Hayward Area Lakes

Ice in the area is thin, with some open water on bigger lakes.  However, temperatures will be colder for the next week, and we'll be making ice.  Meanwhile, carry safety gear and do not bring vehicles or shacks onto the ice.

Walleye: 
Walleye fishing is fair good as fish are still on shallow weedlines and flats in depths to 12 feet. Lack of snow cover and thin ice allows sunlight to reach the weeds, enabling them to continue to growing while providing good cover for baitfish and panfish. Best fishing is in early morning and in late evening into dark. Use a stealth approach. Top baits include walleye suckers and shiners on tip-ups, and fatheads on jigs. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike fishing is good to very good in depths to 12 feet around weeds, weedlines, and panfish and baitfish concentrations. Northern suckers, walleye suckers, and shiners on tip-ups and dead sticks work well. Use bigger baits for trophy pike, but remember it is illegal to fish with a minnow 8 inches or longer unless using a quick-strike rig or non-offset circle hook. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is good for the fish that remain on shallow weeds and weedlines. Basins hold some fish, but they are not currently accessible due to poor or non-existent ice conditions. Productive bait options include crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, plain hooks, small spoons, and rattle baits. Jigging rods, tip-ups, tip-downs, and deadsticking all work, too. 
 
Bluegill: 
Bluegill fishing is good, and fortunately for anglers, the fish are in/on shallow weeds and weedlines. Bait offerings include waxies, spikes, mousies, minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits fished on small jigs, teardrops, spoons, and plain hooks, with or without bobbers. 

Ice conditions are treacherous, ranging from zero to five inches.  No vehicles on the ice yet, and walkers should be careful and carry all required safety gear.

Walleye: 
Walleye fishing slowed somewhat, but anglers are still reporting some success. The best bite windows are in very early morning and late evening into dark hours. Look for shallow flats and weedlines in 3-12 feet. Walleye suckers, shiners, and fatheads on tip-ups and jigging rods are all catching fish. Less on-ice noise and disturbance equals more fish. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike action is good to very good for anglers who are fishing on shallow to mid-depth weeds and weedlines, as well as concentrations of baitfish and panfish. Northern suckers, walleye suckers, and shiners on tip-ups and dead sticks are all effective for pike. 
 
Largemouth and smallmouth bass: 
Bass are not usually a top target during ice fishing season, but anglers fishing primarily for other species with tip-ups set in and on shallow weedlines are catching some nice bass. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is good in and around shallow weeds and weedlines, and for fish suspending and/or on the move. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks fished on tip-ups, tip-downs, and dead sticks, with small spoons also productive. 
 
Bluegill: 
Bluegill fishing is good for fish holding to shallower weeds, weedlines, and other thicker cover. Waxies, spikes, mousies, plastics, and small Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks, with without bobbers, do the job. Small minnows, plastics, and spoons draw bigger fish and they deter the small bait thieves. 

Ice:
There isn't really any safe ice in the area yet.  If you venture out on the ice, go on foot only, bring a buddy and safety gear, and check the ice frequently as you go.

Walleye: 
Walleye fishing is fair to good, with best success in late afternoon and into after dark on shallow weedlines and flats out to 12 feet. Anglers are favoring walleye suckers and shiners on tip-ups and jigging sticks, with jigged fatheads also drawing some interest. Quiet fishing will pay dividends. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike action is good to very good, with anglers reporting good numbers of catches of fish up to 30 inches. Look for pike on shallow to mid-depth weeds and weedlines, and near panfish and baitfish concentrations. Northern suckers, walleye suckers, and shiners are the go-to baits at this time, fished on tip-ups and dead sticks. If you are not already doing so, keep a few for the table ‑ they are truly tasty! 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is fair to good on shallow to mid-depth weedlines. It is not advisable to try to access deeper fish until ice conditions show considerable improvement! Fish are suspending and moving. Crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks are producing with/without bobbers, and fished on tip-ups, tip-downs, and dead sticks. 
 
Bluegill: 
Bluegill fishing is fair to good. Concentrate on shallow weeds, weedlines, and other cover. Waxies, spikes, mousies, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks fished under bobbers work well. Small minnows and spoons help target bigger fish and avoid the smaller bait bandits. 

FISHING REPORT 
Ice in our area varies from 0-4”.   If you go out on it, bring safety gear and a buddy, stick close to shore, avoid inlets and springs, and check the ice frequently as you go.  No area ice can support a vehicle of any kind yet.
 
Musky: 
Ice conditions brought nearly all open water fishing to an end for the year, except for a few of the big, deep lakes, but access and usable launches are questionable. Musky season closes December 31 and is open only for open water fishing until then. Anglers cannot use ice as a platform to musky fish. 
 
