Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report

October 14, 2024

Steve Suman

This week begins on the cooler end, and while there are a few slight chances for rain showers, the forecast shows mostly sunshine ‑ and 70 degrees next Monday! This time of year, these are all freebies ‑ enjoy them!

“Chilly overnight temperatures have dropped the Quiet Lakes’ water temperatures to more typical readings for this time of year,” says Greg at Happy Hooker. “Some lakes might start their turnover very shortly, if they have not already done so. Fishing is good, though anglers are mostly targeting muskies. Otherwise, fishing is really slowing down.

“Muskies are shallow, with most action on slower moving baits. Suckers and baits such as Suicks are catching fish.

“Walleye information is limited, but look for fish on deep bottom transitions. Walleye suckers and minnows on jigs are the main offerings at this time.

“Northern pike are active in the same spots as muskies. Try sucker minnows and tubes.

“Crappies are on top of mid-lake humps in 6-10 feet. Crappie minnows on jigs and under bobbers are the ticket.

“Bluegill and perch should be in or around weeds on shallow shorelines. Try crawlers, worms, and minnows.”

Jarrett at Hayward Bait says fall temperatures are on the way!

“Musky anglers are enjoying success and the bite will get better. Most drag suckers on harnesses while throwing bucktails and big plastics such as Medussas and Bull Dawgs. Look for fish out to 15 feet.

“Walleyes are still deep, with some exceptions. Some anglers catch fish in deep basins with walleye suckers, while others cast and troll crankbaits along mid-depth weedlines. The prime time sunset bite now occurs around 7 p.m.

“Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing is solid in shallower water. Anglers are enjoying a healthy topwater bite, along with live bait, spinnerbaits, and plastics. Docks, lily pads, and weeds are the key during warm daytime temperatures. Fish are focusing on remaining weeds, as are panfish and baitfish.

“Crappie fishing is good on deep weedlines, with other fish on main lake cribs. Crappie schools should begin roaming main lake basins and suspend in 20-40 feet. Use live bait, jigs, and plastics.”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter offers insights on the 2024 Hayward Lakes musky tournament.

“Hayward Lakes Chapter-Muskies Inc. held its 46th Annual fall musky tournament October 4-6, the same weekend it has occurred for several decades. The club has shared its records going back to 1987, allowing us to analyze the results and make some general conclusions about trends in our local musky fisheries.

“This tournament includes most of our popular local musky waters. Anglers choose where they will fish, and can only register muskies greater than 34 inches. This year, the event hosted 510 registered anglers, the most since 2010.

“The extremely windy weekend might have influenced angler behavior. Some of the large, open lakes such as Lac Courte Oreilles recorded only two fish, with Round and Sand producing no tournament fish. Instead, anglers found fish in lakes with more complex shorelines that might offer more protection from the wind, such as the Chippewa Flowage with 21 fish, Spider with 17 fish, and Lake Namakagon with 8 fish.

“The Spider Lake results are particularly interesting. We spent considerable time surveying Spider Lake in the week before the tournament, including two nights of electrofishing and two days of fyke netting. Anglers often view these activities as potentially disruptive to fishing success, though there is little scientific evidence to support that, and even intense survey efforts affect only a small percentage of fish. Angling success during the tournament certainly did not reflect any drop-off in catch after all that surveying, as anglers turned in more fish from Spider Lake than in any of the previous five years.

“Anglers also report the lures on which they caught fish, which provides some basic insights. In 2024, black was a successful color, with 16 percent of all catches on some variation of black bucktail/spinner baits. That is a large percentage when you consider the huge array of bait types and colors to which anglers now have access.

“No discussion of this tournament is complete without mentioning how Hayward Lakes Chapter-Muskies Inc. uses tournament proceeds. The club supports area stocking, research, habitat projects, access such as docks and ramps, and youth fishing events. It has raised and invested more than a half-million dollars in local projects that benefit muskies and our community. Here is to another successful year!”

The Sawyer County deer harvest total for this season, as of October 8, is 148 deer, including 82 antlered and 66 antlerless. These totals include:

Archery: 36 deer (20 antlered, 16 antlerless)
Crossbow: 63 deer (30 antlered, 33 antlerless)
Youth Deer Hunt Oct. : 45 deer (30 antlered, 15 antlerless)

For more information, search “deer harvest summary” on the DNR website.

The DNR seeks deer hunters to participate in this year’s Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey and report the animals they observe while hunting. The survey period is open through Jan. 5, requires no registration, and hunters can submit observations with a smartphone, computer, or through the mail.

For more information, search “Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey” on the DNR website.

The DNR’s 2024 fall forecasts for hunting and trapping seasons outlines what hunters and trappers can expect for their favorite species. The forecasts include reminders about public land access opportunities, registration requirements, and seasons. See the forecasts for individual species at the following links:

For more information, search “Hunting” on the DNR website.

