September 29, 2025
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
The forecast indicates above average high temperatures in the 80s through Friday, when for the first in some time, chances for rain occur, and 50s for nighttime lows. This will be a beautiful week for recreation, home, cabin, and other projects that need attention now.
Fall colors, a week or two late so far, but finally showing some progress. Clear skies permitting, look for the full Harvest Moon Monday, October 6.
This is perhaps THE best season of the year ‑ take some time to enjoy it!
“The Quiet Lakes’ area had another week of warm weather,” says Greg at Happy Hooker. “Water temperatures are high for this time ‑ last Wednesday afternoon, they hit 70.4 degrees ‑ and the bite reflects it.
“Muskies are in shallow weeds feeding on young of year and fingerling crappie, bluegill, and perch. Anglers are reporting success on both live bait and artificials. Jerkbaits, minnowbaits, gliders, and topwaters can be excellent with this warm water.
“Walleye anglers should try summer related patterns. Crawlers, minnows, leeches (if available), and plastics jigged through weeds and structure work well. Basin fish might be on deep rocks, so try crankbaits, crawler harnesses, and deep presentations.
“Northern pike are in shallow weeds and will chase faster bucktails and crankbaits. Focus on green weeds, working the water column in 3-10 feet.
“Largemouth bass are active, which will not slow until water temperatures cool. Work lily pads and shoreline weeds with spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, Whopper Ploppers, frogs, and other topwaters.
“Smallmouth bass should be on deep rocks and hard to soft bottom transitions. When fishing last week, I caught a very nice fish on a shallow point in about 2 feet, in muck, so had to eat some crow on last week’s advice! The fish can be anywhere, so just go fishing, and try both new and traditional spots.
“Panfish in big numbers are in and around shallow weeds and that should not change as long as the current weather continues. Use crappie minnows on small jigs or hooks for crappie and perch; crawlers and leaf worms work for bluegills.
“Duck season opened this past Saturday and the Muskies Inc. tournament is this Friday through Sunday.”
Mike at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage is down 2 feet and the water temperature 65 degrees.
“Musky action increased considerably this past weekend, particularly on suckers. Fish are in weeds in 3-8 feet, with anglers catching many more fish than in previous weeks. In general, many muskies are following baits, but do not hit. Anglers using suckers as a backup are reporting many hookups by fish following not hitting lures. Baits generating action are still offset blade bucktails and surface baits. As always, do a figure-8 after every cast, given the current musky patterns.
“Walleye fishing improved slightly from last week, with reports of success on crawlers and minnows around weeds and wood in 8-12 feet. Anglers are seeing increasing activity with stickbaits and jerkbaits around rock bars, and some anglers are catching their limit in a couple hours. Target weeds, rock piles, bars and cover in 8-12 feet.
“Northern pike are active in shallow weeds. Tinsel Tails and Chatter Flashes dominate action, but try walleye suckers, too. As usual, the west side is producing better numbers and size.
“Largemouth bass are a little quiet, but possibly due to fewer anglers targeting them rather than being less active.
“Smallmouth bass fishing is really good on the southeast end. They are hitting a variety of baits, but Ned rigs, plastic craws, and chatterbaits seem the most effective.
“Crappie action is solid and anglers report finding fish on cribs in 16-22 feet. Some report success in deeper brush as well, but cribs are providing most of the action. Crappie minnows are very hot, but one-inch Gulp! Minnows, Garland Mayflies, and Mini-Mites are also putting fish in the boat.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses the odds of catching a certified trophy fish.
“Anglers might have lively debates about what they consider a trophy fish, but fish biologists do not. This is because the American Fisheries Society has standard cutoffs for trophy fish for most popular species in North America. There are also lesser cutoffs for what constitutes ‘quality,’ ‘preferred,’ or ‘memorable’ size fish.
“The trophy cutoffs, based on maximum sizes of fish across the entire continent, mean some trophy size fish are harder to find in our area. For example, the trophy cutoff for largemouth bass is 25 inches, which is an almost impossibly large size for a bass to achieve at our latitude, so catching a trophy largemouth here is very unlikely.
“For musky, the trophy size is 50 inches, which matches the personal standards of many anglers. This is a more achievable trophy in our area, though finding and catching one still represents a major challenge for any angler.
“Other difficult trophies for our area are 12-inch bluegill and a 44-inch northern pike. We very rarely see these species achieving those sizes in this area.
“On the other hand, the most attainable certified trophies in the Hayward area are smallmouth bass and brown trout. The cutoff for smallmouth is 20 inches and for brown trout 18 inches. We see plenty of fish greater than those sizes in area lakes and rivers, making these species your best bet for a true trophy.
“It is worth noting that while these standards exist, the idea of a ‘trophy’ is relative and might change from one person to another. For some, the challenge might come from how or where the angler catches the fish. For example, some might consider a 45-inch musky a trophy if the angler catches it on a fly rod.
“Regardless, the pursuit of a truly special fish is one of the things that keep us heading back out on the water.”
The 2025 weekly deer harvest numbers are available by referencing the 2025 DMU map and deer harvest summary.