Walleye: 
Walleye fishing is good, with fish pursuing forage moving to shallow weed edges. Shallow walleyes are “Nervous Nellies” that bolt at any disruption. Best fishing is along weed edges in late afternoon into dark. Walleye suckers, small shiners, and crappie or bluegill fry all produce action. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike fishing is good to very good as the pike follow their food ‑ panfish and baitfish ‑ into shallow weeds and weed edges prior to ice-up. Look for them in bays and backwater areas in depths to 12 feet. It is a daytime bite. Northern suckers, walleye suckers, and fatheads on tip-ups will grab the attention of pike. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is fair to good. The accessible fish are along shallow weed edges, sensitive to any type of disturbance, and as such, quiet fishing improves success. Crappie minnows, waxies, spikes, plastics, and Gulp! baits on tip-ups, tip-downs, and deadsticking work well, as do small spoons. 
 
Bluegill: 
Bluegill fishing is good to very good around shallow weeds and brush. Waxies, spikes, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks work well. Small minnows and spoons can help avoid the bait robbers. 

Musky: 
Musky fishing is good to very good and anglers have the lakes almost to themselves. Depending on the lake, fish are shallow to deep, holding near green weeds, weed edges, breaklines, and points. Musky suckers on quick-strike rigs are the bait of choice, with jigging big plastics often drawing fish to a live sucker. Trolling anglers report success with big crankbaits such as Mattlocks, Headlocks, and similar baits. 
 
Walleye: 
Walleye fishing is fair, but challenging. Fish are scattered from very shallow weeds and weedlines to deep holes, depending on the lake. Look for baitfish and panfish ‑ find their food and you will find the walleyes, but do so quietly. Walleye suckers and fatheads on jigs, drop-shot rigs, or slip bobbers, jerkbaits, and Jigging Raps can all catch fish. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike action is good, though it slowed a bit. Look for fish on shallow to mid-depth weeds, weedlines, points, flats, mid-lake structure, and near baitfish and panfish concentrations. Large sucker minnows under slip bobbers or on drop-shot rigs, and spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, minnowbaits, and jerkbaits will all interest pike.
 
Bass: 
Largemouth bass anglers (bass anglers in general) are either not fishing or keeping their secrets secret. This is a great time of year to target smallmouth on mid-depths to deep hard bottom areas. Walleye suckers, large minnows, and plastics on drop-shot and Ned rigs are effective, as are crankbaits, jerkbaits, and glide baits. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappies are scattered from shallow weedlines to deep basins out to 30 feet. Fishing is good to very good once you locate the fish and if you can stay with them. Crappie minnows, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs or plain hooks fished under slip bobbers are all effective offerings. 
 
Bluegill/Perch: 
Bluegill and perch fishing is good around shallow weeds, but also for fish holding on deeper cribs and flats. Waxies, spikes, worms, minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and teardrops, fished under slip bobbers work exceptionally well. 

Fishing conditions are a bit less comfortable with the abrupt weather change, but fishing remains good for those who are still hitting the water. Be careful on the boat launches, especially with frost and ice in early mornings.  Wearing a PFD is a good idea with the colder water temperatures. Nobody plans to go overboard, but there are dozens of ways for it to happen suddenly.
 
Musky: 
Musky action is good to very good and fishing continues to get better as it gets colder. Look for fish from very shallow out to about 15 feet on weed edges, breaks, and points. Suckers are the go-to bait, and Bull Dawgs, crankbaits, and similar lures can get indecisive fish to approach a live sucker. Trolled crankbaits and stickbaits are also effective. 
 
Walleye: 
Walleye fishing is slow, with evening into dark offering the best success. Fish are in deep holes, 18-30 feet, as well as along shallow weeds, weed edges, and flats with access to deep water. Walleye suckers and minnows on jigs, slip bobbers, and drop-shot rigs are productive, as are blade baits, jerkbaits, and Jigging Raps and similar baits. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike fishing is good to very good in and around weeds, weed edges, and other cover, and near baitfish and panfish concentrations. Northern and walleye suckers on jigs, slip bobbers, and drop-shot rigs, and spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, stickbaits, minnowbaits, and jerkbaits all work as aggressive pike plump up for winter. 
 
Largemouth Bass: 
Largemouth bass angler interest is now minimal, but active anglers continue to catch fish. Look for bass near baitfish and panfish in shallow to mid-depth weeds, brush and other structure, and along shorelines feeding on frogs headed to hibernation areas. Effective baits include walleye suckers and minnows on jigs and drop-shot rigs, and spinnerbaits. 
 
