January 23, 2012
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Monday’s three to five inches of new snow will help improve the area’s snowmobile and cross-country ski trails and (with luck) have minimal impact on lake ice travel for anglers.
“Fishing is good and it appears everybody is catching something,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “It has been a number of years since we have had these near perfect ice conditions, with 12-16 inches of ice throughout the area.”
Bob at Hayward Bait says ice conditions are good and anglers are driving on some lakes – but be very careful. Jim says perch fishing on Grindstone Lake is excellent with fatheads, rosy reds, waxies, and silver wigglers.
Al at Pastika’s says the return to mild temperatures forecast for this week will be a great time to take the kids out ice fishing.
“Use extreme caution on the ice,” says guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations. “Even with our current cold temps there are still bad spots, and some vehicles went through the ice in the last week. Anglers willing to search are finding crappies suspended in deep water, and bluegills are biting, but you’ll have to sort through them for a meal.”
Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says anglers report fishing is very good for perch and northern pike, some walleye, and just moving in are trout and salmon.
Russ Warwick, DNR advanced fisheries technician, says walleye fishing is fabulous on Lac Courte Oreilles and Grindstone and there is no question the best bite is in the hour just before dark.
“We have compiled the open water creel census information gathered by four creel clerks working on the Chippewa Flowage this past summer,” Warwick adds. “By using this information we can project an estimated summer harvest on the Flowage.”
Here is the estimated summer harvest for these particular species derived from the open water creel census:
Muskie: 1,706 caught and no harvest.
Walleye: 12,398 caught, 7,456 harvested, and a 14.9-inch average length.
Largemouth Bass: 50,175 caught, 3,671 harvested, and a 13-inch average length.
Black Crappie: 297,000 caught, 156,000 harvested, and a 9.7-inch average length.
Bluegill: 738,842 caught, 197,378 harvested, and a 7.5-inch average length.
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says most area lakes have about 12-14 inches of ice, but with scattered spots of slush. Most anglers are sticking to packed trails and avoiding spots with deeper snow and slush.
Walleyes for Northwest Wisconsin’s 16th annual Family Fishing event is February 18, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., on Lac Courte Oreilles. Event buttons cost $5 for adults and $1 for youth 13-17 years of age. Youth 12 years of age and younger receive free entry. For more information, call Hayward Bait (715) 634-2921.
According to the following January 23 trail reports, snowmobile trails are in good to excellent condition. Cable area snowmobile trails report says snow is falling and the up to three inches predicted before the day ends will be a great addition to the 6-9 inch base. Hayward Lakes Visitors and Convention Bureau says Sawyer County trail conditions are excellent, with an 8- to 10-inch base.
FISHING REPORT
Walleye:
Walleye anglers report fair to good fishing. Best action is in the last hour before dark, with inconsistent catches during the day. Fish 6-25 feet of water, depending on the lake, near weeds, bars and bar edges, break lines, points, drop-offs, and mud flats. Anglers using walleye suckers, shiners, fatheads, crappie minnows, and jigging spoons are all catching fish. Offer a selection to see what works best at that time.
Northern:
Northern action continues to be very good, though additional snow covers seems to have somewhat slowed the bite, and the pike offer good fishing during daytime hours. Work weeds and weed beds in 5-20 feet of water with northern suckers and golden shiners under tip-ups.
Crappie:
Crappie action is good once you find the fish. Expect to be on the move. Crappies are suspending over deeper water and/or near weed edges and cribs, in 8-30 feet of water. Use crappie minnows, rosy reds, fatheads, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits tipped on plain hooks or small jigs. Some work better than others at certain times, so take a variety of baits.
Bluegill:
Fishing for bluegills, as with crappies, is a matter of drilling holes and keeping on the move until you find the fish. The ‘gills are holding near weeds and cribs in 6-15 feet of water and best baits include waxies, spikes, mousies, Gulp! baits, and plastics tipped on plain hooks, teardrops, or small jigs. Small minnows can be good for big bluegills.
Perch:
Perch anglers report good to excellent action. Fish perch just off bottom near cribs, on soft bottoms, mud and sand flats, hard/soft bottom transition areas, and in deeper weeds in 9-30 feet, depending on the lake. Top baits are fatheads, rosy reds, crappie minnows, waxies, spikes, silver wigglers, and plastics.
Upcoming Events
Jan. 31: Seasons Close: Ruffed grouse in northern zone; Gray and Fox squirrel; Bobcat period 2.
Feb. 4: Cable Rod & Gun Club Ice Fishing Tourney on Lake Namakagon (Loon Saloon 715-798-4459).
Feb. 4: Relic Riders Kaye Johnson Memorial vintage snowmobile ride (715-462-4566).
Feb. 11: Relic Riders Big Boyz Toyz vintage snowmobile ride.
Feb. 15: Seasons Close: Coyote trapping; Fox; Raccoon.
Feb. 17-20: Great Backyard Bird Count (800-843-2473).
Feb. 18: Walleyes for Northwest Wisconsin Family ice fishing contest (715-634-2921).
Feb. 18: RMEF fundraising banquet (715-634-1742).
Feb. 23-26: American Birkebeiner (715-634-5025).
Feb. 29: Seasons Close: Cottontail rabbit; Mink trapping; Muskrat.
March 2: Namekagon River Gobblers banquet. (715-798-3439).
For more information on area events and activities, visit the Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau website, view its Calendar of Events, or call 1-800-724-2992.
All my best,
Sherry Beckman
Marketing Director
Hayward Lakes Visitors and Convention Bureau
Sawyer County, WI USA
