Hayward Area Lakes

Musky: 
Musky fishing is good and getting better as fish bulk up for winter. Find them from shallow to mid-depths, on weed edges, points, breaklines, bars, and suspending near structure. If action is slow, trying downsizing baits and varying retrieval speeds. Suckers, bucktails, gliders, and creepers and other topwaters are good choices right now. 
 
Walleye: 
Walleye fishing is fair to good and improving, with fish scattered in 8-28 feet, depending on the lake. Check basins, weedlines, hard to soft bottom transitions, and flats. Walleye suckers, fatheads, and crawlers on jigs, crawler harnesses, slip bobbers, bottom bouncers, and cast and trolled Flicker Shads, Shad Raps, and World Cranks are all producing. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike fishing is very good from shallow to deep on weeds, weedlines, points, and near panfish and baitfish concentrations. Find smaller fish in shallower water and big pike on deeper cover. Northern suckers, walleye suckers, and fatheads on jigs or under slip bobbers, and bucktails, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, swimbaits, and crankbaits all produce. 
 
Largemouth Bass: 
Largemouth bass fishing remains good on shallow to mid-depth weedlines, shorelines, wood, lily pads, and docks. Fish are hitting minnows, crawlers, crankbaits, spinners, spinnerbaits, plastics in various riggings including worms, tubes, and creature baits, swim jigs, and Whopper Ploppers, frogs, and other topwaters. 
 
Smallmouth Bass: 
Smallmouth bass fishing is very good to excellent on deeper weeds, cribs, rock, and other hard bottom areas. Fish are in varied depths, however, out to more than 20 feet. Productive baits include sucker minnows, crawlers, and plastics, tubes, Texas, Ned, and drop-shot rigs, crankbaits, and topwaters. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is good and getting better. Look for fish on weedlines, cribs, brush, and bogs in about 20 feet, as well as suspending over deeper flats and basins. Crappie minnows, fatheads, Mini-Mites, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs are all effective offerings, fished with or without slip bobbers. 
 
Bluegill: 
Bluegill fishing is fair to good. Focus on shallow green weeds and weedlines, cribs, and other structure. Try deeper structure for bigger bluegills. Best baits include waxies, leaf worms, crawler chunks, and panfish plastics on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks, fished under slip bobbers. 

Musky: 
Musky fishing is fair to good around shallower weed beds, weed edges, rock, points, breaklines, and bars adjacent to drop-offs into deeper water. Larger bucktails, gliders, paddletail swimbaits, and topwaters will all pull fish. While you are casting those baits, be sure to float a musky sucker on the side to entice indecisive fish. 
 
Walleye: 
Walleye fishing slowed and it is a difficult bite with fish scattered from mid-depths to deep and reluctant to bite. Look for green weeds and rock bars near drop-offs to deeper water. The most productive offerings include walleye suckers, fatheads, and crawlers on jigs, slip bobbers, or bottom bouncers, jerkbaits, jointed Flicker Shads, World Cranks, and Shad Raps, and trolled crankbaits. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike fishing is good for anglers who target them on shallow to mid-depth weed beds, flats, other structure, and areas holding panfish concentrations, with many incidental catches by anglers fishing for other species. Sucker and fathead minnows under slip bobbers, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, swimbaits, and bucktails are all working for pike. 
 
Largemouth Bass: 
Largemouth bass fishing remains good, even with the change in weather. Find fish from shallow to mid-depth weeds, weedlines, wood, cribs, and other structure. The most productive baits include live bait such as minnows and crawlers under slip bobbers, Texas rigged worms and other plastics, spinners, spinnerbaits, swim jigs, crankbaits, and topwaters. 
 
Smallmouth Bass: 
Smallmouth bass fishing slowed recently, but anglers are still catching fish. Look for them on weedlines, rocks, and cribs in various depths, and suspending over deeper water. Best baits include Sucker minnows, fatheads, crawlers, drop-shot and Ned rigs, tubes, plastics, and crankbaits. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is good and improving, with most fish near the bottom around weedlines, wood, brush, bogs, basins and cribs in mid-depths to about 20 feet. The most productive baits include crappie minnows, fatheads, plastics, mayfly imitations, Mini-Mites, and Gulp! baits on small jigs and/or fished under slip bobbers. 
 