Smallmouth Bass: 
Smallmouth bass action remains good to very good, with fish on mid-depth to deeper hard bottom areas. Walleye suckers, minnows, and plastics on jigs, drop-shot rigs, and Ned rigs will all do the job, as will crankbaits, swim jigs, jerkbaits, and gliders. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is good to very good, if you can find the scattered fish and stay with them. Look for fish schooling in basins, and on mid-depth to deep holes, weed edges, and cribs. Crappie minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs and/or under slip bobbers work well. 
 
Bluegill/Perch: 
Bluegill and perch fishing is fair to good. Find fish in shallow weeds, on weed edges, cribs, and other cover. Bigger fish are a bit deeper on similar structure. Use waxies, worms, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks under bobbers, doing the same with crappie minnows for big perch. Mimic Minnows work, too. 

Musky: 
Musky action is good, with fish spread from very shallow to deep, on weeds, weedlines, rock, humps, and points, and near panfish concentrations. Musky suckers on quick-strike rigs, rubber baits, jerkbaits, gliders, stickbaits, and bucktails, as well as trolling, are all catching fish. 
 
Walleye: 
Walleye fishing is slow to good, with the shallow late evening into dark bite near weeds and weed flats best. During the day, find fish in basins and on brush, points, and humps out to 20 feet and deeper, as well as with crappies. Walleye suckers and minnows on jigs and/or slip bobbers, crankbaits, jerkbaits, minnowbaits, and plastics all work well. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike action is good to very good on shallow to mid-depth weeds, weedlines, and areas holding baitfish and panfish concentrations. Northern and walleye suckers, minnows, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, stickbaits, swimbaits, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and plastics can all produce action at this time. 
 
Largemouth Bass: 
Largemouth bass fishing is good, though interest is waning. Find them in shallow to mid-depth weeds, brush, warmer bays, cribs, and other cover, and along shorelines, feeding on bluegills and frogs. Minnows, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, swimbaits, stickbaits, and plastics are all good in the right locations. 
 
Smallmouth Bass: 
Smallmouth bass action is good to very good as fish plump up for winter. Find them on mid-depth to deep hard bottom humps, points, rock, transition areas, and wherever you find walleyes. Sucker minnows and plastics work well, with the nod going to sucker minnows, but Ned and drop-shot rigs, stickbaits, and crankbaits also work well. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is good to very good if you can find and stay with the schools. Check weed beds, weed edges, cribs, and other structure in 10-25 feet, and schools suspending over basins. Top baits include crappie minnows, fatheads, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs and/or under bobbers, and small Jigging Raps, Shiver Minnows, and Hyper Rattles. 
 
Bluegill/Perch: 
Bluegill and perch fishing is fair to good when you locate them. Try shallower green weeds and weed edges, cribs, and look for schools in basins. Waxies, worms, crawler chunks, small minnows, and plastics on jigs and teardrops fished under bobbers are all effective. 

Musky: 
Musky action is good to very good, and will only get better with cooling water temperatures and fish feeding more seriously. Find them on shallow weed edges, particularly those offering nearby access to deeper water, river channels, and near schools of panfish. Suckers on quick-strike rigs, bucktails, jerkbaits, stickbaits, swimbaits, crankbaits, gliders, and topwaters are all drawing the interest of muskies! 
 
Walleye: 
Walleye fishing varies from fair to very good. Fish are scattered, with some anglers having success on shallow weed edges near deeper water and even around docks, and others finding fish on deeper weeds, humps, rocks, points ‑ and around baitfish. Evening into dark are the best hours, Walleye suckers, fatheads, and crawlers on jigs, Lindy Rigs, or under slip bobbers, Ned rigs, crankbaits, and stickbaits all work. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike action is good to very good, with fish on the feed trying to fatten up before winter. Find them in and around any shallow to mid-depths green weeds and weed edges holding baitfish and panfish concentration. Northern suckers, walleye suckers, and fatheads under bobbers, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, stickbaits, swimbaits, and bucktails all work well. For trophy pike, use bigger baits and try deeper water. 
 
Largemouth Bass: 
Largemouth bass fishing is fair to good, depending on the lake and time. Weeds, weed edges, brush, breaklines, and near baitfish and panfish concentrations from shallow to mid-depths and deeper can all hold bass. Minnows, crawlers, spinners, spinnerbaits, swim jigs, plastics, Ned rigs, and topwaters can all produce in the right areas at the right time. 
 
Smallmouth Bass: 
Smallmouth bass action remains good for anglers targeting these fish. Look for them on mid-depth to deep rocky bottoms, as well as on weed beds, weed edges, mid-lake humps, points, and in the same areas holding walleyes. Walleye suckers, fatheads, crawlers, crankbaits, stickbaits, plastics, swimbaits, and Ned rigs are all good. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is very good to excellent, with schools of fish in various depths on weeds, weedlines, stumps, cribs, bogs, and basins. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, fatheads, plastics, Mini-Mites, and Gulp! baits on small jigs or plain hooks fished under slip bobbers, as well as small Beetle Spins and spoons. Plan to move to follow the schools! 
 
