December 16, 2024
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
“Late fall” weather in the North Woods is a guessing game this year, with recent temperatures offering wide fluctuations from subzero lows to highs in the mid-40s. Colder temperatures return mid-week and through the weekend, with lows from -1 to 20 degrees, and highs from 16 to 33 degrees. Precipitation ranges from rain to snow to all forms in between… sometimes on the same day.
Observations of clothing options include parkas, stocking hats, and pac boots, to t-shirts, shorts, and sandals, gloves optional. All are applicable at any given time, and you could use your entire wardrobe in one week!
This Saturday, December 21, is the Winter Solstice, the first day of (astronomical) winter and the fewest hours of daylight of the year. On the up side (unless you prefer darkness), the days will have increasingly more daylight on a daily basis. These increases are only a few seconds at the start, but grow steadily, reaching nearly 3 minutes per day in March.
The Ursids Meteor Shower occurs December 22-23. If skies are clear, look to the north to see up to 15 meteors per hour, all night long, with most shooting at medium speed.
Travelers can check current road conditions at 511wi.gov for Wisconsin and 511mn.org for Minnesota.
“Quiet Lakes’ ice reports are still all over the place,” says Greg at Happy Hooker. “Many small and medium size lakes have decent ice in most areas, with reports of 5-7 inches on those lakes.
“Larger, deeper lakes such as Round, LCO, Grindstone, etc., were still mostly open, though they might have iced-over with the cold weather in this last week. Even if they did ice-over on these lakes, be sure to check ice frequently, as it is likely ice thickness will vary greatly across the lake.
“There is not yet much to report on the early season ice bite, as most anglers did not deal with the subzero temperatures last week. Most anglers are fishing shallower water with sucker minnows under tip-ups, though bigger jigging spoons and baits are producing walleye as well as small northern pike.
“Bluegill and perch are now in and around shallow weeds. Anglers can catch them with waxies on small jigs until we can get out to the deep basins to target crappies.”
Jarrett at Hayward Bait says ice is solidifying in the North Woods and most of the smaller lakes have 4-6 inches of ice. The larger lakes froze up with the bitter cold this past week and sport 2-5 inches of ice.
“Current recommendations are for no vehicle travel on the lakes, but frigid temperatures arriving this week will improve ice conditions.
“Walleyes are still relating to shallow weeds in 12 feet or shallower. Use setlines to avoid spooking fish, and walleye suckers and shiners work best.
“Northern pike also roam shallow weedlines picking off small panfish, and anglers using setlines report some success.
“Panfish fishing has picked up with the ice starting to thicken, as anglers are able to creep towards basin areas. We hear reports of good numbers of panfish catches on live bait and plastics on small jigs in 15-30 feet.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses Lac Courte Oreilles fishing opportunities.
“In this recurring series, I rate local fishing opportunities by species, on a 0-10 scale. The rating reflects catchability, size, and other elements of fishing quality, including notes on why each species received that score.
“This week, we look at Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO), our largest natural lake in the Hayward area.
“Musky fishing in LCO receives a 7 rating, though that score would have been considerably lower just a few years ago. Recent stocking success has anglers starting to catch more fish, with the top-end size potential remaining exceptional.
“Similarly, northern pike on LCO score higher today than a few years ago. At this time, I rate northern pike as an 8, with anglers still catching fish somewhat easily, with improved size on average and at the top end.
“Largemouth bass score a 5, with decent catch rates in weedy areas and fair size. Smallmouth bass, the more abundant bass species, score a little higher at 7, with very nice top-end size potential.
“Panfish currently score an 8, with abundant large crappie in the system and high quality bluegill size as well. Lac Courte Oreilles is one of the rare lakes that scores above average (5) for all major species groups. The quality of this fishery is a reflection of the exceptional habitat this large, deep, cool, lake contains.”
The DNR offers a free first harvest certificate for hunters and trappers who harvested their first deer, bear, turkey, bobcat, fisher, or otter this year to commemorate the event. Check out the online form, fill in all the necessary information, and upload a photo. The DNR will send a printable certificate to the email address supplied.
Fall turkey hunters in Wisconsin registered 3,972 turkeys in the state as of December 10. The fall season in zones 1-5 runs through January 5. Bonus authorizations ($10/residents; $15/nonresidents) are available at one per person, per day, until the zone sells out or season ends. Bonus permits remain available in the following zones:
- Zone 1: 687
- Zone 2: 506
- Zone 3: 405
- Zone 4: 554
For more information, search “turkey hunting” on the DNR website.
According to the DNR deer harvest report for Sawyer County, total harvest for this season, as of December 10, is 2,126 deer, including 1,341 antlered and 785 antlerless. Sawyer County totals (preliminary, subject to correction) include:
- 9-Day Gun Season: 1,303 deer (775 antlered, 528 antlerless)
- Archery: 211 deer (158 antlered, 53 antlerless)
- Crossbow: 501 deer (342 antlered, 159 antlerless)
- Muzzleloader season: 49 deer (27 antlered, 22 antlerless)
- Youth Hunt (Oct. 5-6): 46 deer (30 antlered, 16 antlerless)
For more information, search “deer harvest summary” on the DNR website.
The second period of elk hunting season in the Clam Lake elk range runs December 12-20. The DNR accepts drawing applications only from Wisconsin residents, with the application fee $10. The DNR (expects) March 1 to May 31 as the 2025 elk application period. New in 2024, applicants chose between the Clam Lake Elk Range and Black River Elk Range. The DNR announces annual quotas at the May Natural Resources Board meeting and drawing results likely in June. For more information, search “elk hunting” on the DNR website.
Wisconsin’s antlerless-only holiday hunt runs from December 24 thru Jan. 1, ONLY in select Farmland Zone units. Some units in the Farmland Zone have an extended archery season from Jan. 6-31. Regular archery season ends Jan. 5. As always, check the current regulations!
Waterfowl hunters should be aware that the Northern Zone goose season closed Monday, December 16.
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 the changes. Trails 174 and 176 in Spider Lake Township are no longer open to ATV/UTV use. Check for trail and road updates and closures at HLVCB ATV/UTV trail conditions report and at Sawyer County Snowmobile & ATV Alliance, as well as Sawyer County Forest (715-634-4846), Chequamegon National Forest (715-634-4821), and Flambeau State Forest (715-332-5271).
Riders can 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 to 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.”
FISHING REPORT
Ice thickness varies from lake to lake and spot to spot on the lakes. Reports indicated ice thickness of 2-7 inches on various lakes, however, mild temperatures and rain that fell over the weekend and Monday affected that ice. Obviously (or should be obvious), anglers should limit access to foot travel and check the ice every few steps. Colder temperatures arriving later this week should help grow ice thickness.
Anglers should be aware that walleye season on the Chippewa Flowage closed November 30, and musky season closes statewide December 31. Check the regulations for the species and waters you are fishing.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is fair to good around shallow weeds out to 12 feet or so. Look for the bite to pick up in late afternoon into dark in the shallower areas. Walleye suckers and shiners on tip-ups are productive, as are jigging spoons and baits.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good on and around shallow weeds, weedlines, and weed edges holding baitfish and panfish. Northern and walleye suckers on tip-ups, jigging spoons, and similar baits are producing good catches.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is improving with the thickening ice, allowing (tempting?) anglers to try to access deeper basins. Inconsistent temperatures and rain are affecting those ice conditions, so use extreme caution and common sense. Crappie minnows, fatheads, plastics, and Gulp! baits are the baits of choice.
Bluegill/Perch:
Bluegill and perch fishing improved, with fishing hanging around shallow weeds and some fish out to 30 feet. Waxies, small minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs are working well.
Nov. 30: Walleye season closed on the Chippewa Flowage.
Dec. 2-31: Hayward Holiday Raffle Drawings; tickets $10 each (715-634-8662).
Dec. 12-20: Elk season second period open.
Dec. 13-14: Geminids Meteor Shower; 60-120/hr., medium speed, overhead, 1-3 a.m.
Dec. 15: Full Cold Moon.
Dec. 16: Goose season closed in Northern Zone.
Dec. 21: Winter Solstice – first day of winter.
Dec. 22-23: Ursids Meteor Shower; 5-15/hr., medium speed, north, all night.
Dec. 24-Jan. 1: Antlerless-only holiday deer season (not statewide; see regs). Season open only in select farm counties.
Dec. 25: Christmas Day.
Dec. 25: Bobcat Period 1 hunting and trapping season closes.
Dec. 26-Jan. 31: Bobcat Period 2 hunting and trapping season open.
Dec. 31: Musky season closes (see regs).
Jan. 1, 2025: New Year’s Day!
Jan. 2-4: Quadrantids Meteor Shower; 60-120/hr. medium speed, northeast, 4-6 a.m.
Jan. 4: 13th Annual Pat’s Landing Tipper Tourney, 8am-3pm, $25 entry fee (715-945-2511).
Jan. 5: Seasons close: Archery and crossbow deer; Grouse Zone A; Turkey zones 1-5; Pheasant; Hungarian partridge; Fisher trapping.
Jan. 7: Big Sissabagama Lake fishery planning Zoom meeting, 5:30-7 p.m. (715-634-7429).
Jan. 13: Full Wolf Moon.
Jan. 18-19: Free Fishing Weekend.
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 800-724-2992.