Bluegill/Perch: 
Bluegill and perch fishing is good around shallow green weeds, weedlines, and cribs, with some bluegills swimming with crappies. Larger bluegills are a bit deeper. Baits of choice include waxies, leaf worms, crawler chunks, and plastics on small jigs, plain hooks, and/or fished under slip bobbers. 

Trip to Northern Wisconsin labor day weekend. With near record high temps, we night fished some lakes, trolling rapala scatter raps 20ft back over 8 to 10ft of water, 1 to 1.5mph along shorelines. Plenty of action, no giants but was alot of fun! Big bite should improve with cooler weather. 

Musky: 
Musky action ranges from fair to very good. Look for fish from shallow weeds, wood, and rock, to deep weed edges. Bucktails, jerkbaits, gliders, rubber baits, flap tails, and topwaters such as Hawg Wobblers, Warlocks, creepers, and others are working well. Anglers casting baits should drag a sucker, but check the regulations! 
 
Walleye: 
Walleye fishing is fair, with best success from late evening into dark. Fish are scattered from shallow weeds and structure to deep weedlines, flats, and basins. Hit shallower weedlines in the evening. Walleye suckers, fatheads, and crawlers on jigs and slip bobbers work well, as do trolled/drifted crawler harnesses, bottom bouncers, and crankbaits. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike fishing is good to very good, particularly for small fish around shallow weeds and other structure. Find bigger pike on deep weeds, weed edges, points, and near panfish concentrations. Northern and walleye suckers on jigs and/or slip bobbers, spinners, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, spoons, Rattle Traps, and bucktails all work for pike! 
 
Largemouth Bass: 
Largemouth bass fishing is good to very good around shallow weeds, weedlines, weed beds, wood, lilies, docks, and other structure, and areas holding panfish. Baits of choice include plastics in various configurations on swim jigs, Ned, Texas, and drop-shot rigs, crawlers, minnows, and topwaters such as Whopper Ploppers and frogs. 
 
Smallmouth Bass: 
Smallmouth bass fishing is fair to very good depending on the day and location. Fish are on deep rock and rocky points and shorelines in depths to 23 feet. Sucker and fathead minnows, crawlers, plastics, swimbaits and swim jigs, Ned, Texas, and drop-shot rigs all work well, and topwaters are good in some areas. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is inconsistent, from fair to very good, again depending on the day and location, as well their transition to fall patterns. Look for fish on cribs, bogs, deep weeds, weedlines, and structure, and suspending over flats and basins. Most productive are crappie minnows and plastics on jigs fished vertically or under slip bobbers. 
 
Bluegill and Perch: 
Bluegill and perch fishing is good in shallow weeds, as well as on cribs, deep structure, and basins. Waxies, leaf worms, and crawler chunks on small jigs and/or under slip bobbers work well. Go smaller if fish are reluctant to bite. 

Musky: 
Musky action is good to very good. Focus on shallow weeds, weed edges, points, and drop-offs. Look deeper during hot temperatures when trolling can be productive. Bucktails, gliders, creepers, and topwaters work well. Cooler temperatures will soon make using suckers more practical. 
 
Walleye: 
Walleye fishing is slow, but trollers are doing well. Fish are suspending in and around deep weeds, weedlines, drop-offs, flats, and basins. In the daytime, troll/drift crawlers and minnows on harnesses, bottom bouncers, or Lindy Rigs. Deep running crankbaits work, too. In the evening, work crawlers under slip bobbers on shallow weeds and weed edges. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike action is good to very good. Look for fish in and on the edges of shallow weeds and near panfish and baitfish concentrations. For trophy pike, fish bigger baits on deep weeds, weed edges, and points. Northern and walleye suckers, spinners, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, spoons, crankbaits, and chatterbaits are all working well. 
 
Largemouth Bass: 
Largemouth bass fishing is good to very good for anglers fishing in, along, and around shallow weeds, weedlines, wood, lily pads, brush, and docks. Live bait, plastics in various configurations and presentations, spinners, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, stickbaits, and Whopper Ploppers, frogs, and other topwaters are all producing action. 
 
Smallmouth Bass: 
Smallmouth bass action is very good to excellent on rock, rocky points, and other hard bottoms, and stumps in 8-28 feet. Best baits include sucker minnows, plastics in a broad range of forms, set-ups, and presentations; Ned, Texas, and drop-shot rigs; and Whopper Ploppers and other topwaters. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is fair to good. Find them in 12-25 feet during the day, on or suspending over weeds, weedlines, brush, basins, flats, and cribs. At night, fish floating bogs. Bait choices include crappie minnows, Mini-Mites, Garland Mayflies, plastics, and Gulp! Minnows on small jigs fished near bottom and/or under slip bobbers. 
 
Bluegill and Perch: 
Bluegill and perch fishing is excellent for small fish, and good for larger bluegills. Shallow weeds, brush, and docks hold big numbers of aggressive smaller fish. Big bluegills are on or suspending over deep weeds, weedlines, basins, and cribs. Waxies, leaf worms, crawler chunks, plastics, and Gulp! baits fished under slip bobbers are all productive offerings.

Musky: 
Musky action is good, consistent (for musky fishing), and getting better, with fish around weed cover in 4-18 feet. Preferred baits at this time include small to mid-size bucktails, gliders, some larger rubber baits, and topwaters in the evening. Trolling anglers report some success during the day. 
 
Walleye: 
Walleyes are scattered and fishing is fair to somewhat slow. Most anglers are trolling or drift-fishing crawler harnesses, bottom bouncers, Lindy Rigs, crankbaits, or stickbaits near the bottom around weedlines, flats, and basins, and/or searching for suspending balls of baitfish. Slip bobbers with sucker minnows are also producing. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike are active, with many anglers targeting other species making catches. Fish in and on both shallow and deep weeds, weed beds, and weed edges, points, and panfish and baitfish concentrations. Work bigger baits deeper for trophy pike. Northern and walleye suckers on jigs or slip bobbers, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, and swimbaits all work. 
 
Largemouth Bass: 
Largemouth bass action is good and steady. Focus on shallow to mid-depth weeds, weed beds, weedlines, wood, lily pads, and docks. Live bait, spinners, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, plastics in various configurations and presentations, and assorted topwaters including Whopper Ploppers, frogs, and poppers all get the attention of largemouth. 
 
Smallmouth Bass: 
Smallmouth bass fishing is very good to excellent in 8-28 feet on rock and hard bottom humps, stumps, points, and basins. Best baits include sucker minnows, Ned, Texas, and drop-shot rigs, deep crankbaits, and topwaters such as Whopper Ploppers, frogs, and poppers. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is good with fish in many locations. Deep basins, brush, bogs, flats, weedlines, wood, and cribs can all hold fish, with some suspending over deep water. Crappie minnows, plastics, Gulp! baits, and Garland Mayflies on small jigs fished near the bottom are all effective. 
 
Bluegill/Perch: 
Bluegill and perch fishing is good to very good in and around shallow weeds, brush, and docks. Waxies, leaf worms, crawler chunks, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs and plain hooks fished under slip bobbers are working well. For bigger bluegills, downsize presentations. 

As fall approaches, is anyone using the 1/8 oz or 1/16 ox mini mite for smallmouth and walleyes ?  Any input will help as I'm trekking up to the northwoods from Phoenix, AZ the end of September.  Thanks,  Ice Chopper

Musky: 
Musky anglers are seeing ‑ and catching ‑ decent numbers of fish and fishing is good. Find the fish on shallow weeds and structure, as well on deep weed flats. Bucktails, plastics, gliders, rubber baits such as Medussas and Bull Dawgs, and topwaters are all working at this time. 
 
Walleye: 
Walleye fishing is currently best suited for patient and persistent anglers. During the day, concentrate on deep basins, weeds, weedlines, rock, and similar structure. In the evening into after dark, fish move shallower to feed. Top producing presentations include walleye suckers on slip bobbers; trolled and drifted crankbaits; and crawlers on jigs, harnesses, bottom bouncers, and Lindy Rigs. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike action is good, though somewhat slower. Look for fish in and around shallow to deep weeds, weed edges and flats, bays, and baitfish and panfish concentrations. Northern suckers, minnows, bucktails, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, chatterbaits, plastics, and topwaters all produce. Go deeper with bigger baits for trophy pike. 
 
Largemouth Bass: 
Largemouth bass fishing is very good to excellent in shallow shorelines, weeds, weed edges, wood, bays, brush, bulrushes, lily pads, rocks, and docks. Some fish are on mid-depth to deeper similar structure. Locations vary from lake to lake. Baits of choice include walleye suckers, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, chatterbaits, crankbaits, plastics in various configurations, and topwaters. 
 
Smallmouth Bass: 
Smallmouth bass fishing is also very good to excellent. Fish are on deep weeds and rocks, with some along sandy shorelines adjacent to deep water, and all move shallower to feed. Take your pick on baits, though some work better than others, from jigs to plastics, to Ned and drop-shot rigs, to various Berkley PowerBait MaxScent baits, to topwaters. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappies of decent size are apparently challenging anglers to a game of hide-and-seek, though some are finding the moving schools. The fish can be suspending over deep basins, as well as holding on deep weed edges, wood, and cribs, or on floating bogs in the evening. Preferred baits include crappie minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs and/or under bobbers, and Beetle Spins and small spoons. 
 
Bluegill/Perch: 
Bluegill fishing is good to very good for smaller fish, and so-so for bigger bluegills. Fish are around shallow weeds, wood, and docks, with the larger ones on deep weed edges and brush. Best baits include leaf worms, crawler chunks, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks fished under bobbers or on drop-shot rigs. 

Musky: 
Musky fishing is good and anglers report they see many fish, with follows and short hits ? and even boat a few! Focus on shallow to deep weeds, weed flats, wood, rock, and baitfish and panfish concentrations. Effective baits include rubber baits, bucktails, swimbaits, gliders, and topwaters. 
 
Walleye: 
Walleye fishing is slower, but improving. During daylight, troll crankbaits and crawler harnesses over deep weeds, weed edges, basins, breaklines, drop-offs, and rock. In evening into dark, work shallow weeds, weed edges, and other structure with crawlers, walleye suckers, and fatheads on jigs, spinner rigs, slip bobbers, and harnesses. 
 
Northern Pike: 
Northern pike action is a very good all-day bite, with best success in morning and late afternoon. Search shallow to deep weeds, weed flats, bays, shorelines, and baitfish and panfish concentrations. Sucker minnows, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, bucktails, and crankbaits all produce good action. 
 
Largemouth Bass: 
Largemouth bass fishing is very good to excellent. Search in and around shallow weeds, weed edges, wood, slop, shorelines, and docks, and mid-depth to deeper weeds, wood, and rock. Various plastics on jigs, drop-shot and Ned rigs, spinnerbaits, and topwaters such as Whopper Ploppers, frogs, and buzzbaits all catch fish. 
 
Smallmouth Bass: 
Smallmouth bass fishing is good to very good, with fish on deep rock, weeds, weed edges, and wood, and shallower weedlines, stumps, and sandy shorelines. Ned Rigs, drop-shot plastics, Berkley MaxScent PowerBait, and Whopper Ploppers and other topwaters are all productive. 
 
Crappie: 
Crappie fishing is fair to good. Fish are deep on weeds, weed edges, wood, cribs, and sunken bogs during the day, and floating bogs in late afternoon into dark. Best baits include crappie minnows, Mini-Mites, Garland Mayflies, Voodoo Flash Bang jigs, plastics, and one-inch Gulp! Minnows. 
 
Bluegill and Perch: 
Bluegill and perch fishing is good around shallow structure and on deep weed edges. Leaf worms, crawlers, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, plain hooks, drop-shot rigs, and hook and split shot set-ups under bobbers all tempt panfish. 

coming up 2nd week of sept. my son is coming home on leave before he goes ?overseas for the next 3 years and want to finally catch his first musky. looking for a ?good musky guide for the area/ chippewa flowage. thanks in advance.