gamefish season.
Deadlines to remove ice shanties from state waters began March 1 for WI-MN boundary waters. Anglers must remove shanties from inland waters south of Highway 64 on or before March 8, and from inland waters north of Highway 64, Lake Superior, and WI-MI boundary waters on or before March 15. Anglers can continue using portable ice shanties so long as they remove them from the ice when not actively in use and at the end of each day.
The DNR’s open public comment period on 2026-30 migratory bird hunting season frameworks ends March 6. It will receive comments through the online comment tool, at public hearings, and by email. This is a new process to set season structures for multiple years at a time, and the first time the DNR is doing so. After collecting public comments, a final season structure goes to the Natural Resources Board for approval. For more information, visit the DNR Waterfowl Hunting webpage and https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/calendar.
A public hearing in Rice Lake is March 3, from 7-9 p.m. A virtual public hearing via Zoom is March 4 from 7-9 p.m. and requires registration.
The application period for 2026 elk season permits opened March 1 and runs through May 31, with several regulation changes. There is now one continuous hunting season, Oct. 17-Dec. 13. Applicants have two options ‑ bull elk and antlerless ‑ and can apply for one or both. The two hunting zones have new names ‑ the Northern Elk Management Zone (formerly Clam Lake Elk Range), and the Central Elk Management Zone (formerly Black River Elk Range).
Visit the DNR’s elk hunting website for specific information and details on hunting units.
Fishing Has No Boundaries-Hayward Chapter will host its Chili Has No Boundaries chili contest this Saturday, March 7, from 12-4 p.m. at The Dock Bar and Grill. All proceeds benefit Fishing Has No Boundaries.
For more information on the contest and prizes, visit the Chapter’s website or call (715) 634-3185.
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. Contact numbers are as follows for the ATV/UTV trails in Sawyer County Forest (715-634-4846); Chequamegon National Forest (715-634-4821); and Flambeau State Forest (715-332-5271).
For trail and road updates and closures, visit HLVCB ATV/UTV trail conditions report.
Sawyer County ATV & Snowmobile trail maps are available from the Hayward Lakes Visitor & Convention Bureau, or download the Trail Treker app ($2) on your smartphone for the complete map ($2).
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 need not to be a Wisconsin resident to be an AWSC member.
For snowmobile trail updates and closures, visit HLVCB snowmobile trail conditions report.
Sawyer County Snowmobile & ATV trail maps are available from the Hayward Lakes Visitor & Convention Bureau, or download the Trail Treker app ($2) on your smartphone for the complete map ($2).
The March 2 HLVCB snowmobile trail report says Sawyer County trails are not closed and several groomers to the north are grooming ‑ see the GTS Groomer Tracking Systems app to follow grooming operations. Wooded trails groomed well, but expect some thin areas, exposed rocks, and icy corners and lakes. Trails near roads and in open areas are thin to bare. Fire lanes and trails in the southern part of Sawyer County, such as Trail 6 and towards Price County, groomed well. The snow is better going north.
For current trail conditions adjacent to Sawyer County, visit the particular websites for those areas.
Check here for Birkie trail maps and conditions. Skiing the Birkie Trail System December through March requires a Birkie Trail Ski Pass. Skiing on the snowmaking loop required an All-Access snow pass.
For more information, visit www.birkie.com or call (715) 634-5025.
FISHING REPORT
Ice reports indicated conditions are still good, but they will surely take a hit with the warm temperatures, sunshine, and the rain late in the week. Be cautious, especially around areas of springs and river inlets.
Note: On March 1, Wisconsin’s inland gamefish season closed (check the regs). Panfish season remains open. Anglers can continue to target both largemouth and smallmouth bass, but only on a catch-and-release basis.
Trout anglers: New season regulations effective this year. Early inland catch-and-release season closes April 3. The opening of the general inland trout season for inland streams, springs, and spring ponds is April 4 and runs thru Oct. 15.
Walleye/Northern pike:
Walleyes are starting to stage near spawning areas. Northern pike catch reports from last week indicate pike are also near spawning areas and full of eggs.
Crappie:
Crappie anglers report catches in basins in 12-28 feet, depending on the basin. On shallower lakes, look for fish on or near deep weed edges. Baits of choice include minnows, waxies, and plastics on tungsten jigs and spoons that quickly the baits down to the fish.
Bluegill/Perch:
Bluegill anglers are finding fish on deep weed edges holding oxygen, with bigger fish on structure in 8-18 feet. Waxies and plastics on small jigs and jigging spoons work well.
Perch are on rocky transitions in deep lake basins, and on deep edges on the shallow lakes. Perch are on deep edges in shallow lakes and on deeper rocky transitions in lakes with deep basins. Use crappie minnows on spoons, and waxies and plastics on small jigs. Jig small spoons aggressively for bigger perch.
Feb. 28: Seasons closed: Cottontail rabbit; Squirrel (gray, fox) (888-936-7463).
March 1: Inland gamefish season closed (see regs).
March 1: Application period opened for 2026 elk season.
March 3: Full Worm “Blood” Moon and total lunar eclipse – video example of total lunar eclipse cycle.
March 7: FHNB Chili Has No Boundaries fundraiser at The Dock Bar and Grill 12-4 p.m. (715-634-3185).
March 8: Daylight Saving Time begins – turn clocks ahead one hour.
March 20: Spring equinox – first day of spring.
March 25: Crow season closes.
March 31: Current 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.