Bluegill/Perch: 
Bluegill fishing is good for anglers fishing still-green weeds, weed edges, brush, and cribs in varied depths. Waxies, leaf worms, small minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks under slip bobbers are the offerings of choice. 

Musky: 
Musky fishing is very good to excellent. Focus on very shallow to mid-depth weeds and weed edges that offer access to deep water. Musky suckers on quick-strike rigs, bucktails, gliders, jerkbaits, stickbaits, crankbaits, rubber baits, and topwaters are all very effective in the right place at the right time. 
 
Walleye: 
Walleye fishing slowed somewhat due to a number of factors. As one might expect, best success is in late evening into dark. Fish are surprisingly shallow, near docks and on weedlines and weed flats feeding on baitfish. During daylight, look for them near deeper weeds near those flats. Walleye suckers, fatheads, and crawlers on jigs, slip bobbers, and live bait rigs, and jerkbaits, and jigging baits are all productive. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike fishing is very good around shallow to deeper green weeds, weed edges, and other structure, particularly those that offer deep water nearby, as well as near baitfish and panfish concentrations. Northern and walleye suckers, and fatheads under floats work well, and spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and swimbaits will all do the job. 
 
Largemouth Bass: 
Largemouth bass action is still very good to excellent. Find them on shallow weed bed edges, lily pads, and other cover that holds baitfish and bluegill concentrations, and watch for very shallow fish feeding on frogs along shorelines. Live bait, spinners, spinnerbaits, plastics, and topwaters are all very effective. 
 
Smallmouth Bass: 
Smallmouth bass fishing is good to very good as the fish feed aggressively to prepare for winter. Look for them on shallow structure with sandy bottoms, as well as schooled in mid-depths. Walleye suckers are very productive, but other live bait offerings and plastics can also draw their interest. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is good once you find them.  Look near deep weed edges, cribs, and other structure, as well as schooled and suspending in lake basins. Crappie minnows, fatheads, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and plain hooks, jigged or fished under slip bobbers, all work well. 
 
Bluegill 
Bluegill fishing is good around shallow to mid-depth green weeds, weed beds, and weed edges, cribs, basins, and brush. Best baits include waxies, leaf worms, crawler chunks, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks, fished with or without slip bobbers. 

Musky: 
Musky anglers report fishing action is good to very good, though it might slow with the current (temporary) hot temperatures. Fish are on very shallow to mid-depth weeds, weed edges, flats, points, and other structure. The most productive offerings include musky suckers, bucktails, gliders, jerkbaits, stickbaits, crankbaits, and topwaters. 
 
Walleye: 
Walleye fishing is fair, with best success, as usual, during low light hours such as pre-sunrise and early evening into dark. Fish are scattered from shallow to deep weeds, basins, river channels, and drop-offs. Walleye suckers, fatheads, other minnows, and crawlers on jigs and under slip bobbers work well, as do trolled Flicker Shads and other crankbaits. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike action is good to very good. Many anglers are catching them while fishing for other species such as muskies and bass around shallow to mid-depth weeds, other structure, and panfish and baitfish concentrations. Northern suckers, walleye suckers, and fatheads under bobbers, and spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and swimbaits are effective. 
 
Largemouth Bass: 
Largemouth bass fishing is still good around shallow to mid-depth weeds, weedlines, and brush holding panfish and baitfish. Sucker minnows/minnows and crawlers under bobbers, spinners, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, plastics (worms, tubes, etc.), swim jigs, and topwaters are all working in applicable areas. 
 
Smallmouth Bass: 
Smallmouth bass fishing is good to very good and getting better as cold weather approaches. Find fish on rocks and points in depths to 22 feet. Some anglers are catching fish in areas holding walleyes. Baits of choice include walleye suckers, fatheads, plastics, and Gulp! Minnows and Paddleshads. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is good to very good, with the fish stacking in 15-25 feet in/on weedlines, cribs, sunken bogs, and basins. Use your electronics to find and stay with the schools as they are on the move. Crappie minnows, fatheads, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs and plain hooks work well, as do Jigging Raps, Rippin Raps, and small Beetle Spins. 
 
Bluegill: 
Bluegill fishing remains fair to good for anglers targeting these fish. Shallow to mid-depth green weeds, weedlines, basins, brush, and cribs can all hold fish. Waxies, leaf worms, crawler pieces, and plastics on jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks work well, fished with/without slip bobbers.