Hayward Chapter-Fishing Has No Boundaries is hosting its “All You Can Eat Spaghetti Dinner” fall fundraiser Saturday, October 19, from 4:30-8 p.m., at Flat Creek Lodge. Dinner tickets, available at the door, cost $10/adults 10 years and older; $5/kids 2-9 years; and no charge for kids younger than 2 years. The event includes live and silent auctions, door prizes, raffle prizes, and more.

For more information, visit Hayward Chapter-Fishing Has No Boundaries 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. The Trail Treker app shows the changes. Trails 174 and 176 in Spider Lake Township are no longer open to ATV/UTV use. The ATV/UTV trails in Sawyer County Forest (715-634-4846), Chequamegon National Forest (715-634-4821), and Flambeau State Forest (715-332-5271) are open.

Check NOW for trail and road updates, closures, and upcoming closures: 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 for the complete Sawyer County Trail Map ($2). Once loaded, you never need mobile coverage. Place 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

Fishing is fair to good, with musky, walleye, northern pike, and crappie the main species of interest. Turnover could now occur at any time and your favorite bait shop can provide the most current conditions and fish preferences.

Trout anglers take note: The general inland trout fishing season closes October 15.

Musky:

Musky fishing is good and improving with the colder temperatures. Anglers are finding fish around weeds, weedlines, humps, and points out to about 18 feet. Musky suckers on harnesses, bucktails, Suicks, gliders, big plastics such as Medussas and Bull Dawgs are all working, and trolling large stickbaits is sparking hits, too.

Walleye:

Walleye fishing is fair to decent, but that will probably suffer a setback as the lakes experience turnover. Fish are on mid-depth to deep weedlines, transition areas, and in deep basins, with some moving shallower. Walleye suckers and fatheads on jigs, spinner and live bait rigs; Jigging Raps; and casting and trolling crankbaits are all producing some action.

Northern Pike:

Northern pike fishing is good, with fish on their pre-winter feeding binge. As such, look for shallow to mid-depth weeds and green weeds that hold concentrations of baitfish and panfish ‑ i.e., food! Northern suckers, walleye suckers, and minnows under bobbers, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, stickbaits, gliders, and crankbaits are all effective.

Largemouth Bass:

Largemouth bass fishing is slow to fair, though angler interest dwindles during the cold weather months. Look for fish in and around shallow to mid-depth weeds and anywhere there are concentrations of baitfish and panfish. Minnows, crawlers, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and plastics can get the interest of bass at this time.

Smallmouth Bass:

Smallmouth bass fishing is fair to decent, with anglers finding fish on weeds, hard bottom humps, points, and areas holding walleyes. Productive baits include sucker minnows, crawlers, spinnerbaits, stickbaits, crankbaits, Ned and drop-shot rigs, and plastics.

Crappie:

Crappies are scattered from 5-35 feet on shallow green weeds, weedlines, mid-lake humps, cribs, and suspending over deep basins. Fishing is good when you can find the schools. Best baits include crappie minnows, fatheads, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs and plain hooks fished under slip bobbers.

Bluegill/Perch:

Bluegill and perch anglers should look for fish in warmer shallow bays, on humps and points, and around any green weeds they can find. Use traditional baits such as waxies, leaf worms, crawler chunks, small minnows, and plastics on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks fished with/without slip bobbers.

Upcoming Events

Oct. 12-Nov. 10: Elk hunting season opened in Clam Lake management zone (888-936-7463).

Oct. 15: General inland trout fishing season closes.

Oct. 17: Full Hunter’s Moon (Supermoon).

Oct. 18-20: Ladies musky fishing school (715-462-3328).

Oct. 19: FHNB annual fall all you can eat spaghetti dinner fundraiser 4:30-8 p.m., Flat Creek Lodge (715-634-3185).

Oct. 19: Seasons open: Pheasant; Bobwhite quail; Hungarian Partridge; Coyote trapping; Fox hunting/trapping; Bobcat hunting/trapping Period 1; Fisher trapping; Raccoon hunting/trapping.

Oct. 20-26: Forest Products Week.

Oct. 21-22: Orionids Meteor Shower; 15-25/hr., swift streaks, south 2-4 a.m.

Nov. 2: Trapping seasons open: Beaver; Mink; Muskrat; Otter; Raccoon (non-resident).

Nov. 4-5: South Taurids Meteor Showers; 10-20/hr., very slow and bright, south 1-3 a.m.

Nov. 4: Woodcock season closes.

Nov. 10: Elk hunting season opened in Clam Lake management zone (888-936-7463).

Nov. 15: Full Beaver Moon.

Nov. 19: Duck season closes in Northern Zone.

Nov. 22: Fall turkey season closes in zones 6, 7.

Nov. 23: Seasons open: Fall turkey in zones 1-5; Crow.

Nov. 23-Dec. 1: Traditional nine-day gun deer season.

Nov. 29: Mourning dove season closes.

Dec. 10: Application deadline for spring turkey, fall bear permits.

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.

Author: Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce