June 30, 2025
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
The forecast shows warm temperatures in the 80s and chances for rain and thunderstorms interspersed throughout this week, with days of sunshine in the mix as well. Look for some 70-degree highs after Saturday and then into Monday.
Enjoy safe and sane July 4th celebrations!
“Rains last week really lowered the water temperatures in the Quiet Lakes’,” says Greg at Happy Hooker, “and some anglers reported the fishing improved after the first round of rain.
“Musky fishing picked up some, with fish holding on weed beds in 4-12 feet. Small, bright color bucktails work best, with marabou favored over bucktail or tinsel.
“Walleye fishing is best on leeches and minnows, with fish around weed and rock transitions in 8-14 feet or deeper, depending on the lake.
“Northern pike are in shallow weeds and bays, hitting spinnerbaits and small musky baits.
“Largemouth bass are in lily pads and submerged and emergent weeds. Spinnerbaits, prop baits, and frogs are solid choices.
“Smallmouth bass are on shallower rocky points. Leeches, minnows, and plastics on jigs, and crankbaits in 12-20 feet work well.
“Crappie fishing picked up a bit and anglers are doing well in weed beds with crappie minnows under floats. Look for fish in weed beds in 5-10 feet. Drift through them or pick spots and cast floats into those areas.
“Bluegills are holding tight to shallow cover around docks and around shallow fallen and sunken timber. Crawlers and leaf worms are always good choices for bluegills. Perch could hold to deeper weed edge near main lake basins, and minnows and small leeches are great for perch.”
Jarrett at Hayward Bait says fishing is solid, and steady weather is on the horizon.
“Musky anglers see fish in 6-15 feet, with mostly follows on smaller bucktails and swimbaits. No reports of monsters yet, but rivers are producing some nice fish from shore.
“Walleye fishing is consistent, with fish on mid-depth weedlines. Anglers are using leeches on slip bobbers, with some switching to walleye suckers and XL-fatheads. Trolling anglers search for reaction bites, as lakes are full of insect, minnow, and fry hatches.
“Northern pike anglers report good action, with fish ‘jumping into boats’ on about any bait. Work mid-depth to deep weedlines with spinnerbaits, spoons, swimbaits, and live bait. Blaze orange and black is a favorite pattern.
“Largemouth and smallmouth bass will finish spawning and then school on flats. Use wacky rigs and topwaters before fish move deep. Target weed flats, shoreline structure, and baitfish schools with green pumpkin and black/blue plastics.
“Crappies are in 6-15 feet near weedlines or cover. Beetle Spins, Road Runners, and small crankbaits are awesome to find active fish. Once you locate a school and have plucked all active fish, try slower moving slip bobbers.
“Bluegills are still on beds, according to some angler reports, while others report bluegills recovering from the recent spawn mixing with crappies and feeding heavily over weed flats.”
Mike at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage is at full pool, with 71-degree water temperature.
“Musky action is decent, with various baits producing interest, but more follows than strikes. During the day, fish mid-depth weeds and drop-off edges with bucktails and crankbaits. If water temperatures are the mid-70s, try trolling. At night, cast bog edges with surface baits. Fish should be shallower than last week.
“Walleye fishing is mixed, with bigger fish in mid-depth weeds and smaller fish in 18-25 feet. Fish weeds in 10-14 feet, with the tops at 6-8 feet, using leeches on slip bobbers or drop-shot rigs overt the weed-tops.
“Northern pike are active in weeds, hitting Tinsel Tails, Revolvers, and chatterbaits. Check out the Pike Improvement Project (PIP) details for your chances to win year-end prizes!
“Largemouth bass were quiet last week, but smallmouth bass are aggressive! Work stump and rock areas for optimal smallmouth success. Ned Rigs, chatterbaits, and Whopper Ploppers are still hot.
“Crappie fishing is best on the bogs at night, as usual for this time of year. Crappie minnows work well, but one-inch Gulp! Minnows, Garland Mayflies, and Mini-Mites are great alternatives if the minnow bite goes sour. During the day, crappies are on deep cribs and brush, and the brushy basin northeast of Birch Island is a good area to target.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter revisits the June 16 Moms and Kids Fishing Night at Shues Pond.
“A collection of local groups came together Monday, June 16, to host the Second Annual ‘Moms and Kids Fishing Night’ at Shues Pond in Hayward, and for the second time in as many years, managed to dodge nearby thunderstorms. Approximately 35 families came out to enjoy an evening of fishing, pizza, and learning about having safe family outings.
“The Northwest Connections Family Resource Center and Indianhead Head Start organizations were on hand to provide free books and other items for families. The Terry Peterson Foundation handed out bags and sponsored the pizza. Sawyer County Outdoor Projects and Education (SCOPE) provided fishing lures, gear, and life jackets for participants.
“The DNR and retired DNR biologist Frank Pratt facilitated the event. Fishing guides for the evening included Tera Neibauer, Amanda Wilson, Cindy Neurohr, Becky Slattery, Jadyn Alexander, and Ashley Straebel.
“The goal of this event is to pair moms and families with other knowledgeable female anglers to build skills and confidence for leading fishing outings. Anglers caught many fish and it appeared everyone had a great time!