Hunting and fishing season updates include the Sept. 27 opening of duck season in the Northern Zone; the Oct. 7 closing of bear season; and the Oct. 11-12 Youth Deer Hunt.
The hook-and-line lake sturgeon harvest season closes Sept. 30, and the general inland trout season closes Oct. 15.
The 47th Annual Stone Lake Cranberry Festival is this Saturday, October 4, though there are events Oct. 2-5. Check out the schedule of events and parking information, as well as the history of the festival.
The 47th annual Hayward Chapter-Muskies, Inc. Fall Tournament runs Friday through Sunday, October 3-5, on 17 Hayward area lakes, and offers more than $30,000 in prizes and trophies. Each registered angler receives an entry for the Sunday Grand Prize drawing for a 2025 Lund 1775 Pro Guide boat, 60hp Mercury motor, and ShoreLand’r trailer. Entry fees are $120/adults and $25/youth 16 years and younger. Register in person at Hayward Bait and Jenk’s Bait, or call Hayward Bait at (715) 634-2921 until 11 p.m. October 2.
For details, visit Hayward Chapter-Muskies Inc. or call (715) 634-2921 or 558-2835.
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
Unseasonably warm temperatures are affecting fish activity, requiring anglers to rethink their previous fall approaches to locations and presentations. Bait shop personnel can provide the current information on fish movements, locations, bite windows, and preferred baits and presentations.
Musky:
Muskies are in shallow to mid-depth weeds. Action is improving and there are many follows, but inconsistent hits. Figure-8 on every retrieve! Suckers on quick-strike rigs, bucktails, jerkbaits, stickbaits, minnowbaits, gliders, and topwaters all work well.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is slow, but improving, with early morning and sunset into dark best. Fish are on weeds, weedlines, wood, rock, points, and bars in 8-20 feet, and shallower during prime time. Walleye suckers, crawlers, leeches, plastics, crankbaits, crawler harnesses, stickbaits, jerkbaits, and trolling do the job.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good around shallow to mid-depth green weeds, weed edges, points, bays, and concentrations of baitfish and panfish. Favorite baits include northern and walleye suckers, bucktails, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, crankbaits, chatterbaits, and minnowbaits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is fair to good, but with few anglers targeting them. Work shallow to mid-depth weeds, weedlines, weed edges, lily pads, cribs, brush, and areas holding baitfish and panfish. Minnows, spinners, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, chatterbaits, and topwaters such as Whopper Ploppers and frogs are all producing.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is good to very good. Find fish on shallow to deep weeds, weed edges, rocks, points, breaklines, and hard to soft bottom transitions. Sucker minnows, Ned rigs, wacky worms, plastics, drop-shots, crankbaits, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, and topwaters are all effective offerings.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is very good around shallow weeds, weedlines, cribs, and brush in 15-25 feet, and for fish suspending in deep basins. Check the entire water column! Baits of choice include crappie minnows, Garland Mayflies, Mini-Mites, plastics, and one-inch Gulp! Minnows on jigs and slip bobbers, and Beetle Spins.
Bluegill/Perch:
Bluegill and perch fishing is very good, with many fish on shallow weeds, weed edges, cribs, and brush in a range of depths. Best baits include waxies, leaf worms, crawler chunks, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs and small hooks, and minnows for perch and bigger bluegills.
Sept. 13: Seasons opened: Deer (archery/crossbow); Grouse (Zone A); Turkey; Cottontail rabbit (North Zone); Squirrel.
Sept. 16: Regular goose season opened in Northern Zone.
Sept. 20: Woodcock seasons opened.
Sept. 27: Duck season opened in Northern Zone.
Sept. 30: Hook-and-line lake sturgeon harvest season closes (see regs).
Oct. 3-5: Hayward Chapter-Muskies, Inc. ‑ Fall Tournament (715-634-2921; 558-2835).
Oct. 4-12: Gun Deer Hunt for Hunters with Disabilities (see regs).
Oct. 4: Stone Lake Cranberry Festival.
Oct. 6: Full Harvest Moon.
Oct. 7: Bear season ends.
Oct. 11-12: Youth Deer Hunt (see regs).
Oct. 15: General inland trout season closes (see regs).
Oct. 17-19: Ladies Musky Fishing School ‑ Deerfoot Lodge & Resort (715-462-3328).
Oct. 18: Seasons open: Pheasant; Bobwhite Quail; Hungarian Partridge (see regs); Sharp-tailed grouse (by drawing).
Oct. 18-Nov. 16: Elk season, first period (by drawing).
Oct. 18: Trapping seasons open: Coyote; Muskrat; Mink; Fisher.
Oct. 18: Trapping/hunting seasons open: Bobcat; Fox; Raccoon (resident).
Oct. 21-22: Orionids Meteor Shower, south 2-4 a.m., 15-25/hr., Swift streaks.
Nov. 1: Trapping/hunting seasons open: Beaver (Northwest Zone); Otter (North Zone); Raccoon (non-resident).
Nov. 2: Daylight Saving Time ends ‑ turn back clocks one hour.
Nov. 3: Woodcock season closes.
Nov. 5: Full Beaver Moon.
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.