“Look for this event to return in 2026, with other specialty fishing events also under consideration.”
Enter to win a fall fishing getaway for two with Chad Grigsby. The winner receives lodging for two at the Holiday Inn Express for Friday, September 5, including complimentary breakfast, and fishing with Chad Saturday, September 6. The winner also receives 1919 Root Beer, Ranch House Coffee, and two St. Croix Rods spinning rods with Seviin reels.
Chad is still deciding on which lake to take the winners ‑ but it will be a good one ‑ and he will have everything they need for a day on the water! He is a two-time FLW Tour Champion and runner-up in the FLW Forest Wood Cup, has fished tournaments full time for 22 years, and more than $1.4 million in career earnings.
Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau will accept entries through August 1.
For more information, visit Fall Fishing Getaway.
Boulder Lodge on Ghost Lake will host its 8th Annual Cardboard Boat Race fundraiser for the Northwoods Humane Society Saturday, July 5,·from noon-6:30 p.m. Race time is 2 p.m. The event includes a 50/50 raffle and silent auction, and is always looking for more people to build boats and enter the race.
For more information, visit www.boldlodge.com or call (715) 462-3002.
The Hayward Civic Club’s 4th of July Celebration is Friday, July 4, from 5-11 p.m., behind Hayward Intermediate School on 5th St. The event offers music, food, and fun, with a Hayward Hawks baseball game at 7 p.m. and fireworks at dusk. For more information, call (715) 634-2760.
The DNR has announced a sharp-tailed grouse hunt Oct. 18 through Nov. 9, the first since 2018. The application period for the limited-drawing permit lottery runs June 30 through Aug. 1, and honors preference points from prior years.
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
Fishing is good for most species following a number of weather fronts, with more of them moving in and out this week. It will benefit you to check with your favorite bait shop personnel before you hit the water for current information on fish movements, locations, bite windows, and bait and presentation preferences.
Musky:
Musky action is decent, with anglers seeing many follows and experiencing a few strikes. Fish weeds and drop-offs in 4-16 feet during the day, and bog edges at night. Smaller bright color bucktails, swimbaits, and crankbaits are productive, as are topwater offerings in early morning and evening hours.
Walleye:
Walleye fishing is somewhat steady and improving, with fish on/suspending over weeds, weedlines, and weed/rock transitions in 6-25 feet. Leeches, crawlers, walleye suckers, and fatheads on jigs, slip bobbers, and drop-shot rigs are working, as are assorted trolled stickbaits and crankbaits.
Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good to very good, particularly for small fish (check out the Pike Improvement Project and register for year-end prizes). Focus on shallow to mid-depth weeds, weedy bays, and panfish concentrations. Preferred baits include northern suckers, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, swimbaits, Tinsel Tails, Revolvers, and chatterbaits.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is fair to good around new weeds, weedlines, lily pads, weed flats, shoreline structure, and baitfish concentrations. Minnows, crawlers, leeches, spinners, spinnerbaits, prop baits, plastics in various configurations, wacky rigs, frogs, and other topwaters will all catch bass.
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is very good for fish on/around shallower weed flats, rock, rocky points, stumps, shoreline structure, and baitfish schools. Best baits include sucker minnows, leeches, crawlers, plastics, wacky rigs, crankbaits, Ned rigs, chatterbaits, Whopper Ploppers, and other topwaters.
Crappie:
Crappie fishing is fair to good and improving. Find them on weeds, weedlines, cribs, and brush in 5-15 feet, and on bogs in the evening into dark. Crappie minnows, Gulp! Minnows, Mini-Mites, and plastics under floats, and Garland Mayflies, Beetle Spins, Road Runners, and small crankbaits are all effective.
Bluegill/Perch:
Bluegill fishing is good to very good, with spawning and post-spawn fish around shallower weeds, wood, and weed flats. Waxies, leaf worms, crawler chunks, and plastics are working well. Look for perch on deep weed edges near main lake basins, with minnows and leeches the baits of choice.
July 4: Independence Day! Hayward Civics Club fireworks, dusk (715-634-2760).
July 4: July Jubilee in Winter at Doc Smith Park 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. (715-415-1966).
July 5: Boulder Lodge 8th Annual Cardboard Boat Race – Northwoods Humane Society fundraiser (715-462-3002).
July 10: Full Buck Moon.
July 10-12: Heart of the North Spooner Rodeo at Washburn County Fairground, 12-10 p.m. (715-635-9696).
July 12: Northwood Bass Anglers Big Chip Open, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., entry fee $120/team (405-227-1789).
July 16-19: Lumberjack World Championships ‑ schedule (715-634-2484).
July 17-20: 52nd Annual LCO Honor the Earth Pow Wow (715-634-8934).
July 18-20: Birchwood Lions 62nd Annual Bluegill Festival.
July 26: Barnes Area Historical Association ‑ Summer Festival, noon-4 p.m. (425-318-0851).
July 28-30: Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower, 1-3 a.m., look south, 15-25 per hour, long, slow paths.
Through Aug. 1: Sharp-tailed grouse application period for limited-drawing lottery.
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.
